Valravn
2016
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Valravn opened in 2016 as Cedar Point’s dive coaster. When it debuted, it was the tallest, fastest, and longest coaster of its kind in the world.
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Over the last decade, Cedar Point made several additions to help round out its lineup of attractions. In 2007, the park introduced the ground-hugging Maverick, located in the back of the park and often considered one of the best rides there (second only to Millennium Force). In 2008, Planet Snoopy was added after being relocated from Geauga Lake, which had closed the previous season.
In 2009, the Starlight Experience debuted along the Frontier Trail. For Cedar Point’s 140th anniversary in 2010, Shoot the Rapids was introduced—a thrilling family water ride that was eventually removed after the 2015 season. In 2011, riders took to the sky on WindSeeker, a 301-foot-tall swing ride. That same year, Cedar Fair CEO Dick Kinzel retired and was succeeded by Matt Ouimet.
In 2012, the family-friendly Dinosaurs Alive attraction opened on Adventure Island. After a five-year gap without a new roller coaster, GateKeeper debuted in 2013 at the front of the park. In 2014, Cedar Point reimagined the Gemini Midway, adding three new rides. That season also marked the final year of Mantis, which was transformed into the floorless coaster Rougarou in 2015.
With all this change in a relatively short amount of time, Cedar Point still needed a HUGE new addition for the 2016 season….
In 2009, the Starlight Experience debuted along the Frontier Trail. For Cedar Point’s 140th anniversary in 2010, Shoot the Rapids was introduced—a thrilling family water ride that was eventually removed after the 2015 season. In 2011, riders took to the sky on WindSeeker, a 301-foot-tall swing ride. That same year, Cedar Fair CEO Dick Kinzel retired and was succeeded by Matt Ouimet.
In 2012, the family-friendly Dinosaurs Alive attraction opened on Adventure Island. After a five-year gap without a new roller coaster, GateKeeper debuted in 2013 at the front of the park. In 2014, Cedar Point reimagined the Gemini Midway, adding three new rides. That season also marked the final year of Mantis, which was transformed into the floorless coaster Rougarou in 2015.
With all this change in a relatively short amount of time, Cedar Point still needed a HUGE new addition for the 2016 season….
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On November 24, 2014, Cedar Point announced it would be removing the Good Time Theatre from the park. The theater originally opened in 1975 as the Cedar Point Cinema. In 2002, it was converted into the Good Time Theatre, which featured an ice skating show.
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Throughout the winter, the park removed the theater.
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While the theater was being removed, Cedar Point also removed the Turnpike Cars. Calypso was relocated near the Giant Wheel and renamed Tiki Twirl, while Dodgem was moved closer to maXair.
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With all the land clearing Cedar Point had done, speculation was everywhere about what the park would do next!
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During the summer of 2015, Cedar Point created a legacy timeline, displaying all of its roller coasters on a wall near the former site of Dodgem.
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In mid-August, Cedar Point announced that it would reveal its new addition for 2016 on September 9, 2015.
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A few days after Cedar Point announced the reveal date, ride parts began arriving in Sandusky.
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Meanwhile, back in the park, the construction site began to be surveyed, with flags and markings starting to appear throughout the area.
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On September 9, 2015, Cedar Point announced that Valravn would become the park’s 18th roller coaster when it opened in the spring of 2016.
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Valravn would be the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster, and it would feature the most inversions of its kind. When it opened in 2016, it set 10 world records. Valravn also became the third dive coaster in the United States and the 100th roller coaster built by B&M.
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During the fall of 2015, Valravn’s massive supports and track pieces began arriving at the ride’s staging area near Breakers Express at Cedar Point.
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Back at the construction site, crews began digging holes in the ground.
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Crews began pouring footers that would one day support the ride’s massive columns!
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Valravn’s foundations are massive, requiring a large amount of concrete to support a ride of this size and scale!
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In a month’s time, construction on the ride was progressing very rapidly.
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On October 12, 2015, Valravn went vertical as the first support columns were installed!
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The park’s construction crew used small cranes to lift some of the track and supports that were not far off the ground.
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The park released many updates on the ride as it was being built.
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On October 13, the first piece of track was installed on Valravn. This section of track is where riders will board the train in 2016.
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Soon after the first piece of track was installed, the transfer track began to be assembled.
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Construction continued as the first turn and the beginning of the lift hill were installed next.
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Shortly after the park closed for the 2015 season, the Marina Gate was removed to make way for the new ride. The gate had been added in 1970 when the park first introduced its “pay-one-price” system, which is still used today.
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A new Marina Gate was scheduled to be built in 2016 to replace the old gate.
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The construction crew continued pouring additional footers for the ride.
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While the footers were being poured, track construction continued, and the bottom of the drop was soon installed.
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The lift hill components were then staged near the ride site so they could be lifted into place.
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The lift hill began to rise in late November 2015.
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Valravn’s lift hill quickly grew to the ride’s 223-foot peak.
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To stabilize the drop, construction crews had to build it up and connect it to the existing ride structure.
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After the very top piece was connected, the highest point of the world’s tallest dive coaster was now in place!
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After the first drop was completed, the first inversion was constructed.
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The crew continued building Valravn by installing the curve leading up to the block brake and the second drop.
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Crews continued installing the final inversion and airtime hill in early February.
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On March 3, 2016, the final piece of Valravn’s track was installed.
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After the track work was completed, the trains were placed on the track and testing began!
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Around the ride, crews worked on preparing the surrounding area, including constructing the gift shop.
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While testing was underway, final preparations for the ride’s opening were completed. Midway improvements were poured and landscaped, and the ride station was constructed.
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The massive Valravn roller coaster opened on Saturday, May 7, 2016.
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Valravn is located just off the Main Midway between Blue Streak and Siren’s Curse.
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Valravn Ride Facts
Opened: May 7, 2016 Location: Blue Streak Midway Type: Dive coaster Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard Height: 223 feet Drop: 214 feet Length: 3,415 feet Speed: 75 mph Hills: 3 Trains: 2 Inversions: 4 Capacity: 1,200 riders per hour Valravn was the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster. |
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Valravn’s Records
*This list reflects records held at the time the ride opened in 2016.
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Ride Experience
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Valravn begins with a left-hand turn out of the station.
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Valravn’s first turn is intense and features a slight back-and-forth shake as it approaches the lift hill.
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Valravn then ascends its 47-degree lift hill. The lift hill rises 223 feet and offers an amazing view of Cedar Point. The ride uses a chain lift to reach the top.
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It takes about 30 seconds for Valravn to reach the top.
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After reaching the top of the lift hill, the ride makes a 90-degree turn to the right, facing riders toward the front of the park and Lake Erie.
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At the top of the ride, riders get an amazing view of Cedar Point and a chance to look down at all the rides and coasters. Valravn is Cedar Point’s third-tallest roller coaster.
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Valravn riders are sent over the edge of the ride where they are held facing straight down toward the ground. The train pauses for about four seconds, creating a suspenseful moment as riders hang at the top with nothing to do but anticipate the drop. From this height, guests are treated to an incredible panoramic view of Cedar Point and can see over many of the park’s attractions.
After the hold, riders are released into a 214-foot, near-vertical 90-degree drop. During the descent, they reach speeds of up to 75 mph, making Valravn one of the tallest and fastest dive coasters in the world. The drop delivers a true free-fall sensation that is unique to dive coasters, offering a smooth but intense plunge straight toward the ground before the ride continues into its next elements. |
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After the 214-foot drop, riders are launched into a massive 165-foot-tall Immelmann loop. When Valravn first opened, this loop was the second-tallest inversion in the world.
The Immelmann loop is incredibly smooth, providing a sensation of weightlessness as riders twist upside down. As you glide through the inversion, it feels almost as if you are floating through the air, combining speed, height, and airtime for an unforgettable thrill. |
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The ride then makes a sweeping right-hand turn and climbs 131 feet into the air.
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The ride then passes through the mid-course brake run, coming to an almost complete stop. From the top of the brake run, riders are treated to an incredible view of the back of the park and the surrounding area.
After the pause, the train plunges 125 feet at an 87-degree angle, delivering another thrilling rush of speed and excitement. |
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Valravn’s mid-course brake run sits high above the ground at 131 feet in the air, making it one of the tallest brake runs in the world. It is comparable in height to the former Demon Drop ride.
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After the 125-foot drop, riders are sent into a dive loop that twists the coaster into a new section of the ride, setting up its next series of elements.
The dive loop is especially exciting because it provides a moment of hang time while riders are inverted. Two other Cedar Point roller coasters, GateKeeper and Rougarou, also feature dive loops, making it a familiar but always thrilling element for fans of the park. |
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After the dive loop, Valravn enters its final inversion.
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Riders then enter a 270-degree roll, flipping them upside down for the third time before transitioning into a downward helix.
The zero-g roll is especially thrilling, delivering a strong sense of weightlessness as the train rotates smoothly through the inversion. |
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Riders are quickly flung into the rides last element, an airtime hill!
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After a quick left-hand turn, riders arrive at the final brake run of the record-breaking dive coaster.
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Valravn's Impact On The Roller Coaster Capital Of The World!
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Valravn is an outstanding ride that offers a unique experience unlike anything Cedar Point had before. Its track is exceptionally smooth, and when it opened in May 2016, it helped the park break 10 world records!
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Valravn is a thrilling ride to experience both during the day and at night. It also offers amazing views of “The Roller Coaster Capital of the World!”
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In 2016, Cedar Point introduced the Sunrise Tour. Although it’s only offered on select days, fan Alex Gillman says it’s worth every penny!
The Sunrise Tour starts early in the morning and gives guests the incredible opportunity to go to the top of Valravn. Participants can walk around at the peak, watch the ride crew start up the coaster, and learn interesting details about the ride. The tour also includes a backstage experience of Millennium Force and Maverick, along with access to other behind-the-scenes areas of the park. |
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Valravn has quickly become a fan favorite at Cedar Point.
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Valravn is an exceptional addition to Cedar Point, bringing a unique thrill and pace to the park. It’s not only exciting and intense but also visually stunning, making it fun to ride and watch. When it opened, Valravn became Cedar Point’s 18th roller coaster.*
Valravn often has long wait times—usually around two hours, and sometimes even longer—but the experience is well worth the wait. *From 2014 to 2025, Cedar Point counted Pipe Scream as a roller coaster. |
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Valravn was a great addition to Cedar Point. Even after adding such a massive ride, Cedar Point still had more in store. After Valravn, the park would go on to add: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)
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After adding Valravn to Cedar Point in 2016, Cedar Fair would go on to add the following dive coasters:
On July 1, 2024, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and Six Flags merged to form a new company, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation would go on to add the following dive coasters:
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Riders must be at least 52 inches tall to ride Valravn.
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All Photos by Alex Gillman, Cedar Point, COASTER-net and Jake Hamons
Last Updated: 05/01/2026
Last Updated: 05/01/2026
