| Maverick | |
|---|---|
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 Maverick's 105-foot, 95 degree drop and turnaround in the former Swan Boat pond | |
| Cedar Point | |
| Location | Cedar Point |
| Park section | Frontier Town |
| Coordinates | 41°29′6.73″N82°41′33.13″W / 41.4852028°N 82.6925361°W /41.4852028; -82.6925361 |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 26, 2007 |
| Cost | US$21,000,000 |
| Replaced | White Water Landing Swan Boats |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel –Launched |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | LSM Launch Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | TwoLSM Launches 1st launch: Launched Lifthill 2nd launch: 0 to 70 mph (0 to 113 km/h) in 3 seconds |
| Height | 105 ft (32 m) |
| Drop | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Length | 4,450 ft (1,360 m) |
| Speed | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
| Inversions | 2 |
| Duration | 2:30 |
| Max vertical angle | 95° |
| Capacity | 1,200 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 52–78 in (132–198 cm) |
| Trains | 6 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 12 riders per train. |
 Fast Lane Plus only available | |
| Maverick at RCDB | |
Maverick is asteel roller coaster located atCedar Point inSandusky, Ohio. Manufactured byIntamin at a cost of $21 million, it was the 500th roller coaster designed by German engineerWerner Stengel and the first to feature atwisted horseshoe roll element.[1][2] There are twolaunch points along the 4,450-foot (1,360 m) track that utilizelinear synchronous motors (LSM). Maverick features a beyond-vertical drop of 95 degrees and reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).[1][3]
Maverick was originally scheduled to open on May 12, 2007, but the opening was delayed after testing revealed that itsheartline roll element, which followed the second launch, would exert excessive force on riders. It was replaced in favor of an s-curve element that joins two banked turns, and the coaster opened to public on May 26, 2007.[4] The slogan used in the ride's promotion was "The Old West Was Never This Wild."[1]
Maverick sits on the former site ofWhite Water Landing. After White Water Landing closed on October 30, 2005, construction on Maverick began.[5] On January 24, 2006,Cedar Fair Entertainment Company filed a trademark for the name Maverick.[6] The project became known officially and colloquially as "Project 2007" until the announcement on September 7, 2006.[1]
After the closure of the 2005 season in October, theWhite Water Landinglog flume ride was retired.[7] Although the ride was disassembled, the station was left intact and now serves as Maverick's on-ride photo booth and queue.[3] Beginning in February 2006, concrete footers were poured on the formerWhite Water Landing site, as well as in the pond that once housed Cedar Point'sSwan Boat ride.[8] In May 2006, track segments arrived in a fenced area near the park's off-site hotel, formerly named Breakers Express (renamed Express Hotel). Initially, Cedar Point covered track segments with blue tarps.[9] On July 16, 2006, the first steel supports were erected.[5] On the week of August 16, 2006, the first track segments were installed.[10] On September 11, 2006, the crest of the lift hill was added, thereby topping off the ride.[11] Track installation was completed on October 28, 2006[12] and the first phase of testing began in January 2007.[13]
On May 8, 2007, four days before Maverick was scheduled to debut, park general manager John Hildebrant announced that the ride would be delayed until early June because three 40-foot (12 m) track sections after the second launch needed to be replaced. These sections made up theheartline roll element and might have caused discomfort to passengers due to highg-forces.[4] On May 17, 2007, the heartline roll was removed and was replaced with an s-curve.[14] The s-curve transitions the existing track from a banked right curve to a banked left curve. Installation of the s-curve was completed on May 24 and final testing and licensing of the attraction resumed.[15] On the same day, Cedar Point officials also announced that Maverick would debut on May 26.[16]
Twotrains are loaded and dispatched simultaneously. The front train is launched while the rear train sits at the bottom of thelift hill. Once the front train has reached the tunnel, the rear train is launched. The ride starts out with aLSM launch up a 105-foot (32 m) hill at 20 degrees. At the top of the hill, the train drops 100 feet (30 m) at a 95-degree angle. The train reaches a speed of 57 miles per hour (92 km/h) then goes through a series of banked turns, twisting right, left, and then right again. It then goes over a 74-foot (23 m) airtime hill, followed by a turn to the right into theTwisted Horseshoe Roll that features two 360-degree corkscrew rolls, back-to-back, with a 180-degree banked curve between the two corkscrews. The train then makes a turn to the right into the tunnel, during which riders slow down and encounter multiple railroad crossing signs and lanterns.[3][17][18]
From the tunnel, which is underneath thestation, the train is launched at 70 miles per hour (110 km/h), traveling for 400 feet (120 m). At the end of the tunnel, it goes up a hill withtrim brakes, followed by a high-banked curve. The train then goes through a turn to the right into a canyon with an S-curve (where the heartline roll was originally supposed to be installed). Originally, water bombs shot off as the train enters the canyon, but this has since been removed. The train then passes under the lift hill through an over banked turn at 92 degrees. It then turns to the right into another overbanked turn followed by an airtime hill. The train then turns to the right into thebrake run.[3][17][18] One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes and 30 seconds.[3]
Maverick features six three-car steam-era style trains that seat twelve passengers each. The trains have tiered seating and are named and colored as follows: Bret, Brass; Brent, Gunmetal; Ben, Iron; Beau, Gold; Bart, Silver; Sam, Copper.[19] The restraint system, similar toAccelerator Coasters, includes ahydraulic over the shoulder harness and an interlocking seat belt. The station features an elevated dual unloading and loading platform enabling two trains to be loaded and unloaded simultaneously.[3] Maverick features western music, contributing to the western theme.[20] There is also an elevator shaft designed to look like asilo, that also contributes to the western theme.[21] The passenger height restriction was initially set to a minimum of 48 inches (120 cm). In May 2007, the height restriction was raised to a minimum of 52 inches (130 cm) per recommendations made by Intamin.[1][16] At the 2015 Winter Chill Out, Cedar Point announced that the traditional over the shoulder restraints would be replaced with the soft vest style restraints found onPantherian atKings Dominion.[22]
Maverick is negatively affected by unfavorable weather conditions as a high velocity ride. "Rain, and/or lightning" may result in the closing of the ride depending on the severity. It will close under any kind of steady precipitation.[23]
Passengers must be between 52 and 78 inches (130 and 200 cm) tall to ride.[24] Some persons over a certain weight/waist size will not be permitted to ride if they cannot fit into the seat and lap bar harness.[23] Passengers on Maverick may not bring any loose articles onto the train and will be required to wear shirts and footwear. Headphones must be removed before boarding. Glasses must also be secured by an athletic strap.[23]
Guests are advised not to ride Maverick if they have "a history of recent surgery, heart trouble/high blood pressure, neck trouble, back trouble, or any other condition that may be aggravated by riding, or who are pregnant".[25] Additionally, guests must have 3 functioning extremities in order to ride, only allowing for one leg amputation or one arm amputation.
Maverick won theGolden Ticket Award for "Best New Ride in 2007" fromAmusement Today magazine.[26] It also won the award for "Best New Attraction in 2007" from theNational Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA).[27]
| Year | 1998 | 1999 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | – | – | ||||||||
| Year | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Ranking | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 13[26] | 12[28] | 15[29] |
| Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| Ranking | 21 (tie)[30] | 21[31] | 21[32] | 22[33] | 28 (tie)[34] | 22[35] | 12[36] | 10[37] | 9[38] | 13[39] |
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
| Ranking | N/A | 9[40] | 10[41] | 9 (tie)[42] | 10[43] | 12[44] |
