The Las Vegas Strip, a dazzling artery of neon and spectacle, is known for its over-the-top recreations of iconic landmarks. Amidst this architectural fantasia stands the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, a tribute to the Big Apple itself. And perched atop this faux cityscape, a rollercoaster unlike any other – The Big Apple Coaster. This isn’t your average thrill ride; it’s a high-speed, steel-framed behemoth that attempts to capture the energy and, perhaps unintentionally, the roughness of its namesake city.
It’s a curious phenomenon in the world of rollercoaster design: the hypercoaster that dares to loop. Hypercoasters, typically defined as coasters reaching heights between 200 and 250 feet, are generally built for speed, airtime, and the sensation of weightlessness. Their designs prioritize sweeping curves and dramatic drops over the head-over-heels inversions more commonly found on traditional looping coasters. The Big Apple Coaster, however, boldly blends these two distinct styles, and the results, as many riders have discovered, can be…disconcerting.
Design of the Big Apple Coaster: A Vegas Rendition of NYC
The setting alone sets the stage for a surreal experience. The New York-New York Hotel & Casino is a miniature Manhattan, complete with scaled-down versions of the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building, and other instantly recognizable landmarks. This fabricated urban landscape, bathed in the glow of Las Vegas, creates a striking, albeit somewhat unsettling, juxtaposition. And weaving its way through this concrete jungle is the bright red track of The Big Apple Coaster, a visual spectacle that dominates a section of the Las Vegas Boulevard skyline.
The decision to construct a steel looping hypercoaster, rather than a classic wooden coaster reminiscent of Coney Island’s Cyclone, remains a point of debate among coaster enthusiasts. A traditional "woodie," or even a steel coaster styled to resemble one, would have arguably been a more fitting tribute to New York’s rich amusement park history. Instead, the casino’s designers opted for a modern, high-thrill experience, featuring trains painted in the iconic yellow and checkered black and white design of NYC taxi cabs.
What the Ride Experience Is Like: A Bumpy Ride Through the City
The ambition behind The Big Apple Coaster is undeniable, but the execution has often left riders feeling more shaken than stirred. The combination of hypercoaster heights and looping inversions, while seemingly promising on paper, has historically resulted in a ride experience that many have described as rough, jarring, and even painful.
The coaster climbs to a height of over 200 feet, offering panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip. However, the subsequent drop, at 144 feet, is relatively modest for a hypercoaster, and the top speed of 67 mph feels somewhat restrained. It’s as if the coaster is holding back, perhaps in deference to the inversions that lie ahead. But instead of the smooth, graceful loops and corkscrews found on many modern looping coasters, The Big Apple Coaster’s inversions are often characterized by abrupt transitions and intense lateral forces.
For many years, the original trains exacerbated the ride’s inherent roughness. These trains featured bulky over-the-shoulder restraints with large padded headrests. As the coaster navigated its twists and turns, riders’ heads would be thrown from side to side, their ears repeatedly colliding with the unforgiving restraints. The experience was often likened to being a pinball inside a metal box.
Thankfully, in January 2021, New York-New York addressed these concerns by replacing the original trains with new ones from Premier Rides. These updated trains feature more flexible, vest-like restraints that are designed to minimize head-banging and improve the overall ride comfort. While opinions vary, the general consensus is that the new trains have indeed made The Big Apple Coaster a smoother and more enjoyable experience.
Ride Location: Navigating the Casino Maze
Finding The Big Apple Coaster requires a journey through the labyrinthine interior of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. From the main entrance, visitors must navigate the bustling casino floor, making their way towards the escalators located near the Century Tower elevators. The coaster’s loading station and arcade are situated on the second floor, adjacent to Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs.
Ticket Prices and Add-On Experiences: An Expensive Thrill
A ride on The Big Apple Coaster comes at a premium. A single ride will set you back $19, and the price increases to $23 after 6 p.m. For the price of a single ride, you could spend an entire day at many regional amusement parks. New York-New York also offers an all-day pass for $49, but the appeal of riding the same coaster repeatedly, particularly one with a reputation for roughness, is questionable.
In 2018, New York-New York introduced a virtual reality (VR) option for The Big Apple Coaster. Riders could don VR goggles and experience a virtual chase scene involving an alien invasion of the Las Vegas Strip, synchronized to the coaster’s movements. However, like many other amusement parks that experimented with VR coasters, New York-New York eventually discontinued the offering. While the VR experience may have added a novel layer of immersion, it did little to address the underlying issues of ride smoothness and comfort.
The Final Verdict: A Visual Spectacle Best Viewed From Afar
Despite its shortcomings, The Big Apple Coaster undeniably offers a visually striking presence on the Las Vegas Strip. The sight of the red track snaking around the faux Statue of Liberty, illuminated against the backdrop of the city’s glittering skyline, is a memorable one, particularly at night.
However, when it comes to the actual ride experience, many would argue that The Big Apple Coaster falls short of expectations. While the new trains have undoubtedly improved the ride, it still lacks the smoothness and grace of many modern looping coasters.
For those seeking a thrilling rollercoaster experience in Las Vegas, there are arguably better options available. But for those who are simply looking to admire The Big Apple Coaster as a unique and visually captivating landmark, the best advice may be to skip the ride and enjoy the view from the Strip. It’s a free and far less jarring way to experience this unusual tribute to New York City.
