Best of The Best: 2024 Golden Ticket Awards

Today, amusement industry professionals from all around the globe have convened in Pennsylvania to celebrate the best of the best in their field! Amusement Today introduced the Golden Ticket Awards in 1998 to spotlight the amusement park industry and its attractions by acknowledging the “Best of the Best”.

The Golden Ticket Awards by Amusement Today are like the Oscars for amusement parks. Each year, a detailed survey is sent to experienced and well-traveled amusement park experts around the world. The surveys are sent out in balanced geographical regions asking not only industry fans, but also, (in some categories) industry suppliers, manufacturers and journalists to rank the “best of the best”. Amusement Today then tallies up those votes and presents “Golden Ticket Awards” to the winners of each category. Each year the event is held at a different location. This year’s event was presented at Kennywood, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — one of America’s most historic traditional parks.

The votes have been tallied and the winners are:

Best Steel Roller Coaster:

1 Fury 325 / Carowinds (NC)

(top 50 below)

Best Wood Roller Coaster:

1 Phoenix / Knoebels Amusement Resort (PA)

(top 50 below)

Best Amusement Park: Europa Park (Germany)

Best New Roller Coaster: Voltron Nevera / Europa Park (Germany)

Best New Family Attraction: Fire in the Hole / Silver Dollar City (MO)

Best New Attraction Installation: Fire in the Hole / Silver Dollar City (MO)

Best New Water Park Ride: The Rise of Icarus / Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park (WI)

Best Innovation: Audience Participation Drone Show / Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (IN)

Best Water Park: Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort (TX)

Best Kid’s Area: Wildwood Grove / Dollywood (TN)

Best Guest Experience: Dollywood (TN)

Most Beautiful Park: Dollywood (TN)

Best Family Park: Dutch Wonderland (PA)

Best Family Coaster: Big Bear Mountain / Dollywood (TN)

Best Food: Knoebels Amusement Resort (PA)

Best New Show: “From The Heart: The Dolly Parton Story” / Dollywood (TN)

Best Water Ride (In a Park): Chiapas / Phantasialand (Germany)

Best Water Park Ride: Wildebeest / Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (IN)

Best Dark Ride: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance / Disney’s Hollywood Studios (FL)

Breakout Family Entertainment Center: Adventure Park USA (MD)

AIMS International Safety Award: Patty Beazley / International Ride Training

AIMS International Lifetime Contribution Award: Jim Seay / Premier Rides

Golden Ticket Leadership Award: Gordon Hartman & Richard Pretlow / Morgan’s Wonderland (TX)

Best New Theme Concept: Good Gravy / Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (IN)

LEGENDS Awards:

People become legends because of their major accomplishments or their long-running status of noteworthy effort. Over the past two decades, Amusement Today has brought attention to The “Best of the Best”, acknowledging parks, manufacturers and the rides that have risen to the top. LEGENDS Awards recognize not only individuals , but also facilities and attractions that have set the standard for excellence and being the “Best of the Best” within the amusement industry.

Legend recipients have special Golden Tickets created to illustrate this renowned status and have their achievement on display at all future Golden Ticket Awards events. Here are this years LEGEND Awards:

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award:
Gary Slade / Founder, Amusement Today. For his contributions to the amusement industry in its various forms.

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award:
Universal Studios Florida, Halloween Horror Nights (FL) The “King of Terror” Universal Studios Florida has received the Best Halloween Event award from 2006 to 2023. The category has been retired deeming the Halloween Horror Nights event legendary.

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award:
Smoky Mountain Christmas / Dollywood (TN) Dollywood has received the Best Christmas Event award from 2008 to 2023. The category has been retired deeming Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas event legendary.

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award:
Paul Nelson / Waldameer Park & Water World (PA): For his seven decades of devotion to Waldameer Park & Water World as well as the amusement industry.

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award:
Richard Munch, Roy Brashears & Paul Greenwald / ACE Founders: For creating the American Coaster Enthusiasts roller coaster club often referred to as ACE. Today the club has more than 7000 members.

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award:
John Reilly / CEO, Palace Entertainment: In recognition of a career dedicated to the amusement industry.

Publishers Choice Awards:

Every year Gary Slade, Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Amusement Today, makes personal selections for the Publisher’s Pick Awards. Here are the selections he made this year:

Renaissance Award: Alton Towers, (England) For transforming Nemesis roller coaster into Nemesis Reborn — an inverted roller coaster located at the Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England.

Turnstile Award: Europa Park (Germany) For reopening attractions in the parks’ Austria themed area after a 2023 fire — resurrecting rides from the past and making them better than ever.

Person of The Year: Beth Root. For her part in leading the charge to initiate the first “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson” in 2010.

Top 50 Best Steel Coasters:

Rank	Coaster	Park	Location	Supplier	Year
1	Fury 325	Carowinds	Charlotte, N.C.	B&M	2015
2	Jurassic World VelociCoaster	Universal Islands of Adventure	Orlando, Fla.	Intamin	2021
3	Steel Vengeance	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	Rocky Mountain Const.	2018
4	Millennium Force	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	Intamin	2000
5	Iron Gwazi	Busch Gardens Tampa Bay	Tampa, Fla.	Rocky Mountain Const.	2022
6	Taron	Phantasialand	Brühl, Germany	Intamin	2016
7	The Ride to Happiness	Plopsaland De Panne	Adinkerke-De Panne, Belgium	Mack	2021
8	Zadra	Energylandia	Zator, Poland	Rocky Mountain Const.	2019
9	Expedition GeForce	Holiday Park	Hassloch, Germany	Intamin	2001
10	Maverick	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	Intamin	2007
11	Voltron Nevera	Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	Mack	2024
12	Superman The Ride	Six Flags New England	Agawam, Mass.	Intamin	2000
13	Leviathan	Canada’s Wonderland	Vaughn, Ontario, Canada	B&M	2012
14	Project 305	Kings Dominion	Doswell, Va.	Intamin	2010
15	Phantom’s Revenge	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pa.	Morgan/Arrow	2001
16	F.L.Y.	Phantasialand	Brühl, Germany	Vekoma	2020
17	ArieForce One	Fun Spot America Atlanta	Fayetteville, Ga.	Rocky Mountain Const.	2023
18	Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind	EPCOT	Lake Buena Vista, Fla.	Vekoma	2022
19	Mako	SeaWorld Orlando	Orlando, Fla.	B&M	2016
20 – tie	Diamondback	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	B&M	2009
20 – tie	Iron Rattler	Six Flags Fiesta Texas	San Antonio, Texas	Rocky Mountain Const.	2013
22 – tie	Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure	Universal Islands of Adventure	Orlando, Fla.	Intamin	2019
22 – tie	Lightning Rod	Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	Rocky Mountain Const.	2016
24	Hyperion	Energylandia	Zator, Poland	Intamin	2018
25	Apollo’s Chariot	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Va.	B&M	1999
26	Skyrush	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pa.	Intamin	2012
27	Candymonium	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pa.	B&M	2020
28	Kondaa	Walibi Belgium	Wavre, Belgium	Intamin	2021
29	Wildcat’s Revenge	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pa.	Rocky Mountain Const.	2023
30 – tie	Time Traveler	Silver Dollar City	Branson, Mo.	Mack	2018
30 – tie	Twisted Colossus	Six Flags Magic Mountain	Valencia, Calif.	Rocky Mountain Const.	2015
32 – tie	Big Bear Mountain	Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	Vekoma	2023
32 – tie	X2	Six Flags Magic Mountain	Valencia, Calif.	Arrow	2002
34 – tie	Blue Fire Megacoaster	Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	Mack	2009
35 – tie	Nitro	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson, N.J.	B&M	2001
36	Magnum XL-200	Arrow	Sandusky, Ohio	Arrow	1989
37	Nemesis Reborn	Alton Towers	Staffordshire, England	B&M	1994
38	Banshee	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	B&M	2014
39	Montu	Busch Gardens Tampa Bay	Tampa, Fla.	B&M	1996
40	Helix	Liseberg	Gothenburg, Sweden	Mack	2014
41	Alpengeist	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Va.	B&M	1997
42	Untamed	Walibi Holland	Biddinghuizen, Netherlands	Rocky Mountain Const.	2019
43	Orion	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	B&M	2020
44	Black Mamba	Phantasialand	Brühl, Germany	B&M	2006
45	Lech Coaster	Legendia	Chorzów, Poland	Vekoma	2017
46	Goliath	Six Flags Over Georgia	Austell, Ga.	B&M	2006
47	Railblazer	California’s Great America	Santa Clara, Calif.	Rocky Mountain Const.	2018
48	Toutatis	Parc Astérix	Plailly, France	Intamin	2023
49	Thunder Striker	Carowinds	Charlotte, N.C.	B&M	2010
50	Fønix	Fårup Sommerland	Blokhus, Denmark	Vekoma	2022

Top 50 Best Wood Coasters:

Rank	Coaster	Park	Location	Supplier	Year
1	Phoenix	Kneobels	Elysburg, Pa.	Dinn-PTC/Schmeck	1985
2	The Voyage	Holiday World	Santa Claus, Ind.	The Gravity Group	2006
3	The Beast	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	KECO	1979
4	Thunderhead	Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	Great Coasters Int.	2004
5	Mystic Timbers	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	Great Coasters Int.	2017
6	El Toro	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson, N.J.	Intamin	2006
7	BoulderDash	Lake Compounce	Bristol, Conn.	Custom Coasters Int.	2000
8	GhostRider	Knott’s Berry Farm	Buena Park, Calif.	Custom Coasters/GCII	1998
9	Wodan	Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	Great Coasters Int.	2012
10	Ravine Flyer II	Waldameer	Erie, Pa.	The Gravity Group	2008
11	Outlaw Run	Silver Dollar City	Branson, Mo.	Rocky Mountain Const.	2013
12	Cyclone	Luna Park	Brooklyn, N.Y.	Baker/Keenan	1927
13	Balder	Liseberg	Gothenburg, Sweden	Intamin	2003
14	Gold Striker	California’s Great America	Santa Clara, Calif.	Great Coasters Int.	2013
15	Joris en de Draak	Efteling	Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands	Great Coasters Int.	2010
16	Shivering Timbers	Michigan’s Adventure	Muskegon, Mich.	Custom Coasters Int.	1998
17	Jack Rabbit	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pa.	Miller	1920
18	The Legend	Holiday World	Santa Claus, Ind.	Custom Coasters Int.	2000
19	Wildfire	Kolmården	Norrkōping, Sweden	Rocky Mountain Const.	2016
20	Lightning Racer	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pa.	Great Coasters Int.	2000
21	Thunderbolt	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pa.	Vettel/Miller	1968
22	Troy	Toverland	Sevenum, Netherlands	Great Coasters Int.	2007
23	Prowler	Worlds of Fun	Kansas City, Mo.	Great Coasters Int.	2009
24	Goliath	Six Flags Great America	Gurnee, Ill.	Rocky Mountain Const.	2014
25	Boardwalk Bullet	Kemah Boardwalk	Kemah, Texas	The Gravity Group/MVR	2007
26	Texas Stingray	SeaWorld San Antonio	San Antonio, Texas	Great Coasters Int.	2020
27	Comet	Six Flags Great Escape	Queensbury, N.Y.	PTC-Schmeck	1994
28	Twister	Knoebels	Elysburg, Pa.	Fetterman	1999
29	Rutschebanan	Tivoli Gardens	Copehagen, Denmark	L.A. Thompson	1914
30	Wicker Man	Alton Towers	Staffordshire, England	Great Coasters Int.	2018
31	Flying Turns	Knoebels	Elysburg, Pa.	Fetterman	2014
32	Giant Dipper	Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk	Santa Cruz, Calif.	Prior & Church/Looff	1924
33	Playland Wooden Coaster	PNE Playland	Vancouver, B.C., Canada	Phare	1958
34	Colossos	Heide Park	Soltau, Germany	Intamin	2001
35	The Raven	Holiday World	Santa Claus, Ind.	Custom Coasters	1995
36	White Lightning	Fun Spot America Orlando	Orlando, Fla.	Great Coasters Int.	2013
37	Racer	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pa.	Miller	1927
38	Heidi The Ride	Plopsaland de Panne	Adinkerke-De Panne, Belgium	Great Coasters Int.	2017
39	Hades 360	Mt. Olympus Theme Park	Wisconsin Dells, Wis.	The Gravity Group	2005
40	Cornball Express	Indiana Beach	Monticello, Ind.	Custom Coasters Int.	1999
41	Zippin Pippin	Bay Beach	Green Bay, Wis.	MVR	2011
42	Racer	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	PTC-Allen	1972
43	Renegade	Valleyfair	Shakopee, Minn.	Great Coasters Int.	2007
44	T Express	Everland	Yonjin-si, South Korea	Intamin	2008
45 – tie	American Thunder	Six Flags St. Louis	Eureka, Mo.	Great Coasters Int.	2008
45 – tie	Bobcat	Six Flags Great Escape	Queensbury, N.Y.	The Gravity Group	2024
45 – tie	Comet	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pa.	PTC-Schmeck	1946
48	Cú Chulainn	Emerald Park	Ashbourne, Ireland	The Gravity Group	2015
49	Screamin’ Eagle	Six Flags St. Louis	Eureka, Mo.	PTC-Allen	1976
50	Wooden Warrior	Quassy Amusement Park	Middlebury, Conn.	The Gravity Group	2011