Adrenaline Peak is the star coaster at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon — one of America’s oldest continuously operating amusement parks, entertaining riders on the banks of the Willamette River since 1905. The Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter 320 opened on March 24, 2018, giving the historic park its first modern looping coaster.
Compact but fierce, Adrenaline Peak climbs a vertical lift to 72 feet, drops at a beyond-vertical 97 degrees and flips riders three times in just over 1,000 feet of track.
Key Stats
| Height | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
| Length | 1,049 ft (320 m) |
| First drop angle | 97° |
| Inversions | 3 |
| Manufacturer / model | Gerstlauer / Euro-Fighter 320 |
| Trains | 3 single-car trains, 8 riders each |
| Opened | March 24, 2018 |
A Modern Thrill for a Historic Park
Oaks Park dates back to 1905, which makes it a rare survivor from the trolley-park era. Adrenaline Peak replaced the park’s aging Looping Thunder coaster in the South End after the 2017 season, trading a 1990s Pinfari for state-of-the-art German engineering. For a park with more than a century of history, it was a statement ride: proof the classic park could still deliver a contemporary thrill.
The Ride Experience
Riders climb a vertical chain lift lying on their backs, crest the 72-foot tower and immediately fall away at 97 degrees — tipped past straight down before the track pulls out at 45 mph. The layout then whips through a vertical loop, a cutback and a heartline roll, packing three inversions into 1,049 feet of track. Trains are single cars seating eight, so dispatches are frequent and every row feels like the front.
A 97-degree first drop is steeper than anything most riders have experienced — see how it compares with the steepest roller coaster drops in the world.
Visiting Oaks Park
Oaks Amusement Park sits in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, beneath the Sellwood Bridge, and pairs its rides with a historic roller rink and midway. Riders must be between 48 and 77 inches tall to board Adrenaline Peak.
FAQ
How tall and how fast is Adrenaline Peak?
Adrenaline Peak stands 72 feet tall and reaches 45 mph down its 97-degree beyond-vertical first drop.
How many inversions does Adrenaline Peak have?
Three: a vertical loop, a cutback and a heartline roll, all packed into 1,049 feet of track.
When did Adrenaline Peak open?
It opened on March 24, 2018, replacing the Looping Thunder coaster at Oaks Amusement Park, which has operated since 1905.
Photo: Jeremy Thompson via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)