Maverick
2007
15th Anniversary Edition
Maverick opened in 2007 as the world's first Blitz Roller Coaster. Blitz Coasters are known for staying close to the ground. Maverick was a different ride for Cedar Point because it stayed close to the ground and didn't break any world records.
The roller coaster wars of the 1990's brought bigger and better things to Cedar Point. In 1997 Cedar Point expanded the water park to include more slides and attractions. Riders were launched or dropped 240 feet in `1998 with Power Tower. In 1999 Camp Snoopy opened with a new roller coaster for families. The world's tallest and fastest roller coaster came in 2000 in the form of Millennium Force. A one of a kind attraction, Wicked Twister became the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in the world. In 2003, riders were launched 420 feet into the air on Top Thrill Dragster, the tallest and fastest roller coaster Cedar Point ever built. Riders were spun 140 feet in the air with maXair in 2005 and swung 125 feet in the air with Skyhawk in 2006. With all these changes over 10 years, a big new attraction was due in 2007.
In 1997 Cedar Point added the Swan Boats. They floated around in Frontier Town for a few years. Swan Boats was a simple boat ride in which riders pedaled around in a small pond. The ride closed forever on September 1, 2003. The ride was relocated to Michigan's Adventure for the 2004 season. The ride is still in operation at Michigan's Adventure.
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Through the winter the park got all components for the ride ready so it could open soon.
Testing resumed after the heartline roll was replaced.
Maverick opened on May 26, 2007. Maverick was the first roller coaster to open at Cedar Point since Top Thrill Dragster in 2003.
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Maverick was one of the most popuar roller coasters when it opened. It was instantly compared to Millennium Force. Maverick was an instant hit!
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Maverick was very different for Cedar Point. It wasn't the tallest and fastest, it was just a great ride. Maverick only broke 1 record when it opened. It was the steepest roller coaster in the world.
Ride Experience
The double twisted horseshoe is a very rare element. It can only be found on 2 roller coasters. Maverick and Blue Fire at Europa Park in Germany. The inversions are very cool and riders pop out of their seats as the ride inverts.
After being launched thru the tunnel riders quickly turn to the left and enter a turn.
Riders then twist and tun in an ''s'' fashion and are sent under the rides lift hill.
Some Of The Past Is Saved
Maverick's Impact On The Roller Coaster Capital Of The World!
When Maverick was announced, people thought Maverick would be a family style ride like Iron Dragon.
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Maverick remains a top coaster in the world. Over the years it has placed in the top 50 roller coasters in the Golden Ticket awards every year.
Year: Ranking: 2007 13 2008 12 2009 15 2010 21 2011 21 2012 21 2013 22 2014 28 2015 22 2016 12 2017 10 2018 9 2019 13 2021 9 *There were no golden tickets in 2020 due to COVID 19 |
Since Maverick, Cedar Point has had 6 roller coaster projects including building 2 new roller coasters and converting 3 others. Over the years Cedar Point would add: Planet Snoopy (2008), Shoot the Rapids (2010-2015), WindSeeker (2011), GateKeeper (2013), 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 (2021). All these new attractions helped make Cedar Point the place it is today.
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Photos by: Cedar Point, Coaster-net, Russ Hudden and Jake Hamons
Last Updated: 02/02/2022