maXair

maXair
2005

maXair is a thrilling spinning thrill ride that is located in the front of Cedar Point.

In the late 1990's Cedar Point was in the middle of a roller coaster war! A war on who could build the tallest and fastest roller coasters and thrill rides in the world. In 1995 Cedar Point Celebrated its 125th anniversary. Riders would stand to their fears with Mantis when it opened in 1996. In 1997 Cedar Point expanded Soak City and added Chaos and Swan Boats to its dry park. In 1998 Power tower became the tallest and fastest combo ride. In 1999 Cedar Point added Camp Snoopy. For 2000, Cedar Point added the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when Millennium Force opened in 2000. In 2002 Cedar Point added Wicked Twister. Wicked Twister was the world's tallest and fastest impulse roller coaster in the world. In 2003, Top Thrill Dragster became the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world! With all these new rides, Cedar Point would add a fun experience in 2005.

When Cedar Point closed for the 2004 season they began land clearing for the new 2005 thrill ride. Shortly after they started to dig foundations and prepare the area for the new ride.

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

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

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

Over at the ride sign crews poured the ride foundations and installed the fame of the dropping floor. maXair has a massive pit under the ride that the floor drops into. The pit also contains different air systems that run the ride.

In the early spring, the construction crews began to take the ride parts to the construction site.

Cedar Point received a new General Manager during the construction of maXair, John Hildebrandt.

Once the foundations were completed the construction of the ride would go pretty fast.

The legs were connected to the footers and were raised and held with a crane until the top of the ride could be put on.

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

Once the giant arm was put on the ride they put the rest of the ride together.

After the ride was put together crews began to finish the area around the ride while maXair would being tested.

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

maXair was the first thrill ride added to Cedar Point since Power Tower was built in 1998. It would give the park guest another new way to be thrilled that wasn't a roller coaster.

maXair was built by Huss. Huss also built Troika (1976), Witches' Wheel (1977-2018), and Ocean Motion (1981) at Cedar Point.

The structure of maXair is 84 feet in the air. The motors for the ride are located up there.

maXair swings its riders to 140 feet in the air at speeds of 70 MPH!

maXair was a very liked ride when it first opened. 15 years after to opened, it still is a popular ride!

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 Main Midway Games Area

Ride Experience

The maXair ride experience begins by guest entering the line for the ride. The line is on the back side of the ride across from Troika. The line isn't very big because the line moves really fast.

maXair features 50 seats. The seats are on the outside on the ring of the ride. Each seat has an over the shoulder restraint and a seatbelt.

On the platform for the ride are several large barrels that have spots to put your shoes.

maXair starts by dropping its floor. Once the floor is dropped the ride starts spring in a counter clockwise motion.

maXair starts swinging back and forth. While the ride swings, it continues to spin.

As the ride swings it goes higher and higher each time.

maXair swings its riders up to 140 feet in the air! As the ride keeps swinging, riders experience the sensation of airtime!

maXair gives great views of Cedar Point and the beach as it swings.

At 140 feet, maXair is taller then many of Cedar Point's roller coasters.

As maXair slows down it stops spinning as high.

maXair returns to the ride platform and the floor comes up so guests can exit the ride.

A ride on maXair lasts about 2 and a half minutes.

After adding maXair in 2005, Cedar Point would add more attractions that would balance out its collection of rides. Cedar Point would add: Skyhawk (2006), Maverick (2007), Planet Snoopy (2008), Shoot the Rapids (2010-2015), WindSeeker (2011), Dinosaurs's Alive on Adventure Island (2012-2018), GateKeeper (2013), New Gemini Midway (2014), Rougarou (2015), Valravn (2016), Cedar Point Shores Water park (2017), Steel Vengeance (2018), Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island (2019), Cedar Point's 150th Anniversary Celebration (2021), The Boardwalk (2023), and Top Thrill 2 (2024).! All of these additions have helped to make Cedar Point a better place.