Theme parks are gripped by roller coaster 'arms race' which will see three rival parks debut terrifying new rides, including one that launches riders 420ft into the air at 120mph

Theme parks are gripped by a roller coaster 'arms race' as three rival parks debut terrifying new rides, including one that will launch riders 420 feet into the air at 120 mph - which will make it the tallest and fastest ride ever built.

At Six Flags Over Georgia, 'The Georgia Surfer' is set to debut, launching riders backwards up a 144-foot tower while spinning them around in circles. 

Meanwhile, at Dorney Park in Pennsylvania, 'The Iron Menace' will 'suspend riders 160 feet in the air before plummeting at a beyond-vertical, 95-degree drop.' 

The 'Top Thrill 2' at Cedar Point in Ohio will propel rides 420-foot up and reach 120-miles per hour - earning the spot for the tallest and fastest ride. 

Set to open at Cleveland's Cedar Point next year, The Top Thrill 2 will rocket revelers 420 feet into the air, park presiders said in a statement, before falling backwards and then forward once again at speeds of 120mph.

The 'Top Thrill 2' at Cedar Point in Ohio will propel rides 420-foot up and reach 120-miles per hour - earning the spot for the tallest and fastest ride

At Six Flags Over Georgia, 'The Georgia Surfer' is set to debut, launching riders backwards up a 144-foot tower while spinning them around in circles

At Dorney Park in Pennsylvania , 'The Iron Menace' will 'suspend riders 160 feet in the air before plummeting at a beyond-vertical, 95-degree drop'

Themed to Top Fuel drag racing, the ride - which has three segments and is classed as a 'triple-launch' coaster - will also feature a launch track designed like a dragstrip, where straightaway speeds are poised to surprise the most seasoned of enthusiasts.

The 'record-breaking, next generation motorsport machine races a course unlike any other on the planet,' according the ride's description. 'Sleek, aerodynamic vehicles launch you not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES as you drive the sky in an epic competition to reach the finish line.'

To experience the highly anticipated 'Top Thrill 2' at Cedar Point, guests must meet specific safety requirements, including having three functioning extremities, as stated on their website 

The ride is driven by linear synchronous motor (LSM) technology. Riders will also experience the unique thrill of a guaranteed rollback as their racer momentarily returns to the launch in reverse from the existing 420-foot tower.

Riders on Top Thrill 2 will also experience the unique thrill of a guaranteed rollback as their racer momentarily returns to the launch in reverse from the existing 420-foot tower

Dorney Park is gearing up to introduce 'The Iron Menace,' the northeast’s inaugural dive coaster. 

Scheduled for launch in 2024, this exhilarating ride suspends riders 160 feet in the air before plunging them down a beyond-vertical, 95-degree drop - with four mind-bending inversions and speeds reaching up to 64 miles per hour. 

Meanwhile, Six Flags Over Georgia is preparing for the debut of 'The Georgia Surfer,' another terrifying attraction that combines a roller coaster with unique water features.

Although it may appear simple, this coaster offers an exhilarating experience as riders traverse nearly 590 feet of U-shaped track, reaching speeds of up to 60 miles per hour before splashing down in a scenic water pad.

In 2019, there were 1,299 injuries from amusement park accidents in the United States, with approximately four deaths annually associated with roller coasters, according to the National Institute of Health. 

Just last year, the first roller coaster in history to go 200 feet high had a mechanical issue that led it to come to a complete stop and forced guests to make the terrifying walk down.

The first roller coaster in history to go 200 feet high had a mechanical issue last year that led it to come to a complete stop and forced guests to make the terrifying walk down

Set to open at Cleveland's Cedar Point next year, the revamped Top Thrill 2 will rocket revelers 420 feet into the air, park presiders said in a statement, before falling backwards and then forward once again at speeds of 120mph

The incident, which was caught on video, happened at the Magnum XL-200 roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

A mechanical issue led the ride to stop near its peak and video showed the riders having to slowly walk down the teetering staircase with nothing but a thin metal handrail to cling to.

Tony Clark, a spokesperson for the amusement park, referred to it as similar to a 'check engine light' in a motor vehicle at the the time. 

While he called it a 'standard ride stoppage,' it was unable to be restarted and therefor needed to be evacuated, Fox News reported.

When it opened in 1989, the Magnum XL-200 was celebrated by the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest edge height in the world.

It was also, at the time it debuted, the fastest and steepest complete-circuit coaster on earth, topping out at speeds of 72 miles per hour.

It was the first ride to go over 200 feet and received historical landmark status in 2004, according to the park's website.

The ride, which lasts about two minutes and 45 seconds, is also renowned for its views of the coastline of Canada.

Cedar Point, which opened in 1870 and is the second-oldest amusement park in the United States, faced bad publicity earlier this summer as well

Cedar Point, which opened in 1870 and is the second-oldest amusement park in the United States, is bringing back a revamped version of what was once the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster - after the original was closed when a failure injured a waiting guest.

It's the second time Cedar Point has made headline in one week last year - after the park unveiled a revamped version of a coaster that shut down after a woman was severely injured riding it in 2021.

In 2021, a guest was severely injured by a metal bracket while standing in line outside the coaster and the park's previously unmarred reputation took a hit.