The Wooden Roller Coaster

Built board by board in 1958, the Wooden Roller Coaster is Playland’s most historic and spectacular attraction. Reaching speeds of 45 mph on the steepest drop, the many twists, turns and camel hops of the Wooden Roller Coaster’s 2,840 feet of track keep you on the edge of your seat until the last hair-raising turn into the station! In 2009, the Coaster was designated as a “ACE Roller Coaster Landmark.” named top wooden coaster in Canada, and 7th in the world. Read more pdf. “Playland’s Wooden Roller Coaster is an absolute treasure, an immaculately maintained piece of history that has thrilled generations of visitors and will hopefully remain for generations to come. They just don’t make ’em like this any more.” The Wooden Roller Coaster opened in 1958. At the time, it cost over $200,000 to make, and was 40 cents for guests to ride. Designed by Carl Phare and Walker LeRoy, the ride was the final design of Phare's career, and is his only creation that is still standing. The coaster is not currently operating. This Coaster can go up to 90km per hour and all it goes on the law of gravity.

I have never been brought to my feet as many time on a coaster ride as I did on this one. I definitely felt like I ”survived” this ride but I’d do it again!

It seems like it gets announced every year that this will be The Coaster's last year. But this year, it's been said that, before next season, seat belts will be installed, which will greatly change the ride experience.

This is by far, the best Coaster in the pacific northwest, and if you sit in the back, you are literally in the air the whole time. I feel unsafe on this coaster and thats a good thing. gives it more character and charm. I really want to give it 5 stars but unfortunately when I was there, Playland was only running one train despite the hour long line. Even worse due to there Covid-19 protocols, they where only boarding 3-5 people per train. This is understandable for distancing but at the same time another reason for running 2 trains.

Ahh, my memories of the famous Wooden Coaster date back almost 30 years. It’s a lovely wooden behemoth of a ride, wait, not a ride but a coaster! The best memories I have of the coaster were the 6 years I worked at Playland in the mid-to-late 90’s. To this day it’s still my favorite ride, with it’s neck-breaking turns, and the bunny hills that literally launch you from your seat! You won’t be disappointed.

At over fifty years old, the wooden coaster is still Playland's star attraction. The ride starts off with a few steep hills and leads into a series of tight corners and dips. Added excitement comes from the flexible wooden ride structure and lots of air time thanks to high lap bars. Worth a ride for coaster enthusiasts.

The #1 ride Playland has to offer, the wooden roller coaster has been standing since the 50s and with some modifications, everything is still intact and running to be maintained as a provincial... heck, national attraction in Canada! This is one of the few still-standing wooden roller coasters left in North America. Definitely the ride you have to jump on when you're at Playland, if you have the guts, of course.

A sitting coaster with shared 2 seat cars & a single position lap bar. Thou shalt be bruised & battered. Good luck trying to stay seated. Excellent coaster. The PNE plaque reads: "Once threatened with demolition, the 1958 Wooden Roller Coaster is celebrated across North America as the last, still operating example of noted designer Carl Phare’s work. Built of Douglas Fir by Walker LeRoy, the coaster features a maximum drop height of 20m and speeds of up to 76 km/h. As Canada’s oldest operating wooden roller coaster, it is designated as a “Coaster Landmark,” and a “Coaster Classic” by the American Coaster Enthusiasts organization."

This thing is brilliant... and SCARY. The restraint system is so minimal no seatbelt just a bar that one can't help but to worry about flying on the dips and hills. I hope they never remove this thing. WARNING: If you are small and/or scared of roller coasters, do NOT sit in the back seat of the train because it is even more bumpy and brutal!

This Roller Coaster is fantastic. A genuine wooden coaster with just a bar to hold you in. So much fun. Not just the Best ride at PNE but a great ride. It's very special.