Rougarou (roller coaster)

Rougarou

Rougarou, when it was known as Mantis
Previously known as Mantis (1996-2014)
Cedar Point
Coordinates 41°28′57.75″N 82°41′12.75″W / 41.4827083°N 82.6868750°WCoordinates: 41°28′57.75″N 82°41′12.75″W / 41.4827083°N 82.6868750°W
Status Testing
Soft opening date May 9, 1996
Opening date May 11, 1996 (Mantis)
May 9, 2015 (Rougarou)
Closing date October 19, 2014 (Mantis)
Cost US$12,000,000
General statistics
Type Steel – Floorless Coaster
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Werner Stengel
Model Floorless roller coaster
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 2:15
Max vertical angle 52°
Capacity 1800 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.
Fast Lane Plus only available
Rougarou at RCDB
Pictures of Rougarou at RCDB

Rougarou (formerly called Mantis) is a floorless roller coaster under construction at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard, the roller coaster originally opened as Mantis on May 11, 1996, as the tallest, fastest, and steepest stand-up roller coaster in the world. Cedar Point originally intended to name the ride Banshee, but due to negative publicity following its announcement, the name was later changed to Mantis.

In September 2014, Cedar Point announced that Mantis would be closed, and that its last rides would be offered on October 19, 2014. Later that month, the park revealed that Mantis wouldn't be removed and would be transformed into a floorless coaster that essentially uses the same track. It will reopen in 2015 as Rougarou.

History

Cedar Point announced plans to build 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.[2] Some T-shirts featuring the original Banshee logo can still be found, however.[3] 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.[4][5] 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. Rougarou is located at the end of Celebration Plaza. The entrance to the ride used to be located in what is now the Millennium Force entrance plaza but when Millennium Force 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 lift hill and the turn to the first drop crosses over Iron Dragon's lift hills and more than 20% of the ride is located over water.[4][10][11] The ride's rails were originally unpainted, but they were later painted red for the 2003 season.[12][13]

On September 2, 2014, after weeks of leaking clues that a major announcement was forthcoming, Cedar Point released a statement that Mantis would close on October 19, 2014. According to the park, the roller coaster had given over 22 million rides since its debut.[14] On September 18, 2014, Cedar Point revealed that Mantis wouldn't be removed, but instead would be converted into a floorless roller coaster complete with new trains, new colors, and a new theme.[15] It will reopen in 2015 as Rougarou, the name of a legendary creature in French folklore that draws comparisons to the mythical werewolf.[16]

Ride experience

119-foot (36 m) loop on Mantis
The Diving Loop of Mantis

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, the train rises into 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 tilted at a 45 degree angle. From here, the ride makes an up-hand right turn into the mid-course brake run. At this point, riders drop straight into a Corkscrew, and finish off with a figure-eight turn. The train then enters the final brake run, and heads back into the station.[7][11][17]

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. The ride 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

As a stand-up coaster, the ride operated 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.[18] Riders were secured by an over the shoulder harness.[7] Although Mantis was a stand-up roller coaster, there was a small bicycle seat riders can lean on.[19]

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°.[20] It was also the first stand-up roller coaster to feature a diving loop.[20][21] It took the record from Dragon Khan, another B&M coaster, at PortAventura for having the tallest vertical loop in the world. Also, it was the first roller coaster in the world to feature an inclined loop.[20][22]

Preceded by
Dragon Khan		 World's Tallest Vertical Loop
May 1996–April 1997 		Succeeded by
Chang

References

  1. ↑ "Cedar Point changes coaster's name". The Bryan Times. September 14, 1995. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  2. ↑ Rodgers, Joel. "Steel Force logo with Mantis history". Coaster Gallery. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Cedar Point Banshee T-shirt". WorthPoint. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Cedar Point finds new name for roller coaster". Sunday Times-Sentinel. November 19, 1995. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Mantis Trademark". Legal Force. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Mantis photo gallery at Ultimate Roller Coaster". Ultimate Roller Coaster. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Marden, Duane. "Mantis  (Cedar Point)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  8. ↑ https://www.visitkingsisland.com/banshee/the-evidence/wail-of-the-banshee-blog/blog-article/Title
  9. ↑ "Cedar Point Mantis Roller Coaster Top Off January 9, 1996". Cedar Point. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "PointBuzz history". PointBuzz. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Mantis POV". Cedar Point. August 2, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  12. ↑ Rodgers, Joel. "Mantis gets new paint". Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Mantis (CP Rundown)". CP Run Down. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  14. ↑ Glaser, Susan (September 2, 2014). "Cedar Point to close stand-up roller coaster Mantis; additional plans for 2015 will come later". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  15. ↑ Haidet, Ryan (October 20, 2014). "Cedar Point closes Mantis roller coaster forever". WKYC. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  16. ↑ Glaser, Susan (September 18, 2014). "Rougarou floorless roller coaster will replace stand-up Mantis at Cedar Point in spring 2015". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Mantis ACN review". American Coasters. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Mantis at Top Coasters". Top Coasters. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  19. ↑ "What is a stand-up roller coaster?". The Coaster Critic. August 25, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "Mantis at Coaster-Net". Coaster-Net. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  21. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Roller coasters with a Dive Loop". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  22. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Roller coasters with an Incline Loop". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 20, 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mantis (Cedar Point).