The Big One is a steel hypercoaster at Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool, England, designed by Ron Toomer and built by Arrow Dynamics. It opened to the public on 28 May 1994 and instantly claimed the title of the world’s tallest roller coaster, a distinction it held for about two years until Fujiyama opened in Japan in 1996.
Originally sponsored by Pepsi and known as the Pepsi Max Big One until the branding was dropped in 2011, the ride cost roughly £12 million to build. At the time of its debut it was also the second-fastest coaster in the world, behind only Steel Phantom at Kennywood, and its track stretched over a mile, making it one of the longest coasters anywhere.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool, England
- Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics
- Opened: May 28, 1994
- Height: About 65 m (213 ft)
- Top speed: About 119 km/h (74 mph)
- Length: About 1,675 m (5,497 ft)
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Riders climb a steep chain lift before plunging down a first drop of about 62 meters (205 ft) at a 65-degree angle, generating positive forces of up to 3.5 G. Each train carries 30 passengers across five cars, giving the ride a capacity of around 1,700 riders per hour along its seafront-hugging layout.
A Legacy of Records and Renovation
The Big One held the UK’s tallest-coaster title for almost 30 years, until Thorpe Park’s Hyperia surpassed it when it opened to the public on May 24, 2024. To keep the aging Arrow Dynamics structure running, engineering firm Taziker has re-tracked sections of the ride across multiple off-seasons since 2019, including work on the lift hill, the finale, and stretches near Star Hill.
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The Big One FAQs
Is The Big One still the tallest roller coaster in the UK?
No. It held that title for about 30 years until Thorpe Park’s Hyperia opened to the public on May 24, 2024.
Who built The Big One?
It was designed by Ron Toomer and manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, opening in 1994.
Does The Big One have any inversions?
No, it is a non-inverting hypercoaster focused on height and speed rather than loops.
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Photo: BlackpoolJ91 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.