Mantis
1996 - 2014

    In 1995 Cedar Point announced it was going to build its new stand-up roller coaster and call it the Banshee! When the ride would open in the Spring of 1996, it would be different than any other roller coaster at Cedar Point!

    The name Banshee didn't last very long. A Banshee is a female spirit that proclaims death. Due to that connotation, in 1995 Cedar Point didn't think it was appropriate for its new coaster. The name was quickly changed to Mantis. The name Banshee was finally used in 2014 on Kings Island's new inverted roller coaster.

    Construction began on the new roller coaster in the fall and continued thru the spring. Mantis was built in the middle of the park near the Iron Dragon, Giant Wheel, WildCat on the  Frontier Trail.

    In order to build Mantis, Cedar Point had to fill in part of the lagoons and remove trees.

    When Mantis opened in May 1996 it would be a very unique ride for Cedar Point. At the time it was Cedar Point's 12th roller coaster.

Mantis Opened on May 11, 1996 as the tallest, fastest, steepest stand up coaster in the world! It was also the Stand-UP coaster with the most inversions at that time!

Mantis was built by Bollinger & Mabillard from Switzerland.

Mantis starts out with a 145 foot lift hill. After a 180 degree turn to the right, Mantis then dives down 137 feet over the Cedar Point Lagoons! Mantis is the only roller coaster at Cedar Point that goes over another! Mantis goes right over top of the Iron Dragon!

 After the 137 degree plunge to the bottom, Mantis then sent its riders into a huge 119 foot tall vertical loop! 
When Mantis Opened in 1996 it had the world's largest vertical loop! Mantis held the tittle of Worlds Tallest Loop until Chang opened at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in May 1997.

Mantis then sent its riders into a huge 103 foot tall Dive Loop!

The Turn was a heavily banked 360 degree turn!

After the Dive loop Mantis then took its riders into a really cool turn that went over top of the station!

When Mantis opened in 1996 it was the world's largest stand up roller coaster!

Mantis then sent its riders into a vertical loop that was on an angle. When Mantis first opened in 1996, this was an element that had never before been seen! The ride was only used a few times after it was used! After the Vertical loop the ride then goes thru a mid-course break run. 

After Droping from the Mid Course Break Run Mantis then turned its riders upside down for its final time with a Corkscrew element. 

Then the ride goes into a double figure 8 helix that is really close to the ground. After that the ride then goes into the final break run ending the rides 3,900 foot long course. 

When Mantis opened in 1996, It opened to very mixed reviews. As time went on, It was less rode by park guest. 

During the summer of 2014, This spot of green stuff appeared on Mantis Track. While never confirmed by the park this is believed to be one of two things. 


1) Test paint. They many have tried to test paint Mantis to see what the color would look like on Mantis Track. 


2) The Green represents some kind of Welding/Maintenance that the track had revived. 

On September 2, 2014 Cedar Point announced that riders would get to take the last stand on Mantis on October 19,2014.

After Cedar Point released the Video of Darkness Falling, Rumors were swirling on what would happen to Mantis!

During Halloweekends, Cedar Point put a  Grave for the 18-Year old Stand Up Coaster in the Centenary. The Park also started advertising to its guests that Mantis would close on October 19, 2014. 


On September 18, 2014, Cedar Point announced that Mantis would be closing early to be transformed into the floor less- style coaster, Rougarou!

 On September 19, 2014, Cedar Point had a closing Ceremony for the roller coaster. In addition everyone who rode the ride during its last day of operation was given a special pin to wear. 

For additional News, Blogs, Photos and Information about this ride and others at Cedar Point, please visit COASTER-net.com.

Videos by Cedar Point         Last Updated: 02 - 15- 2015

Mantis Logo, Videos, Rougarou Animation, Rougarou logo by Cedar Point.