New Cedar Point Ride 2018: Steel Vengeance Overview
The new Cedar Point ride in 2018 was Steel Vengeance, a hybrid coaster that opened to the public on May 5, 2018. The ride was developed by Rocky Mountain Construction and replaced the former Mean Streak wooden coaster. It features a height of 205 feet, a drop of 200 feet, a track length of 5,740 feet, and a top speed of 74 mph. The project was part of Cedar Fair's broader capital investment plan to modernize legacy parks and increase per-visitor spending. Industry analysis notes that major ride investments can lift short-term ticket sales and extend seasonal attendance windows.
Steel Vengeance was billed as the world's first hybrid hypercoaster and the tallest, fastest, and longest hybrid coaster at the time of its opening. The ride uses a combination of steel track on a wooden structure, with four inversions including a dive loop, a zero-g roll, a heartline roll, and a raven drop. The total construction cost was not disclosed by Cedar Fair, but industry estimates for major RMC conversions typically range from $10 million to $20 million. Cedar Fair's 2018 SEC filing references capital expenditures on park improvements as part of its annual investment cycle.
Ride Specifications and Technical Details
Track Layout and Inversions
The layout of Steel Vengeance uses a compact footprint with a lift hill, multiple airtime hills, and a final brake run that returns riders to the station. The ride system employs RMC's patented I-Box track technology, which retrofits existing wooden coaster structures with steel rails to improve smoothness and allow inversions. The ride duration is approximately 2 minutes and 45 seconds, with a capacity of about 1,200 riders per hour using three trains with eight cars each. Forbes has covered how such technical upgrades support premium pricing and add-on revenue.
Structural and Engineering Data
Steel Vengeance uses a steel track on a wooden structure, with the original Mean Streak supports modified and reinforced by RMC. The ride's vertical lift height is 205 feet, and the first drop angle is approximately 90 degrees in some sections. The system uses a chain lift for the initial ascent and relies on gravitational energy for the remainder of the course. Roller Coaster Data lists the ride's length, height, and speed as key metrics for industry comparison.
Financial and Operational Impact
Attendance and Revenue Effect
Cedar Fair reported that new ride investments, including Steel Vengeance, contributed to attendance growth at Cedar Point during the 2018 season. The park's total attendance for 2018 was approximately 3.6 million visitors, according