Raptor

Raptor
1994

Raptor opened in 1994 as Cedar Point’s inverted roller coaster. It was the first project to significantly change Cedar Point’s Main Midway since the 1960s.

During the 1990s, Cedar Point was fully immersed in the roller coaster wars. The decade proved to be very successful for the park, as new and exciting attractions were introduced at a rapid pace.

Guests began rafting through canyon rapids on Thunder Canyon in 1986. In 1987, Iron Dragon became the first successful suspended roller coaster in the Midwest. Soak City began soaking guests daily in 1988.

The roller coaster wars were launched by Cedar Point in 1989 with the opening of Magnum XL-200. In 1990, Cedar Point went in a different direction by enclosing Avalanche Run and transforming it into Disaster Transport.

In 1991, Mean Streak became the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world. Challenge Park opened in 1992, and in 1993 Snake River Falls debuted as the tallest water ride in the world.

With all of these changes already taking place, even more were on the way. The new 1994 roller coaster would permanently change the look of Cedar Point’s Main Midway.

In the early 1990s, Six Flags became very interested in the suspended roller coaster developed by Arrow. However, the ride type could not perform the inversions the company wanted because of the coaster’s swinging motion.

Six Flags solved the problem by working with Bolliger & Mabillard. Together, the two companies developed a new style of roller coaster called the inverted coaster.

Batman: The Ride opened on May 9, 1992, as the world’s first inverted roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. The ride featured five inversions and a strong theme. It was also very compact in its layout.

At some point after the opening of Batman: The Ride, Cedar Point executives visited the ride to experience it for themselves. Soon afterward, it was decided that they wanted to build an inverted roller coaster of their own.

During the fall of 1993, Cedar Point closed its aging water ride, Mill Race. The ride was torn down before the park closed for the season.

When the park closed, Midway Carousel and Calypso were taken apart so they could be restored and relocated. Turnpike Cars were also remodeled and redesigned to fit into the 1994 project.

With the former rides out of the way, Cedar Point had 3.5 acres of land available to design the new attraction.

Midway Carousel was relocated to the park’s front entrance. The ride was restored and placed inside a new building, which was much smaller than the original.

Calypso was relocated next to Blue Streak. When the ride was moved, it lost its backdrop and much of the theming it previously had.

Turnpike Cars were redesigned for the 1994 season. The ride would now feature a single track, along with a new station and layout. The cars from the former second track were relocated to Dorney Park.

On September 1, 1993, Cedar Point announced that it would be building Raptor. The ride would become the world’s tallest, fastest, and steepest inverted roller coaster. Raptor would also be Cedar Point’s 12th roller coaster when it opened in 1994.

Raptor was built over the winter of 1993 and the spring of 1994. The construction took just eight months, making it a major undertaking for Cedar Point, which had to clear space to accommodate the ride.

Raptor’s construction included:

250 blueprints
119 concrete footers
2,500 cubic yards of concrete
117 sections of track
1.5 million pounds of steel
9,000 pounds of chain lift
1,500 gallons of paint
Replacement of 85,000 square feet of the Main Midway

Raptor is a massive ride for Cedar Point. It enhanced the look of the Main Midway and gave thrill seekers an unforgettable experience!

Raptor opened on May 7, 1994. At the time, it was the third-tallest roller coaster at Cedar Point.

Raptor was designed by Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH and was the first roller coaster at Cedar Point built by Bolliger & Mabillard. The company would later return to Cedar Point to build Mantis (1996), GateKeeper (2013), Rougarou (2015), and Valravn (2016). These coaster types have consistently been among the most popular attractions in any amusement park.

Raptor Records

World Records
Records at the time of Raptor’s opening in 1994:

Tallest inverted roller coaster: 137 feet
Longest inverted roller coaster: 3,790 feet
Steepest drop for an inverted roller coaster: 45 degrees
Most inversions on an inverted roller coaster: 6
Fastest inverted roller coaster: 57 mph
First-ever inverted Cobra Roll

Park Records

Most roller coasters in the park: 11
Most rides overall
3rd tallest ride in the park (at the time)
3rd fastest ride in the park (at the time)

Raptor is located on the Main Midway, between Sky Ride and Blue Streak/Valravn.

Raptor Ride Facts
Opened: May 7, 1994
Location: Main Midway
Type: Inverted Coaster
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer: Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Cost: $11.5 million
Height: 137 feet
Drop: 119 feet
Length: 3,790 feet
Speed: 57 mph
Hills: 2
Trains: 3
Inversions: 6
Capacity: 1,600 riders per hour
Raptor was the first roller coaster at Cedar Point built by Bolliger & Mabillard.

Ride Experience

The Raptor ride experience begins as guests enter Raptor’s trains. Raptor features floorless-style trains with over-the-shoulder restraints and a seat belt.

After the ride host checks your seat, the ride begins. The floor drops below, and the train leaves the station!

Raptor turns left, dips slightly, and heads up the lift hill.

Raptor’s lift hill stands 137 feet tall. On the way up, riders get a great bird’s-eye view of the park. The lift hill faces Lake Erie, and it takes about 40 seconds to reach the top!

Once Raptor leaves the lift hill, it makes a small dip before turning slightly left. This element is called a pre-drop. A pre-drop is used on many early B&M roller coasters because it helps reduce wear and tear on the lift chain.

Raptor drops its riders 119 feet at a 45-degree angle. During the drop, riders reach speeds of 57 mph!

Riders are flipped upside down on Raptor’s 100-foot vertical loop! This was the tallest loop in the world when the ride opened in 1994.

After the vertical loop, riders are sent into a zero-g roll.

The zero-g roll is really cool because riders experience a sense of weightlessness as they are flipped upside down!

The zero-g roll sets the roller coaster up for its next element.

Riders are then sent into a cobra roll. A cobra roll occurs when the train enters a half loop, transitions into a corkscrew, and then repeats the sequence in reverse, going through another corkscrew back into a loop. Riders go upside down twice during the cobra roll.

Raptor was the first inverted roller coaster to feature a cobra roll.

After exiting the cobra roll, Raptor goes through a twisted upward helix. This forceful element leads into the mid-course brake run!

Raptor’s mid-course brake run slows the trains as they travel through the straight section of track. This element allows Raptor to operate three trains at once!

Raptor then drops to the left and heads back toward the front of the park. This drop is exciting because the coaster quickly regains speed.

Riders are flipped upside down for the fifth time on a corkscrew.

Raptor then cruises under the zero-g roll and vertical loop, and passes behind the former Chickie's and Pete's restaurant as it performs its final elements.

Riders are flipped upside down for the sixth and final time on a second corkscrew.

Riders experience an exciting double helix, where the coaster loses a lot of speed while still delivering a fast, thrilling experience.

After a 2-minute and 16-second ride, Raptor arrives at its final brake run!

Raptor is an incredible ride that generations of Cedar Point guests have loved.

Raptor Rules The Sky!

Raptor opened in May 1994 to rave reviews. The ride was both popular and groundbreaking at the time, becoming only the fourth inverted roller coaster to ever open. Guests loved Raptor and the thrilling experience it brought to Cedar Point.

Raptor had a significant impact on Cedar Point. In 1994, over 3.6 million guests visited the park, setting an attendance record that stood until 2023.

Raptor remains an incredibly popular ride and continues to be a favorite for many guests today.

Over the years, Raptor’s popularity has continued to grow. Starting in 1998, Amusement Today began ranking roller coasters, and Raptor appeared on the list for many years:

Year	Rank
1998	6
1999	6
2000	5
2001	8
2002	12
2003	10
2004	10
2005	11
2006	14
2007	19
2008	22
2009	22
2010	24
2011	8
2012	31
2013	30
2014	47
2016	47
2021	48

The Coaster Kingdom Grows

In the years following the opening of Raptor, Cedar Point shifted its focus toward adding roller coasters and attractions that would strengthen the park’s lineup. Over time, the park expanded by adding: 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)

All of these new attractions added something unique to Cedar Point.