Amusement Park News

The National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives (NRCMA) in Plainview, Texas, is offering special roller coaster experiences this year, allowing guests to explore the world's largest collection of historic amusement artifacts without the screams.

In 2026, guests can participate in three events: a Spring Cleaning that took place in March, a nostalgia-themed experience in July, and an after-hours program in October.  The Spring Cleaning event invited guests to help restore shine to both the museum and several historic coaster vehicles.

On July 18, the Back to the Museum event will focus on roller coaster memories. Guests will also visit Wonderland Amusement Park in Amarillo, Texas, to extend the experience.

On October 10, the museum will host Night at the Museum, an after-hours experience presented as part of National Night Out.

According to Pete Owens, chairman of the museum's board of directors, “Our goal has always been to make this collection available to the public. While we work to raise the funds needed to finish construction, these events allow fans to see our progress and reconnect with their favorite historic attractions.”

Established in 2009, the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives has grown steadily and now houses the world's largest collection of historic ride vehicles and artifacts.



During its first decade, the NRCMA expanded from a single warehouse to three warehouse sites, along with a climate-controlled archival room essential for preserving artifacts in the Texas heat. Donations from American Coaster Enthusiasts funded the initial building. The property sits on land donated by Larson International. A second connected warehouse was funded by Cliff's Amusement Park and includes the archival space. A third warehouse expansion was made possible through donations from Knoebels Amusement Resort.

Building on that growth, the NRCMA board has developed plans for a true museum space.

Jerry Willard, NRCMA treasurer, said development accelerated four years ago with a fundraising campaign honoring former board member Mark Moore. Donations have funded materials and services to construct the building and interior spaces, while volunteers have provided much of the labor, allowing limited funds to stretch further.

Two new additions are progressing rapidly: an 8,400-square-foot climate-controlled museum hall with a 2,400-square-foot mezzanine, and a 1,620-square-foot connector building. When combined with the original 7,840 square feet of warehouse space, the NRCMA will offer nearly 20,000 square feet for exhibits and public viewing.



The connector building will serve as the museum entrance, lobby, welcome theater, and restroom area. From there, visitors will enter the new museum hall and have access to the existing warehouses. The space will also feature a bar and reception area with coaster-themed design elements.

The bar, donated by Rocky Mountain Construction, is crafted from repurposed wood from Cedar Point's Mean Streak. Its countertop includes embedded parts from a Ben Schiff kiddie coaster from Fun Spot America in Kissimmee, Florida. Larson International created a custom lighting fixture above the bar using sculpted metal and wood repurposed from Six Flags Magic Mountain's Colossus.



One warehouse portal entrance is constructed from reclaimed wood from AstroWorld's Texas Cyclone, portions of which are also displayed at the museum. The mezzanine floor incorporates wood repurposed from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Gwazi. The staircase leading to the upper level uses ledger boards from Mean Streak, with stairs supported by track from Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Big Bad Wolf.

Designed for lightweight exhibits, the mezzanine will display models and souvenirs, while heavier artifacts will remain on the main floor.

Positioned at the edge of the mezzanine and elevated approximately 12 feet, a Hersheypark train from Gerstlauer that once operated on SooperdooperLooper will be visible from both levels. An updated version of the roller coaster historical timeline, first displayed 13 years ago at IAAPA, is also planned for the mezzanine.

Hunter Novotny, vice president of sales and marketing for Larson International, noted that the museum is transitioning from construction to exhibit installation. He said visitors can now see the transformation from enclosed spaces into a fully realized museum environment.



Last year, the museum launched a successful fan-driven fundraising campaign to acquire four classic vehicles. With a donation from Carowinds, the Nighthawk and Stealth prototype lead car and track section arrived at the museum. The Canobie corkscrew display, only the second ever produced by Arrow Development, now stands as an archway that vehicles pass under en route to the planned parking facility.

In addition, the last Intamin Swiss Bob coaster, La Vibora, has found a permanent home at the museum through a substantial donation from Six Flags Over Texas. A group of enthusiasts known as Teal Team Six also transported the well-known Kingda Ka to the museum following a donation from Six Flags Great Adventure.