History of Vuoristorata
Immerse yourself in the 75 years of history our beloved Vuoristorata has!
From Dream to Reality
1950-1960
1950
The history of Linnanmäki traces back to the joyful Children’s Day charity event, which was revived in the late 1940s. Soon, there was a desire to move from organizing individual events toward a more permanent format, and the idea of establishing a fixed amusement park in Helsinki was born. In March 1950, hammers began pounding on Vesilinnanmäki as construction started on what would become the most fun neighborhood in Helsinki. The name of the amusement park was chosen only the day before the opening and based on the park’s location it was named Linnanmäki.
1951
The father of Vuoristorata, Danish-born Valdemar Lebech, visited Linnanmäki in 1950 and proposed building a wooden roller coaster in the amusement park before the 1952 Olympic Games held in Helsinki. The idea was met with great enthusiasm, and construction began immediately. Spring 1951 was a period of intense building work. An enormous amount of wood was used to construct the Vuoristorata roller coaster: in total, 620 solid cubic meters of timber were transported from the Korvenranta sawmill in Järvelä to Linnanmäki! To ensure uninterrupted construction, trucks transported the timber at night so that it would be ready and waiting for the builders in Helsinki by morning.
13 July 1951
On 13 July 1951, the hard work was finally rewarded when Vuoristorata was officially opened and the first 3,400 people got to enjoy a thrilling ride. The first Brakemasters (formerly known as Brakemen) were former pilots who eagerly applied for the job after reading Linnanmäki’s recruitment advertisement in a local newspaper.
1952
Vuoristorata’s first summer in 1951 was a tremendous success for the roller coaster: a total of 168,642 people rode it during the season. Hoewever, the following year, the Olympic summer of 1952, did not bring the expected crowds to Linnanmäki. Dark clouds loomed over the future of the roller coaster, and many estimated its lifespan to be only 10–15 years.
Becoming a Favorite
1960-1970
1960
According to the original rules for Brakemasters, the job had to be done while seated, and standing up during the ride was forbidden. However, the daring Brakemasters soon began to defy this rule, and already in the early years Vuoristorata started being operated while standing. In fact, standing makes operating Vuoristorata significantly easier, as the train and surroundings are more visible from a higher viewpoint and controlling the brake is smoother due to reduced vibration.
1966
Many public figures and well-known Finns have also ridden Vuoristorata over the years. In 1966, President Urho Kekkonen crowned his amusement park visit with a ride on the roller coaster. Nervous about the experience, Kekkonen requested that a provost who was part of his entourage ride in the same car to make the experience feel safer.
1968
During the early decades of the Vuoristorata, tickets were purchased individually for each ride from booths located under the entrance canopy. In 1968, a ride on the roller coaster cost 1.5 marks for adults and 50 pennies for children.
1973
For nearly every amusement park visitor, a ride on the roller coaster is an essential part of summer, and it has played a significant role in the growth of Linnanmäki’s popularity. In the summer of 1973, Linnanmäki surpassed the remarkable milestone of one million annual visitors for the first time.
1979
In 1979, the roller coaster gained a long-term companion when the Monorail—now known as Maisemajuna—was built alongside it. The construction of the new attraction also meant saying goodbye to the old entrance ticket building. Another long-standing classic located next to Vuoristorata is the children’s carousel Karuselli, which arrived at Linnanmäki as early as 1954!
Tradition Continues
1980-2000
1991
Vuoristorata celebrates its anniversary every year on 13 July. When it turned 40 in 1991, the iconic red neon sign was installed on the hill at the center of the track, where it remains to this day.
1995
Vuoristorata spends the winter months covered under a blanket of snow, and in the past the winter closure was even longer than it is today: Linnanmäki used to be open only from May Day until the first weekend of September. On Mother’s Day, 14 May 1995, a late spring snowstorm caught the Brakemasters by surprise, but fortunately the roller coaster trains were able to operate despite the conditions!
2002
Each year, Brakemasters go on study trips to other amusement parks to familiarize themselves with their wooden roller coasters. One example of such is the trip shown in the photo to Bakken Amusement Park in Denmark in 2002. The drawings for Bakken’s Rutschebanen were also used as the basis for the construction of Linnanmäki’s Vuoristorata! Rutschebanen also had its own brake operators until 2009, when its braking systems were automated.
Ajatonta huumaa
2010-2020
2011
In 2011, Vuoristorata celebrated its 60th anniversary. The Brakemasters operating Vuoristorata on the birthday had a combined 175 years of experience operating the roller coaster, meaning that guests were in extremely safe hands even on the celebration day. As a tribute to earlier times, the brake operators also wore the old-style work uniform: a collared shirt and a tie.
2012
One of the legends in the history of the roller coaster is Brakemaster Topi Lipponen, who operated the ride for an impressive 37 summers. He retired in 2012, and in honor of his long career, his Brakemaster number 1 was also retired.
2025
In 2025, Vuoristorata received the prestigious Roller Coaster Landmark recognition from the American Coaster Enthusiasts. The Landmark status is reserved for historically significant roller coasters that are part of the international history of amusement parks and roller coasters—just like Linnanmäki’s Vuoristorata. Vuoristorata is only the 4th roller coaster in Europe and the 51st worldwide to receive this recognition.
2026
This year, the timeless classic Vuoristorata celebrates its magnificent 75th anniversary. Over the decades, it is estimated to have been ridden approximately 50 million times, and thrill-seekers across generations have enjoyed the rush of speed and some of the best views in Helsinki. Join the festive buzz by visiting Vuoristorata, exploring the stunning enhancements in its surroundings, and enjoying our delightful area programme!
Dress the legend
Vuoristorata’s anniversary collection brings the iconic all-time favorite to life as a wearable classic. Now available at Shop Caramelli and Shop Taiga!