Corkscrew (Cedar Point) facts for kids

This page is about the roller coaster at Cedar Point. For the roller coaster at Silverwood Theme Park, see Corkscrew (Silverwood). For other roller coasters of the same name, see Corkscrew (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Corkscrew
The final inversion on Corkscrew
Cedar Point
Coordinates	41°29′1″N 82°41′7.25″W
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 15, 1976
Cost	$1,750,000 USD
General statistics
Type	Steel
Manufacturer	Arrow Development
Designer	Ron Toomer
Model	Custom Looping Coaster
Track layout	Out and back
Height	85 ft (26 m)
Drop	65 ft (20 m)
Length	2,050 ft (620 m)
Speed	48 mph (77 km/h)
Inversions	3
Duration	2:00
Max vertical angle	45°
Capacity	1,800 riders per hour
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Corkscrew at RCDB Pictures of Corkscrew at RCDB

Corkscrew is a steel roller coaster built by Arrow Development at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. When built in 1976, it was the first roller coaster in the world with 3 inversions. The coaster, which features Arrow's first vertical loop, was built during the same time period as The Great American Revolution at Magic Mountain. However, Revolution opened seven days prior and is therefore credited as the first modern-day coaster to feature a vertical loop.

Characteristics

Location

Corkscrew train returning to station

The ride's station is located on the midway directly across from Top Thrill Dragster and next to Super Himalaya and near Power Tower. It was the first coaster to have inversions featuring a walkway underneath.

Trains

Corkscrew originally had three 24 passenger trains painted red, white & blue, a color scheme inspired by the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976, the year the ride was introduced. The ride currently operates with two trains to reduce the excessive stacking on the brake run. Riders are restrained by over-the-shoulder restraints with interlocking seat belts and are required to be 48 inches (120 cm) to ride. As the restraints cannot be unlocked by all cars at once, pedals are hinged on the backs of the cars to be manually released and locked individually by ride operators on the platform.

Ride experience

Layout

The train exits the station when the ride operator releases the pneumatic station brakes. The train reaches a slight decline that allows the car to roll out and around a 180 degree turnaround and ascends the 30-degree and 85-foot (26 m) chain lift hill, operating at a speed of 4 mph (6.4 km/h). The train then descends 65 feet (20 m) at a 45-degree angle at a top speed of 48 mph (77 km/h). The train enters a bunny hop, drops lower than the main drop, and enters a vertical loop. The train goes up to a short straightaway before descending a banked 180 degree right turn into the two consecutive corkscrews over the midway of the park, traveling at 38 mph (61 km/h). Lastly, the train enters a slight ascending right turn followed by a shallow left turn and then enters the brake run with trim and block brakes before returning back into the station.

Track

The ride is 2,050 feet (620 m) long, consisting of blue tubular steel track with a 48-inch (1,200 mm) separation between tubes, built on 5 acres (20,000 m²), rides for 1 minute and 40 seconds, and has two 24-passenger trains. Almost daily, a train is transferred off the track once ridership reaches a point that permits two-train operation with little or no waiting in line. A different train is cycled off each day. The ride was designed by Ron Toomer and built by Arrow Dynamics. The total cost of construction was US$1,750,000 ($6,550,440 in 2021), and the ride has had over 30 million total riders since opening in May 1976.

Records

Corkscrew train going around corner and into corkscrew

1. First roller coaster to invert 3 times

2. First roller coaster to go over a midway

Preceded by Corkscrew (Silverwood)

First Roller Coaster With 3 Inversions May 1976–March 1980

Succeeded by Carolina Cyclone