Best of The Best: 2023 Golden Ticket Awards

Today, amusement industry professionals from all around the globe have convened in Tennessee 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 Dollywood in Tennessee — marking the third time Dollywood has been host for the annual Golden Ticket Awards.

The votes have been tallied and the winners are:

Best Steel Roller Coaster:

1 Fury 325 / Carowinds (NC)
2 Millennium Force / Cedar Point (OH)
3 Velocicoaster / Universal Orlando (FL)
4 Steel Vengeance / Cedar Point (OH)
5 Iron Gwazi / Busch Gardens Tampa (FL)
6 Expedition GeForce / Holiday Park (Germany))
7 Superman / Six Flags New England (MA)
8 Taron / Phantasialand (Germany)
9 Intimidator 305 / Kings Dominion (VA)
10 Maverick / Cedar Point (OH)

(top 50 below)

Best Wood Roller Coaster:

1 Phoenix / Knoebels Amusement Resort (PA)
2 The Voyage / Holiday World (IN)
3 El Toro / Six Flags Great Adventure (NJ)
4 Thunderhead / Dollywood (TN)
5 Boulderdash / Lake Compounce (CT)
6 The Beast / Kings Island (OH)
7 Mystic Timbers / Kings Island (OH)
8 Ravine Flyer II / Waldameer (PA)
9 Ghostrider / Knott’s Berry Farm (CA)
10 Outlaw Run / Silver Dollar City (MO)

(top 50 below)

Best Amusement Park: Dollywood (TN)

Best New Roller Coaster: Wildcat’s Revenge / Hersheypark (PA)

Best New Family Attraction: Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge / Universal Hollywood (CA)

Best New Attraction Installation: ArieForce One / Fun Spot Atlanta (GA)

Best New Water Park Ride: Rocket Blast / Waldameer Park & Water World (PA)

Best Innovation: 208 Retrak, RMC Rocky Mountain Construction

Best Water Park: Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort (TX)

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

Best Guest Experience: Dollywood (TN)

Most Beautiful Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg (VA)

Best Family Park: Dutch Wonderland (PA)

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

Best Food: Knoebels Amusement Resort (PA)

Best New Show: “Le Mime et l’Etoile” / Puy du Fou (France)

Best Water Ride (In a Park): Valhalla / Blackpool Pleasure Beach (England)

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

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

Best Halloween Event of 2022: Halloween Horror Nights / Universal Studios Orlando (FL)

Best Christmas Event of 2022: Smoky Mountain Christmas / Dollywood (TN)

Breakout FEC of 2022: Fun Land of Fredericksburg (VA)

AIMS International Safety Award: Jeff Abendshien, VP of Recreation Engineering INC.

AIMS International Safety Award (organization): ASTM F-24 Commitee

Golden Ticket Leadership Award: Eric Anderson, President, Quassy Amusement Park (CT)

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: SeaWorld (FL) With the retirement of the Best Marine Life/Wildlife Park category (won by SWO 17 times from 2006-2022), SeaWorld Orlando has been recognized as a Golden Ticket Award LEGEND for their continued conservation efforts, variety of entertainment and the connection it brings to people and their environment.

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award: Clair Hain & Mike Boodley. In acknowledgment of the work and advancement of wooden roller coasters brought to the industry by these two individuals, Amusement Today is excited to recognize Clair Hain and Mike Boodley as Golden Ticket Award Legends.

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award: Jack Herschend, Pete Herschend and Dolly Parton (Herschend Entertainment) For exemplary leadership to the amusement industry — ultimately bringing families closer together.

Publishers Choice:

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: Kennywood, Pittsburgh (PA) For bringing renewed energy to the park experience.

Turnstile Award: Carowinds, Charlotte (NC) For giving new and fresh offerings in a thoughtfully planned atmosphere bringing guests back again and again.

Top 50 Best Steel Coasters:

Rank	Name	Park	Location	Supplier	Year
1	Fury 325	Carowinds	Charlotte, North Carolina	B&M	2015
2	Millennium Force	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	Intamin	2000
3	Jurassic World VelociCoaster	Universal Islands of Adventure	Orlando, Florida	Intamin	2021
4	Steel Vengeance	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	Rocky Mountain Const.	2018
5	Iron Gwazi	Busch Gardens Tampa Bay	Tampa, Florida	Rocky Mountain Const.	2022
6	Expedition GeForce	Holiday Park	Hassloch, Germany	Intamin	2001
7	Superman The Ride	Six Flags New England	Agawam, Massachusetts	Intamin	2000
8	Taron	Phantasialand	Brühl, Germany	Intamin	2016
tie-9	Intimidator 305	Kings Dominion	Doswell, Virginia	Intamin	2010
tie-9	Maverick	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	Intamin	2007
11	Apollo’s Chariot	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Virginia	B&M	1999
12	Phantom’s Revenge	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pennsylvania	Morgan/Arrow	2001
13	Leviathan	Canada’s Wonderland	Vaughan, Ontario, Canada	B&M	2012
14	Lightning Rod	Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tennessee	Rocky Mountain Const.	2016
tie-15	Intimidator	Carowinds	Charlotte, North Carolina	B&M	2010
tie-15	Iron Rattler	Six Flags Fiesta Texas	San Antonio, Texas	Rocky Mountain Const.	2013
17	Mako	SeaWorld Orlando	Orlando, Florida	B&M	2016
18	Helix	Liseberg	Gothenburg, Sweden	Mack	2014
19	Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Mmotorbike Adventure	Universal Islands of Adventure	Orlando, Florida	Intamin	2019
20	Nitro	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson, New Jersey	B&M	2001
21	X2	Six Flags Magic Mountain	Valencia, California	Arrow	2001
22	Time Traveler	Silver Dollar City	Branson, Missouri	Mack	2018
23	Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind	EPCOT	Lake Buena Vista, Florida	Vekoma	2022
24	Candymonium	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pennsylvania	B&M	2020
25	ArieForce One	Fun Spot America Atlanta	Fayetteville, Georgia	Rocky Mountain Const.	2023
26	Diamondback	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	B&M	2009
27	Orion	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	B&M	2020
28	Twisted Colossus	Six Flags Magic Mountain	Valencia, California	Rocky Mountain Const.	2015
29	Skyrush	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pennsylvania	Intamin	2012
30	Magnum XL-200	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	Arrow	1989
31	Ride to Happiness	Plopsaland De Panne	De Panne, Belgium	Mack	2021
32	Zadra	Energylandia	Zator, Poland	Rocky Mountain Const.	2019
33	Fønix	Fårup Sommerland	Blokhus, Denmark	Vekoma	2022
34	Montu	Busch Gardens Tampa Bay	Tampa, Florida	B&M	1996
35	Nemesis	Alton Towers	Staffordshire, England	B&M	1994
36	Steel Curtain	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pennsylvania	S&S	2019
37	Big Bear Mountain	Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tennessee	Vekoma	2023
38	New Texas Giant	Six Flags Over Texas	Arlington, Texas	Rocky Mountain Const.	2011
39	Blue Fire Megacoaster	Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	Mack	2009
40	Wildcat’s Revenge	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pennsylvania	Rocky Mountain Const.	2023
tie-41	Banshee	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	B&M	2014
tie-41	Riddler Mindbender	Six Flags Over Georgia	Austell, Georgia	Schwarzkopf	1978
tie-43	Steel Dragon 2000	Nagashima Spa Land	Nagashima, Japan	Morgan	2000
tie-43	Twisted Timbers	Kings Dominion	Doswell, Virginia	Rocky Mountain Const.	2018
45	Goliath	Six Flags Over Georgia	Austell, Georgia	B&M	2006
46	F.L.Y.	Phantasialand	Brühl, Germany	Vekoma	2020
47	Cheetah Hunt	Busch Gardens Tampa Bay	Tampa, Florida	Intamin	2011
48	Alpengeist	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Virginia	B&M	1997
49	Pantheon	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Virginia	Intamin	2022
50	Black Mamba	Phantasialand	Brühl, Germany	B&M	2006

Top 50 Best Wood Coasters:

Rank	Name	Park	Location	Supplier	Year
1	Phoenix	Knoebels	Elysburg, Pennsylvania	Dinn-PTC/Shmeck	1985
2	Voyage	Holiday World	Santa Claus, Indiana	The Gravity Group	2006
3	El Toro	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson, New Jersey	Intamin	2006
4	Thunderhead	Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tennessee	Great Coasters Int.	2004
5	Boulder Dash	Lake Compounce	Bristol, Connecticut	Custom Consters Int.	2000
6	Beast	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	KECO	1979
7	Mystic Timbers	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	Great Coasters Int.	2017
8	Ravine Flyer 2	Waldameer	Erie, Pennsylvania	The Gravity Group	2008
9	GhostRider	Knott’s Berry Farm	Buena Park, California	Custom Coasters/GCII	1998
10	Outlaw Run	Silver Dollar City	Branson, Missouri	Rocky Mountain Const.	2013
11	Balder	Liseberg	Gothenburg, Sweden	Intamin	2003
12	Gold Striker	California’s Great America	Santa Clara, California	Great Coasters Int.	2013
13	Wildfire	Kolmården	Norrköping, Sweden	Rocky Mountain Const.	2016
14	Wodan	Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	Great Coasters Int.	2012
15	Jack Rabbit	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pennsylvania	Miller	1920
16	Cyclone	Luna Park	Brooklyn, New York	Baker/Keenan	1927
17	Shivering Timbers	Michigan’s Adventure	Muskegon, Michigan	Custom Coasters Int.	1998
18	Thunderbolt	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pennsylvania	Vettel/Miller	1968
19	Troy	Toverland	Sevenum, The Netherlands	Great Coasters Int.	2007
20	Rutschebanan	Tivoli Gardens	Copenhagen, Denmark	L.A. Thompson	1914
21	Legend	Holiday World	Santa Claus, Indiana	Custom Coasters Int.	2000
22	Lightning Racer	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pennsylvania	Great Coasters Int.	2000
23	Flying Turns	Knoebels	Elysburg, Pennsylvania	Fetterman	2014
24	Prowler	Worlds of Fun	Kansas City, Missouri	Great Coasters Int.	2009
25	Comet	Six Flags Great Escape	Queensbury, New York	PTC/Shmeck	1994
26	Raven	Holiday World	Santa Claus, Indiana	Custom Coasters Int.	1995
27-tie	Colossos	Heide Park	Soltau, Germany	Intamin	2001
27-tie	Twister	Knoebels	Elysburg, Pennsylvania	Fetterman	1999
29	Giant Dipper	Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk	Santa Cruz, California	Prior & Church/Looff	1924
30-tie	Boardwalk Bullet	Kemah Boardwalk	Kemah, Texas	The Gravity Group/M&V	2007
30-tie	Playland Wooden Coaster	PNE Playland	Vancouver, B.C., Columbia	Phare	1958
32	Goliath	Six Flags Great America	Gurnee, Illinois	Rocky Mountain Const.	2014
33	Texas Stingray	SeaWorld San Antonio	San Antonio, Texas	Great Coasters Int.	2020
34	White Lightning	Fun Spot America	Orlando, Florida	Great Coasters Int.	2013
35	Rampage	Alabama Adventure	Bessemer, Alabama	Custom Coasters Int.	1998
36	Cú Chulainn	Emerald Park	Ashbourne, Ireland	The Gravity Group	2015
37	Renegade	Valleyfair	Shakopee, Minnesota	Great Coasters Int.	2007
38	T Express	Everland	Youjin-si, South Korea	Intamin	2008
39	Boss	Six Flags St. Louis	Eureka, Missouri	Custom Coasters Int.	2000
40	Screamin’ Eagle	Six Flags St. Louis	Eureka, Missouri	PTC/Allen	1976
41	Racer	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pennsylvania	Miller	1927
42-tie	Cornball Express	Indiana Beach	Monticello, Indiana	Custom Coasters Int.	1999
42-tie	Grizzly	Kings Dominion	Doswell, Virginia	KECO	1982
44	Hades 360	Mount Olympus	Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin	The Gravity Group	2005
45-tie	InvadR	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Virginia	Great Coasters Int.	2017
45-tie	Viper	Six Flags Great America	Gurnee, Illinois	Starkey	1995
47	Wicker Man	Alton Towers	Staffordshire, England	Great Coasters Int.	2018
48	Zippin Pippin	Bay Beach	Green Bay, Wisconsin	M&V	2011
49	Comet	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pennsylvania	PTC/Shmeck	1946
50	Switchback	ZDTs	Seguin, Texas	The Gravity Group	2015