Maverick
2007
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Maverick opened in 2007 as the world’s first Blitz roller coaster. Blitz coasters are known for staying close to the ground and delivering fast, intense maneuvers. Maverick was a different kind of ride for Cedar Point because it focused on speed and quick elements rather than breaking world records.
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The roller coaster wars of the 1990s brought bigger and better things to Cedar Point. In 1997, Cedar Point expanded its water park to include more slides and attractions. Riders were launched or dropped 240 feet in 1998 with Power Tower. In 1999, Camp Snoopy opened with a new roller coaster for families.
The world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster arrived in 2000 in the form of Millennium Force. A one-of-a-kind attraction, Wicked Twister became the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in the world. In 2003, riders were launched 420 feet into the air on Top Thrill Dragster, the tallest and fastest roller coaster Cedar Point had ever built. Riders were spun 140 feet in the air with maXair in 2005 and swung 125 feet in the air with Skyhawk in 2006.
With all these changes over 10 years, a big new attraction was due in 2007.
The world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster arrived in 2000 in the form of Millennium Force. A one-of-a-kind attraction, Wicked Twister became the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in the world. In 2003, riders were launched 420 feet into the air on Top Thrill Dragster, the tallest and fastest roller coaster Cedar Point had ever built. Riders were spun 140 feet in the air with maXair in 2005 and swung 125 feet in the air with Skyhawk in 2006.
With all these changes over 10 years, a big new attraction was due in 2007.
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In 1997, Cedar Point added Swan Boats. The ride operated in Frontier Town for a few years and was a simple attraction where riders pedaled small boats around a pond. Swan Boats closed at Cedar Point on September 1, 2003
. The ride was relocated to Michigan's Adventure for the 2004 season, where it is still in operation today. |
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In October 2005, Cedar Point closed its hydro flume, White Water Landing. The ride was built by Arrow in 1982. White Water Landing was a very popular attraction, and many guests missed it after it was removed.
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With White Water Landing and Swan Boats out of the way, Cedar Point had room for a huge new attraction. The park now had a 5.5-acre site to work with.
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When Cedar Point opened for the 2006 season, there was a massive construction site where the park was preparing for a new attraction. Crews were already working on pouring footers for Cedar Point’s new ride for 2007.
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In early summer, the park began vertical construction on its new ride.
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The park kept quiet about what they were building. Construction continued to move more rapidly as the summer went on.
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Rumors were running wild about what the new ride would be. One thing was certain—Cedar Point was building something really special for the 2007 season.
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Cedar Point was able to keep its new roller coaster a secret all summer long.
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On September 7, 2006, Cedar Point announced that Maverick would be the park’s 17th roller coaster.
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When the park closed for the 2006 season, almost all of the ride’s track and supports were already in place.
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Through the winter, the park continued construction on the roller coaster to have it ready for the summer season.
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In the spring, the park worked hard to prepare the new roller coaster for opening.
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Before the park opened, Maverick began testing. The initial test runs didn’t go exactly as planned, and it was soon discovered that the heartline roll was putting too much stress on the trains.
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On May 8, 2007, Cedar Point announced that the opening of Maverick would be delayed. The heartline roll needed to be replaced with an S-curve because it was putting too much stress on the ride.
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Testing resumed after the heartline roll was replaced with the S-curve.
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Maverick officially opened on May 26, 2007. It was the first new roller coaster to debut at Cedar Point since Top Thrill Dragster in 2003.
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Maverick was one of the most popular roller coasters when it opened and was immediately compared to Millennium Force. It became an instant hit!
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Maverick is located in Frontier Town.
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Maverick Ride Facts
Opened: May 26, 2007 Location: Frontier Town Type: Blitz Coaster Manufacturer: Intamin AG Designer: Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH Cost: $21 million Height: 105 feet Drop: 100 feet Length: 4,500 feet Speed: 70 mph Hills: 4 Trains: 6 Inversions: 2 Capacity: 1,200 riders per hour Maverick didn’t break any records, but it’s just a fun ride. |
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Maverick was very different for Cedar Point. It wasn’t the tallest or fastest—it was just a great ride. Maverick broke only one record when it opened: it was the steepest roller coaster in the world.
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Ride Experience
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Maverick riders board one of two trains, each holding 12 riders. The ride uses a dual-loading system, allowing two trains to be dispatched at the same time.
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After leaving the station, riders enter the pre-lift section of the ride. The train rolls through this area before ascending the lift hill.
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Riders are then carried up the 105-foot-tall lift hill. As they ascend, they enjoy great views of the lake and Frontier Town.
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The lift hill is very fast, carrying riders to the top quickly because there is no traditional chain lift.
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Maverick drops riders 100 feet at an incredible 95-degree angle! That’s not just straight down—it’s beyond vertical. The drop is thrilling, giving riders an amazing burst of airtime!
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After the drop, riders are quickly whipped to the right. Maverick’s whipping turns are thrilling and give an out-of-control feeling, almost like riding on the back of a wild bull.
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Maverick then twists and turns riders through the canyons in a fast, wild, and unpredictable fashion.
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Riders are then lifted out of their seats as they go over a 74-foot-tall airtime hill.
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Maverick then enters its Double Twisted Horseshoe Roll. This element consists of two corkscrew inversions placed side by side and connected by sweeping curves.
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The Double Twisted Horseshoe is a very rare element, found on only two roller coasters: Maverick and Blue Fire at Europa Park in Germany. The inversions are thrilling, and riders are lifted out of their seats as the train twists upside down.
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Maverick then slows riders down before the train enters a dark tunnel.
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Maverick then launches riders 400 feet through a dark tunnel at speeds of 70 mph. The tunnel runs beneath the station and the lift hill.
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After being launched through the tunnel, riders quickly turn to the left and enter a sweeping turn.
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As the train ascends, it passes through a few brake sections. From the top of this hill, riders get an incredible view of Cedar Point!
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Maverick then drops riders into the lagoon. As the train reaches the bottom of the hill, water effects are triggered.
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Riders then twist and turn in an “S” pattern, passing underneath the ride’s lift hill.
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While navigating the canyon, riders have their photo taken.
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Riders then twist under the lift hill. This element is thrilling because it tilts riders onto their sides, creating the sensation of squeezing into a tight space and almost hitting something!
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Then Maverick sends riders through an extremely overbanked turn. This element is thrilling and gives a fantastic floating sensation!
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The final element on Maverick is a small airtime hill. Despite its size, it delivers more airtime than expected, giving riders a fun, surprising lift out of their seats!
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Maverick ends when the train enters the brake run.
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Some Of The Past Is Saved
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Maverick reuses White Water Landing’s station, which now serves as Maverick’s queue and gift shop.
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Maverick's Impact On The Roller Coaster Capital Of The World!
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When Maverick was announced, many people thought it would be a family-style ride similar to Iron Dragon.
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Maverick’s first riders were blown away! It’s a fantastic ride and was immediately ranked as one of the top coasters in the park.
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Maverick was so impressive that in 2007 it was ranked the Best New Ride of the Year by Amusement Today.
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Maverick remains one of the top coasters in the world. Over the years, it has consistently ranked in the top 50 roller coasters in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards.
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Since Maverick, Cedar Point has completed eight roller coaster projects, including building four new coasters and converting four others. Over the years, Cedar Point would add: Planet Snoopy (2008), Shoot the Rapids (2010-2015), WindSeeker (2011), Dinosaurs Alive! On Adventure Island (2012-2018), GateKeeper (2013), New Gemini Midway (2014), Rougarou (2015), Valravn (2016), Cedar Point Shores Waterpark (2017), Steel Vengeance (2018), Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island (2019-2022), Cedar Point’s 150th Anniversary Celebration (2021), Snake River Expedition (2021-2023), The Boardwalk (2023), Top Thrill 2 (2024), and Siren’s Curse (2025)
All of these new attractions helped shape Cedar Point into the park it is today. |
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Maverick is an excellent ride that helps round out Cedar Point’s roller coaster collection. Riders must be at least 52 inches tall to experience Maverick.
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Photos by: Cedar Point, Coaster-net, Russ Hudden and Jake Hamons
Last Updated: 05/01/2026
