Magnum XL-200 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Magnum XL-200
Cedar Point
Location	Cedar Point
Coordinates	41°29′7.25″N 82°41′10″W / 41.4853472°N 82.68611°W / 41.4853472; -82.68611
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 6, 1989 (1989-05-06)
Cost	US$ 8,000,000
General statistics
Type	Steel
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Designer	Ron Toomer
Model	Hyper Coaster
Track layout	Out and Back
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	205 ft (62 m)
Drop	194.7 ft (59.3 m)
Length	5,106 ft (1,556 m)
Speed	72 mph (116 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	2:00
Max vertical angle	60°
Capacity	2,000 riders per hour
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	3 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 36 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Magnum XL-200 at RCDB

Magnum XL-200, often called just Magnum, is a huge steel roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. It was built by Arrow Dynamics. When it opened in 1989, it was the tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coaster in the world!

Magnum was also the very first "hypercoaster." This is a special type of roller coaster that is taller than 200 feet (61 m). Many people believe Magnum started a "roller coaster war." This was a time when amusement parks quickly tried to build the next tallest and fastest roller coasters. By 2009, over 40 million people had ridden Magnum.

Magnum XL-200 was the world's tallest roller coaster until 1994. That's when the Pepsi Max Big One opened in the United Kingdom. Amusement Today magazine gave Magnum its "Best Steel Roller Coaster" award for three years in a row (1998-2000). As of 2014, it was still ranked among the top steel roller coasters in the world.

How Magnum XL-200 Was Built

The Idea Behind Magnum

By the mid-1980s, Cedar Point was already a popular park with many roller coasters. In 1986, Dick Kinzel became the head of Cedar Fair, the company that owns Cedar Point. In 1988, Kinzel saw a news report about a new coaster in Japan called Bandit. This coaster was known for its height and speed, but it didn't have any upside-down loops.

Kinzel wanted a similar ride for Cedar Point. He wanted a coaster with big drops and a feeling of weightlessness (called "negative g-forces"). At that time, most new coasters had lots of loops and spins. It had been 10 years since Cedar Point's last big coaster, Gemini, was built.

Cedar Point asked several companies to design a new coaster. They wanted one without loops or shoulder restraints. They chose Arrow Dynamics, an American company. Arrow was also working on the Iron Dragon at Cedar Point.

Arrow and its designer, Ron Toomer, first suggested a 187 feet (57 m)-tall coaster. This would have been taller than any other coaster drop at the time. But Cedar Point's leaders wanted to go even bigger. They wanted to build the first roller coaster over 200-foot (61 m) tall! This would bring a lot of attention to the park.

The name Magnum XL-200 was chosen because the TV show Magnum, P.I. was popular. "XL" meant "extra-long," and "200" showed it was over 200 feet (61 m) tall. The ride was first planned to cost $7.5 million. But when they made it taller, the cost went up to $8 million.

Opening Day and Impact

Entrance sign introduced on Magnum's 20th anniversary in 2009

Magnum XL-200 was announced on August 16, 1988. Construction started soon after. When it was finished in 1989, Dick Kinzel was one of the first people to ride it.

Magnum officially opened to the public on May 6, 1989. It was the world's tallest, fastest, and steepest full-circuit roller coaster. On June 2, it was measured for the Guinness World Records. Cedar Point had record-breaking attendance in 1989, partly because of Magnum.

Magnum changed Cedar Point's focus. The park's Vice President, John Hildebrandt, said that Magnum helped brand Cedar Point as a "big time roller coaster park." On June 21, 2004, Magnum received the ACE Roller Coaster Landmark award.

Magnum's track was originally red with silver supports. In 2005, it was repainted a bright orange color, but the supports stayed silver. In 2009, Cedar Point celebrated Magnum's 20th anniversary. They had a ceremony and Ron Toomer, the designer, was there. A new entrance sign was also put up.

Since 1998, there have been false rumors that Magnum was sinking. These rumors supposedly started as an April Fools' Day joke. But they spread quickly online. Cedar Point quickly said the rumors were not true.

What It's Like to Ride Magnum XL-200

The Ride's Path

When your train leaves the station, it goes over a walkway. Then, it makes a right turn and starts its climb up the 205-foot (62 m) tall lift hill. The chain pulls the train up at about 6 mph (9.7 km/h).

At the top, you drop 194.7 feet (59.3 m) at a steep 60-degree angle! You'll reach a top speed of 72 miles per hour (116 km/h). After the first drop, the train goes up a 157-foot (48 m) "camelback" hill. This hill gives you a feeling of floating out of your seat. Then, it curves left into the first tunnel.

Coming out of the tunnel, the train goes up another 80-foot (24 m)-tall hill. After this, it slows down a bit with some brakes. Then, it goes through a pretzel-shaped turn. It curves left towards the beach and then left again into another tunnel.

Next, you'll go over seven "airtime hills." These hills are designed to lift you out of your seat for a moment. After the last airtime hill, you enter a third tunnel. Then, the train goes through a mid-course brake run. The train turns left, goes back over a walkway, turns right, and finally enters the final brakes. A full ride on Magnum lasts about 2 minutes.

The Trains and Track

Riders coming back to the station

Magnum XL-200 has three trains. Each train is white and black, with red, black, or blue stripes at the front. Each train has six cars. Two riders sit side-by-side in three rows, so 36 people can ride on one train. Riders are held in place by a lap bar and a seat belt.

When Magnum first opened, it used a different type of wheel system. But soon after, they changed to the more common "up-stop wheels." These wheels help the ride run smoother and last longer.

Magnum XL-200's steel track is 5,106 feet (1,556 m) long. Its main hill is about 205 feet (62 m) high. The track was originally a bright red color with silver supports. In 2005, it was repainted orange, but the supports stayed silver.

The track is made of strong steel tubes. When Magnum opened, a steel roller coaster this big, with no loops, was very new. Magnum's track is known for its exciting, quick changes in direction. This is partly because the pieces were welded together without computer help. The track sections are supported by 157 strong columns.

Awards and Recognition

Magnum's ACE Landmark sign

Magnum XL-200 was named an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark on June 21, 2004. This award is given by the American Coaster Enthusiasts group. Magnum earned this award because it was the first hypercoaster. It also inspired more than a dozen similar rides around the world.

Magnum has often been ranked as one of the best steel roller coasters. For example, Amusement Today magazine gave it the top spot for steel coasters from 1998 to 2000. It has consistently been ranked in the top 10 or 20 for many years.

Magnum's World Records

Magnum XL-200 held several world records when it opened: