Ron Toomer

Ronald Valentine Toomer was a pioneering American mechanical engineer and roller coaster designer, renowned for revolutionising the amusement industry through his innovative work at Arrow Development (later Arrow Dynamics). His designs introduced groundbreaking concepts in roller coaster technology, including the first modern looping coaster and the first suspended coaster.

Born in Pasadena, California, Toomer served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Afterward, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 1961. He contributed to the U.S. space program, including the design of the Apollo spacecraft heat shield, before transitioning to the amusement industry.

In 1965, Toomer joined Arrow Development, a company known for its work on Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds. His first major project was the Runaway Mine Train at Six Flags Over Texas, which opened in 1966. This success led to the development of 15 similar mine train coasters, many of which remain operational today. Looping roller coasters and various other innovations followed.

In 1989 he designed Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point, the first ‘hyper coaster’ reaching heights of 205ft. The Big One at Blackpool followed in 1994, beating Magnum’s record to become the tallest and faster roller coaster in the world.

Toomer died in September 2011.