California theme park named best in US for adrenaline junkies — thanks to this roller coaster

Calling all adrenaline junkies: California is home to the most thrilling theme park in the nation, a new study says.

Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia is “America’s best theme park for thrill-seekers,” according to a study conducted by online casino site JeffBett.

Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, was second on the list of the top 10 U.S. theme parks for adrenaline junkies, JeffBet said, while Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, came in third.

The site ranked theme parks around the nation based on the number of roller coaster offerings, size and speed of the rides, giving scores to each.

Why is Six Flags Magic Mountain the best US theme park?

Six Flags Magic Mountain, which advertises itself as the “Thrill Capitol of the World,” topped JeffBet’s list with an index score of 87.34 out of 100 — thanks to the average height and speed of its coasters.

“The ride Superman: Escape from Krypton was found to be Magic Mountain’s scariest coaster,” the site said, “with a top speed of 100 mph and an exhilarating free-fall drop from an elevation of 415 feet.”

The 260-acre theme park in Los Angeles County features 20 roller coasters and more than 100 rides, games and attractions, according to its website.

Six Flags parks made four appearances in the top 10, with Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, landing at No. 5 and Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington at No. 6.

What are the best theme parks for roller coaster fans?

These were the top 10 theme parks for thrill seekers, according to JeffBet:

1. Six Flags Magic Mountain
2. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio
3. Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey
4. Kings Island in Mason, Ohio
5. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois
6. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas
7. Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania
8. Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina
9. Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia
10. Busch Gardens Tampa in Tampa, Florida

What were rankings based on?

JeffBet analyzed data from the Roller Coaster Database for 434 roller coasters at 113 theme parks across the United States.

This story was originally published May 24, 2024 at 7:31 AM with the headline "California theme park named best in US for adrenaline junkies — thanks to this roller coaster."

Sarah Linn

The Tribune

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Sarah Linn is an editor and reporter on the West Service Journalism Team, working with journalists in Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Merced and San Luis Obispo in California and Bellingham, Olympia and Tri-Cities in Washington, as well as Boise, Idaho. She previously served as the Local/Entertainment Editor of The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, working there for nearly two decades. A graduate of Oregon State University, she has earned multiple California journalism awards.