Maverick Rustles Up Riders

Cedar Point Debuts 17th Roller Coaster

By Marilyn Loeser

With more roller coasters than any other amusement park in the world, Cedar Point — located in Sandusky, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie — will debut its 17th roller coaster when the park opens in May.

Maverick, a twisting and turning steel coaster, will be added to the line-up of 69 rides. Add to that four children’s areas, a seasonal water park and a year-round indoor water park, three resort hotels and an RV park featuring cottages and cabins, two marinas, an entertainment complex, live entertainment, gift shops and restaurants, it’s no wonder Cedar Point was voted the “Best Amusement Park in the World” for a record nine consecutive years.

Maverick is located in Frontiertown and promises to treat riders to multiple terrain-hugging elements that have never been experienced on a Cedar Point roller coaster.

Guests begin their Maverick adventure by boarding steam-era-styled coaster trains that will carry them along the 4,450-foot-long course. The train is propelled to the top of a 105-foot-tall first hill before plunging passengers down at a 95-degree angle — at speeds of up to 57 mph — to within five feet of the ground.

The train twists and banks around hairpin turns with quick changes in direction. During the 2-minute, 30-second ride, passengers will experience eight “airtime-filled hills,” three inversions and a second launch through a dark tunnel at 70 mph.

Situated on 5.5-acres between the Mean Streak roller coaster and Thunder Canyon water ride, Maverick, at a cost of $21 million, is the single largest investments in the park’s 137-year history.

If you go: Guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride Maverick.

For more information on times, admission prices, accommodations and other Cedar Pont attractions, check the website at www.cedarpoint.com.