American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) recognizes Rutschebanen at Tivoli Gardens as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation reserved for rides of historic significance.
Opening at Tivoli Gardens on 12 June 1914, Rutschebanen is the oldest operating roller coaster in Europe and third oldest in the world. Construction was supervised by Valdemar Lebech (1884-1975). Rutschebanen is one of the very few remaining scenic railway coasters to be built by the L.A. Thompson Scenic Railway Company, led by founder LaMarcus Adna Thompson (1848-1919). As was common among side-friction scenic railways of the era, Rutschebanen features an onboard brake operator who controls the speed of the train as it traverses the many dips and turns that were built around and through handcrafted mountain scenery. In 1924, Copenhagen government officials felt that the mountains looked too frivolous for those arriving at the nearby railroad station, so the peaks of the artificial mountains were removed.
To help break morale for the Danish citizens during the occupation of World War II, several landmarks within Tivoli Gardens were bombed by saboteurs in June 1944, including sections of Rutschebanen. Government officials believed it was essential to restore the park back to operating order as soon as possible, so Rutschebanen was renovated and reopened just 25 days later.
Today, guests can ride Rutschebanen as their ancestors did while traversing the 12.6-meter-high, 720-meter-long course, reaching a top speed of 60 kph. For the ride's 100th anniversary, the mountain tops were added back in 2014, restoring the original vision and theming for the remarkable attraction.
ACE applauds Tivoli Gardens for continuing to meticulously maintain and operate Rutschebanen as a timeless treasure for Denmark and the world.
Presented by American Coaster Enthusiasts
30 June 2023