Gemini

Gemini
1978
45th Anniversary

Gemini opened as Cedar Point's tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coaster. The ride opened in 1978. Gemini is a hybrid roller coaster. A hybrid roller coaster is a roller coaster that has a steel track and wooden supports. Gemini is a great family roller coaster.

In the 1960's and 1970's Cedar Point was expanding. The park was trying to position itself as ''The Disneyland of the Midwest." The park was bringing in bigger and better riders. In 1968 Cedar Downs opened giving the park a neat addition. In 1969, Frontier Town was expanded to include Cedar Creek Mine Ride. In 1970, Cedar Point celebrated its 100th anniversary with a new midway that included Wildcat. Frontier Trail arrived in 1971. In 1972, Giant Wheel greeted its guest on the Frontier Trail. In 1975 Cedar Point introduced the Imax Theater. Riders were turned upside down in 1976 on Corkscrew. In 1977 the Corkscrew Midway was expanded. With all this expansion in the past, 1978 would be a big year in the record books for Cedar Point.

With the bigger rides came the record breakers. In 1976, Corkscrew became Cedar Point's first roller coaster to break records.

On September 24, 1977, Cedar Point announced it would be building its next world record breaking roller coaster.

Before Gemini was built the area was covered in trees. On June 30, 1977 Cedar Point was struck by a horrible tornado that destroyed parts of Frontier Town and uprooted a great portion of trees that were slated for removal. Gemini was constructed over the winter of 1977 and spring of 1978. In late January 1978 the state of Ohio was it with a horrible blizzard. The blizzard was so bad it back up construction of the ride and the opening was eventually delayed. When Cedar Point opened in 1978, Gemini was still under construction.

Gemini opened on June 17, 1978 and was billed as the world's tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster in the world.

Gemini is located on park edge of the Gemini Midway. When the roller coaster opened in 1978 it was the first attraction on the midway. The new midway would Connect Frontier Town to the Corkscrew Midway.

Over the years the midway has been rapidly expanded.

Gemini Ride Facts
Height: 125 feet
Drop: 118 feet
Speed: 60 MPH
Hills: 8
Track Length: 3,935 feet
Inversions: 0
Type: Racing Roller Coaster
Designer: Ron Toomer
Company: Arrow Dynamices of Uthal
Capacity: 3,300/HR
Opened: June 17,1978
Number of Coasters in 1978: 6
Cost: 3.4Million
4th oldest Cedar Point Operating roller coaster

At 3.4 million dollars, ($16,010,558.28 in 2023) Gemini was the most expensive roller coaster Cedar Point had built at that time. Gemini was truly a huge addition for Cedar Point. It put the park on the map as it drew huge groups of people to see what was considered by many as the worlds tallest roller coaster.

Gemini's Records
When Gemini opened in 1978, Cedar Point claimed it was the world's tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster on earth. While Gemini had the tallest drop any any roller coaster, it wasn't the tallest or the fastest roller coaster. Back in 1978 if Gemini would have opened on time it would have been the tallest, but the record would have been taken away when Loch Ness Monster opened in June 1978. Gemini was the tallest racing roller coaster in the world.

Built by Arrow Dynamics of Clearfield, Utah Gemini is a hybrid roller coaster. Gemini would be Cedar Point's 3rd roller coaster to be built by Arrow. In addition to the 3 roller coasters Arrow also built Caddallic Cars, Turnpike Cars, Antique Cars, Pirate Ride. Earthquake, Shoot The Rapids, and Mill Race. A hybrid roller coaster is a steel roller coaster with a wooden frame. Gemini is Cedar Point's second hybrid roller coaster, Cedar Creek Mine Ride was Cedar Point's first hybrid roller coaster that was built in 1969. Both Gemini and Cedar Creek Mine Ride are steeping stones to what would become Steel Vengeance. Steel Vengeance uses the ''hybrid'' coaster idea with new technology.

Ride Experience

The Gemini experience begins with riders entering Gemini's line that is found inside the rides structure. Once riders reach the platform they can choose which side they want, the red side or blue side!

Gemini is a racing style roller coaster that features two sides. Both of the trains race each other and stay side by side the entire time. Each race on Gemini is a bit different and the ride is actually not controlled so a different train can win every time. Gemini was Arrow's largest hybrid roller coaster and the only racing roller coaster the company ever built.

After leaving the station Gemini takes a right hand turn U Turn the leads the roller coaster train to the lift hill.

The racing simulation starts right from the beginning. You can see the other train as the ride leaves the station and heads towards the lift hill.

Riders are then lifted to the top of the 125 foot tall lift hill. It takes about a minute to get to the to top. While climbing the lift, riders get a great view of Cedar Point!

Gemini flings riders 118 feet down the drop at 55 degrees. Gemini's drop is very steep.

Riders receive wonderful airtime when they are flung out of their seat.

After the drop riders are lifted into a huge hill that features a right-hand turnaround. While at the top riders get a great view of the Gemini Midway before being suddenly dropped again.

The ride is a natural race. the trains switch places with each other several times.

Riders then race over the rides drop on an airtime hill. Riders float over the hill for several seconds.

The trains stay close to each other for most of the ride.

Riders then race through a huge right hand U turn. during this turn the two trains often switch paces several times which makes the ride more exciting!

Gemini then sends riders into another small airtime hill which sends the train to the other side of the ride.

Gemini then takes a left hand U-turn that takes the train to the outside of the ride.

Riders then go over one last airtime hill that gives riders a floating sensation.

The trains then spilt up and go through a helix.

The trains then meet up and head back to the final brake run outside the station. The train to park first wins.

Gemini's Impact on the Roller Coaster Capital of the World!

When Gemini opened in 1978 it was an instant hit! It was very popular and welcomed huge crowds of people! Reports say people waited up to 8 hours to ride the ride when it opened!

People traveled from all over the country to ride the unique roller coaster. Before 1978, roller coasters were no where near the size of Gemini. Gemini was truly a massive ride! Gemini was a HUGE step in the evolution of roller coasters. It helped set the standard for what would come next in the history of rides.

Gemini was a great addition to Cedar Point. It helped pave the way for further roller coaster innovation in the park.

Since Gemini opened in 1978, 20 roller coasters have been added to Cedar Point! Over the years, bigger and better rides were added to the park including: Gemini Children's Area (1979-2013), WildCat (1979-2011), Oceana (1980-1997), Ocean Motion(1981), White Water Landing (1982-2005), Demon Drop (1983-2009), Avalanche Run (1985-1989), Thunder Canyon (1986), Iron Dragon (1987), Soak City Water Park (1988-2016), Magnum XL-200 (1989), Disaster Transport (1990-2012), Mean Streak (1991-2016), Challenge Park (1992-2016), Snake River Falls (1993) Raptor (1994), Mantis (1996-2014), Chaos (1997-2010), Power Tower (1998), Camp Snoopy(1999), Millennium Force (2000), Wicked Twister (2002-2021), Top Thrill Dragster(2003-2021), maXair (2005), Sky Hawk (2006), Maverick (2007), Planet Snoopy (2008), Shoot the Rapids (2010-2015), WindSeeker (2011), Dinosaurs Alive! (2012-2018), GateKeeper (2013), New Gemini Midway (2014), Rougarou (2015), Valravn (2016), Cedar Point Shores Water Park (2017), Steel Vengeance (2018), Forbidden Frontier (2019), Cedar Point's 150th Anniversary Celebration (2021), and The Boardwalk (2023). All of these attractions have added something special to Cedar point that it did not have before.

Withstanding the Test of Time

Gemini was a very thrilling roller coaster when it opened. It was the parks tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster.

Gemini was Cedar Point's tallest and fastest roller coaster when it opened. It would continue to be the tallest and fastest roller coaster until Arrow Dynamics would return to Cedar Point to build Magnum XL-200 in 1989.

Arrow would return again to Cedar Point in 1982 to build White Water Landing, In 1987 to build Iron Dragon, 1989 to build Magnum XL-200 and for their final Cedar Point project, Snake River Falls in 1993.

Over the years bigger and more intense riders were added to Cedar Point. Being the park's 4th roller caster, Gemini is often one may peoples first big ride.

While its not the tallest, or the fastest roller coaster anymore, it sure it is great ride! Gemini is still a very popular ride for Cedar Point after 45 years of operation.