It’s got to be the creepy, creaky, groaning sounds of the joints that make a wooden roller coaster that much scarier. Really, is the whole thing going to come crashing down under us? And when we’re talking about the newest stomach-spinner at Six Flags Great America, that would be 180 feet under us, the tallest drop of any wooden coaster. It’s called Goliath and that, it is. Besides its heart-stopping distance, it pushes limits with an 85-degree plunge. Top it off with speeds that reach 72 miles an hour and a zero-G roll and we predict the lines—and screams—will be some of the most impressive the park has experienced in years. General admission $64.99; children under 48” $44.99; discounts online. 1 Great America Pkwy., 847.249.INFO (4636), www.sixflags.com/greatamerica
Goliath by the Numbers:
Height: 165 feet
Drop: 180 feet
Angle of lift: 45 degrees
Angle of drop: 85 degrees
Speed: 72 mph
Length: 3,100 feet
Duration: 1:36
Man-hours to build: 40,000
Total number of bolts: 70,000
Board feet of lumber: 300,000