American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) recognizes Sea Dragon at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation reserved for rides of historic significance.

During the height of the postwar baby boom of the 1950s, amusement parks began adding junior-sized roller coasters designed for younger riders. John Allen (1907-1979), president of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC), began designing his own coaster creations after taking control of PTC in 1954. Among Allen’s first designs were three nearly identical junior wood coasters that opened in 1956-1957 at three different parks. The first of this trio was at Zoo Amusement Park located adjacent to the Columbus Zoo in Powell, Ohio, with construction supervised by PTC’s Frank Hoover (1903-1987). The park, dating back to 1896 as a picnic grove, was made into a small traditional amusement park in 1946 by carnival operator Floyd Gooding (1895-1972).

Originally called Jet Flyer, the coaster was built at a height of 37 feet, reaching a top speed of 25 mph along 1,320 feet of track. After Gooding’s death, the park was sold to the city of Columbus and the zoo in 1981. The park was leased to Funtime, Inc. in 1984 and rebranded to Wyandot Lake with the coaster renamed Sea Dragon. Control of Wyandot Lake was taken over by Six Flags from 1996 until 2006. A year later, management returned to the Columbus Zoo, which annexed the park and included a complete refurbishment for the coaster. Sea Dragon is also considered an ACE Coaster Classic because of its traditional operating methods, including hand-pulled manual brakes and no seat dividers.

ACE salutes Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for continuing to preserve and maintain John Allen's first solo roller coaster design.

Presented by American Coaster Enthusiasts
July 16, 2022