Cedar Point coasters tie for first

Tuesday, 10 May 2005

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Cedar Point's roller coasters are so great, coaster enthusiasts can't decide between them.

Magnum XL-200 and Millennium Force tied for first as the "Best Steel Roller Coaster" in the world, according to a survey released by the National Amusement Park Historical Association this month. Cedar Point also earned third place in the best "traditional amusement park" category.

"I have a 10-year-old son and Millennium Force is his favorite, and Magnum has been a favorite for coaster enthusiasts for years," said Marlowe McClasky Futrell, survey coordinator for the National Amusement Park Historical Association. "The speed has a lot to do with it and both rides are very smooth."

In 2002, Millennium Force and Magnum XL- 200 also tied for the No. 1 spot as the best steel coaster in the world. The Magnum has occupied or tied for the top spot for 13 of the last 14 years, according to the survey results.

"We are very excited about the results from the NAPHA poll," park spokesman Bryan Edwards said Monday. "We are very honored that they would rate our coasters so high and rate our park so high.

"The Magnum and Millennium Force are outstanding roller coasters and for a historical society to rank them that high, we think they will be good rides for quite a long time," he said.

Edwards said more than 2 million people rode the Magnum in 2004, and 1.5 million rode the Millennium Force. The 205-foot Magnum debuted in 1989, the Millennium Force, which is 310-foot-tall opened in 2000.

Futrell said NAPHA doesn't release how many people voted, but said several thousands in the organization were given surveys.

Members include coaster and park enthusiasts, as well as industry trade association and ride manufacturers.

NAPHA is based in the Chicago area.

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