The ride
Tornado is a wood roller coaster at Coney Island in New York, having opened to the public in 1926. After 100 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Coney Island midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 71 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. In total the track stretches 297 ft, giving the experience a distinctly long-form feel rather than the punchy one-and-done character of many modern compact coasters. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Plan to ride Tornado early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Coney Island typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Coney Island, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day.