New roller coaster opens in Daytona Beach

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After days of delays, Daytona Beach's first roller coaster officially opened Friday.

The delay came after state inspectors required more work to be done on the coaster's emergency brakes and wanted to make sure it has enough lighting at night.

The new coaster isn't as large as some of the coasters in Orlando, but it does offer some thrills. It's also one of the best places to get a good look at the world's most famous beach.

The ride stands 80 feet tall and has more than 2,000 feet of track.

Tourists who spoke with Channel 9's Blaine Tolison said that they're excited to give it a try.

"My parents retired here about eight or 10 years ago and some of the things were a little bit run-down, so it's nice to see that they're adding some things for the kids," said visitor Kelly Travers.

The owner of the roller coaster said he spent more than $1 million purchasing and refurbishing it. The ride's frame has been galvanized to handle the harsh beach elements.

Workers put the ride together in just two months after the decades-old coaster was shipped in from Delaware.

A ride on the coaster will cost $6.

WFTV