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Silver Dollar City | Miner’s Mountain Express | Mack Rides Mine Train | 2027

Is it simply an increase in popularity, or is the term “family coaster” becoming synonymous with the “Crossover SUV” of the coaster industry? We continue to use this term for coasters with ride specifications that often surpass those of genuine thrill machines (e.g., Miner’s Mountain Express boasts the most airtime moments of SDC, including Outlaw Run). However, like an American crossover vehicle, it ultimately becomes a significantly larger and more imposing product than suggested by the term “family” (or “crossover”).

Don't get me wrong - I love having a very solid, new mine train entering the world. But 100 ft. drops feel departed from true, "family" category.
 
Hyde said:
Is it simply an increase in popularity, or is the term “family coaster” becoming synonymous with the “Crossover SUV” of the coaster industry? We continue to use this term for coasters with ride specifications that often surpass those of genuine thrill machines (e.g., Miner’s Mountain Express boasts the most airtime moments of SDC, including Outlaw Run). However, like an American crossover vehicle, it ultimately becomes a significantly larger and more imposing product than suggested by the term “family” (or “crossover”).

Don't get me wrong - I love having a very solid, new mine train entering the world. But 100 ft. drops feel departed from true, "family" category.
Click to expand...
I think it could be a reflection of the line between family and thrill growing increasingly blurred.

Going back a couple of decades, you had little middle ground between your Vekoma Rollerskaters and stock wild mice and your enormous thrill machines. There has always historically been quite a clear chasm between “family” and “thrill”, with relatively few exceptions (maybe woodies?), and “family coaster” historically brings to mind pretty gentle rides with little thrill seeker appeal.

But now (I would say aggressively within the last decade or so), family coasters are growing to be legitimate contenders in their own right; “family” does not necessarily mean “tame” or “dull” or “gentle” anymore. We live in the age of things like Hagrid’s, Big Bear Mountain, Uncharted and such; rides that are accessible enough for families, but also fun and impressive enough in their own right that thrillseekers love them too. I do also think height restriction might play a role in this; while thrills were historically kept behind 1.4m/54” height restrictions, these are increasingly rare, with even B&M abandoning them steadily. With the barrier to the biggest rides getting lower, it’s only natural that family rides will need to get more exciting to match. And that they are; we now live in an age where B&M Wing Coasters with inversions are being built at Legoland parks and billed as family rides, and where Intamin revealed a “family” launch coaster with inversions! Accessible thrills is where the industry is headed, in my view; you only have to look at how many Vekoma family launch coasters and such are being built to see that!
 
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