Steel Vengeance
2018
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Steel Vengeance opened in 2018 as the world’s first hyper hybrid roller coaster. It reuses the structure of the former Mean Streak and is widely considered a fantastic ride.
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In 2010, Cedar Point opened Shoot the Rapids, a flume ride that took riders on one of the longest journeys in the park. In 2011, the park once again sent guests over 300 feet in the air with the addition of WindSeeker, which was the tallest ride of its kind at the time.
After years of leadership, longtime CEO Dick Kinzel retired in January 2012 and was succeeded by Matt Ouimet, a former Disney executive. That same year, Dinosaurs Alive! opened as a new themed experience.
Following a five-year gap without a new roller coaster, GateKeeper debuted in 2013, soaring over the park’s redesigned front gate plaza. In 2014, the Gemini Midway was refreshed and new rides were added. In 2015, the stand-up roller coaster Mantis was transformed into the floorless coaster Rougarou.
Valravn made its debut in 2016, diving into the heart of the park. Then, in 2017, Soak City Waterpark was rebranded as Cedar Point Shores Waterpark.
After years of leadership, longtime CEO Dick Kinzel retired in January 2012 and was succeeded by Matt Ouimet, a former Disney executive. That same year, Dinosaurs Alive! opened as a new themed experience.
Following a five-year gap without a new roller coaster, GateKeeper debuted in 2013, soaring over the park’s redesigned front gate plaza. In 2014, the Gemini Midway was refreshed and new rides were added. In 2015, the stand-up roller coaster Mantis was transformed into the floorless coaster Rougarou.
Valravn made its debut in 2016, diving into the heart of the park. Then, in 2017, Soak City Waterpark was rebranded as Cedar Point Shores Waterpark.
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With all the new additions in the years leading up to 2018, Cedar Point turned to one of its former coasters to build upon that concept.
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On May 11, 1991, Mean Streak became the first wooden roller coaster added to Cedar Point in 27 years. At the time, it was the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world.
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When Mean Streak opened, it was considered an average ride and was much smoother than it would become in later years. Despite this, it did not boost attendance as much as previous roller coasters and attractions had.
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While Mean Streak had its fans, it never gained widespread popularity and eventually became known as one of the roughest and least popular rides in the park.
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On August 1, 2016, Cedar Point announced that Mean Streak would be closing on September 16.
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On September 16, 2016, Cedar Point held a symbolic “funeral” for Mean Streak. Just like that, the ride closed forever.
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Mean Streak was symbolically laid to rest in Cedar Point’s ride cemetery on the Main Midway.
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After Mean Streak closed, crews began removing the wooden track. However, speculation quickly grew about what would happen next, especially since the structure itself remained standing.
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In mid-October 2016, new mysterious steel components appeared on site. At that point, it was confirmed that Mean Streak would be transformed into a new attraction by Rocky Mountain Construction of Idaho.
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On April 1, 2017, Cedar Point released a video on Twitter titled “They’re Coming.” This was the first time since the ride’s closure that Cedar Point had publicly referenced Mean Streak. The video revealed that new dark red track had been installed on the structure.
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When Cedar Point opened in May 2017, much of the ride had been re-tracked with new steel. It was clear that the park was in the process of creating a brand-new roller coaster.
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As the season went on, guests could watch Rocky Mountain Construction as they continued building the new ride.
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In June and July, two more teasers were released. In late July, press kits were sent out announcing that details would be revealed on August 16, 2017.
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On August 16, 2017, Cedar Point announced that the former Mean Streak was being transformed into Steel Vengeance, a record-breaking roller coaster.
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After the ride was announced, construction crews worked to bring the record-breaking attraction to life.
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The ride became a full circuit in October 2017. As winter approached, crews worked diligently to ensure everything was completed in time for the park’s opening.
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Steel Vengeance opened to the public on Saturday, May 5, 2018, as Cedar Point’s 18th roller coaster.*
Cedar Point considered Pipe Scream a roller coaster from 2014 to 2025. |
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Steel Vengeance opened to huge crowds of guests who instantly fell in love with the roller coaster.
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Steel Vengeance is located at the very back of the park. To access the ride, guests must cross the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad tracks.
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Steel Vengeance is a stunning roller coaster that stands 205 feet above Frontier Town.
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Steel Vengeance Ride Facts
Opened: May 5, 2018 Location: Frontier Town Type: Hyper hybrid coaster Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction Designer: Alan Schilke Height: 205 feet Drop: 200 feet Length: 5,740 feet Speed: 74 mph Hills: 17 Trains: 3 Inversions: 4 Capacity: 1,200 riders per hour Steel Vengeance was Cedar Point’s sixth roller coaster over 200 feet when it opened in 2018. |
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Shattering World Records
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When Steel Vengeance opened, it set an impressive 10 world records. It joined Millennium Force and Valravn as Cedar Point’s third roller coaster to break 10 world records.
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Steel Vengeance World Records:
These records reflect those held at the time the ride opened in 2018.
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Mean Streak was a massive ride, but Steel Vengeance is even more impressive. It took a great deal of work for Cedar Point to transform Mean Streak into Steel Vengeance, with crews spending 19 months bringing the record-breaking roller coaster to life.
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Name |
Mean Streak |
Steel Vengeance |
Years |
1991 - 2016 |
2018 - Today |
Manufacturer |
Dinn Corporation |
Rocky Mountain Construction |
Designer |
Curtis D. Summers |
Alan Schilke |
Type |
Wood Coaster |
Hyper-Hybrid |
Height |
161 Feet |
205 Feet |
Drop |
155 Feet |
200 Feet |
Length |
5,427 Feet |
5,740 Feet |
Speed |
65 MPH |
74 MPH |
Duration |
3 minutes 10 seconds |
2 minutes 30 seconds |
Inversions |
0 |
4 |
Height Requirement |
48 Inches |
52 Inches |
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Theming
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Steel Vengeance is themed as a roller coaster built by three outlaws determined to outdo Maverick and take over Frontier Town.
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While waiting in line, guests pass signs and posters that tell the ride’s backstory, offering details about Frontier Town and the characters who run it. In July 2018, Cedar Point introduced a new policy prohibiting cell phones in the Steel Vengeance queue.
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The new midway benches for Steel Vengeance are themed to resemble stacks of wood, as if they are ready to be used in the ride’s construction.
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Ride Experience
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Steel Vengeance is an airtime-packed roller coaster, featuring more airtime than any other coaster in the world. Riders experience a total of 27.2 seconds of airtime.
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Steel Vengeance was the first hyper-hybrid roller coaster ever built. The term “hyper coaster” was coined by Cedar Point in 1989 with the opening of Magnum XL-200.
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Steel Vengeance sends riders upside down a total of four times. It features more inversions than any other hybrid roller coaster in the world.
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At the bottom of the first drop, Steel Vengeance hits the world’s fastest airtime hill at 74 mph.
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Steel Vengeance features several unique elements, including an outward-banked hill. This is unusual because roller coasters typically bank into the turn rather than away from it. The result is an exciting sensation that lifts riders out of their seats and delivers a strong burst of airtime.
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Steel Vengeance is an amazing ride that consistently surprises and thrills riders. It delivers intense airtime that lifts guests out of their seats, and it has proven to be even better than expected.
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Steel Vengeance begins like a typical hyper coaster, with large, drawn-out elements and plenty of airtime. As the ride progresses, the layout becomes more intense, with the train twisting and turning through the structure. By the end, it can be difficult to tell which way is up.
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Steel Vengeance is an outstanding ride and consistently draws very long wait times.
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Going beyond Expectations!
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Steel Vengeance exceeded expectations, and guests immediately fell in love with the new roller coaster.
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Steel Vengeance is a very popular roller coaster that many guests love. It will be interesting to see how Cedar Point eventually outdoes it with their next major coaster addition.
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In 2018, Steel Vengeance was named Best New Ride of the Year by Amusement Today. It was also ranked the third-best roller coaster in the world, behind Fury 325 at Carowinds and Cedar Point’s own Millennium Force.
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After Steel Vengeance opened in 2018, Cedar Point would go on to add: 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)
These new attractions have all helped diversify Cedar Point’s collection of rides and experiences. |
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Riders must be at least 52 inches tall to ride Steel Vengeance.
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Photos by Jake Hamons, Cedar Point, Peggy Cicinelli. Videos by Cedar Point.
Last Updated: 05/01/2026
Last Updated: 05/01/2026
