Magnum XL-200
Encyclopedia
Magnum XL-200 is an Arrow Dynamics
steel
hypercoaster
located at Cedar Point
in Sandusky, Ohio
. Built in 1989, it was the first complete circuit roller coaster to break the 200 feet (61 m) barrier. It is considered to have started the roller coaster wars, in which amusement parks competed to build the highest and fastest roller coasters.
midway section of the park. The queue line is located in a shaded area, surrounded by shrubs and trees. Wait times for Magnum XL-200 do not typically surpass 20 minutes, which can be attributed to the ride's high capacity. The queue area is filled with signs listing facts about the ride. The area is typically filled with music from the 1980s, staying true to the decade it debuted.
The station has changed very little from its original appearance. Magnum XL-200 operated with an all female crew in its initial season and remained that way until recently. However, the crew currently has both males and females.
Magnum XL-200 is classified a hypercoaster
as well as an out and back roller coaster
: the first three hills take riders out (away from the station). After a high-speed pretzel turn, the train then races back through a series of tunnels and small airtime hills.
Airtime (the feeling of extreme negative g forces) is considered to be the highlight element of the ride. The 3rd hill of the ride has been reported to give its riders the feeling of weightlessness for almost 5 seconds.
(in fact, Gemini still uses the up-stop pads). Shortly after its debut, however, regular, more-traditional up-stop wheels were added to the trains.
Cedar Fair, LP CEO Dick Kinzel has been quoted as saying he was one of the few to ride Magnum XL-200's first train, boarding the train after only one test cycle. Over its entire history, Magnum has only been repainted once. The original color was scarlet red. Painting to moly orange started in 2005 and was completed in 2006; hence, for a period of time, Magnum operated with two different colors. The name Magnum stems from the Latin
root for large.
Magnum XL-200 has been the target of false rumors claiming that the structure was sinking due to unstable ground and that plans were to disassemble the ride and sell it to either a Japanese theme park, or a Six Flags park. This rumor supposedly started as an April Fools Day joke in an Ohio newspaper, but quickly spread via the Internet
. Cedar Point has quickly denounced such rumors.
Coaster Landmark.
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
steel
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
hypercoaster
Hypercoaster
A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet...
located at Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
in Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
. Built in 1989, it was the first complete circuit roller coaster to break the 200 feet (61 m) barrier. It is considered to have started the roller coaster wars, in which amusement parks competed to build the highest and fastest roller coasters.
Ride Experience
Magnum XL-200 is located in the Top Thrill DragsterTop Thrill Dragster
Top Thrill Dragster is a steel, Hydraulic-launched roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. It was the first "Strata Coaster", loosely defined as a complete circuit coaster that is over tall. It was built by Intamin and debuted to the public on May 4, 2003...
midway section of the park. The queue line is located in a shaded area, surrounded by shrubs and trees. Wait times for Magnum XL-200 do not typically surpass 20 minutes, which can be attributed to the ride's high capacity. The queue area is filled with signs listing facts about the ride. The area is typically filled with music from the 1980s, staying true to the decade it debuted.
The station has changed very little from its original appearance. Magnum XL-200 operated with an all female crew in its initial season and remained that way until recently. However, the crew currently has both males and females.
Magnum XL-200 is classified a hypercoaster
Hypercoaster
A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet...
as well as an out and back roller coaster
Out and Back roller coaster
Out and back refers to the layout of a roller coaster. An out and back coaster is one that climbs a lift hill, races out to the far end of the track, performs a 180 degree turn and then races its way back to the station....
: the first three hills take riders out (away from the station). After a high-speed pretzel turn, the train then races back through a series of tunnels and small airtime hills.
Airtime (the feeling of extreme negative g forces) is considered to be the highlight element of the ride. The 3rd hill of the ride has been reported to give its riders the feeling of weightlessness for almost 5 seconds.
Details
When Magnum XL-200 opened, it did not have up-stop wheels. Instead, it used pads, similar to those used on GeminiGemini (roller coaster)
Gemini is a hybrid wood and steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Built in 1978 by Arrow Dynamics and designed by Ron Toomer, it is a racing roller coaster...
(in fact, Gemini still uses the up-stop pads). Shortly after its debut, however, regular, more-traditional up-stop wheels were added to the trains.
Cedar Fair, LP CEO Dick Kinzel has been quoted as saying he was one of the few to ride Magnum XL-200's first train, boarding the train after only one test cycle. Over its entire history, Magnum has only been repainted once. The original color was scarlet red. Painting to moly orange started in 2005 and was completed in 2006; hence, for a period of time, Magnum operated with two different colors. The name Magnum stems from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
root for large.
Magnum XL-200 has been the target of false rumors claiming that the structure was sinking due to unstable ground and that plans were to disassemble the ride and sell it to either a Japanese theme park, or a Six Flags park. This rumor supposedly started as an April Fools Day joke in an Ohio newspaper, but quickly spread via the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Cedar Point has quickly denounced such rumors.
Accident
On May 26, 2007 one of the coaster's trains collided with another at fewer than 10 miles per hour (4.5 m/s), causing minor damage to both trains and minor injuries to at least three passengers. Two people were taken to a First Aid Station, and a third person was taken to a local hospital because of an asthma attack. Fifty-nine people were aboard the two trains. The ride reopened the next day, on May 27, and park spokesman Robin Innes said the accident was caused by rain: "We think it was just caused by excessive moisture on the tracks due to the heavy rain storms we had in the morning".Awards and rankings
Magnum XL-200 is classified as an ACEAmerican Coaster Enthusiasts
The American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
Coaster Landmark.
| Golden Ticket Awards: Top Steel Roller Coasters | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Ranking | ||||||||||||||
| Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best Steel-Tracked Roller Coaster | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Ranking | ||||||||||||
| NAPHA National Amusement Park Historical Association The National Amusement Park Historical Association was founded in 1978 by a former employee of Chicago's Riverview Amusement Park, and NAPHA has grown throughout a long period of time to include amusement parks from all over the world. NAPHA preserves amusement park history and historic rides. ... Survey: Favorite Steel Roller Coaster |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Ranking | |||||