Rougarou (roller coaster)
Mantis | |
---|---|
119-foot (36 m) loop on Mantis | |
Cedar Point | |
Location | Cedar Point |
Coordinates | 41°28′57.75″N 82°41′12.75″W / 41.4827083°N 82.6868750°W |
Status | Operating |
Soft opening date | May 9, 1996 |
Opening date | May 11, 1996 |
Cost | US$ 12,000,000 |
General statistics | |
Type | Steel – Stand-up |
Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
Designer | Werner Stengel |
Model | Stand-up roller coaster |
Track layout | Twister |
Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
Height | 145 ft (44 m) |
Drop | 137 ft (42 m) |
Length | 3,900 ft (1,200 m) |
Speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
Inversions | 4 |
Duration | 2:40 |
Max vertical angle | 52° |
Capacity | 1,800 riders per hour |
Height restriction | 54 in (137 cm) |
Trains | 3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train. |
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Mantis at RCDB |
Mantis is a stand-up roller coaster located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard, Mantis opened on May 11, 1996, setting several stand-up roller coaster records for height (145 feet (44 m)), speed (60 miles per hour (97 km/h)), and steepness (52°). The roller coaster was originally announced as Banshee, but due to negative publicity regarding the name, the ride was later renamed Mantis.[1][2]
History
Cedar Point announced plans to introduce Banshee on September 8, 1995, as the tallest, fastest and steepest stand-up roller coaster in the world. Several days later, Cedar Point announced that the name would be changed due to negative connotations with the word Banshee.[1] All "Banshee" stickers, pins and other promotional materials that had been released were recalled. Many of the original souvenirs and materials were burned or destroyed.[3] Some t-shirts featuring the original Banshee logo can still be found, however.[4] The shirts were sent out to season pass holders for 1996 who purchased their season passes early. On November 14, 1995, shortly after dropping the Banshee name, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company filed a trademark for the name Mantis, which became the official name for the new ride on November 17, 1995.[5][2] As the coaster's name was changed, so was its logo, to a praying mantis.[6] Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom adopted the old Banshee logo for its hypercoaster, Steel Force, which opened in 1997.[7] The "Banshee" name was later reused for an inverted roller coaster that opened at Kings Island in 2014.[8]
Construction on the new roller coaster began in the off season and was completed on January 9, 1996.[9] Cedar Point held a "Media Day" for Mantis on May 9, 1996, and the ride officially opened to the public on May 11, 1996. Trim brakes were added the following year in 1997 half way down on the first drop to lessen the positive G-force. The main entrance to Mantis was moved in 2000 when Millennium Force opened, due to the construction of a new entrance plaza. It was moved to the opposite side of the railroad tracks belonging to the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad attraction.[10] The ride's rails were originally unpainted, but they were later painted red for the 2003 season.[11][12]
Ride experience
Mantis is located at the end of Celebration Plaza. The entrance to Mantis used to be located in what is now the Millennium Force entrance plaza but when Millennium opened in 2000, the entrance was moved to the other side of the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad tracks to where it is today.[10] The ride travels over the Iron Dragon roller coaster and more than 20% of the ride is located over water.[2][13]
Layout
The ride starts when the train makes its way up the 145-foot (44 m) lift hill. Once the train reaches the top, it makes a little dip, and then goes through a right-hand turnaround, leading into the first drop. Riders then drop 137 feet (42 m) at a 52 degree angle, reaching a top speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). Coming out of the first drop, the train travels into the first inversion, a 119-foot (36 m) vertical loop. Next, Mantis heads into its next inversion - a 103-foot (31 m) diving loop. Following this, the train enters a non-inverting, highly banked 360 degree turn. Following the 360 degree turn, riders enter a 83-foot (25 m) inclined loop - a standard loop at a 45 degree angle. From here, the ride makes an up-hand turn into the mid-course brake run. At this point, riders drop straight into a Corkscrew, and finish off with a figure-eight. The train then enters the final brake run, and heads back into the station.[7][13][14]
Track
The steel track is approximately 3,900 feet (1,200 m) in length and the height of the lift is approximately 145 feet (44 m).[7] When the coaster first opened, it was painted with purple supports, yellow and red track with unpainted rails. Mantis was repainted for the 2003 season and the rails were painted red. In 1997, a trim brake was added to the first drop.[10]
Trains
Mantis currently operates with two steel and fiberglass trains. Each train has eight cars that have four seats in a single row for a total of 32 riders.[7] Mantis originally operated with three trains but the park later reduced operation to two trains due to the trains "stacking" on the brake run.[15] Riders are secured by an over the shoulder harness.[7] Although Mantis is a stand-up roller coaster, there is a small bicycle seat riders can lean on.[16]
Records
Mantis set several records among stand-up roller coasters when it opened in 1996 including height at 145 feet (44 m), speed at 60 miles per hour (97 km/h), and steepness at 52°.[17] It was also the first stand-up roller coaster to feature a diving loop.[17][18] It preceded Dragon Khan, another B&M coaster, at PortAventura as having the tallest vertical loop in the world. Also, it was the first roller coaster in the world to feature an inclined loop.[17][19]
References
- ^ a b "Cedar Point changes coaster's name". The Bryan Times. September 14, 1995. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Cedar Point finds new name for roller coaster". Sunday Times-Sentinel. November 19, 1995. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ Rodgers, Joel. "Steel Force logo with Mantis history". Coaster Gallery. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ "Cedar Point Banshee T-shirt". WorthPoint. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ "Mantis Trademark". Legal Force. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
- ^ "Mantis photo gallery at Ultimate Roller Coaster". Ultimate Roller Coaster. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Marden, Duane. "Mantis (Cedar Point)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ https://www.visitkingsisland.com/banshee/the-evidence/wail-of-the-banshee-blog/blog-article/Title
- ^ "Cedar Point Mantis Roller Coaster Top Off January 9, 1996". Cedar Point. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ a b c "PointBuzz history". PointBuzz. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
- ^ Rodgers, Joel. "Mantis gets new paint". Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Mantis (CP Rundown)". CP Run Down. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ a b "Mantis POV". Cedar Point. August 2, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ "Mantis ACN review". American Coasters. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ "Mantis at Top Coasters". Top Coasters. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ^ "What is a stand-up roller coaster?". The Coaster Critic. August 25, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Mantis at Coaster-Net". Coaster-Net. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller coasters with a Dive Loop". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller coasters with an Incline Loop". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Cedarpoint.com - Mantis Official Page
- Mantis Construction Video
- Mantis at The Point Online