Maverick (roller coaster)

Maverick
Maverick's 105-foot, 95 degree drop and turnaround in the former Swan Boat pond
Cedar Point
Park section	Frontiertown
Coordinates	41°29′8″N 82°41′33″W / 41.48556°N 82.69250°W / 41.48556; -82.69250Coordinates: 41°29′8″N 82°41′33″W / 41.48556°N 82.69250°W / 41.48556; -82.69250
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 26, 2007
Cost	US$21,000,000
Replaced	White Water Landing Swan Boats
General statistics
Type	Steel – Launched
Manufacturer	Intamin
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Blitz Coaster
Lift/launch system	Two LSM-launches Launch - 0-70 in 3 seconds
Height	105 ft (32 m)
Drop	100 ft (30 m)
Length	4,450 ft (1,360 m)
Speed	70 mph (110 km/h)
Inversions	2
Duration	2:30
Max vertical angle	95°
Capacity	1,200 riders per hour
Height restriction	52 in (132 cm)
Trains	6 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 12 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Maverick at RCDB Pictures of Maverick at RCDB

Maverick is a steel roller coaster built by Intamin at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. It was the seventeenth roller coaster built at the park since the Blue Streak in 1964. It is notable as being the 500th roller coaster designed by German engineer Werner Stengel and the first roller coaster featuring a Twisted Horseshoe Roll.^[1][2] Maverick's US$21-million price tag makes it Cedar Point's third most expensive roller coaster. The 4,450-foot (1,360 m) course makes it the fourth longest roller coaster at Cedar Point.^[1][3]

Maverick was scheduled to open on May 12, 2007, but opening was delayed until May 26, 2007 after testing revealed the heartline roll element to be too intense. Continued use of the element would have put excessive stress on trains.^[4] At a drop angle of 95 degrees, Maverick is Cedar Point's steepest roller coaster. The ride's tagline is "The Old West Was Never This Wild."^[1]

History

Maverick sits on the former site of White Water Landing. After White Water Landing closed on October 31, 2005, construction on Maverick began.^[5] On January 24, 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company filed a trademark for the name Maverick.^[6] The project became known officially and colloquially as "Project 2007" until the announcement on September 7, 2006.^[1]

Construction

Maverick's footings dot the former Swan Boat pond. Photo taken May 13, 2006

After the closure of the 2005 season in October, the White Water Landing log flume ride was retired. Although the ride was disassembled, the station was left intact and now serves as Maverick's on-ride photo booth and queue.^[3] Beginning in February 2006, concrete footers were poured on the former White Water Landing site, as well as in the pond that once housed Cedar Point's Swan Boat ride.^[7] In May 2006, track segments arrived in a fenced area near the park's off-site hotel, Breakers Express. Initially, Cedar Point covered track segments with blue tarps.^[8] On July 16, 2006, the first steel supports were erected.^[5] On the week of August 16, 2006, the first track segments were installed.^[9] On September 11, 2006, the crest of the lift hill was added, thereby topping off the ride.^[10] Track installation was completed on October 28, 2006^[11] and the first phase of testing began in January 2007.^[12]

Delayed opening

On May 8, 2007, four days before Maverick was scheduled to debut, park general manager John Hildebrant announced that the ride would be delayed until early June because three 40-foot (12 m) track sections after the second launch needed to be replaced. These sections made up the heartline roll element and put excessive stress on the trains, which also might have caused discomfort to passengers due to high g-forces.^[4] On May 17, 2007, the heartline roll was removed and was replaced with an s-curve.^[13] The s-curve transitions the existing track from a banked right curve to a banked left curve. Installation of the s-curve was completed on May 24 and final testing and licensing of the attraction resumed.^[14] On the same day, Cedar Point officials also announced that Maverick would debut on May 26.^[15]

Ride experience

Layout

Maverick train and first airtime hill

Two trains are loaded and dispatched simultaneously. One train is launched while the other sits at the bottom of the lift hill. Once the first train has reached the tunnel, the second train is launched. The ride starts out with a LSM launch up a 105 feet (32 m) hill at 20 degrees. At the top of the hill, the train drops 100 feet (30 m) at a 95 degree angle. The train reaches a speed of 57 miles per hour (92 km/h) then makes a turn to the right then turns to the left through a canyon then another turn to the right. It then goes over a 74-foot (23 m) airtime hill followed by a turn to the right into the Twisted Horseshoe Roll which features two 360-degree corkscrew rolls. The train then makes a turn to the right into the where it is launched 400 feet (120 m) at 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) through a tunnel under the station. The tunnel features special effects such as blue LED strips. At the end of the tunnel is a sharp turn to the left followed by a turn to the right into a canyon with a S-curve (original heartline roll location). Water bombs shoot off as the train enters the canyon. The train then passes under the lift hill through an over banked turn at 92 degrees. It then turns to the right into another overbanked turn followed by an airtime hill. The train then turns to the right into the brake run.^[3][16][17] One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes and 30 seconds.^[3]

Trains/theme

Maverick train exiting the first canyon

Maverick features six three-car steam-era style trains that seat twelve passengers each. The trains have tiered seating and are named and colored as follows: Brett - Brass, Brent - Gold, Ben - Gunmetal, Beau - Gold, Bart - Silver, and Sam - Copper.^[18] The restraint system, similar to Accelerator Coasters, includes a hydraulic over the shoulder harness and an interlocking seat belt. The station features an elevated dual unloading and loading platform enabling two trains to be loaded and unloaded simultaneously.^[3] Maverick features western music, contributing to the western theme.^[19] There is also an elevator shaft designed to look like a silo, that also contributes to the western theme.^[20] The passenger height restriction was initially set to a minimum of 48 inches (120 cm). In May 2007, the height restriction was raised to a minimum of 52 inches (130 cm) per recommendations made by Intamin.^[1][15]

Operation

Maverick is negatively affected by unfavorable weather conditions as a high velocity ride. "Rain, and/or lightning" may result in the closing of the ride depending on the severity. It will close under any kind of steady precipitation.^[21]

There is no minimum age requirement, but passengers must meet the miniumum height requirement of 52 inches and a maximum of 78 inches to ride.^[22] Some persons over a certain weight/waist size will not be permitted to ride if the seat and lapbar harness cannot accommodate them.^[21] Passengers on Maverick may not bring any loose articles onto the train and will be required to wear shirts and footwear. Headphones must be removed before boarding. Glasses must also be secured by an athletic strap.^[21]

Passengers are advised that they must not ride Maverick if they have "a history of recent surgery, heart trouble/high blood pressure, neck trouble, back trouble, or any other condition that may be aggravated by riding, or who are pregnant".^[23]

Awards

• Won the Golden Ticket Award for "Best New Ride in 2007" by Amusement Today^[24]
• Won the award for "Best New Attraction in 2007" from NAPHA^[25]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maverick (roller coaster).

• Cedarpoint.com - Official Maverick page
• Maverick Photo Gallery at The Point Online