Rougarou (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rougarou |
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| Previously known as Mantis (1996–2014) | |
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A train coming out of the loop following the first drop
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| Cedar Point | |
| Location | Cedar Point |
| Park section | Millennium Midway |
| Coordinates | 41°28′57″N 82°41′14″W / 41.482583°N 82.687353°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 9, 2015 |
| Cost | US$12,000,000 |
| Replaced | Mantis |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Floorless Coaster |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Floorless Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 145 ft (44 m) |
| Drop | 137 ft (42 m) |
| Length | 3,900 ft (1,200 m) |
| Speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Inversions | 4 |
| Duration | 2:40 |
| Max vertical angle | 52° |
| Capacity | 1800 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 54–78 in (137–198 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train. |
 Fast Lane available |
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| Rougarou at RCDB | |
Rougarou is an exciting floorless roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. It was designed and built by a company called Bolliger & Mabillard. This ride first opened in 1996 as a stand-up roller coaster named Mantis. Back then, Mantis was the tallest, fastest, and longest stand-up coaster in the world!
Cedar Point originally planned to call the ride "Banshee." However, people didn't like the name, so it was changed to Mantis. In September 2014, the park announced that Mantis would close. But instead of removing it, they decided to change it into a floorless roller coaster. It reopened on May 9, 2015, with its new name, Rougarou.
Contents
History of Rougarou
On September 8, 1995, Cedar Point shared exciting news. They were building a new roller coaster! It was going to be the world's tallest, fastest, and longest stand-up roller coaster. The park wanted to name it "Banshee." This name came from a mythical wailing ghost in Irish folklore.
However, some people didn't like the name "Banshee." They pointed out that a banshee is a spirit linked to death. So, on November 14, 1995, the park's owner, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, decided to trademark a new name: Mantis. This became the ride's official name. The ride's logo was also changed to look like a mantis insect. The name "Banshee" was later used for a different roller coaster at Kings Island in 2014.
Building the new roller coaster began in late 1995 and finished on January 9, 1996. A lot of the track, more than 20%, was built right over water! Cedar Point had a special "Media Day" for Mantis on May 9, 1996. The ride officially opened to everyone on May 11, 1996.
Over time, Mantis became known for being a bit rough to ride. Its popularity started to decrease. On September 2, 2014, Cedar Point announced that Mantis would close on October 19, 2014. The park said that over 22 million people had ridden Mantis since it first opened.
But then, on September 18, 2014, Cedar Point revealed a surprise! Mantis would not be removed. Instead, it would be changed into a floorless roller coaster. This meant new trains, new colors, and a whole new theme! It reopened as Rougarou on May 9, 2015. Rougarou is the name of a legendary creature from French folklore, similar to a werewolf.
What it's like to ride Rougarou
The ride's path
Your adventure on Rougarou begins with a gentle left turn. Then, the train starts to climb up the 145-foot (44 m) chain lift hill. When the train reaches the very top, it goes through a small pre-drop. After that, the track makes a big 180-degree right turn.
This leads into the first exciting drop! Riders fall 137 feet (42 m) at a steep 52-degree angle. You'll reach a top speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h)! Right after the drop, you'll zoom through a 119-foot (36 m) vertical loop. This loop turns you completely upside down!
Next, you'll go through a 103-foot (31 m) dive loop. This is followed by an overbanked turn that doesn't flip you upside down. It's right above the station! Then comes an 83-foot (25 m) left-leaning inclined loop. From there, the track turns uphill to the right, leading into the mid-course brake run.
After a quick slowdown at the brakes, the track drops into a Corkscrew. This element twists you around like a corkscrew! Finally, you'll go through a figure-eight turn. The train then enters the final brake run to slow down. After a right turn, it passes through the transfer track and returns to the station.
The trains
When the ride was called Mantis, it used two trains made of steel and fiberglass. Each train had eight cars. In each car, four riders sat in a single row, making a total of 32 riders per train. Mantis originally had three trains, but the park later used only two. This was because the trains would sometimes get too close on the brake run. Riders were held in place by an over-the-shoulder harness. Even though Mantis was a stand-up roller coaster, there was a small bicycle-like seat you could lean on. When Mantis closed, some parts of its trains were saved, and the rest were recycled.
For its change to Rougarou, the ride got three brand-new floorless trains. These trains are special because they let your legs hang freely above the track! There's no floor beneath your feet. Each new train still holds 32 riders, just like the old Mantis trains. Riders are kept safe with an over-the-shoulder harness and a seatbelt that locks into place.
Rougarou's records
When Mantis first opened in 1996, it set several world records for stand-up roller coasters:
- It was the tallest, at 145 feet (44 m).
- It was the fastest, reaching 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).
- It was the longest, with a track length of 3,900 feet (1,200 m).
- It was also the first stand-up roller coaster to have a dive loop and an inclined loop.
See also
In Spanish: Rougarou (montaña rusa) para niños
