Altoona, Pennsylvania: World's Oldest Roller Coaster

An absolute must for coaster addicts, Leap the Dips is not as tame as it looks. The cars, I was told, are original and lack lap bars and seat belts. The seats are quite deep, however, so the chances of being tossed out are pretty minimal. The front seat is a bit bumpy, not too bad, but the back really gives a rough ride, especially as there are no pads anywhere.

I bought a wristband and rode the two coasters multiple times with minimal waits. Even on a beautiful June Saturday, the park was pretty empty. More people were playing mini golf and riding the antique cars and the train. I spent about 3 hours and was perfectly satisfied with my day.

We visited this park in late July and "Leap the Dips" is not running. It is under construction. Still a very pretty spot to visit.

Built in 1902, "Leap the Dips" is the oldest roller coaster in US. It is the last known railed coaster known to exist, completely restored in 1999. The park is a full of old rides. Lakemont Park is always worth the stop just to see the history of this park.