Phoenix, Arizona

In observation of National Roller Coaster Day, Castles-n-Coasters in Phoenix will offer free rides on both roller coasters, Desert Storm and Patriot, from 5 pm to 10 pm.

Bring your family and friends for a fun night of coasters at Phoenix’s own amusement park. The rest of the park will be closed, with the exception of Go Karts and Bumper Boats.

National Roller Coaster Day celebrates the rich history of coasters, which serve as a crucial attraction at theme parks and amusement parks throughout the country. On August 16, 1878, Richard Knudsen and J.G. Taylor received a U.S. patent for the earliest form of a wooden roller coaster. Their creation consisted of two adjacent railway tracks that ran between two towers carrying four-passenger cars. They determined that the force of gravity would pull the cars down gently sloping hills, and the cars would then be hauled back up by the elevator in the opposite tower for the return trip.

In the early 1980’s, a national newspaper proclaimed August 16th as National Roller Coaster Day in conjunction with the date when the first roller coaster was patented in the United States.

Get more info about National Roller Coaster Day here: nationalrollercoasterday.com