Review of the Wooden Coaster at Knott’s Berry Farm

When the Cedar Fair folks (the coaster-crazy crew that runs Ohio’s Cedar Point) bought Knott’s Berry Farm from the Knott family in the late 1990s, one of the first things they did was what they know best: They built a kick-ass coaster. GhostRider combines the traditional charm of a woodie with the sensibility of a modern-day thrill machine, and it offers an airtime-filled, exhilarating ride.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 6.5
  • Typical wood coaster thrills, with plenty of out-of-your-seat airtime.
• Coaster type: Wood, double out-and-back
• Top speed: 56 mph
• Height restriction: 48 inches
• Height: 118 feet
• Longest Drop: 108 feet
• Ride time: 2 minutes

With its rustic yellow-pine track and Old-West adorned loading station, GhostRider fits right into Knott’s Berry Farm’s Ghost Town area. It even has “Ghost” in its name, increasing its thematic allure.

Ride Experience

A meandering queue eventually deposits riders in a switchback on the ground level of the “GhostRider Mining Company” boarding station. Due to GhostRider’s popularity, be prepared for long waits in the queue, especially during busier park days. However, this anticipation leads to a great ride experience.

The train leaves the station, coasts into a ravine that passes the queue, and ascends the lift hill. The highlight is the perfect 108-foot banked drop. To mitigate noise for neighbors, Knott’s has covered the drop with a metal canopy, which, despite limiting views, enhances the ride’s mystique and amplifies the intensity of the experience.

Ghostly Airtime

An abrupt left-hand turn at the bottom of the drop produces a thrill of airtime. The following camelback hill unleashes an exciting torrent of airtime. GhostRider then navigates through a delightful array of twists and turns, generating wonderful out-of-your-seat moments. The banked portions provide lateral Gs that are thrilling yet smooth, unlike other coasters where intense lateral forces can be uncomfortable. This is the essence of great wooden coasters.

It’s advisable to enjoy the company of your seatmate, as the ride’s helices can cause passengers to slide towards one another.

Located at the edge of Knott’s Berry Farm, GhostRider serves as a fantastic highlight for the park. One-third of the ride actually extends outside its perimeter, taking riders over Grand Avenue and adjacent to the popular Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant and shops.

While Knott’s states that the ride lasts for two minutes, it feels even longer—an impressive feat for such an exhilarating experience.

Triumphant Return

Originally built by Custom Coasters International, the ride maintains wild speed and excitement until its final brake run back into the station. Known for their innovative designs, CCI coasters seem to gain speed rather than lose it during the concluding elements. GhostRider exemplifies this magic.

When it first opened in 1998, GhostRider garnered acclaim from coaster enthusiasts and casual riders alike. However, like many wooden coasters, it began to show its age and became somewhat rough. Fortunately, Knott’s decided not to retire the ride. Instead, it closed in 2015 for significant refurbishments. Great Coasters International removed the track, re-profiled sections, and introduced new trains.

GhostRider reopened in 2016, now offering a much smoother ride experience while retaining the characteristic thrill that fans love. The rear seat particularly promises a gloriously intense journey once again, making GhostRider one of the premier wooden coasters in the country.