Cedar Point ready to celebrate Opening Day May 12

Wednesday, 02 May 2007

Cedar Point Press Release

Park To Debut 17th Roller Coaster

SANDUSKY, Ohio, 2007 – Grab your lasso and spurs and get ready for a wild ride through the Old West. Cedar Point amusement park/resort, home to the largest collection of roller coasters on the planet, is set to debut its latest roller coaster – Maverick – on Opening Day, Saturday, May 12.

This summer, Cedar Point will take guests on a coaster ride unlike any other. The $21 million coaster is 105 feet tall with a 95-degree drop (five degrees steeper than straight down). Maverick is Cedar Point’s 17th roller coaster and one of the largest ride projects in the park’s 137-year history.

Seated in 12-passenger steam-era–style trains, riders are propelled up the first hill using linear synchronous motors. At the top, the three-car trains plunge 100 feet reaching speeds of 57 mph. The ground-hugging course has eight hills and twists and turns between canyon walls, over water and around trees.

Other features of the ride include a first-of-a-kind twisted horseshoe roll that combines two 360-degree corkscrew rolls sandwiched around a 72-degree banked turn, a 400-foot-long tunnel, a third inversion and speeds of 70 mph! Guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride.

The ride lasts approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds and covers more than 4,400 feet of red steel tubular track on 5.5 acres. It is the first roller coaster built in Frontiertown since Mean Streak was introduced in 1991.

“This will be a very exciting summer at Cedar Point,” said John Hildebrandt, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point. ”People have been talking about Maverick all winter. Now it is time to ride!”

To help celebrate this special event, The Ohio State University Spring Athletic Band will perform at the park. Under the direction of Assistant Director Jonathan Waters, the 225-member band will play at the main entrance (9 a.m.), the Opening Ceremony for Maverick (10 a.m.) and across from the Iron Dragon (1 p.m.).

Besides Maverick, guests will have plenty to see and do during the summer of 2007. In addition to the park’s 69 rides, two live shows will make their debut on Opening Day. Rock ‘n Country will be performed in the Red Garter Saloon on the Frontier Trail, while Charlie Brown’s Funtime Frolics will be presented in the Camp Snoopy Theatre. Shows in the Palace and Centennial theatres will open in late May and early June.

After conquering Maverick and Cedar Point’s 68 other rides, guests are bound to work up an appetite. This summer, the park will unveil two new restaurants along with a wide variety of food options for guests.

In Frontiertown, guests will be able to enjoy chicken sandwiches and waffle fries at Chick-fil-A. Located in the former Frontier Inn, Chick-fil-A will be open Monday through Saturday and will offer a wide variety of chicken sandwiches, salads, signature lemonade, iced tea and more.

Across from the Red Garter Saloon, guests will be able to sample gourmet Chinese food at Panda Express. From traditional Chinese favorites, including egg rolls and Kung Pao chicken, to fresh new creations, Panda Express offers a delicious menu with something for everyone.

To cool off, guests will be able to enjoy Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at the Ice Cream Parlor on the Main Midway, while the Chuck Wagon Inn in Frontiertown will offer fresh baked pizza, fresh salads and mouth-watering desserts.

In addition to its traditional favorites, Cedar Point will also offer a wide variety of other items such as organic salads, grilled chicken salads, veggie burgers, fresh-made wrap sandwiches and more.

Cedar Point will be open daily Saturday, May 12 through Labor Day, Sept. 3. The park will then reopen for a Bonus Weekend on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7-9. Cedar Point’s 11th annual HalloWeekends event will take place on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 14-16, 21-23, 28-30, Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28.

For more information about Maverick and Cedar Point, guests can log on to www.cedarpoint.com or call the park’s general information line at 419.627.2350.


SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE - Cedar Point amusement park/resort, known around the world for its thrill rides and family fun, is ready to open its gates for the 2007 season. This summer, Cedar Point will take riders on a Wild West journey aboard its new roller coaster, Maverick. Cedar Point will be open daily Saturday, May 12 through Labor Day, Sept. 3, plus a Bonus Weekend and HalloWeekends through Oct. 28. Photo courtesy Cedar Point.