Millions of people a year celebrate the joy and merriment of one of America's best-loved pastimes — the thrill of riding a rollercoaster. There's at least one in nearly every big theme park in the country, and buying a home near one likely means that you are also investing in property near a major vacation destination. When you're looking for the best places to live in the United States, the odds are that your dream home may be near one of these fantastic, high-rated rollercoasters.


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The Thunderbolt in Brooklyn, New York

Luna Park, which is located within the famous Coney Island area of Brooklyn, features an exciting rollercoaster called the Thunderbolt. The latest version of this steel thrill ride debuted in 2014 to much fanfare. At a length of 2,000 feet and a top speed of 55 miles per hour, the Thunderbolt features exciting twists and turns as well as a 90-degree drop and even a zero-gravity roll. Its historic setting and modern technological advances come together to create a fun experience for all riders.

Space Mountain in Orlando, Florida

Disney doesn't do anything halfway or second-class, and its popular, classic Space Mountain rollercoaster ride is full of thrills. Revered for its unique ambiance, design, and cool space theme, Space Mountain is an indoor rollercoaster that has been updated several times since it first debuted in 1975.

Originally located in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, a version of Space Mountain was also built at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Both the Alpha and Omega rollercoaster cars on Space Mountain go 27 miles per hour, and travel 3,186 feet with a 26-foot drop.

The Beast in Mason, Ohio

The Beast is a wooden roller coaster that is located in King's Island, which is perhaps most famous for the classic episode of "The Brady Bunch" that's set in the theme park. Located in Mason, Ohio, King's Island hosts this daring ride that spans a whopping 35 acres. The Beast manages a top speed of over 64 miles per hour and has a 141-foot drop. With a 180-degree turn right at the beginning, riders are quickly thrown into the excitement that continues throughout the ride as it goes through tunnels and high lifts.

Millennium Force in Sandusky, Ohio

Millennium Force, a dynamic steel rollercoaster, is located in Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. As a celebrated part of the theme park's appeal, the Millennium Force was hailed as one of the top 10 rollercoasters in the U.S. by "Time Magazine." It boasts such extremes as a 310-foot lift and speeds that top out at a whopping 93 miles per hour. It spans 6,595 feet total. With four tall hills to guarantee multiple thrills in succession, it's not for the faint of heart, but it delivers on excitement.

Keep in mind that these are just a few of the hundreds of rollercoasters that can be enjoyed in this country. Be on the lookout for many great places to live near popular rollercoasters.