The Coaster, located on the PNE Fairgrounds in Vancouver, is the oldest roller coaster and also the top rated wooden roller coaster in Canada. Coaster enthusiasts come from all over the world to ride these rails!
It was hand built, one Douglas Fir board at a time, in 1957-‘58. It still sits at the location where it was built.
In 2009 The Coaster was designated a Roller Coaster Landmark by American Coaster Enthusiasts. This plaque can be viewed on the loading platform. In 2019 it was named the #15 wooden coaster in the world by ElloCoaster:
“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 Coaster's numbers:
Top speed: 76 km/hr.
Course track length: 866 m.
Height: 21 m.
Motor: 75 h/p electric though most of this ride is pure gravity
Original construction cost: $200,000
What is special about wooden coasters?
Fans of wooden coasters say they have more character, both visually and in ride quality, than contemporary designs. Steel coasters are rigid and highly controlled from start to end which makes the rides identical each time you get in. Wooden coasters rely on gravity over much of their tracks and this will interact in varying ways to weather, air temperature, himidity and weight of train car riders. It’s never the same ride twice.
Vintage coaster train cars also offer unique thrills. They don’t restrict riders with breath limiting restraints. This coaster’s trains are 8 cars, each with old school bench seats that hold two riders. The only visible safety item is a bar that typically does not make contact with seated riders…until it is needed. If you get a chance to ride, you will ‘get some air’ on a few turns and camel hops. That is, your bum will part ways with the car’s seat. And the raised restraint bar will let you fly a little. But not too far.
How to log this Virtual cache:
This Virtual can be logged from outside or inside the amusement park gates. Playland does not need to be open. Of course, the best time to log it will be after taking a Coaster ride (unless you are the member of the Flintstone4 family who finds this thought terrifying). This can happen May to early September and during Fright Nights in October.
When the grounds are closed, The Coaster can most easily be viewed from the walkway that runs parallel to the ride, adjacent to Hastings Park/Empire Fields. This path is easily seen on your geo app in trail or satellite view. The walkway is long and different points offer different Coaster views. I’m also not opposed to a clear Coaster picture taken from a different spot or at a little distance provided it meets the other listed criteria.
Two tasks are needed to log this cache:
- Visit The Coaster on either side of the fence. Take a picture of any part of The Coaster that ALSO includes an image of you or something that represents you such as a personal TB, geo-name written on paper, name tag etc. Or you could draw a stick person on the image that you take showing you interacting with the Coaster in some way – be creative and fun! No old pictures, please.
AND
- Share in your log if you have ever ridden The Coaster. Was it a thrill?
Not an image person? Following are the alternate two tasks you can choose to log:
- Please send the CO the answer to BOTH of the following questions in a private message. Do not post these answers in your public log:
a) Mounted in the grass adjacent to The Coaster wait line and ride loading area are flag poles. How many flag poles are mounted there?
b) The roof fascia of the ride loading area has a retro diamond shaped design. How many diamond shapes appear on ONE side of the roof line?
AND
- Share in your log if you have ever ridden The Coaster. Was it a thrill??
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.