Cedar Point: America's Roller Coast

Cedar Point Amusement Park, located in Sandusky, Ohio is the mecca for roller coaster enthusiasts all over the world. The park is one of America's oldest, first opening as a beer garden and dance hall way back in 1870. Over the years, this spot located on a peninsula along the southern shores of Lake Erie, grew in size and popularity, slowly developing into the perfect setting for summer family fun. The park has added many new attractions over the years, and today has become the premiere destination for roller coaster enthusiasts everywhere.

The folks at Cedar Point like to call the park "America's Roller Coast", and it's no wonder. With a whopping 17 roller coasters, Cedar Point boasts the largest collection of thrill rides in the world. I've been lucky enough to have visited this great theme park in 1995 and I'll be making a return trip there this summer. Though there have been several new coasters added since my last trip, I have had the opportunity to ride many of these world-class coasters and they're all well worth a visit to "The Point.". Here's a look at the coasters of Cedar Point, "America's Roller Coast":

For Little Enthusiasts:

Woodstock Express

This mini-coaster is located in the park's "Camp Snoopy" and is especially built so that mom and dad can ride together with the kids.

Jr. Gemini

This kiddie coaster is a junior version of Cedar Point's larger steel coaster, Gemini. With a figure-eight layout and small hills, this one's built to prepare junior enthusiasts for riding the big boys.

Moderate:

Blue Streak

The Blue Streak is Cedar Point's oldest operating coaster, having given riders thrills since 1964. The ride is a classic out and back woodie, reaching a maximum height of 78 feet, and coasting at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride

The Cedar Creek Mine Ride is Cedar Point's version of a runaway mine train coaster, found in many parks across the country. The large wooden structure is a fun ride suitable for mom, dad, and the rest of the family.

Disaster Transport

Disaster Transport is an indoor thrill ride that's set in complete darkness. It's more of a bobsled ride than a roller coaster, but just as fun!

A Little Bit on the Wild Side

Iron Dragon

The Iron Dragon is one of the earlier suspended coasters, whereby the cars are suspended from the track and sway from side to side as the coaster runs its course. Built in 1987, this one starts off from a height of 76 feet and soars downwards and sideward at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.

The Wildcat

Wildcat is Cedar Point's version of the wild-mouse design coaster, with single, four-passenger cars taking riders on a series of sudden dips, twists and turns.

Gemini

Gemini has been taking riders to the races for more than thirty years now. Cedar Point's dual racing coaster is a gem of a ride, and it's always fun to participate in a little competition as you're getting your thrills.

Corkscrew

In one of the first daring feats in the modern era of roller coaster design, this ride was the very first to incorporate three inversions, which was pretty scary back in 1976!

Not for the Faint at Heart!

Raptor

Raptor is one fierce ride! It is an inverted coaster, with floorless trains that sit below the track, giving riders the feeling of flying. When it first opened in 1994, Raptor was the tallest and fastest of its kind in the world. Raptor's stats include a first drop of 119 feet, top speeds of over 57 miles per hour, and a wide variety of thrilling elements, including an incredible 100 foot vertical loop, a double cobra roll and the wildest of twists and turns.

Take a video ride on Raptor here.

Magnum XL-200

The Magnum XL-200 is one of my favorite roller coasters of all time. It was the first coaster in history to reach a height of over 200 feet tall (the first hill is 205 feet). It was the very first of a new breed of roller coaster, dubbed a "hyper-coaster," that begins at the highest of heights, moves at high speeds and give lots of airtime. This ride is built right upon the shores of Lake Erie, and from the apex of the first hill, it appears as if the coaster would dive straight down into the lake's waters, but instead the coaster curves away from the lake at the bottom of the hill for maximum effect. Great, great ride!

Ride Magnum here.

Mantis

Mantis is Cedar Point's version of a stand-up roller coaster and it's a doozy! With a lift hill of 145 above the ground and a first drop of 137 feet, this ride moves through a series of six inversions at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.

Try out Mantis here.

Maverick

Maverick is one of Cedar Point's newest coasters, built in 2007. It is yet another innovative design in thrill rides, with retro-looking coaster trains, and a smooth, yet terrifying ride. The height of the lift hill is an unimpressive 105 feet, but the drop is something else, coming in at a death-defying 95-degree angle. The coaster takes riders down to a mere five feet above the ground and is followed by a harrowing succession of high speed twists and turns, with lots of air time.

See what it feels like to ride Maverick here.

Wicked Twister

The name of this ride is very appropriate. Located right along the shores of Lake Erie, this inverted hulk of a coaster looks very intimidating, with two twisted towers of steel track pointed skyward at either end. Riders are propelled through this mangle of metal in both directions, soaring 215 feet straight up into the air, only to come back to Earth to repeat the ride the other way. The ride moves at speeds of up to 72 miles per hour and moves through the twisted maze a total of five times. Crazy!

Check out an animated version of a ride on Wicked Twister here.

Mean Streak

Mean Streak is an awesome wooden giant, and can be seen from virtually anywhere in the park. With a first drop of 155 feet and speeds of up to 65 miles per hour, Mean Streak is one fast, and mean, woodie!

Take a ride on Mean Streak here.

Top Thrill Dragster

Top Thrill Dragster was the 16^th coaster to be added to Cedar Point's stable when it debuted in 2003. When it opened, Top Thrill Dragster was the tallest (420 feet) and fastest (120 mph) in the world, eclipsed two years later by Six Flags Great Adventure's Kingda Ka (check out a review of Kingda Ka here). The hydraulic launch of this monster propels riders straight out and straight up, making their way over a monstrous hill, and coming almost straight back down for a truly hair-raising experience!

Go for a ride on Top Thrill Dragster here.

Millennium Force

Millennium Force broke ten world records when it opened in 2000. One of the world's first "giga-coasters", this one was the first of its kind to lift riders over 300 feet above the ground and complete a full circuit around its track. For thrilling heights and top speeds at over 93 miles per hour, this is one not to be missed.

Ride Millennium Force here.

Sources:

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/rides/coasters/index.cfm

http://coasterbuzz.com/RollerCoasters.aspx?sort=park

http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/yellowpages/parks/cedarpoint_oh.shtml