Magnum XL- 200

In 1989 Cedar Point decided to take roller coasters to a new limit with Magnum Xl-200. At 205 feet tall, Magnum was the first roller coaster to break the 200 foot barrier.
The Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point amusement park/resort is considered by many to be one of the ultimate scream machines on the planet. In 2001, the Magnum XL-200 was voted No. 3 in the "Best Steel Roller Coaster in the World" category in a poll conducted by Amusement Today, an international publication that covers amusement and water park news and trends. Standing 205 feet tall, this fan favorite provides riders with unparalleled thrills, action-packed hills and tons of "airtime!" ride.

A traditional out-and-back "hyper-coaster," Magnum's 5,106 feet of red steel tubular track runs through Soak City water park and along the Lake Erie shoreline, giving riders spectacular views to go along with magnificent hills and blazing speeds.

In its 11-year history, this steel giant has given more than 24.5 million rides.

Magnum sent the roller coaster industry into a spin because it was one of the first to be so darn big. Taller coasters have been built, but for the most part this is still one big coaster.

People say they can see Canada across Lake Erie on a clear day. While I question the validity of this

 claim (Pelee Island aside), I concur that the view is breathtaking. The front seat is great for this, because you get a moment to hang there and look around. Coaster enthusiasts claim that the "ejector seat," the back seat of the first car, gives some of the greatest airtime on the planet. Because it's hidden by the line for the front seat, it is often a very short wait.

 

Fast and tall is the coaster's claim to fame. The other coasters provide you with a lot of different sensations, but Magnum just makes sheer astonishment. Even after ten years, this ride
has earned the respect of coaster fans world wide as a
classic. Its forceful airtime on the return trip bunny hops
pop you every time. (You may want to note that pulling
your seat belt tight to absorb some of that airtime is a
better idea than relying on the lapbar, which doesn't give
and will beat on your legs.) If you ride at night or early in
the morning, be sure to wear something warm because that
lake wind can be cold when you're moving as fast 72mph.

Magnum arguably has more personality than any other
ride in the park. Its total ride time can vary by ten seconds
or more depending on weather conditions, number of
passengers and the phase of the moon. Warn wheels can
give you a bumpy ride. You just never know what you'll get.

Despite the initial height record and popularity,
Magnum really was an accident that beat the odds.
From an engineering standpoint, the coaster started out
as one disaster after another. The trains originally had
hooks under the rails instead of upstop wheels, which
resulted in a spark fest easily seen at night. The hill just
before the turn-around ejected riders hard then slammed
them down as the train hit its next low point. The hill was
reprofiled to soften the blow (you can see in the supports
where the track used to go).

In 2002, gates were added to the platform and a dispatch
enable button was installed for the rear-most ride operator.
The ride still requires in three-train operation that trains be
dispatched on time, otherwise the returning train will be stopped on the safety brake run next to the lift, and it must be manually released (this is called a "setup," where the trains don't clear their safety "blocks" in time).

If you don't have enough time to ride anything else at Cedar Point, make time to ride Magnum.