Time Traveler opened on March 14, 2018, at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, instantly claiming three world records: the fastest, tallest, and steepest full-circuit spinning roller coaster on the planet. As of 2026 those full-circuit records still stand — no other spinning coaster has matched its combination of speed, height, and drop angle.
Manufactured by Mack Rides on their custom Xtreme Spinning Coaster platform and costing $26 million, Time Traveler wraps its thrills in a time-travel narrative centered on fictional clockmaker Charles Henry and his daughter, Emmaline. Two LSM launches send freely spinning trains through a 95-foot vertical loop, a Zero-G Roll, and a Dive Loop — the first spinning coaster ever built with three inversions — before the nearly two-minute journey ends back at the station.
Quick Answer
Time Traveler is the world’s fastest (50.3 mph), tallest (100 ft), and steepest (90-degree drop) full-circuit spinning roller coaster, located at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. The minimum height to ride is 51 inches (130 cm), and the ride lasts about 1 minute 57 seconds across two LSM launches and three inversions.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Silver Dollar City (Branson, Missouri) | Manufacturer: Mack Rides | Model: Xtreme Spinning Coaster | Opened: March 14, 2018 | Cost: $26 million | Height: 100 ft (30 m) | Drop: 90 ft at a 90-degree angle | Top Speed: 50.3 mph (81 km/h) | Length: 3,020 ft (920 m) | Duration: 1 min 57 sec | Inversions: 3 | Trains: Three 16-passenger trains, four cars of four | Height Requirement: 51 in (130 cm).
The Ride Experience
Riders board 16-passenger trains split into four cars of four, each mounted on a turntable that spins freely rather than on a fixed axis. The first LSM launch accelerates the train from a standstill to roughly 47 mph in about three seconds, firing it into the 90-degree opening drop and dive loop. A second LSM launch mid-course boosts the train from around 30 to 45 mph before it dives through the 95-foot vertical loop and Zero-G Roll sequence.
Because the cars spin independently and freely, no two rides feel identical — riders might face forward through the loop on one lap and backward on the next, which is a big reason enthusiasts ride it repeatedly. Underneath each car, an eddy-current magnetic brake regulates how fast and how much the car spins, letting operators dial rotation up or down rather than leaving it fully to chance. The layout’s 90-degree maximum vertical angle and 14 track crossings pack a dense, compact circuit into the Ozark hillside terrain.
Mack Rides’ engineering drew praise for eliminating the jarring head-bang common on older spinning designs, and Amusement Today ranked it the second-best new roller coaster of 2018 in its Golden Ticket Awards, with subsequent annual rankings placing it among the top 20-30 steel coasters in the world.
The Time-Travel Storyline
Time Traveler’s queue unfolds across a three-story building themed as clockmaker Charles Henry’s workshop, progressing from a cluttered storage area through his offices and experimentation rooms before revealing the time-traveling device itself. The story follows Henry and his daughter, Emmaline, whose invention becomes the ride’s central conceit — brass-toned trains detailed with gears and cogs reinforce the Victorian-industrial theme throughout the layout.
Records and Legacy
When Time Traveler debuted, it simultaneously held the records for the world’s fastest, tallest, and steepest full-circuit spinning coaster — an unusual triple-crown achievement for a single attraction. It was also the first spinning coaster anywhere to incorporate three inversions, a benchmark long considered impractical for a freely rotating ride vehicle. (A separate, non-full-circuit spinning ride, Big Air at Taiwan’s E-DA Theme Park, holds records in a different category, so it isn’t a direct competitor to Time Traveler’s title.)
The $26 million investment signaled Silver Dollar City’s ambition to compete with larger coastal parks on a purely thrill basis, and Time Traveler remains the only Xtreme Spinning Coaster installed in North America. It helped elevate the Branson park’s national profile — Silver Dollar City has since ranked among USA Today’s top theme parks — and demonstrated that Mack Rides’ spinning platform could scale into record-setting, full-throttle territory rather than staying in the family-thrill segment.
Height Requirement and Rider Restrictions
Riders must be at least 51 inches (130 cm) tall to board Time Traveler. Like most launched, inverting coasters, it isn’t recommended for guests with heart, back, or neck conditions, or for pregnant riders — check the posted health advisory at the ride entrance or Silver Dollar City’s official ride page for the full list before you go. Each car uses an automatic hydraulic lap bar rather than an over-the-shoulder harness, which keeps the ride comfortable for a wide range of body types.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Hours, and Skip-the-Line Options
Time Traveler is included with regular Silver Dollar City park admission — there’s no separate charge to ride. The park sells single-day tickets, multi-day tickets (used within a set number of consecutive operating days), and annual Season Passports that include unlimited visits for the season; discounted pricing tiers typically apply for children ages 4-11 and seniors 65+, with children 3 and under admitted free. Because ticket prices and operating hours change by season and promotion, check the official Silver Dollar City tickets page and the park’s calendar and hours page before you visit.
Time Traveler is one of the park’s busiest attractions, so lines build quickly in the mid-afternoon during peak summer weekends. Silver Dollar City sells TrailBlazer Passes, an add-on that lets pass holders skip the standby line at eligible rides — including Time Traveler — with a short cooldown between scans; these are sold separately from park admission through the official ticketing site linked above. Riding first thing at park opening or in the final hour before close is the most reliable free way to minimize the wait.
Tips for Riders
For the most dramatic spin through the loop and Zero-G Roll, ride enthusiasts often recommend the back row, which tends to whip around more freely once the car catches momentum. Since the eddy-current brakes vary how much each car spins from ride to ride, sitting in different cars — or riding more than once — is the only way to experience the full range of the ride’s variability. Time Traveler is located in the Valley Road section of Silver Dollar City, making it easy to pair with the park’s other headline coasters, Outlaw Run and Wildfire, in a single thrill-focused loop through the park.
Time Traveler roller coaster FAQs
What world records does Time Traveler hold?
When it opened in March 2018, Time Traveler was certified as the world’s fastest, tallest, and steepest full-circuit spinning roller coaster, and it was the first spinning coaster ever to feature three inversions. Those full-circuit records still stand as of 2026.
Where is Time Traveler located?
Time Traveler is located in the Valley Road section of Silver Dollar City, a theme park in Branson, Missouri.
What is the height requirement for Time Traveler?
Riders must be at least 51 inches (about 130 cm) tall to board Time Traveler.
How fast does Time Traveler go and how long does the ride last?
Time Traveler reaches a top speed of 50.3 mph (81 km/h) and the full ride lasts about 1 minute 57 seconds, including two LSM launches and three inversions.
Does every ride on Time Traveler spin the same way?
No. Each car spins freely and is regulated by an underlying eddy-current magnetic brake, so the amount and direction of spin varies from ride to ride and car to car — no two laps feel identical.
Is Time Traveler included with Silver Dollar City admission?
Yes. Time Traveler is included with standard park admission, single-day tickets, and Season Passports. Skip-the-line access is available as a separate paid TrailBlazer Pass add-on. Check the official Silver Dollar City tickets page for current pricing and hours.
Is Time Traveler scary or intense?
It’s an intense launched coaster with three inversions and unpredictable spinning, but Mack Rides’ engineering keeps it notably smooth compared to older spinning-coaster designs, without the jarring head-bang some riders associate with the genre.
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