Roller Coaster History
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Today, Cedar Point is known as the roller coaster capital of the world. It all started in 1892 with a simple roller coaster. Over the years, Cedar Point has grown and evolved into what it is today. Over the years Cedar Point has built 12 world record-breaking roller coasters. Many of them have been the first of their kind.
1. Switchback Railway
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Opened: July 10, 1892
Closed: Around 1900, Before 1906 Manufacturer: American Railway Coaster Company of Chicago Location: Current location of Lakeside Pavillion Type: switchback Switchback Railway was Cedar Point's first roller coaster. The ride used no electric at all. Once the train got to the end of the ride, it had to be manually pushed back to the top. Switchback Railway was 25 feet tall and reached speeds of 12 MPH. |
2. Three-way Figure Eight Roller Toboggan
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Opened: May 31, 1902
Closed: 1909 Manufacturer: Ingersoll Location: Current location of WindSeeker Type: side-friction coaster Three-way Figure Eight Roller Toboggan was a small roller coaster that was located on the Cedar Point beach. The ride was 46 feet tall and took riders on a ride that featured a figure 8 style layout. |
3.Dip the Dips Scenic Railway
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Opened: June 14, 1908
Closed: September 19,1916 Manufacturer: Location: Amusement Circle Type: wooden coaster Dip the Dips Scenic Railway was a wooden roller coaster that took riders up and down several hills. |
4. Racer
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Opened: 1910
Closed: 1928 Manufacturer: McKay Construction Location: Beach Midway Type: wooden racing coaster The Racer was a small Wooden Roller Coaster that was located on Cedar Point's beach. Riders would race around a small course on this ride. The Racer was removed in 1928 to make room for Cyclone. |
5. Leap the Dips
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Opened: 1912
Closed: 1935 Manufacturer: TM Horton Company Location: Amusement Circle Type: wooden coaster Leap The Dips was located about where Blue Streak is today. It was an out and back roller coaster that featured a double dip drop. |
6. Leap Frog Railway
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Opened: July 1, 1917
Closed: September 4, 1933 Manufacturer: Lake Erie Construction Company Location: Amusement Circle Type: wooden coaster Leap Frog Railway was a better, improved version of Leap The Dips. |
7.Cyclone
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Opened: 1929
Closed: 1951 Manufacturer: Harry G Traver Location: Beach Midway Type: wooden coaster In 1929, The Cyclone opened on the Cedar Point Beach where it replaced The Racer. The Cyclone was scientifically built for speed. Over the years the ride would be very wild and intense. It closed in 1951 after the ride fell into a state of disrepair. |
8. High Frolics
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Opened: June 16, 1924
Closed: September 4, 1939 Manufacturer: A. Vettel Location: Amusement Circle Type: wooden coaster High Frolics was a rebuilt Leap Frog Railway. The ride operated where Blue Streak is today. It was an out and back roller coaster. It closed in 1939 due to low ridership. |
9. Super Coaster
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Opened: 1953
Closed: 1964 Manufacturer: Allan Herschell Location: Kiddy Kingdom Type: children's coaster Super Coaster was a kids coaster that was located in Kiddieland. It was removed to make way for newer kids rides. |
10. Wild Mouse
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Opened: May 30, 1959
Closed: September 8, 1963 Manufacturer: B.A. Schiff & Associates Location: Main Midway Type: wild mouse Wild Mouse was located on Cedar Point's Main Midway. The ride featured sharp turns and quick drops. It was removed to make way for Midway Expansion. |
11. Scamper
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Opened: June 13,1962
Closed: September 14,1969 Manufacturer: Location: Main Midway Type: wooden wild mouse Scamper was a wooden style Wild Mouse at Cedar Point. The ride was removed to make room for midway expansion. The ride was relocated to Goldrush Junction in Tennessee. |
12. Blue Streak
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Opened: May 23, 1964
Manufacturer: Philadelphia Tobaggan Comapny Location: Blue Streak Midway Type: wooden coaster Blue Streak opened at Cedar Point in 1964. It was the first major roller coaster built at Cedar Point since 1929. Blue Streak is a classic out and back roller coaster. Blue Streak is a family favorite that has been at Cedar Point longer than any other roller coaster in the history of the park. |
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13. Broadway Trip
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Opened: 1964
Closed: 1964 Manufacturer: Mack Rides Location: Main Midway Broadway Trip was a small roller coaster that featured a few small dips. The ride was located on Cedar Point's Main Midway. |
14. Cedar Creek Mine Ride
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Opened: August 3,1969
Manufacturer: Arrow Development Location: Frontier Town Type: mine train coaster Cedar Creek Mine Ride is a runaway Mine Train Coaster that opened in 1969. Cedar Creek Mine Ride takes riders on a journey through Frontier Town and over the lagoon. It is a great starting roller coaster for riders. |
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15. Wildcat
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Opened: May 23,1970
Closed: September 17, 1978 Manufacturer: Schwarzkopf Location: Beach Midway Type: wildCat Wildcat was a mini coaster that featured small four passenger cars. Wildcat featured a figure-eight style layout. The ride was relocated in 1979 to ValleyFair! Today it operates in Maryland. |
16. Jumbo Jet
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Opened: July 1,1972
Closed: September 17,1978 Manufacturer: Schwarzkopf Location: Beach Midway Type: jumbo jet Jumbo Jet was a small steel roller coaster that was located on the Cedar Point Beach. Jumbo Jet featured an unique spiral lift hill. Jumbo Jet was a powered coaster. The ride was removed because it had a lot of mechanical problems. The ride currently operates in Asia. |
17. Corkscrew
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Opened: May 15,1976
Manufacturer: Arrow Development Location: Corkscrew Midway Type: custom looper Corkscrew was Cedar Point's first record-breaking roller coaster. Corkscrew was the first roller coaster in the world to go upside down 3 times. It was also the first roller coaster to go upside down over a midway. Corkscrew paved the way for bigger and better coasters to come in the future. |
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18. Gemini
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Opened: June 17,1978
Manufacturer: Arrow Development Location: Gemini Midway Type: hybrid racing coaster Gemini is Cedar Point's Racing Roller Coaster. The ride takes riders up 125 feet and reaches speeds of 60 MPH. Gemini's trains switch places with each other several times. Gemini was the only Racing Coaster that was ever built by Arrow Dynamics. |
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19. Jr. Gemini
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Opened: May 12,1979
Closed: October 27, 2013 Manufacturer: Intamin AG Location: Gemini Children's Area Type: children's coaster Jr. Gemini opened in 1979 as Cedar Point's kids coaster. Jr. Gemini was 19 feet tall and reached speeds of 6 MPH. Jr. Gemini was the first roller coaster that Intamin built. For the 2014 season, Jr. Gemini was made part of Camp Snoopy. The ride was rethemed as Wilderness Run. |
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20. WildCat
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Opened: May 12,1979
Closed: October 30,2011 Manufacturer: Schwarzkopf Location: Beach Midway (1979-1984) Celebration Plaza (1985-2012) Type: wildcat WildCat was a mini coaster that featured small four passenger cars. WildCat featured a figure-eight style layout. The ride opened in 1979 and it was placed near Space Spiral. The ride was moved to the Million Dollar Midway for the 1985 season to make room for Avalanche Run. It closed in 2011 to make room for Celebration Plaza. |
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21. Avalanche Run
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Opened: July 1,1985
Closed: October 1,1989 Manufacturer: Intamin AG Location: Beach Midway Type: bobsled coaster Avalanche Run opened at Cedar Point in 1985. Avalanche Run was Cedar Point's Bobsled Roller Coaster. It was also the tallest Bobsled roller coaster in the world when it opened. Riders would race through the rides' trough as they make their way through the course. Avalanche Run was considered boring by many of its' riders. The ride would be converted into Disaster Transport in 1990. |
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22. Iron Dragon
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Opened: June 11,1987
Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics Location: Celebration Plaza Type: suspended roller coaster Iron Dragon was the first successful Suspended Roller Coaster in the Midwest when it opened in 1987. Iron Dragon takes riders on a journey over the forest and the lagoons as the ride swings riders at speeds of 40 MPH. Iron Dragon is one of two roller coasters at Cedar Point to feature two different lift hills. |
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23. Magnum XL-200
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Opened: May 6,1989
Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics Location: Corkscrew Midway Type: hyper coaster Magnum XL-200 opened in 1989 as the world's first Hyper Coaster. Magnum Xl-200 takes riders up 205 feet where they drop 195 feet as they reach speeds of 72 MPH! Magnum XL-200 features 10 hills. Magnum XL-200 defined what a Hyper Coaster was. It is a really fun ride that launched what was known as the roller coaster wars! |
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24.Disaster Transport
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Opened: May 5,1990
Closed: July 29, 2012 Manufacturer: ITEC Tech Location: Beach Midway Type: indoor bobsled In 1990, Avalanche Run was converted into Disaster Transport. Disaster Transport took riders on an adventure into space. It was Cedar Point's most themed roller coaster ever built. As the ride aged, the theming broke and was not fixed. Disaster Transport was a cool ride, but it didn't always click with the people who rode it. It was often considered one of the worst rides ever built. It was removed in the 2012 season and was replaced with GateKeeper. |
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25. Mean Streak
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Opened: May 11,1991
Closed: September 16,2016 Manufacturer: Dinn Corporation Location: Frontier Town Type: wooden coaster Mean Streak opened in 1991 as the world's tallest and fastest Wooden Roller Coaster. Mean Streak took riders up 161 feet. Riders would drop 155 feet, reaching speeds of 66 MPH. Mean Streak had an outback around where the ride would go around 3 times. Mean Streak would go over and under itself many times. Mean Streak would be known objectively as one of the roughest and most boring roller coasters around. The ride closed in 2016 and was converted into Steel Vengeance. |
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26. Raptor
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Opened: May 7,1994
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard Location: Main Midway Type: inverted roller coaster Raptor opened in 1994 as the world's tallest, fastest, and longest Inverted Roller Coaster. Raptor takes riders up 137 feet. The ride features a 119 feet drop at speeds of 57 MPH. Riders are inverted 6 times, including the first ever inverted Cobra Roll. Raptor is built on Cedar Point's historic Main Midway. It was the first project in over 30 years to change the look of the Main Midway. Raptor still rules the sky this very day! |
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27. Mantis
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Opened: May 11, 1996
Closed: October 19, 2014 Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard Location: Frontier Trail Type: stand up Mantis was Cedar Point's Stand Up Roller Coaster. Mantis was 145 feet tall and reached speeds of 60 MPH. Riders would be flipped upside down 4 times. Mantis was the tallest and fastest Stand Up roller coaster when it opened. In 1996, Mantis was a groundbreaking installation. As time went on, the ride would develop a bad reputation for being very uncomfortable. The ride was closed in 2014 and was converted into Rougarou. |
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28. Woodstock Express
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Opened: May 10,1999
Manufacturer: Vekoma Location: Camp Snoopy Type: children's coaster Woodstock Express opened in 1999 in the Camp Snoopy section of Cedar Point. It would be only the second kids coaster Cedar Point has in operation. Woodstock Express takes riders up 38 feet. Riders reach speeds of 25 MPH as the ride completes its journey. Woodstock Express is a really fun ride! |
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29. Millennium Force
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Opened: May 13,2000
Manufacturer: Intamin Ag Location: Millennium Force Midway Type: giga coaster Millennium Force was the first Giga Coaster in the world when it opened in 2000. Millennium Force was the first roller coaster in the world to use an elevator lift system. Millennium Force takes riders up 310 feet where they drop 300 feet at speeds of 93 MPH. Millennium Force takes riders over the Cedar Point Lagoon and onto Adventure Island. Millennium Force is often considered one of the best roller coasters in the world. |
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30. Wicked Twister
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Opened: May 5, 2002
Closed: September 6,2021 Manufacturer: Intamin AG Location: Cedar Point Beach behind Giant Wheel. Type: impulse coaster Wicked Twister was a 215 foot tall Impulse Coaster. Riders would be launched forwards 3 times and backwards twice. Wicked Twister was Cedar Point's first launch coaster. |
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31. Top Thrill Dragster
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Opened: May 4,2003
Closed: August 15, 2021 Manufacturer: Intamin AG Location: Corkscrew Midway Type: strata coaster Top Thrill Dragster opened in 2003 as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. Top thrill Dragster launched riders at speeds of 120 MPH up its huge 420-foot top-hat. Top Thrill Dragster was the first roller coaster in the world over 400 feet. This 17-second ride was a huge thrill for thrill-seekers. |
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32. Maverick
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Opened: May 26,2007
Manufacturer: Intamin AG Location: Frontier Town Type: blitz coaster In 2007, Cedar Point wanted a different style of roller coaster. Maverick was known as a ''smaller'' roller coaster. Standing 105 feet tall, Maverick is known as a Blitz Coaster. Maverick stays close to the ground. Riders twist and turn through a canyon at speeds of 70 MPH. Maverick flips riders upside down twice and is hailed as one of the best roller coasters in the world to this day. |
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33. Gatekeeper
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Opened: May 11,2013
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard Location: Beach Midway Type: wing coaster In 2013, GateKeeper started flying over Cedar Point's new front Gate. GateKeeper takes riders up 170 feet. Gatekeeper flips riders upside down 6 times! When the ride opened it was the tallest, fastest, and longest Wing Coaster in the world. |
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34. Wilderness Run
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Opened: May 10,2014
Manufacturer: Intamin AG Location: Camp Snoopy Type: children's coaster In 2014, Jr. Gemini's entrance was relocated into Camp Snoopy to make room for Pipe Scream. The ride was renamed and rethemed, Wilderness Run. Wilderness Run is Cedar Point's smallest roller coaster. Wilderness Run takes riders up 19 feet where they reach speeds of 6 MPH. Wilderness Run is a great first roller coaster for kids. |
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35. Pipe Scream
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Opened: May 10,2014
Manufacturer: Zamperla Location: Gemini Midway Type: disk'o coaster Pipe Scream is located in the middle of the Gemini Midway. Riders will rock and spin over 300 feet of track on this ride. Pipe Scream is 43 feet tall and spins at speeds of 43 MPH. Pipe Scream is a great roller coaster for the entire family to enjoy together. |
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36. Rougarou
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Opened: May 9,2015
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard Location: Millennium Force Midway Type: floorless roller coaster In 2015 Cedar Point converted its aging Stand Up Roller Coaster into the floorless style Rougarou. Rougarou takes riders up 145 feet and drops them 137 feet at 60 MPH. Riders are taken upside down 4 times over the Cedar Point lagoon. Rougarou was the first ever Floorless Coaster to feature an incline vertical loop. |
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37. Valravn
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Opened: May 7,2016
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard Location: Valravn Midway Type: dive coaster Valravn opened in 2016 as the world's tallest and fastest Dive Coaster. Riders dangle over the edge of this coaster 223 feet in the sky! Valravn takes riders upside down 3 times. |
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38. Steel Vengeance
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Opened: May 5,2018
Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction Company Location: Frontier Town Type: hyper-hybrid roller coaster Steel Vengeance opened in 2018 as the world's tallest, fastest, steepest, and longest Hybrid Roller Coaster. Steel Vengeance takes riders up 205 feet to drop them 200 feet at a 90-degree angle. The ride takes riders upside down an amazing 4 times. Steel Vengeance is considered one of the best roller coasters ever built by the manufacturer, Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) of Hayden, Idaho. |
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39. Wild Mouse
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Opened: May 6,2023
Manufacturer: Zamperla Location: Boardwalk Midway Type: spinning wild mouse Riders spin 360 degrees on this family ride! Wild Mouse is a throwback to an old roller coaster Cedar Point had in the 1950's! Wild Mouse is a great coaster for families! |
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40. Top Thrill 2
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Opened: May 4, 2024
Manufacturer: Zamperla Location: Corkscrew Midway Type: triple launch coaster In 2024, Cedar Point opened the world's tallest and fastest triple-launch roller coaster! Top Thrill 2 launches rides at speeds of 74 MPH, 101 MPH, and 120 MPH! Top Thrill 2 is the tallest, and fastest roller coaster at Cedar Point! |
Last Updated: 08/01/2023
Photos by: Andrew Borgen, Larry Wasserman, Cedar Point, and Jake Hamons