Cedar Point Reveals Plans for New Top Thrill 2 Roller Coaster
Artist Concept: Courtesy of Cedar Point
(eap) Today, US amusement park Cedar Point announced its future plans for the “Top Thrill Dragster” coaster, which was closed in 2021. When it opened back in 2003, it was the tallest and fastest coaster in the world. The Intamin ride will now be converted into the world’s tallest and fastest LSM triple-launch coaster: “Top Thrill 2”. For this purpose, the park is cooperating with the Italian roller coaster manufacturer Zamperla. The approximately 420-foot (128-meter)-tall “top hat” tower, which was already part of the Top Thrill Dragster coaster, will remain. In addition, a second 420-foot (128-meter) spike tower will be built. The former single launch will become three.
Artist Concept: Courtesy of Cedar Point
The ride starts with a first launch, which accelerates the train to 74 mph (119 km/h) and lets it race onto the original tower, but the train’s momentum isn’t great enough to make it up, hence the roller coaster train rolls backwards downhill again, which creates a moment of weightlessness. In a second launch section, the train is accelerated to 101 mph (163 km/h), whereupon it travels backwards up the second, new tower and then races down again at a 90-degree angle. This time forward through the station, the train is now catapulted to the top speed of 120 mph (193 km/h). With this speed, the top hat can now be overcome, and the passengers roll into the “finish line” after a total of 3,422 feet (1,043 m) track length. Zamperla will renew the track layout, and also implement its “Lightning” train system, which promises, among other things, an increased feeling of freedom as well as more comfort for passengers. There will be a total of three trains, each with five cars for a total of 20 passengers. Guests at least 132 cm tall will be allowed to ride.
“My sincere congratulations to Cedar Point on the announcement of this incredible project. Today, with pride and excitement, we embark on this collaborative journey together,” says Antonio Zamperla, president and CEO of Zamperla. “It is an honor for Zamperla to add our signature on ‘The Roller Coaster Capital of the World’. I cannot wait until next year when we see this record-breaking scream machine come to life.”. ■
