Oldest Rollercoaster In America Located In New York State

If you want to ride the oldest continuously operating coaster in North America you will have to make a day trip to Rochester, New York.

Built in 1920, The Jack Rabbit is located at Seabreeze amusement park in Irondequoit, New York. It was first opened on May 31st and at the time that it was opened, it was the fastest rollercoaster in the country at 50 miles per hour.

According to Wikipedia, when the rollercoaster was built it was made around the park’s natural topography.  The ride features 2,130 feet of track with a first drop that is 75 feet high.  the track also has camel-back, airtime-producing hills, and a tunneled helix with a final surprise drop through the ravine before returning to the station. The tunnel on the track was added in 1928.

Even during the pandemic in 2020 when the park was closed to the public, several staff members went to it and ran the Jack Rabbit so that it wouldn't lose its status as the oldest continuously operating rollercoaster in the country.

Currently, the Jack Rabbit is the fourth oldest operating roller coaster in the world and the second oldest in the United States. The oldest, Leap-The-Dips in Altoona, Pennsylvania, was closed from 1985 to 1999.

If you want to ride the Jack Rabbit yourself, you can check out Seabreeze Amusement park during their summer hours. Most days the park is open from 11 am until 8 pm. Get park hours and ticket information HERE.