maXair

maXair
2005

maXair is Cedar Point’s giant Frisbee ride.

In the late 1990s, Cedar Point was in the middle of a roller coaster war—a race to build the tallest and fastest roller coasters and thrill rides in the world.
In 1995, the park celebrated its 125th anniversary. In 1996, guests were challenged to stand up to their fears when Mantis opened. In 1997, Cedar Point expanded Soak City and added Chaos and Swan Boats to the main park.
In 1998, Power Tower debuted as the tallest and fastest ride of its kind. The following year, Cedar Point added Camp Snoopy.
For the 2000 season, Cedar Point broke records again when Millennium Force opened as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. In 2002, the park introduced Wicked Twister, the world’s tallest and fastest impulse coaster at the time.
Then in 2003, Cedar Point shattered records once more with Top Thrill Dragster, which became the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world.
With all these record-breaking rides, Cedar Point decided to add a more fun and relaxing experience in 2005.

When Cedar Point closed for the 2004 season, the park began clearing land for a new thrill ride scheduled to open in 2005. Shortly afterward, crews started digging foundations and preparing the area for the new attraction.

On December 1, 2004, Cedar Point announced that it would build maXair for the 2005 season. The ride was placed in an area just off Kiddy Kingdom and in front of Disaster Transport.

To make room for maXair, Cedar Point had to relocate part of its games area. When the park closed for the 2004 season, the games area was torn down, and maXair was built in its place.

Over the winter, all of the parts for the ride began to arrive at Cedar Point.

At the ride site, construction crews poured the ride’s foundations and installed the frame for the dropping floor. maXair features a massive pit beneath the ride where the floor drops during loading. The pit also contains various air systems that help operate the ride.

In early spring, construction crews began moving ride parts to the construction site. During the construction of maXair, Cedar Point also welcomed a new general manager, John Hildebrandt.

Once the foundations were completed, construction of the ride progressed quickly.

The legs were connected to the footers and raised into place, where they were held by a crane until the top of the ride could be installed.

The top of the ride is very heavy and houses massive motors that swing the ride in a pendulum motion.

Once the giant arm was installed, crews assembled the rest of the ride.

After the ride was assembled, crews began finishing the area around the ride while maXair was being tested.

maXair opened on May 7, 2005, and it was a huge hit!

maXair is located between Kiddy Kingdom and the games area at Cedar Point. The area around maXair has changed a lot over the years with the addition of several rides built nearby.

maXair was the first major thrill ride added to Cedar Point since Power Tower opened in 1998. It gave park guests another exciting way to experience thrills that wasn’t a roller coaster.

maXair was built by HUSS Park Attractions. HUSS also built several other rides at Cedar Point, including Troika(1976), Witches' Wheel (1977–2018), and Ocean Motion (1981).

The structure of maXair stands 84 feet tall, and the ride’s motors are located at the top of the structure.

During the ride, maXair swings its riders as high as 140 feet in the air at speeds of up to 70 mph.

maXair was a very popular ride when it first opened. More than 21 years later, it is still a popular attraction.

maXair Ride Facts:

Opened: May 7, 2005
Manufacturer: HUSS Park Attractions
Type: Giant Frisbee 50
Height: 84 feet
Swing Height: 140 feet
Full Swings: 3
Speed: 70 mph
Location: Between Kiddy Kingdom and the Main Midway Games Area at Cedar Point

Ride Experience

The maXair ride experience begins when guests enter the queue for the ride. The line is located on the back side of the ride across from Troika. The queue is not very large because the line usually moves quickly.

maXair features 50 seats arranged around the outer ring of the ride. Each seat is equipped with an over-the-shoulder restraint and a seatbelt.

On the platform for maXair, there are several large barrels where riders can store their shoes.

The ride begins by dropping its floor. Once the floor lowers, the ride starts spinning in a counterclockwise motion.

maXair then begins swinging back and forth. As the ride swings higher and higher, the giant disc continues to spin, giving riders a thrilling experience from every angle.

As the ride swings, it goes higher and higher with each pass, building up to its maximum height.

maXair swings riders up to 140 feet in the air. As the ride continues to swing higher, riders begin to experience the thrilling sensation of airtime.

maXair offers great views of Cedar Point and the beach as it swings back and forth.

At 140 feet tall, maXair is taller than many of Cedar Point’s roller coasters.

As maXair slows down, it no longer swings as high with each pass.

maXair then returns to the ride platform, and the floor rises so guests can exit the ride.

A ride on maXair lasts about two and a half minutes.

After adding maXair in 2005, Cedar Point continued to add new attractions that helped balance its collection of rides. The park would go on to add: Skyhawk (2006), Maverick (2007), 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 additions have helped make Cedar Point an even better place to visit.