American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) recognizes Grand National Pleasure Beach Resort as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation reserved for rides of historic significance.
Following the death of Pleasure Beach founder Wiliam Bean (1868-1929), son-in-law Leonard Thompson (1902-1976) began a major transformation of the park from 1933 to 1936 with significant ride additions. Among these was a large wooden racing roller coaster erected on the site the former Scenic Railway that closed in 1933. American Charles Paige (1879-1951) based the ride on a famous California racing coaster, Cyclone Racer. Philadelphia Toboggan Company provided the coaster's classic four trains.
The 19-metre-tall Grand National opened in 1935 and is one of only two single-track wooden racing coasters still operating in the world. The ingeniously designed layout includes two 1,006-metre-long tracks that is one long continuous circuit. Riders board trains on one side of the modernist-style station and return on the other side, travelling at a top speed of 64 km/hour. The station was the creation of famed architect Joseph Emberton (1889-1956) and had to be rebuilt in 2004 after being destroyed by fire earlier that year. ACE applauds Pleasure Beach Resort on its continued care and operation of one of the last single-track racing coasters in the world.
Presented by American Coaster Enthusiasts
July 2, 2024