If you like roller coasters and live anywhere near Ohio, you know of Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, right on the shores of Lake Erie. The second-oldest amusement park in North America, Cedar Point boasts 72 rides, including 18 roller coasters. Yes, 18! (according to the Cedar Point website)
I’ve always lived in NE Ohio, within a reasonable drive to Cedar Point, so I’ve been going there since I was small. (Funny side note: This is where we went on our honeymoon! We only had Sunday to do anything since my husband started a new job that Monday.*) Jump ahead few years and we took our kids. Once my kids were grown, it wasn’t a place I thought about much until recently. Because of Cedar Point’s Gold (season) Pass special for their 150th year, I bought passes for my husband and myself. I wanted to see the decade of changes I’d missed and try out roller coasters I hadn’t experienced yet. Add the idea of taking our granddaughters, now old enough to bring along for an occasional fun day, and it made buying the passes a no-brainer!
*Don’t worry. We took a real honeymoon later. We went to Disney for a week. (Hmmm. Seems like an amusement park trend going there.)
Season Passes
The Gold Passes were a great purchase! We have loved watching my granddaughters (ages 4 and 6) discover Cedar Point for the first time. This park has two areas with just kid rides. My husband and I have been enjoying time together exploring the park, riding old favorites, and finding new ones (to us).
FYI – Cedar Point has brought back their Gold Pass for the 2022 season. It’s $99 if you buy it through their website by September 6, 2021. If you attend twice, you’ve covered the season pass cost. Any additional days are free bonuses! This price includes parking and discounts on most food and merchandise. Click this link if you’re interested. Adding on the all-season cup refill is well worth it if you plan on returning over and over with a season pass.
The Best Coaster (My Opinion)
So why write about Cedar Point now? I have two words for you roller coaster enthusiasts – Steel Vengeance*. This coaster isn’t brand new (it opened in 2018), but this summer was my first time on it. I like coasters. I wouldn’t say I love them, until Steel Vengeance. It is the best coaster I’ve been on.
You may remember it as The Mean Streak. Cedar Point totally revamped the old coaster creating something unique and so much better. It’s the first ever hyper-hybrid coaster: hyper meaning it’s at least 200 feet tall and hybrid meaning it has wooden supports with steel track. Steel Vengeance is definitely impressive to look at, but come on, that’s not what patrons come for. It’s the ride experience!
The first hill is intimidating with a 200 foot fall at 90 degrees immediately followed by two more large hills. Riders have a seat belt but their legs are also clamped in with an unusual bar that fits snugly around each thigh. I felt secure on the twists, turns, and four inversions. At 74 miles per hour, it’s definitely fast which keeps the thrills coming in quick sequence. The almost 30 seconds of airtime – the most airtime on ANY roller coaster in the world (according to Cedar Point) – was absolutely a rush. The ride is smooth so I didn’t come off it with a whiplash or headache like some coasters. At 5,740 feet long the ride takes 2 minutes and 30 seconds, much longer than many coasters I’ve been on. It isn’t unusual to wait in line for 90 minutes for this one, but between the ride design and the length of the ride, I’d say it’s worth it.
*Note: Make sure you put everything in a locker before getting in line for Steel Vengeance. If you don’t, they will insist you put items in a last chance mini-sized locker inside the structure – including phones. Then you go through a metal detector. They really don’t want you to lose anything on this coaster. I’m sure it’s to protect the riders and the those in line below. It’s that intense of a ride!
Add Your Opinion
What’s your favorite coaster at Cedar Point? What are you favorite coasters at other parks? If you’re not a coaster fan, what kind of ride is your favorite?
After watching the video below, I have to say – video can’t capture the true thrill and speed of Steel Vengeance in person, but if you’d like an idea of the ride, I’ve attached the official Cedar Point video below. Enjoy!
Very cool! Thanks for the video. Tom
Glad you liked it! I’m sure you spent time at Cedar Point when you lived here. Not sure it’s something you’d still do. If you would, you need to come with us!
I’m amazed that you let me persuade you to ride in the front car for your first ride on Steel Vengeance. I wasn’t sure you’d speak to me the rest of the evening so I’m glad we both enjoyed the wild ride. As you know, I still love Millennium Force, also at Cedar Point, and love you for having a great sense of adventure. In fact, I always look forward to our wild adventures together.
Your loving husband,
Peter
Sometimes you have to take a chance and be adventurous!