A First Timer’s Guide to
for Coaster Enthusiasts
CEDAR POINT’S MASSIVE
VALR
SANDUSKY, Ohio – Valravn, Cedar Point’s raven-themed roller coaster, is readying for flight, rising from the sand on the Lake Erie shore, looking menacing – and massive. The park’s newest roller coaster won’t be Cedar Point’s tallest or fastest. But it may be the park’s most visually arresting – at least for guests standing underneath the ride’s dramatic 223-foot, 90-degree first hill.
“I think there will be a lot of folks looking up,” said Jason McClure, vice president and general manager of the park. “Photos don’t do the ride justice,” said McClure. “You need to see it in person.” The ride is Cedar Point’s first dive coaster, a special type of roller coaster characterized by extra-wide passenger trains and a 90-degree first drop. Valravn’s trains, with three rows of eight passengers across, will suspend riders at that first drop for 4 seconds before releasing them straight down. Traveling at 75 mph, riders will then enter a loop with a twist known in the industry as an Immelmann loop (named after German World War I pilot Max Immelmann).
AVN The ride is located on the Sandusky Bay side of the park, adjacent to the Blue Streak. The Good Time Theater and several small rides were removed to make way for the massive coaster. To accommodate the extra-wide train cars, the track is wide, as well – 6 ½ feet across, according to the park. Each piece of track weighs between 17,000 and 20,000 pounds – almost twice as much as track pieces for GateKeeper, Cedar Point’s last new coaster, built in 2013. These massive pieces of track require, at times, five cranes on site to maneuver into position. The park has hired an all-Ohio workforce to build the coaster. Cedar Point officials won’t reveal the cost
of the project, though industry observers have estimated it at between $20 million and $25 million. McClure said the ride will offer some modest theming, playing up Valravn’s role as the king of Cedar Point coasters. In Danish folklore, Valravn is a mythical creature with supernatural powers. A throne, placed outside the construction zone last fall after the coaster was announced, will be moved to the ride entrance area for photo opportunities. -Susan Glaser
Cedar Point is claiming 10 world records when the coaster officially opens. 1.Tallest dive coaster (223 ft) 2.Fastest dive coaster (75 mph) 3.Longest dive coaster (3,415 ft) 4.Most inversions on a dive coaster (three) 5.Longest drop on a dive coaster (214 ft) 6.Highest inversion on a dive coaster (165 ft) 7.Most roller coasters taller than 200 ft at one amusement park (5) 8.Most rides at one amusement park (71) 9.Most steel roller coaster track at one amusement park (52,125 ft/9.9 miles) 10.Most roller coaster track at one amusement park (60,110 ft/11.4 miles)
8
The
Best and Original Attractions at
1. Millennium Force
This is the coaster that’s generally considered the best in the park. Readers of Amusement Today have ranked it the best steel coaster in the world four years running. And it is tremendous: Super smooth, super fast and super fun – an engineering marvel. Rider tip: Grab a left¬side seat, which offers amazing views of Lake Erie as you climb the ride’s 310¬ foot¬high first hill. -Matthew Owen
2. Maverick
What it lacks in height it makes up for in might. This coaster is quick out of the gate, and never slows down, twisting and turning for 4,500 feet. With a 95¬degree angle, its first hill is the steepest in the park. Not to be missed. -Marvin Fong
3. Top Thrill Dragster
At 420 feet, this ride is the tallest in the park, but forget about the views – you’re going way too fast (120 mph) to see much of anything. It’s over in a flash – 17 seconds – but these are the most exciting 17 seconds of your life (or at least your day). There’s one big problem with this ride, however: Mechanical problems keep it sidelined way too often. -Scott Shaw
4. GateKeeper
This ride really soars – through concrete keyholes, above the park entrance, up and down and six times around. On this winged coaster, riders hang from either side of the track, which really maximizes the flying effect. Rider tip: Wait in line for the first car, which offers a tremendous bird’s eye view. (Pictured bottom left) -Scott Shaw
5. Blue Streak
Truthfully, I can barely tolerate this coaster any more – it bangs me around so much. But it is such an emotional favorite that I can’t stay away. Blue Streak, 78 feet tall at its highest, celebrated its 50 th birthday in 2014, making it the oldest coaster in the park (and just a tad older than yours truly). I insist on riding this once – and only once – every visit. (Pictured bottom right) -Susan Glaser
6. Magnum XL 200
When it was built in 1989, Magnum was the tallest, fastest and steepest coaster in the world. Its height has been surpassed a few times since, but this ride still thrills, with a 205¬foot first hill, plus three tunnels, several unexpected dips and a track that runs parallel to the beach. -Courtesy Cedar Point
7. Cedar Downs Racing Derby
Another nostalgic choice: This racing carousel was a thrill when I was a kid and it’s still a ton of fun. Built in 1920 for Euclid Beach Park, the ride moved to Cedar Point in the mid¬1960s. It features 64 horses, four to a row, competing for first place, at speeds of up to 15 mph. Giddy¬up! -Susan Glaser
8. Rougarou
New kid on the block Rougarou converted the once painful stand-up coaster Mantis into an entirely new beast, a floorless monster, where your feet appear to be inches from the track. (Pictured bottom middle) -Garrett Nutgrass
1. Download the Cedar Point App Before You Go. You can study the park map, check out the rides and height requirements, and have lots of planning tools at your fingertips. 2. If Possible Stay On Cedar Point Property. Not only is it super convenient and a huge time-saver, you get free parking, shuttle service and EARLY ENTRY! We had 4 roller coasters ridden before the park even opened! We were impressed with their attention to details and upscale yet family-friendly feel. Did I mention they have a Starbucks? 3. Pack a Refillable Water Bottle. Any restaurant or food vendor will fill it up for no charge. 4. Take a Breather at Beach. Cedar Point is located right on Lake Eerie and it is super gorgeous. The beach is great and it’s a nice little getaway from the hustle
and noise of the park, along with everything else.
something that ordinarily has a horrific wait time in a fraction of the time.
5. Be Adaptable. Here’s the thing about the bestlaid plans at theme parks: they can just as easily become a nightmare. If you are a zealot about your pre-planned strategy, your stubbornness can create issues. Rides at Cedar Point in particular are subject to shut down, particularly during inclement weather. If you’ve built your entire park day around a ride at a set time, you’re just going to have to modify your tactics on the fly.
7. Work your way backwards. There is a clear front and back section of Cedar Point. All guests start at the front, which means that there is a set structure to how people explore the park. You can and should take advantage of this behavior by acting like a salmon. Swim upstream against the tide, and you’ll discover fewer people in line earlier AND later in the day.
6. Be at rope drop. Yes, this is your vacation, so the idea of getting dressed early enough to enter the park the moment it opens is less than optimal. While you will run into hundreds of other early risers at park drop, these people reflect a small percentage of park traffic during the most trafficked parts of the day. As such, it’s your best opportunity to ride
Bolliger and Mabillard and Intamin are the top two steel coaster manufacturers in the world. Intamin has been known for building extreme rides, they currently hold the record for tallest and fastest coasters. Bolliger & Mabillard are known for their fun, crowd-pleasers that appeal to a wide range of theme park-goers. Riders often remark on their creations’ smoothness that encourages re-rides. You can identify B&M’s roller coasters by their four-across trains that ride along rails that sit on a boxshape. Intamin is a company that has pushed the limits of roller coasters both in terms of height and speed. They designed 8 of the 10 tallest roller coasters in the world. Here are Cedar Point’s coasters by the above mentioned companies:
Valravn
GateKeeper
Rougarou Raptor
Millenium Force
Maverick
Top Thrill Dragster
Wicked Twister
What’s Inside? + Feature article on Valravn, along with a world record-breaking fact sheet. + The Top 8 unique attractions at Cedar Point. + Insider tips on visiting the park. + A coaster enthusiast’s look at Bolliger & Mabillard vs. Intamin, the two premier roller coaster manufacturers featured within the park.