Every year, Amusement Today holds it’s “Golden Ticket” awards. These awards are widely considered the official “Rankings” for parks, rides, and roller coasters. This year, Cedar Point continued it’s now 10 year tradition of taking the “best park” award. Along with this award, the park boasts 5 roller coasters that ranked in the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Top 20. All roller coaster statistics and information were found at The Roller Coaster Database.
Millennium Force – #2
Opened in 2000, Millennium Force was the first full circuit roller coaster in the world to reach a height of 300 ft. This world record coaster dropped riders a full 300 feet while taking them through multiple tunnels and hills at a top speed of 93 m.p.h.. The ride cost Cedar Point $25 Million, and quickly became an industry favorite as soon as it opened. Millennium Force, created by Intamin, pumps through 1300 riders per hour.
Magnum XL-200 – #5
When Magnum XL-200 was built in 1989, it was one of the few roller coasters in the world to reach 200 feet. While this mark has been eclipsed (and actually doubled), it is still considered one of the greatest roller coasters ever built. The amount of “air-time” (the time where you feel weightless) on this roller coaster has coaster enthusiasts and park fans alike drooling. This Arrow hyper-coaster features “futuristic” trains and ends with it’s signature small hills and tunnel that offer air-time and thrills.
Top Thrill Dragster – #9
Four Hundred and Twenty feet tall. Twice the size of Magnum. Built in 2003, Top Thrill Dragster Re-claimed the “tallest roller coaster” title for the park with it’s 400 foot drop. This short ride, built by Intamin, launches it’s riders to a speed of 120 m.p.h in four seconds. The riders are then taken straight up, with a small twist, only to crest a hill to fall back to earth, at a 90 degree angle, while spinning 270 degrees. The intense rush brought on by Top Thrill Dragster captured the attention of the world. It too cost $25 Million Dollars, and gives 1000 riders a ride per hour.
Maverick – #13
As the park’s newest coaster, Maverick ends it’s inaugural season with it’s #13 ranking. The ride drops riders at a 95 degree angle, flips them upside down twice, and launches them twice to give the rider and experience like none before. Also created by Intamin, Maverick cost Cedar Point $21 Million. While an original third inversion was removed before Maverick’s public opening, the ride still received great praise from the roller coaster community and is expected to rise into the top 10.
Raptor – #19
Built in 1994, Raptor, built by Roller Coaster manufacturers B&M;, is still one of the premier inverted roller coasters in the world. This ride hangs riders under the track as it takes them through 6 full inversions, including a cobra roll that takes riders upside down twice. The intense helix at the end of the ride gives Raptor’s riders a thrill up until the end of the ride. Raptor gives 1800 park-goers a ride every hour.
Cedar Point is known as the coaster capital of the world, as it boasts the most roller coasters at any theme park in the world with 17. Cedar Point’s domination of the Top 20 roller coasters shows why it has won the best park award for 10 years in a row.
