where was the first roller coaster built.
Gravity Switchback Railway. What is considered the first successful commercial roller coaster made its debut in 1884 at New York's famous Coney Island. LaMarcus A. Thompson constructed the first roller coaster, the primitive Gravity Switchback Railway. The ride was an instant success, drawing long lines of eager riders and yielding returns at an astounding $600 a day. The idea of the gravity ride spread quickly, leading to great diversity in early roller coaster design.