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Top Thrill Dragster
Top_Thrill_Dragster_(Cedar_Point)_-_OnRide_(1080p)
General
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Park Cedar Point
Location USASandusky, Ohio, USA
Status Undergoing refurbishment
Operated
Operated May 1, 2003 - August 15, 2021 (original)
Opened
Opening
Cost US$ 25,000,000
Height restriction
Statistics
Manufacturer Intamin AG
Builder
Designer
Type Steel- Launched- Strata
Type
Model
Riders per train 20
Riders per hour 1,000
Lift/launch system
Height 420 feet (128 meters) feet
Drop 400 feet (121.9 meters) feet
Top speed 120 mph (193.1 km/h) mph
Length 2,800 feet (853.4 meters) feet
Dimensions
Duration 17.8 seconds
Inversions
Steepest drop
Maximum g-force

Top Thrill Dragster is an Intamin AG launched sit-down strata roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.[1] It opened on May 1, 2003 (for media previews), and to the public on May 3, 2003, as the first complete circuit roller coaster to exceed 400 feet (121.9 meters) in height. It is one of only two strata coasters in existence, the other being Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. Top Thrill Dragster was the second hydraulically-launched roller coaster built by Intamin AG, opening after Xcelerator at Knott's Berry Farm. The train is launched to 120 miles per hour (193.1 km/h) in 3.8 seconds. Following a major accident on August 15, 2021 where a woman was severely injured from a small piece of metal that fell from the ride's green train as she was waiting in line for the ride, it was closed for the remainder of the 2021 season, as well as the entire 2022 season. Unfortunately, on September 6, 2022, Cedar Point recently announced that the ride will be officially retired in it's original form after nineteen seasons of operation.

Rollbacks[]

See Rollback.

Occasionally, if the train did not accelerate to the required speed, it will fail to crest the top hat element and fall back onto the launch track again. This is often a sought after occurrence for the riders because it allows them another launch.[2]

History[]

Plans for Top Thrill Dragster began in 2000, the same year Millennium Force was built. Footers started to be layed out. In 2002, construction of the tower began. Cedar Point had to use a 480 foot crane, one of the four in the USA. In 2003, the ride was opened to the public, being the fastest and the tallest roller coaster in the world. The title was taken two years later by Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure.

On July 14, 2004 at around 8:20 PM, four people were struck by flying debris while riding the coaster. Reports indicated that its metal cable frayed as the train was being launched. Shards of metal sheared off of it and struck the riders as the train launched. The riders were left with abrasions mainly on their arms and one rider had cuts on his face. The injured ones were treated at the park's first aid station, and two of them later sought further medical attention on their own.

On August 15, 2021, Top Thrill Dragster suffered a major accident where a small piece of metal in the form of an L shape fell off of the the green train under the queue line and hit a woman waiting in line, seriously injuring her. She was taken to the hospital shortly after the incident and is still in the process of recovering. Following the incident, the ride was closed for the remainder of the 2021 season pending an investigation by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which lasted six months. Cedar Point later announced on February 18, 2022 that the ride will remain closed for the entire 2022 season. Sadly, on September 6, 2022, Cedar Point has announced that the ride will be officially retired after nineteen seasons of operation, quote "as you know it" and thus confirming the ride's permanent closure. It was unknown whether the ride will be removed from the park or if it will be rebuilt into another new ride, though it's possible the ride will be reimagined. However, on January 9, 2023, Cedar Point has confirmed that the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster would open to the public in 2024.

Trivia[]

  • The horizon from the top of this ride is approximately 24 miles; it is thus technically possible to see Canada. In practice, part of Ohio gets in the way, and the sightline points in the wrong direction.
Preceded by

Superman: The Escape

World's Tallest Roller Coaster

May 2003–May 2005

Succeeded by

Kingda Ka


Preceded by

Steel Dragon 2000

World's Tallest Complete-Circuit Roller Coaster

May 2003–May 2005

Succeeded by

Kingda Ka


Preceded by

Tower of Terror (tied with Superman: The Escape)

World's Tallest Roller Coaster Drop

May 2003–May 2005

Succeeded by

Kingda Ka


Preceded by

Dodonpa

World's Fastest Roller Coaster

May 2003–May 2005

Succeeded by

Kingda Ka


Preceded by

Dodonpa

World's Fastest Complete-Circuit Roller Coaster

May 2003–May 2005

Succeeded by

Kingda Ka


External links[]

Cedar Point Roller Coasters
Operating Blue StreakCedar Creek Mine RideCorkscrewGateKeeperGeminiIron DragonMagnum XL-200MaverickMillennium ForceRaptorRougarouSteel VengeanceTop Thrill DragsterValravnWicked TwisterWilderness RunWoodstock Express
Former Broadway TripCycloneDip the Dips Scenic RailwayDisaster TransportHigh FrolicsJumbo JetLeap the DipsMean StreakRacerScamperSuper CoasterSwitchback RailwayThree-Way Figure Eight Roller TobogganWild MouseWild CatWildCat


References[]

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