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Corkscrew is Cedar Point's Arrow looping coaster.
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Corkscrew
1976
50th Anniversary Edition
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In the 1960s, Cedar Point began its transformation into '' The Disneyland of the Midwest. This meant that many popular rides would open. Attractions like Blue Streak, Turnpike Cars, Mill Race, and Pirate Ride would become very popular. By the late 1960s, Cedar Point would begin a massive expansion that would lead the park to become what it is today. In 1967, Cedar Point opened Frontier Town at the back of the peninsula. In 1968, guests would begin sliding down the Sky Slide as they raced their friends to the finish line. Frontier Town was expanded to include Cedar Creek Mine Ride in 1969. Cedar Point Celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1970. Guests would start exploring Frontier Trail in 1971. Guests would be thrilled and entertained in 1972 when Cedar Point opened the Giant Wheel, Jumbo Jet, and Matterhorn. In 1973, Cedar Point opened its newest resort, Camper Village. Guests would experience the world's largest IMAX theater in 1975 with the addition of the Cedar Point Cinema.
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In 1975, Knotts Berry Farm would open Corkscrew. Corkscrew is the first modern roller coaster to turn riders upside down. Later in 1975 Corskcrew roller coaster clones would also be built at:
Old Chicago (Closed 1980) Magic Harbor (Closed 1977) Opryland USA (Closed 1997) |
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Cedar Point decided they didn't want to be outdone, so they began working on their own roller coaster that would go upside down.
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In 1975 Cedar Point announced it was going to build the Great Lake Erie Roller for the 1976 season.
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Cedar Point would use the land that Jungle Larry's Safari Island was on to place the new roller coaster. The Jungle Larry attraction would be reimaged around the new roller coaster.
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The name Great Erie Roller didn't last long. It was changed because the park's board of directors did not like the name. They thought it was too long. They would eventually settle on the name Corkscrew.
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Corkscrew was built over the 1975 offseason and into the spring of 1976.
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The day before the ride opened, Arrow was testing the ride out. While testing was going great, two of the trains had collided while the incoming train was going into the station. Arrow quickly pieced the two trains together and started manufacturing a new train for the park. No one was on the train or hurt. If that were to happen today, the ride would be delayed. Until Dick Kenzil's book was published in late 2015, only Cedar Point and Arrow knew about the innocent.
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Corkscrew opened on Saturday, May 15, 1976. It would be Cedar Point's first record-breaking roller coaster.
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Corkscrew Ride Facts:
Opened: Saturday, May 15, 1976 Location: Corkscrew Midway Type: custom looping coaster Manufacturer: Arrow Development Designer: Ron Toomer Cost: $1.75 Million Height: 85 feet Drop: Length: 2,050 feet Speed: 48 MPH Hills: 3 Inversions: 3 Capacity: 1,800 PHR Corkscrew was the first roller coaster in the world to go upside down 3 times.. |
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Corkscrew was built by Arrow Development. Over the years, they would build several rides at Cedar Point, including: Turnpike Cars (1959-2014), Cadillac Cars (1960), Mill Race (1963-1993), Earthquake (1965-1984), Pirate Ride (1966-1996), Antique Cars (1969-2021), Cedar Creek Mine Ride (1969), Gemini (1978), White Water Landing (1982-2005), Iron Dragon (1987), , Magnum XL-200 (1989), and Snake River Falls (1993-2024)
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Corkscrew was a really big deal when it opened. It was something that really wasn't seen by most people.
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World Records
1. First Roller Coaster to go upside down 3 times! (The record was held until Carolina Cyclone was built at Carowinds in 1980.) 2. First Roller Coaster to go upside down OVER a midway! 3. Most Roller Coasters at a single Park! (5) * This list is from when the ride opened in 1976 |
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Park Records
1. Tallest Roller Coaster at Cedar Point. (Until 1978) 2. Fastest Roller Coaster at Cedar Point. (Until 1978) 3. First Roller Coaster to go upside down! * This list is from when the ride opened in 1976 |
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Corkscrew was such a popular ride that it put Cedar Point on the map and started a tradition of tallest and fastest. Corkscrew cost 1.75 million dollars in 1976, that is $9,989.46 in 2025.
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Corkscrew was a very popular ride from the start. It helped Cedar Point beat an attendance record of over 3 million people for the first time. The ride was an instant hit. It was smooth, fun and a great ride for the park!
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Ride Expereince
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The Corkscrew experience begins when guests get in line for the ride. The ride entrance for Corkscrew is between the station and Super Himalaya.
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The queue line is located between the station and the lift hill. On an average day, guests can usually get on Corskcrew within 20 minutes or less. If the park is busy, the line can get up to an hour.
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Riders are loaded onto the train. Riders are held in place with an over-the-shoulder restraint that has a seatbelt attached.
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The corkscrew ride experience begins when the train leaves the station. There is a small dip that gives the ride a little bit of speed.
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This hill gives the train the speed it needs so that when it reaches the lift, they are traveling at the same speed.
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The ride then turns around 180 degrees and heads towards the lift hill.
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The train then begins to head up the lift hill.
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Corkscrew takes its riders up 85 feet.
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Riders get an amazing view of Hotel Breakers and Top Thrill 2 as they go up the hill.
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Riders experience some really cool airtime as they go down the drop.
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Corkscrew drops its riders about 65 feet. The coaster reaches speeds of about 48 MPH.
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Corkscrew then takes its riders over the air time hill.
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Riders experience an incredible amount of airtime as they go over this hill.
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Corkscrew then takes its riders upside down on the vertical loop.
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The vertical loop was a unique experience for most people who have ridden it.
Some early roller coasters featured vertical loops on roller coasters but they didn't work very well so they didn't last long. The firt modern roller coaster to feature a loop was on Revolution at Magic Mountain in California. The roller coaster was built by Schwarzkopf. At that time neither Schwarzkopf or Arrow new thqt each other was working on the vertical loop. |
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The train then takes riders up into a straight section of track going towards the Main Midway.
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The ride then turns to the left and dives towards the midway.
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Corksctew then flips its riders upside down with the first corkscrew.
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Corkscrew is traveling about 38 MPH during the eye of the Corkscrew.
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Corkscrew then takes its riders upside down through its second Corkscrew. This is the third and final inversion of the ride.
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Corkscrew's final inversions take place over the midway. Corkscrew was the first roller coaster in the world to go upside down over the midway.
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Corkscrew then turns to the right and heads back to the station.
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The train then goes thru a very long break run before going to the station. It is so long because it was orignally designed to hold the ride's 3 trains.
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The ride then stops outside the station and waits for the station to be ready for the train to come in.
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The train then pulls into the station where it parks. Riders exit the ride and return to the midway.
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Withstanding the Test of Time!
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When it opened in 1976 it did HUGE things for Cedar Point! Corkscrew really changed the pace for roller coasters when it opened.
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Corkscrew was so popular when it opened that it put Cedar Point on the map, and on the road to becoming ''The Roller Coaster Capital of the World!"
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When it opened in 1976 Corkscrew was Cedar Point's tallest and fastest roller coaster.
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Due to the park expanding, Today Corkscrew is located in the center of the park. The ride still retains its classic 1976 color scheme and feel.
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Over the years Corkscrew has gotten extremely rough. As a result of its rough ride, and bigger and better rides being added Corkscrew has lost its popularity.
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Corkscrew is an ok ride to start people out on that have never gone on a coaster that goes upside down, but we suggest that you start on something like Maverick or GateKeeper first because going upside down has changed so much in the last 50 years.
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Since Corkscrew opened in 1976, 23 roller coasters have been added to Cedar Point! Over the years, bigger and better rides were added to the park including: Witches’ Wheel (1977-2018), Gemini (1978), Gemini Chilrden’s Area (1979-2013), Wave Swinger (1979), WildCat(1979-2011), Oceana (1980),Ocean Motion (1981), Kid Arthur’s Court (1982-2005), White Water Landing (1982-2005), Demon Drop (1983-2009), Avalanche Run (1985-1989), Berenstain Bear Country(1985-1998), Thunder Canyon(1986), Iron Dragon (1987), Soak City Water Park (1988-2016), Magnum XL-200 (1989),Disaster Transport (1990-2012), Mean Streak (1991-2016), Challenge Park (1992-2016), Snake River Falls (1993-2024), Kiddy Kingdom (1993), Raptor(1994), Cedar Point’s 125th Anniversary Celebration (1995), RipCord (1996-2016), Mantis (1996-2014), Chaos (1997-2011), Swan Boats (1997-2003), Power Tower (1998), Camp Snoopy (1999), Millennium Force (2000), Lighthouse Point (2001), Wicked Twister (2002-2021), Good Time Theatre(2002-2014), Top Thrill Dragster (2003-2021), Castaway Bay Resort (2004), maXair (2005), 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). Over the years, rides have gotten bigger and better!
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Corkscrew was a masterful addition when it opened in 1976. The ride did really good things for Cedar Point. Corkscrew changed the history of the park forever.
Corkscrew was Cedar Point's first record breaking roller coaster. The park would add many more over the years, including:
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Riders must be 48 inches tall to ride Corkscrew.
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Last Updated: 05/01/2026
Photo Credit by: Jake Hamons. Historical photos and maps by: Cedar Point.
