Honestly, if you've spent any time at Frontier City in Oklahoma City, you know the skyline is dominated by the classics. You have the wooden creak of the Wildcat and the loops of the Diamondback. But there’s this one green and yellow structure that looks a bit different from the rest. The Steel Lasso isn't just another coaster. Since it opened in 2008, it has occupied this weird, middle-ground space in the park’s lineup—it's marketed as a family ride, but let's be real, the sensation of your feet dangling over the park mid-air is enough to make even seasoned riders grip the restraints a little tighter.
It’s an inverted coaster. That means the track is above your head.
Unlike the massive B&M inverted coasters you might find at Six Flags Over Texas or Busch Gardens, the Steel Lasso was designed by Vekoma. They’re a Dutch company. They basically revolutionized the idea of the "Suspended Family Coaster." Before this model existed, if you wanted an inverted coaster, you were looking at high-G, high-intensity machines with multiple inversions. The Steel Lasso changed that. It’s smooth. It’s accessible. But it’s surprisingly fast when you’re whipping around those turns near the back of the park.
What Actually Happens on the Steel Lasso
The ride starts with a relatively modest lift hill. You’re sitting in these bucket-style seats, and because there's no floor, you are staring straight down at the gravel and the concrete as you climb. It’s 49 feet tall. That doesn't sound like much compared to 200-foot hypercoasters, but when you're hanging by a literal thread—well, a steel beam—it feels significantly higher.
Once you hit the crest, the train drops into a sweeping right-hand turn. This is where the physics get interesting. Because the train is suspended, it swings slightly. Vekoma designed this specific layout to maximize the feeling of flight without making you lose your lunch. You hit a top speed of about 30 miles per hour. It’s fast enough to make your eyes water but slow enough that a brave eight-year-old can handle it.
You’ll notice the track weaves through some of the older sections of Frontier City. It’s a tight fit. There are moments where you feel like your sneakers might actually clip the tops of the nearby buildings or the trees. They won't, obviously. Engineers spend months calculating "clearance envelopes" to ensure that even the tallest rider with the longest legs won't touch anything. Still, that "near-miss" sensation is a hallmark of good coaster design, and Steel Lasso nails it.
The Vekoma Engineering Behind the Scenes
Vekoma gets a lot of flak in the enthusiast community for their older "rough" rides. You know the ones—the Boomerangs that rattle your brain. But the Steel Lasso represents their newer era of design. It uses a different wheel assembly and track tie system that makes the ride significantly quieter and smoother than the steel coasters of the 1990s.
- The track length is roughly 958 feet.
- The ride duration is about 1 minute and 20 seconds.
- It uses a friction brake system to bring you back into the station.
One thing people often overlook is the restraint system. It’s an over-the-shoulder lap bar hybrid. It keeps you secure but doesn't feel suffocating. It’s part of why this ride is such a hit for "bridge" riders—kids who are too big for the kiddie area but not quite ready to tackle the vertical loop on the Diamondback.
Why People Get the Steel Lasso Wrong
A common misconception is that the Steel Lasso is "boring" because it doesn't go upside down. That’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes a coaster good. Intensity isn't just about inversions. It’s about pacing. The Steel Lasso keeps its momentum from the first drop all the way to the final brake run. There aren't many "dead spots" where the train just crawls along.
Another thing? The view. Since Frontier City is located right off I-35, the Steel Lasso gives you this weird, surreal view of Oklahoma City traffic on one side and the Wild West-themed park on the other. It’s a contrast that shouldn’t work, but it does. You’re flying over a western town while semi-trucks roar by a few hundred yards away.
I've talked to ride ops who have worked this coaster for years. They'll tell you the same thing: it’s the most consistent crowd-pleaser in the park. It rarely has the massive mechanical downtimes that plague more complex rides. It’s a workhorse. It’s also one of the few rides in the park that feels genuinely different depending on where you sit. If you sit in the front row, you get an unobstructed view of the sky and the track ahead. It feels like soaring. If you sit in the very back, you get whipped through the turns much harder. The back row is where the "hidden" intensity lives.
Comparing Frontier City to Regional Rivals
Frontier City is Oklahoma's only major theme park. Because of that, it has to be everything to everyone. It doesn't have the budget of a Disney or a Universal, so every addition has to count. When the park brought in the Steel Lasso, they were looking for a "signature" attraction that looked modern. At the time, the park was transitioning through different ownership groups (it's currently operated by Six Flags), and the Steel Lasso was a statement piece. It said, "We’re still relevant."
If you compare it to the Silver Dollar City coasters in Branson or the massive lineups at Six Flags Over Texas, the Steel Lasso seems small. But context matters. Within the footprint of Frontier City, it’s a giant. It fills a specific gap in the "thrill hierarchy."
- The Kiddie Coasters (Wild Kitty).
- The Intermediate Thrills (Steel Lasso, Silver Bullet).
- The High Thrills (Diamondback, Wildcat).
If you skip the Steel Lasso, you're missing the literal middle chapter of the park’s story. It’s the bridge that turns a "theme park kid" into a "coaster enthusiast."
The Maintenance Factor
Keeping a steel coaster running in Oklahoma weather is no joke. You have extreme heat in the summer that expands the metal and sub-freezing winters that contract it. The maintenance crews at Frontier City have to perform daily inspections, checking every bolt and weld on the Steel Lasso.
Steel expands. It's a fact. On a 100-degree Oklahoma July afternoon, the Steel Lasso actually runs slightly faster than it does in the cool October mornings during Fright Fest. The grease in the bearings is thinner, the track is slicker, and the train just flies. If you want the fastest ride possible, go in the middle of a heatwave. Just stay hydrated.
Tips for Your Next Visit
If you’re planning to ride the Steel Lasso, there are a few tactical things you should know to make the experience better. First, the line moves faster than it looks. Because the ride has a high capacity and a relatively short cycle, even a long line usually clears in under 30 minutes.
Second, watch your pockets. This should be obvious for an inverted coaster, but people constantly lose phones and keys on the Steel Lasso. Because your legs are free, there’s a natural tendency to kick or swing your feet, which can easily dislodge items from loose pockets. Use the lockers. Honestly, it’s not worth losing your car keys over a 60-second ride.
Third, check the height requirements before you get the kids excited. It’s usually a 42-inch minimum to ride with an adult. This is actually quite low for a major coaster, which is why it's the "first big coaster" for so many local kids.
Pro Tip: If the park is crowded, head to the Steel Lasso during the middle of the afternoon. Most people flock to the water rides or the indoor shows when the heat peaks, but the breeze you get while dangling from the Steel Lasso is actually a great way to cool off.
The Evolution of the Frontier City Experience
Frontier City has changed a lot since the 1950s. It started as a small Western town attraction and evolved into a full-scale amusement park. The Steel Lasso represents the "New Frontier." It’s a blend of high-tech engineering and the classic, dusty charm that the park is known for.
While some purists miss the older rides that have been removed over the decades, the Steel Lasso has earned its spot. It’s not a "temporary" attraction. It’s a permanent fixture of the OKC landscape. It’s also one of the most photographed spots in the park. The way the yellow track curves against the blue sky makes for the perfect "I’m at Frontier City" social media post.
Final Insights for the Coaster Curious
The Steel Lasso isn't going to break any world records for height or speed. It won't give you the same stomach-dropping terror as a 300-foot drop. But that’s not the point. The point of the Steel Lasso is the pure, unadulterated joy of flight. It’s smooth, it’s accessible, and it’s a masterclass in how to build a coaster that appeals to everyone from a six-year-old to a sixty-year-old.
Next time you’re at the park, don’t just walk past it on your way to the Diamondback. Stop. Look at the engineering. Appreciate how quiet it is. And then get in line, pick the back row, and let your feet dangle. It’s the best way to see the park, hands down.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check the Weather: If winds exceed 35-40 mph, high-profile rides like the Steel Lasso may close temporarily for safety.
- Dress Appropriately: Wear shoes that are secured to your feet—flip-flops are a recipe for lost footwear on an inverted coaster.
- Timing: Aim for "Goldilocks" hours—either right at park opening or during the dinner rush—to find the shortest wait times for the front row.
- Safety First: If you have back or neck issues, the Steel Lasso is smoother than the wooden Wildcat, but still consult the safety placards at the entrance regarding G-forces.