Magnum XL-200

Magnum XL-200
1989
(35th Anniversary Edition)

Magnum XL-200 opened in May 1989 as the world's first complete circuit roller coaster over 200 feet. It was built by Arrow Dynamics of Utah. Magnum XL-200 set the standards of all Hyper Coasters ever built!

The 1980s was a huge decade of growth for Cedar Point. In 1980 Cedar Point introduced Oceanea. Oceanea was Cedar Point's dolphin stadium where the dolphins performed. Ocean Motion started sailing the high seas in 1981. In 1982, guests were treated to Cedar Point's newest log flume technology with White Water Landing. In 1983, Demon Drop began dropping riders from its 131-foot tall tower. Avalanche Run opened in 1985 as the first bobsled roller coaster in the Midwest. In 1986 Thunder Canyon treated guests to a true river rafting experience. Iron Dragon was the first successful suspended roller coaster in the region when it opened in 1987. Guests began to be soaked daily at Soak City Water Park in 1988. With all these new and big improvements, the best was yet to come.

In the 1980s Cedar Point added 8 new huge attractions to the park including 2 new roller coasters. In 1986, Cedar Fair got a new CEO named Dick Kinzel. In 1987 he added Iron Dragon to Cedar Point, the first successful roller coaster added since Gemini in 1978.

When Gemini opened in 1978, it was billed as the tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster on earth. Due to lack of the internet, it was later reviled that Gemini was not the tallest, or the fastest roller coaster in the world.

By 1988 Gemini had already been at Cedar Point for 10 years. In the late 1980s, Cedar Point and Dick Kinzel began talking to roller coaster manufacturers to create what would be the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. What did they come up with? A roller coaster that was 187 feet. It would be just tall enough to become the tallest roller coaster in the world!

The new roller coaster was to be built in an area between Gemini and Corkscrew.

When park officials took the idea of the new roller coaster to the board for approval, it was there that a board member suggested that the ride needed to be bigger. Kenzil then went and talked to the manufacturer where the project changed. The new roller coaster would now be 201 feet tall.

The plans were then approved and Cedar Point then began building its new masterpiece.

On August 16, 1988, Cedar Point announced it was building Magnum XL-200. Magnum XL-200 was the tallest and fastest complete circuit roller coaster in the world. This would be the first time that Cedar Point would be able to have this record.

Magnum was built over the winter of 1988 and the spring of 1989. No one in the world had ever seen a roller coaster so big. Magnum would be the first roller coaster in the world over 200 feet!

Magnum was a huge construction project for Cedar Point. The ride would be sandwiched between Cedar Point, the beach, Soak City, and Camper Village. The resort gate was rebuilt, and moved across the road to make room for Magnum.

Magnum XL-200 took the record of the tallest and fastest complete circuit roller coaster from Bandit, a 167-foot tall roller coaster that was built in 1988 by Togo for Yomiuriland.

The construction of Magnum XL-200 was completed in April 1989.

Today, new rides and roller coasters go through weeks of testing to make sure everything is working correctly. In 1989 that was not the case. When Magnum XL-200's first train was run Cedar Point officials and Arrow crews were on the platform of the ride discussing its performance. After returning to the station from its very first run, Dick Kinzel, with Jack Falfas in controls became the first person to ride the new ride.

The weather was not good the day Magnum XL-200 opened. It was a cold, windy, and rainy day.

When the ride was officially measured by the Genesis Book of World Records on June 2, 1989, it was found that Magnum XL-200 was actually 205 feet and not 201 feet. As it turns out, Cedar Point and Arrow Dynamics forgot to include the height of the footers.

Magnum XL-200 was an instant hit! Guests loved it!

Magnum XL-200's station was placed between Corkscrew and Gemini. The ride leaves the park and heads into the water park and back towards Lighthouse Point. Back in 1989, the water park was only on the right side of Magnum. Over the years the water park has expanded Magnum.

Magnum XL-200 was built by Arrow Dynamics of Clearfield, Utah. Arrow had built several other rides for Cedar Point including: Turnpike Cars (1959-2014), Cadillac Cars (1958), Mill Race (1963-1993), Earthquake (1965-1984), Pirate Ride (1966-1996), Shoot-the-rapids (1967-1981), Cedar Creek Mine Ride (1969), Antique Cars (1969), Corkscrew (1976), Gemini (1978), White Water Landing (1982-2005) and Iron Dragon (1987). Magnum XL-200 was another great arrow ride for Cedar Point!

Magnum Xl-200 was designed by Ron Toomer. Ron was a NASA engineer who got bored with his job. After a job hunt, he joined the Arrow Development Company. He would then develop some of the world's best rides ever built.

Magnum XL-200 Ride Facts
Height: 205 feet
Drop: 194 feet
Speed: 72 MPH
Hills: 10
Inversions: 0
Type: Hyper roller coaster
Designer: Ron Toomer
Company: Arrow Dynamics of Clearfield, Utah
Capacity: 2,000/HR
Opened: May 6, 1989
Number of Coaster at that time: 8
Cost: 8 Million
Cedar Point's 6th oldest roller coaster

When Magnum XL-200 opened it was the first roller coaster to go over 200 feet. The ride was so massive they had to come up with a new type of roller coaster for the ride. Magnum XL-200 was then coined the original Hypercoaster.

Magnum XL 200 Starts A War

When Magnum XL-200 opened it broke many world records. Magnum XL-200 was so big it started the roller coaster wars. The roller coaster wars was a race to see who could build the biggest, tallest, fastest and steepest roller coasters imaginable. The roller coaster wars started in 1989 and ended in 2003 when Cedar Point built Top Thrill Dragster. Over the next 14 years, Cedar Point would add 8 roller coasters, 3 of which were over 200 feet tall. It is safe to say that Cedar Point had won the roller coaster wars. No other park has as many roller coasters over 200 feet as Cedar Point does. Today Cedar Point has 5 roller coasters over 200 feet.

World Records

When Magnum XL-200 opened it was:
-The tallest full-circuit roller coaster in the world. (205 feet)
-The fastest full-circuit roller coaster in the world. (72 MPH)
-The Steepest roller coaster in the world. (60 degrees)

Magnum would remain the tallest roller coaster in the world until Pepsi Big One opened in 1994.

Magnum was a great addition to Cedar Point. It helped put Cedar Point back on the map as a place to ride roller coasters.

Ride Experience

The Magnum XL-200 ride experience begins with guests entering the line for the ride. The ride entrance is located between the Resort Gate and Corkscrew.

The line leads all the way to the station building where the riders are loaded into the train. The station building is very big and has a weird look to it. Most of the time Magnum XL-200 has a wait time of about 5-15 minutes. On the weekends the ride can get a line of about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.

In the line, guest go past multiple signs that have ride facts about the ride that they can read.

After climbing up a set of stairs riders finally arrive in the station.

Magnum XL-200 has very comfortable trains. They are very similar to the trains on Gemini.

The trains feature individual seat belts and a lap bar. The trains feel very close together.

Once the ride operator gives the ''all clear'' the train is dispatched from the station.

The train leaves the station and heads over the midway. After the track gets over the midway it goes into a small dip.

Magnum then takes a right-hand turn and riders begin heading up the roller coaster's massive lift hill.

Magnum XL-200 then lifts its riders 205 feet in the air. The ride uses a 1,060-foot long chain to get to the top of the lift. The chain lift is moving at about 6 MPH.

Going up the lift hill is a very unique experience. Riders get great views of Cedar Point Shores Water Park, Gemini, Hotel Breakers and Lake Erie. It is a beautiful view!

It takes about a minute to get to the top of the lift hill. From the top riders get great views of Lake Erie.

Magnum XL-200 drops riders 194 feet at a 60-degree angle.

The drop on Magnum XL-200 is really cool. It has so much airtime. Riders float down the drop.

Magnum then climbs its second 157 foot tall airtime hill. This hill is really cool because you float over the top of the hill. It brings you really close to the lake. The train is going really fast and it seems as if you are about to dive into the lake!

At the top of the hill, Magnum XL-200 takes a slight turn to the left. This slight turn aligns the coaster with its next few elements.

Magnum XL-200's second drop then drops riders into a dark tunnel.

Riders are then ejected from the tunnel into an 80-foot tall ejector airtime hill. The airtime on this hill is very good!

Magnum XL-200 then goes through a pretzel turnaround. Magnum XL-200 is the only roller coaster that features this kind of element in the world. The Pretzel turn around is two consecutive turns that are side by side. They are banked a bit and it feels like you are going thru a flat helix. The pretzel turn around is a very forceful element.

Magnum XL-200's pretzel turnaround helps align the track with the rest of the coaster so the ride can return to the station in an out and back style layout.

After the pretzel turn around the train then goes into a second tunnel. This tunnel features an airtime hill.

Riders are then blasted out of the tunnel into a small airtime hill. Riders are ejected out of their seats on this hill.

Magnum has very strong ejector airtime. The ride does have a tendency to be known to be violent. It is not as graceful as the B&M hyper coasters such as Nitro (2001), Diamondback (2009), Mako ( 2016), and Candymonium (2020).

Magnum XL-200 then goes into a twisted airtime hill. The track then heads up and twists before dropping to the right. The very forceful hill gives minimal airtime.

The rest of Magnum XL-200 is low to the ground. The ride then snakes its way through Cedar Point Shores Water Park.

Magnum then goes over an amazing ejector airtime hill. This hill takes riders by surprise because they can't see what is coming until they are going thru the hill.

Magnum XL-200 then goes over another airtime hill. The ride continues to go thru the water park. As it gets further into the park, the structure starts going over top of walkway paths!

The next hill once again ejects riders out of their seat as they go over a walkway path!

As the train goes over this hill, guests get their pictures taken. It's always fun to make different faces with your friends on this ride.

After taking your picture, Magnum XL-200 then heads into the final tunnel. Inside the tunnel, the ride goes through its final airtime hill. Riders are ejected out of their seats!

The tunnel is pitch dark. Riders can't see where they are going so naturally, they scream!

After coming out of the tunnel riders experience the ride's mid-course block brakes. It takes about 60 seconds from the time the train leaves the top of the first hill to reach this point of the ride.

After leaving the mid-course brake run, Magnum XL-200 then cruises toward the station.

Magnum then goes over the Resort Gate giving riders a sweeping view of the midway below.

The train then takes riders to the final brake run where they wait until it is time to go into the station to get off the ride.

A Success

When Magnum XL-200 opened it was very successful. The ride was considered an instant hit. Magnum was considered a world class coaster! To many people, Magnum XL-200 was considered the best.

Amusement Today started in 1997. Amusement Today is a magazine that covers the amusement park, theme park, and water park industry. Every year they post a list of what they consider to be the world's top roller coasters. Magnum XL-200 was the very first roller coaster to make the list of number #1 roller coaster on the planet. Magnum XL-200 has also always been in the top 25 roller coasters every year.

Magnum's Placements in the Golden Ticket Awards:
1998- 1
1999- 1
2000- 1
2001- 3
2002- 3
2003- 4
2004- 3
2005- 3
2006- 3
2007- 5
2008- 7
2009- 9
2010- 8
2011- 10
2012- 8
2013- 9
2014- 13
2015- 15
2016- 15
2017- 23
2018- 14
2019- 18
2020- They did not have Golden Tickets in 2020 due to COVID.
2021-20
2022-25
2023- 30

Magnum XL-200 was very popular when it opened. It often had full lines along with temporary lines set up that would extend all the way down to the Corkscrew.

Magnum XL-200 was so popular that it started the roller coaster wars. Over the next 30 years, Cedar Point would add another 5 roller coasters that would be over 200 feet tall! As time went on, it would turn out to be the last roller coaster that Arrow Dynamics would build at Cedar Point.

Changes Are Made To Magnum XL-200

Today's safety standards are much different then they were in 1989. In the era that magnum XL-200 was built rides and roller coasters rarely had seat belts and Magnum was no exception. In the early 1990's safety standards were quickly changing. Seat belts were being added to new and existing roller coasters in the early 1990s. Magnum XL-200 received seat belts sometime in 1989 after the ride had opened. Safety standards were further changed in the late 1990s to require air gates to be added to prevent riders from walking past the approved point while the ride was in motion. Around 2005, Magnum XL-200 received its air gates.

Seat belts weren't the only things being added and changed to the ride in the 1990's. In 1990 Magnum's braking system was changed from upstop plates to upstop wheels.

In 1989 a few months after it opened, Magnum XL-200 received its trim breaks. The original trim breaks were on top of the third hill. In 1990, the trims were moved from the top of the hill to their current location just before the pretzel turn around. Also at this time the bottom of the third hill was re-profiled to accommodate the new trims.

At some point in the mid 1990's the pretzel turn around was re-tracked and re profiled with new track that could better support the weight of the trains. The new track had a different shape then the original.

Back in 1989, roller coasters were still designed by hand. It was fairly common for coasters to be modified after they were built because the original design just didn't work out.

Trim breaks are added to roller coasters to slow them down so they go slower thru some sections of a ride. Trim breaks were later added 2 other Cedar Point roller coasters: Mean Streak and Mantis.

In 2009 Cedar Point celebrated Magnum XL-200's 20th anniversary. In honor of its milestone, the ride received its new entrance sign! The sign was painted in 2018.

Becoming A Classic

Over the years Magnum XL-200 has been very popular. The ride has seen great capacity. It's a great ride!

Magnum XL-200 helped Cedar Point set the pace for the next generation of roller coasters that would be built.

After Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point would add another 14 roller coasters. Even though roller coasters are Cedar Point's calling card, other things were added including: Disaster Transport (1990-2012), Mean Streak (1991 - 2016), Challenge Park (1992-2016), Snake River Falls (1993), Raptor (1994), Mantis (1996-2014), Power Tower (1998), Camp Snoopy (1999), Millennium Force (2000), Wicked Twister (2002-2021), Top Thrill Dragster (2003-2021), maXair (2005), Sky Hawk (2006), Maverick (2007), Planet Snoopy (2008), Shoot The Rapids (2010-2015), WindSeeker (2011), GateKeeper (2013), Pipe Scream (2014), Wilderness Run (2014), Rougarou (2015), Valravn (2016), Cedar Point Shores Water Park (2017), and Steel Vengeance (2018), Forbidden Frontier (2019-2022), Cedar Point's 150th Anniversary (2021), The Boardwalk (2023), and Top Thrill 2 (2024). All of these new attractions have brought Cedar Point new innovations and new technology that have made Cedar Point the Roller Coaster Capital of the World!