SANDUSKY, Ohio (WWJ) — Cedar Point is set to open for the season this weekend and this year the re-opening of the amusement park is a little more exciting for fans than usual, as they await the unveiling of Top Thrill 2.
The “strata” coaster — any roller coaster eclipsing the height of 400 feet — was initially known as Top Thrill Dragster, which was "retired" in fall of 2022 after a Michigan woman was seriously injured by a piece of metal from the ride a year prior.
At the time Cedar Point vowed to “reimagine” one of the world’s most famous roller coasters.
On Saturday — exactly 21 years after the original ride opened,” Top Thrill 2 will launch as the world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch strata coaster. It features multiple climbs of more than 400 feet and tops out at speeds of 120 mph.
Riders will “join the CP Racing Team for an immersive experience, climbing into one of three sleek high-performance racing vehicles,” which feature open-air seating, providing “heart-pounding views on the world’s first and only dual-tower vertical speedway,” according to a news release form the park.
On the start, using an all-new linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch system, riders “peel out” down the straightaway, reaching speeds of 74 mph, racing toward the sky on Top Thrill 2’s original 420-foot-tall “top hat” tower.
After experiencing weightlessness during the “rollback” – the coveted fan-favorite moment when the train’s momentum isn’t great enough to make it up and over the tower – the train shifts into reverse and into its second launch, reaching speeds of 101 mph.
Riders will get a view of Cedar Point unlike any they’ve seen before as they speed into a backward climb at a 90-degree angle on a new, 420-foot-tall track tower. Then, after a second moment of weightlessness, the train shifts into drive and races forward into its third launch, clocking in at the ride’s top speed of 120 mph.
Crossing over the top hat tower, the train decelerates momentarily before diving into a 270-degree spiral and crossing the finish line.
“Cedar Point has a long-lasting legacy of record-breaking roller coaster innovation and Top Thrill 2 delivers everything a thrill-seeker could want, including staggering height and speed,” said Carrie Boldman, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point. “With the wide range of thrills for the whole family, Cedar Point is the place to visit this summer. We can’t wait for our guests to take their very first lap on the world-record-breaking Top Thrill 2.”
More information on the park’s 2024 opening day — including other new attractions and ticket prices — can be found on the Cedar Point website.
More on today's top stories:
Most Popular
Comments / 0