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The most anticipated new roller coasters of 2015

Arthur Levine

Since the dawn of amusement parks, roller coasters have been the kings of the midway. That's still true today as parks hype their latest thrill machines, and park fans line up to test their mettle. But the coaster class of 2015 has evolved -- in some cases, dramatically -- from the rides' early days. Today's mechanical monsters can soar hundreds of feet tall, reach previously unfathomable speeds, perform wild acrobatic maneuvers, and incorporate technology to deliver gravity-defying experiences. Let's take a sneak peek at 10 of the most hype-worthy, new coasters coming to a park near you.

Fury 325 at Carowinds – Charlotte, N.C.

The "325" in the name of this behemoth stands for the number of feet it will rise into the air. The steel "giga-coaster" (a sub-genre that breaks the 300-foot height threshold) will be among the five tallest in the world. At a bone-rattling 95 mph, it will also rank as one of the country's five fastest coasters. With its trains rocketing under the walkway into Carowinds' front entrance, Fury 325 should make quite a statement.

Watch live as Fury 325 takes passengers on a thrill ride:

Twisted Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain – Valencia, Calif.

The original Colossus, a circa-1978 classic, was immortalized in National Lampoon's Vacation. Fans mourned when Six Flags announced it would be closing the aged ride in 2014. But not for long. The park revealed its plans to resurrect the coaster as Twisted Colossus. The hybrid ride will incorporate a newfangled steel track while retaining much of the existing wooden structure. The track will allow the reborn ride to send passengers head over heels into inversions, something the traditional wooden coaster couldn't offer. The new coaster will turn Colossus' dual-track layout into a single, 5000-foot track that will give riders an especially long experience.

Wicked Cyclone at Six Flags New England – Agawam, Mass.

The same company that is modifying Colossus (and has performed similar rising-from-the-ashes miracles on past-their-prime wooden coasters at other Six Flags parks) is breathing new life into Cyclone. The notoriously rough ride should be glass smooth after the transformation into Wicked Cyclone. It will also include inversions and feature loads of "airtime," the free-floating sensation that makes coaster fans go gaga.

Thunderbird at Holiday World – Santa Claus, Ind.

Wing coasters position riders on either side of the track (or the "wings") in extra-wide trains. Thunderbird will be the first wing coaster in the U.S. to employ a magnetic launch. It will abruptly accelerate to 60 mph and tackle a 140-foot tall inversion. And that's just the start. Like most wing coasters, the Holiday World ride will appear to narrowly avert disaster. In this case, the massive trains will race towards a small opening in a barn and turn sideways at the last moment to pass through a "keyhole."

Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Fiesta Texas – San Antonio, Texas

Another wing coaster, Batman will be the first to also include a "Free Spin" feature. Separate from their movement along the ride course, the seats on either side of the track will be able to rotate independently in the "fourth dimension." It should make for a supremely disorienting and batty ride.

Impulse at Knoebels – Elysburg, Pa.

Known for its outstanding wooden coasters, the traditional amusement park will open its first major steel coaster in 2015. The ride will include a vertical lift hill, a 90-degree first drop, and some upside-down elements.

Laff Trakk at Hersheypark – Hershey, Pa.

An intriguing entry in the 2015 lineup, Hersheypark's thirteenth thrill machine will combine a spinning coaster and a fun house ride. The cars will rotate as they make their way along the track inside the show building. That will allow passengers to get a good look at the gags and classic black light scenes throughout the attraction.

Tempesto at Busch Gardens Williamsburg – Williamsburg, Va.

Using electro-magnetic propulsion, the Busch Gardens ride will feature three separate launches. Passengers will soar forwards and backwards and scale the coaster's signature element, a 154-foot non-inverting loop.

Cannibal at Lagoon – Farmington, Utah

The steel coaster will rise 208 feet on a vertical lift hill. It will drop at 116 degrees (angled in beyond straight down) even farther into an underground tunnel. I'm not sure what's up with the name (or what impact it will have on food sales at the park).

Switchback at ZDT'S Amusement Park – Seguin, Texas

It should offer a thoroughly modern ride, but the wooden thrill machine will hark back to the original roller coaster, the Gravity Pleasure Switch Back Railway at Coney Island. Like that landmark coaster, Switchback will send passengers racing forward and, instead of making a complete circuit, will stall out on an incline before reaching the end of the track. The train will then retrace the course heading backwards. A track switch towards the end of the ride will route the train back to the loading station.

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