Ranked: Pa.'s 10 best roller coasters

Joel Shannon, jshannon@ydr.com

There's no shortage of thrills in Pennsylvania this summer. Eleven roller coasters in the state were ranked among the top 100 in the world in 2016. That's more than any other state. Or any foreign nation.

That list is made based on a survey of 500 roller coaster enthusiasts from around the globe. The result is the annual "Golden Ticket" top 50 lists for steel and wooden roller coasters.

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According to the Golden Ticket top 50 lists, here are Pennsylvania's top 10 roller coasters. The 11th Pennsylvania coaster cited by the Golden Tickets is listed at the bottom of this article as an honorable mention.

#10: Racer

Kennywood's 1927 racing coaster is ranked the 43rd best wooden roller coaster. Waiting in line can be a disorienting experience: The coaster's trains arrive at the opposite side of the station from where they left. During the course of the ride, the two competing trains often race directly beside each other.

#9: Flying Turns

After 7 years of research and construction, Knoebels opened up the nation's first wooden bobsled in forty years in 2013. It's currently ranked the 41st best wooden coaster.

#8: Blue Streak

Conneaut Lake Park's 1938 coaster seems a lot taller than its reported 77-foot height. Ranked the 38th best wooden roller coaster, it starts in a nearly-pitch-black tunnel. The real fright begins when you see the lift hill.

#7: Steel Force

Dorney Park's coaster dwarfs the previous coasters on this list with a height of 200 feet. When it opened in 1997, it was the "tallest free-standing roller coaster and the first to break the 200-foot barrier on the East Coast," according to Dorney Park

#6: Thunderbolt

Kennywood's 1968 coaster starts right out of the station with a drop ... And it gets even crazier after that. It's ranked as the 21st on the wooden coasters list.

#5: Jack Rabbit

The oldest ranked Pennsylvania coaster, built in 1920, Kennywood's Jack Rabbit is a terrain coaster, built around natural obstacles. That leads to a terrific double-dip drop towards the end of the ride. It's currently ranked 20th on the wooden coaster list.

#3 (Tie): Lightning Racer

Hersheypark's racing coaster opened in 2000. The twin coasters, Lightning and Thunder, usually finish their runs within seconds of each other, and a electronic system declares the winner. It's ranked the 10th best wooden coaster.

#3 (Tie): Phantom's Revenge

Kennywood's highest-ranking steel roller coaster was originally opened as "The Steel Phantom," contained looping elements and opened in 1991. The ride was redesigned and reopened in 2001, removing the loops but keeping the roller coaster's signature second drop -- one that is taller than the first and takes the train through another roller coaster's design. It's currently ranked the 10th best steel roller coaster.

#2: Ravine Flier II

The newest coaster from Pennsylvania to make the top 100 list, Waldameer's Ravine Flier II opened in 2008 and is classified as a hybrid between steel and wooden. It's currently ranked the 5th best wooden coaster.

#1: Phoenix

Knoebel's Phoenix is renowned among enthusiasts for its "airtime" -- negative g-forces that lift riders out of their seats. It's been ranked in the top 10 ever since the awards started in 1998. It's currently ranked the second best wooden roller coaster.

Honorable mention: Knoebel's Twister is ranked the 47th best wooden roller coaster, rounding out the 11 Pennsylvania roller coasters to make the Golden Tickets' two top 50 lists.