I figured I would start out this blog by ranking the roller coasters at the most acclaimed amusement park in the world for thrill enthusiasts; Cedar Point. Cedar Point currently operates 16 Roller Coasters (although I'll include the recently torn down Wicked Twister in my ranking just for fun), and is home to some of the most unique and iconic roller coasters on the planet. This is NOT my review of the park, which will come later, instead this is simply a quick ranking and short review of each ride. It is here I'd also like to showcase the format for each park I plan to discuss.
- Ride and/or Roller Coaster Ranking
- 1-4 Ride Spotlight Posts (An in-depth review of a ride/coaster)
- Park Experience and Review
With that out of the way, its time to breakdown all 17 (again, including the recently removed Wicked Twister) coasters of Cedar Point from the worst to the best.
17. Wilderness Run - 2/10 - It's not fair to even give a kiddie ride a score as it isn't really the same type of ride as the rest of these, but I figured I'd give it one anyways for consistency. Interesting fact this kiddie coaster was the first roller coaster built by coaster manufacturer Intamin, who would go on to build the two tallest coasters in the world (one of them being later on this list)
16. Woodstock Express - 3/10 - Another kiddie ride, however this one at least is of reasonable size. Again, its only here and rated for consistency.
15. Cedar Creek Mine Ride - 3/10 - Now we actually have our first substantial roller coaster, and man is this ride bad. It isn't my least favorite ride in the world, but it isn't far off. This is a simple family coaster with a low top speed and height, but that said, this is one of the most brutal rides here due to its ridiculous roughness. I just don't get anything from this experience other than discomfort. Family Mine Trains are rarely good rides, but this certainly a below average family coaster.
14. Corkscrew - 3/10 - This was the first coaster in the world to feature three inversions, and the age shows; Corkscrew is not a fun experience. The two titular "Corkscrew" elements are rough and cause major headbanging against the restraints, and the rides "airtime hill" is a jarring and painful element that adds little to the experience. If you're looking for a headache, this is the ride for you. Decent vertical loop though.
13. Iron Dragon - 4/10 - Iron Dragon isn't bad, and its a decent introductory ride, but it still feels like wasted potential. The ride has two lift hills, but feels like it doesn't really try anything interesting until its finale over the water. The ride isn't even uncomfortable, its just plain boring. I wouldn't mind its lack of intriguing maneuvers if the ride's line wasn't always at least 40 minutes. This ride's line is almost never worth the actual experience (At least the previous two coasters typically have the shortest lines in the park).
12. Gemini - 6/10 - Quite the jump from #13 to #12, but that said this is perhaps my hottest take on the list. Many Cedar Point regulars consider this ride a classic, however I just haven't seen the appeal. The ride may be surprisingly smooth and offer a couple decent airtime moments, but the ride has far too many dead spots to keep me invested throughout. This was certainly ambitious upon opening decades ago, but today the ride struggles to maintain its energy throughout its ride time. That said, still a solid experience and definitely worth checking out if the line is short. Also should mention that the racing element of the ride is a fun detail.
11. Blue Streak - 6/10 - Blue Streak is the parks only traditional wooden coaster, and while it is a solid ride, the park definitely needs a standout wooden coaster in the future. Blue Streak isn't bad by any stretch, but it doesn't really do anything unique when compared to similar attractions. On a positive note the ride often has a short wait, isn't rough at all considering its age, and has a few decent airtime moments. Blue Streak is a classic and a solid support.
10. Wicked Twister - 7/10 - Ok so this ride was just removed, but since I've ridden it just as recently as any of these other rides I though I'd include it. This ride did always feel a bit gimmicky compared to Cedar Point's other attractions, but it was still a good time. The launches were always solid, and the ride was solid from start to finish. It might have been simple, but Wicked Twister is the perfect example of a high floor, low ceiling ride, and was certainly a really fun supporting ride.
9. Rougarou - 7/10 - Rougarou is a tale of two halves. The first half of the ride is stellar; the first drop is packed with air, the inversions are smooth and graceful, and the ride is exciting. Unfortunately the 2nd half falls short in comparison. After some mid course trims, the ride becomes rough and janky through the remainder of the course, and that holds it back from being one of Cedar Point's great rides. That said, Rougarou still is a solid ride and I enjoy its setting in the park.
8. Valravn - 8/10 - Valravn is a simple ride focused on a drop, and in simplicity it finds success. The first drop on Valravn is incredible, and being held over the drop makes it even more effective. Past that, the ride is smooth and contains a number of graceful inversions. Another underrated part of this ride is the extended view you get from the top of this ride before you plummet. Even the restraints, which some might not like, don't hinder the fun factor of this attraction.
7. Magnum XL 200 - 8/10 - This one is a shocker for me, and since it is so polarizing it just might move down next time I go. I used to hate Magnum for being rough and either having hills with no airtime, or just uncomfortable airtime. That said, my most recent rides were incredible, with great floater airtime in the first, and exciting ejector airtime at the end. The ride was rough but it didn't hinder it for me, and my recent rides pushed it far up the list, and I'm excited to ride it in the future. Not to mention the location of this ride makes for some incredible views of the lake.
6. Gatekeeper - 8/10 - Gatekeeper is an icon of the park, being right at the entrance, and deservedly so. Gatekeeper is a smooth and graceful experience with a number of great inversions and a unique first drop experience. The unique effects that the keyholes offer also are a benefit of this ride. Gatekeeper might not be the most intense ride, but it makes up for it in a breathtaking experience that deserves to be the first thing guests see when entering the park.
4. Top Thrill Dragster - 8/10 - TTD is a simple ride for sure, but it does exactly what it sets out to do. Dragster's launch is one of the best in the world, and the lap bars give a unique sense of exposure. The view from 420 feet up is amazing, and the rush the rider gets from this experience is unlike anything else they will experience in the world. Dragster might only last 17 seconds, but the unique experience provided makes it a must do for anybody checking out Cedar Point.
3. Millennium Force - 9/10 - Millennium Force was a behemoth when built, and still is over 2 decades later. Everything from the moment this ride leaves the station till it hits the break is pure fun, even if the ride might not be perfect. The buildup to the drop and the drop itself are some of the best of their kind, and the first turn after the drop is extremely intense. The rest of the ride is fast, fun, and littered with solid airtime. Millennium Force maintains speed all the way through its layout, and is perhaps the most re-rideable ride at Cedar Point.
2. Maverick - 9.5/10 - The top 2 are quite close, and Maverick itself is a near perfect ride. The only thing holding it back from a 10 is the occasionally uncomfortable restraints. This ride is a complete package, perhaps more than any other ride out there. An incredible drop, exhilarating launch, forceful maneuvers, whippy inversions and out of your seat airtime make Maverick a breakneck experience from start to finish. Even the theme of this ride is better done than all the other coasters in the park. Maverick is a special coaster, and perhaps the most one-of-a-kind roller coaster at Cedar Point. Nothing you experience anywhere else is quite like Maverick.
1. Steel Vengeance - 10/10 - I'm certainly not the first individual to call SteVe the best roller coaster in the world, and I won't be the last, this ride was build with the sole goal of the being the best ride ever built and it shows. The ride is tall, long and contains the most airtime of any roller coaster on the planet, as well as four incredible inversions and a layout that twists in and out of its gargantuan structure. Its almost hard to exactly describe Steel Vengeance to somebody who hasn't at least ridden one of its sibling coasters at another park. To those who have experience similar hybrid (steel track, wood supports) coasters built by manufacturer RMC, think of SteVe as just those rides with double the scale, and to those who have never ridden anything like Vengeance, take your time to enjoy your seats on the lift hill, because your not going to sit in them again until the breaks. Steel Vengeance might not be the tallest or fastest ride in the world (or even at the park), but it might just be the most complete package one will ever get out of a coaster.
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