Theme Park Nostalgia: The Ride That Made Me a Rollercoaster Enthusiast

For years, theme parks and I had a very clear understanding of each other... I would go, and I would not ride anything with a slight drop. I was the bag holder. The coat watcher. The supportive friend standing at the exit, smiling bravely while everyone else enjoyed the thrills. If I did ride anything, it was usually something gentle, colourful, and designed for children half my age.

Rollercoasters? Absolutely not.

That all changed one summer after our GCSEs, when my dad took me and a friend to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. This was back when entry was free and you choose between buying a wristband or individual ride tickets. I can’t remember exactly how much the tickets cost, but from the top of my head it was about £7. What I do remember is standing underneath The Big One, looking upwards and wondering how on earth I’d agreed to this.

The Big One wasn’t just a rollercoaster. It was the rollercoaster. The tallest, fastest, most intimidating structure on the seafront, looming over Blackpool. I was terrified before we even queued. My stomach was in knots, my legs felt weak, and every sensible part of my brain was telling me I could still back out. But I didn’t.

The climb up the lift hill felt forever. That slow clicking as we went higher and higher gave me far too much time to think. I remember gripping the bar, convinced it wasn’t enough, convinced I was going to slide straight out. When we finally reached the top and tipped forward, the fear hit.

The first drop was awful. Truly awful. That weightless, stomach-in-your-throat sensation made me certain I was about to be launched into the air. I remember screaming, but I also remember my friend physically holding me down, as if she was the only thing keeping me in my seat. The wind, my heart was pounding, and every instinct I had was this was a mistake.

About halfway through, the ride slowed down. I felt the train ease, the speed drop, and I was so relieved . I was so glad it was over. I started to breathe again. I remember thinking, I survived. Never again.

And then off it went again.

That realisation—that it wasn’t over—was almost worse than the first drop. There was more track. More fear. But something strange happened as we carried on. The terror didn’t completely disappear, but it changed. It became excitement. Adrenaline. By the time we rolled back into the station, my legs were shaking and my voice was gone, but all I could think was: I want to do that again.

Next was Revolution, then another ride, and then another. We didn’t buy wristbands — an absolutely terrible financial decision in hindsight — and instead kept buying tickets. By the end of the day, we’d somehow spent over £200 between us, fuelled by adrenaline and poor maths. I didn’t care. I was hooked.

That day rewired something in my brain. Since then, I’ve loved rollercoasters. The fear never fully goes away, but that’s part of the magic. It’s the anticipation, the nervous laughter in the queue, the moment right before the drop when time seems to pause. Rollercoasters became something I chased rather than avoided.

In the UK, Nemesis quickly became my favourite. Intense, relentless, and completely thrilling and still unbeatable for me, though The Wicker Man comes very close. There’s something about the speed, and theming that keeps pulling me back for more.In the UK, Nemesis quickly became my favourite. Intense, relentless, and completely thrilling and still unbeatable for me, though The Wicker Man comes very close. There’s something about the speed, and theming that keeps pulling me back for more.

These days, I’m still working on Andy. He’s... learning. Slowly. Very slowly. But we’re getting there. Each ride is a small victory, and I hold onto the hope that one day he’ll love rollercoasters as much as I do. After all, if the terrified bag holder I once was can fall in love with them, there’s hope for anyone.

And it all started with one summer, one terrifying drop, and The Big One at Blackpool...

PS: I've never been back on The Big One since!!!!