GateKeeper
2013
GateKeeper is Cedar Point's Wing Coaster that was added to the park in 2013. GateKeeper flips riders upside down 6 times! GateKeeper was the first project since the early 1960's to change the look of Cedar Point's Front Gate!
In 2000, Cedar Point added the popular Millennium Force. Millennium Force was so popular that it set the pace for the future of the park. Top Thrill Dragster was built as the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster when it opened in 2003. maXair started to spin and thrill riders in 2005. Guest would swing on the world's tallest swing style ride in 2006 with Sky Hawk. Maverick twisted and turned its thrill seekers thru canyons in 2007. Planet Snoopy gave the whole family a new area in 2008. In 2010, Shoot the Rapids opened as Cedar Point's family water ride adventure, it was removed following the 2015 season. Cedar Point's tallest thrill ride, WindSeeker, started swinging guest 301 feet into the sky in 2011. In 2012 Dinosaurs Alive gave guest a trip back in time to experience what it was like when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.
After another decade of expansion in the books, Cedar Point was due for a new attraction that would get the attention of the world.
After another decade of expansion in the books, Cedar Point was due for a new attraction that would get the attention of the world.
A wing coaster is a roller coaster that has the trains suspended to the side of the track. There is nothing above or below riders. It feels like you are on the out on the wings of a jet.
The first wing coaster, Raptor, opened on April 1, 2011 at Gardaland. The Swamp opened at Thorpe Park on March 15, 2012. The first 2 wing coasters are located in Europe.
The first wing coaster, Raptor, opened on April 1, 2011 at Gardaland. The Swamp opened at Thorpe Park on March 15, 2012. The first 2 wing coasters are located in Europe.
On March 24, 2012, Wild Eagle opened at Dollywood in Tennessee. Wild Eagle was the first wing coaster to open in the United States.
The new wing coasters were very popular and loved by guest who got to experience them.
Rumors started swirling around 2000 that Disaster Transport might be soon removed. The ride had been continued to fall apart and was not what the park originally expected. The ride was literary a disaster.
|
When the park opened in 2012, the area around Disaster Transport had spray paint all over.
On May 30, 2012, the Sandusky Register had ran an article stating they received an article that said Disaster Transport was being replaced with a Wing Coaster.
|
On July 16, 2012, during lunch for Coaster Mania, it was announced that Disaster Transport was to be closed on July 29,2012. It was also announced that Space Spiral was to close as well.
Speculation was running wild as to what the new roller coaster would do.
GateKeeper had the elements and the stats that everyone had expected. It was going to be a huge new addition that the park needed.
After Space Spiral was removed, the construction crews had space to build GateKeeper.
GateKeeper would be the 5th wing coaster to be built. It would break every record it could.
Gatekeeper's World records!
1. Tallest Wing Coaster. (170 feet)
2. Biggest drop on a Wing Coaster ( 164 feet) 3. Fastest Wing Coaster. (67 MPH) 4. Longest Wing Coaster. (4, 164 feet) 5. Most inversions on a Wing Coaster (6) 6. Most rides in one park (72) 7. Highest inversion on a roller coaster. ( 170 feet) |
The New Front Gate
Ride Experience
The line for GateKeeper is against the beach. The line is really breezy and and gives guest an amazing view of the beach!
GateKeeper then sends its riders into the drop. The drop faces the coasters lift hill.
The drop on GateKeeper is really coonland unique. It is only featured on 2 other roller coasters in the world. It really feels like you are flying on the wings of a jet!
The drop is really fun!
The 140 foot Immelmann roll is really cool and it brought a unique experience to the park as this loop was not featured on an other Cedar Point roller coaster!
Gatekeeper is a very fun high energy roller coaster! It is very smooth and a very good ride. When watching the ride it does appear to be slow, but you don't feel that way on the ride.
The oversized loop puts the coaster in line with the front gate and the rides signature event.
After going over the front entrance riders are flipped upside down a 5th time on a dive loop.
After the helix, the coaster enters the break run.
Gatekeeper's Impact On The Roller Coaster Capital Of The World!
GateKeeper is a very fun smooth ride. IT really popular ride. It has really set the next pace of roller coaster history! It has great capacity and the line really moves fast.
GateKeeper changed the look and feel of Cedar Point. It took Cedar Point to the next level and made the park look much better! GateKeeper is quickly becoming a park favorite with over 8 million rides give since 2013! |
Since GateKeeper opened in 2013 Cedar Point has continued to additions that have helped balance out its collections. Cedar Point would add: New Gemini Midway (2014), Rougarou (2015), Valravn (2016), Cedar Point Shores Water Park (2017), Steel Vengeance (2018), Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island (2019), and Cedar Point's 150th Anniversary Celebration (2021).
Photos by Jake Hamons, COASTER-net, and Cedar Point.
Last Updated: 5/20/2020