Maverick (roller coaster)

Overview

Maverick

logodimensions	200px
imagedimensions	250px
location	Cedar Point
section	Frontier Town
coordinates	41.4852°N, -82.69254°W
type	Steel
type2	Launched
status	Operating
opened	May 26, 2007
manufacturer	Intamin
designer	Werner Stengel
model	LSM Launch Coaster
lift	Two LSM Launches 1st launch: Launched Lifthill 2nd launch: 0 to 70 mph (0 to 113 km/h) in 3 seconds
height ft	105
drop ft	100
length ft	4450
speed mph	70
inversions	2
duration	2:30
angle	95
capacity	1,200
cost	US$21,000,000
previousattraction	White Water Landing Swan Boats
restriction in	52-78
trains	6
carspertrain	3
rowspercar	2
ridersperrow	2
virtual queue name	Fast Lane Plus only
virtual queue image	Cedar Fair Fast Lane Plus availability icon.svg
virtual queue status	available
rcdb number	3570

Maverick is a steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Manufactured by Intamin at a cost of $21 million, it was the 500th roller coaster designed by German engineer Werner Stengel and the first to feature a twisted horseshoe roll element.[1] There are two launch points along the 4450 ft track that utilize linear synchronous motors (LSM). Maverick features a beyond-vertical drop of 95 degrees and reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph.[2][3]

Maverick was originally scheduled to open on May 12, 2007, but the opening was delayed after testing revealed that its heartline 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. The slogan used in the ride's promotion was "The Old West Was Never This Wild."[2]

History

Ride experience

Layout

Two trains are loaded and dispatched simultaneously. The front train is launched while the rear train sits at the bottom of the lift hill. Once the front train has reached the tunnel, the rear train is launched. The ride starts out with a LSM launch up a 105 ft hill at 20 degrees. At the top of the hill, the train drops 100 ft at a 95-degree angle. The train reaches a speed of 57 mph then goes through a series of banked turns, twisting right, left, and then right again. It then goes over a 74 ft airtime hill, followed by a turn to the right into the Twisted 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]

From the tunnel, which is underneath the station, the train is launched at 70 mph, traveling for 400 ft. At the end of the tunnel, it goes up a hill with trim 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 the brake run.[3][17][18] One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes and 30 seconds.[3]

Trains/theme

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 to Accelerator Coasters, includes a hydraulic 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 a silo, that also contributes to the western theme.[21] The passenger height restriction was initially set to a minimum of 48 in. In May 2007, the height restriction was raised to a minimum of 52 in per recommendations made by Intamin.[2][16]

Maverick (roller coaster)

History

Construction

Delayed opening

Ride experience

Layout

Trains/theme

Operation

Awards

External links

References