Standing in the shadows of what many consider the deepest and most elite lineup of roller coasters is a classic, captivating ride that served as the ‘shot heard ’round the world’ in America’s coaster wars. In this month’s edition of Captivating Coasters we swing by America’s Roller Coast, Cedar Point, to talk about a coaster that fundamentally changed the course of roller coaster history and started a movement in the industry that lead to some of the most groundbreaking rides of all time.
Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Manufacturer:
Arrow Dynamics
Designer:
Ron Toomer
Model:
Hyper Coaster – Out and back
Ride Statistics:
Ride Length – 5,106
Height – 205 feet
Drop – 194.7 feet
Top speed – 72 miles per hour
Duration – 2 minutes 5 seconds
Media:
On-ride point of view video – Credit: Cedar Point
Off-ride video – Credit: Dylan’s Coaster Universe
History:
Drawing inspiration from Bandit at Yomiuriland, in the late 1980s Cedar Point set out to build a modern steel coaster that focused on airtime instead of inversions, which were all the rage for steel coasters at the time. The park partnered with Ron Toomer and Arrow Dynamics to keep production primarily based in the United States. This collaboration also continued a highly successful partnership that had already produced Corkscrew and Gemini, and was in the midst of delivering Iron Dragon.
Bringing the Vision to Life:
The initial proposal for Magnum XL-200 called for a height of just 187 feet, a figure later confirmed by then-CEO Dick Kinzel. This would have allowed the coaster to claim the title of largest drop. However, after talking to his team they decided “Magnum XL-187” was not a very catchy name. Just kidding, but the park decided that the appeal of having the first coaster to break 200 feet was just too hard to resist. With budget approval form his board, Dick Kenzel made a bold decision that would forever change the roller coaster industry.
Building the Legend:
Arrow Dynamics completed construction on Magnum XL-200 in May 1989, with it opening as the tallest and fastest non-shuttle roller coaster in the world. Impressively, it held the title of tallest coaster until 1994, a testament to its impact, especially during an era when amusement parks were constantly trying to outdo one another during the coaster wars. Magnum was the world’s first hyper coaster(a coaster over 200 feet in height). Inspiring one of the most popular ride styles in the industry, one that nearly every major coaster manufacturer now includes in its lineup.
Why it is Captivating:
Magnum XL-200 will forever be iconic as the first roller coaster to break the 200-foot barrier. While its record-setting height and speed were impressive, Magnum’s impact goes far behind temporary accolades. Its debut sparked a new era in the amusement park industry setting in motion a period of over 15 years that saw parks and manufacturers constantly pushing the boundaries of coaster engineering. This era of innovation ultimately culminated with the debut of Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2005, which held the record for tallest roller coaster in the world until its removal in 2024.
Magnum XL-200 Today:
While it no longer is the biggest and fastest roller coaster in the world, or even in its own park, Magnum XL-200 remains a popular ride to this day. The coaster is revered by park visitors, critics like Amusement Today, and Cedar Point itself. Thanks to its reliability and relatively low maintenance costs, Magnum’s future looks bright. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it’s poised to continue delivering airtime and nostalgic thrills for years to come.
Like any coaster enthusiast, a trip to Cedar Point is high on my wishlist, and hopefully in my near future. But traveling with two little ones, especially to an amusement park, isn’t always easy! While I haven’t had the chance to experience Magnum XL-200 myself just yet, I’m thankful that the awesome Donnie Lakes from Ride of Your Life was willing to share his thoughts on the coaster from a fellow enthusiast’s perspective.
Ask an Enthusiast (Donnie – Ride of Your Life Ministries)
The Ride Experience:
The ride experience begins as guests enter the queue that still has the 90s “futuristic” architecture vibe Cedar Point is known for with a lot of its coasters including Millennium Force and Gemini. As riders enter the station and are assigned to their row, they take their seat in a white with black and red detailed train which resembles a rocket ship or even a Disney monorail. Once seated and checked by ride ops, it’s time for lift off! Riders leave the station, make a right and make begin their ascension up the 205 foot lift hill. Following the ascent, they are immediately dropped down 195 feet at 60 degrees towards Cedar Point Shores and begin a trek through many hills, valleys, twists and turns which includes some tunnels (featuring some colored lighting and fog). Once the course is complete, riders return to station and go out the exit to experience more of the amazing coasters and attractions CP has to offer!
What, to you, makes Magnum XL-200 Captivating:
Honestly, it’s the location of the coaster that makes it so captivating. Set at the back of the Cedar Point peninsula in the park’s Midway section, Magnum sits right along the beach and weaves through parts of Cedar Point Shores water park and backstage areas. This gives riders a unique perspective that no other ride in the park can offer. The beach is what makes Cedar Point… Cedar Point!
Magnum XL-200’s Future:
Like all coasters, Magnum’s days are numbered. But until that day, guests will continue to experience this first of its kind hyper coaster! What could replace Magnum when its service time comes to an end? Maybe an expansion to the park’s water park?! Or even another trailblazer coaster that will pave the way for the future of coasters! Time will only tell. But this I do know, Cedar Point will always try to top what’s already out and bring in the latest and greatest coaster types out there, which to this day makes the park America’s Roller Coast!
Donnie’s Final Thoughts:
My thoughts, it’s time for the Magnum to retire! The coaster is definitely showing its age and the experience is painful. The ride photo above says it all! The restraints are very uncomfortable and the ride itself is very rough. It currently sits at 16 out of 17 on my coaster rankings at Cedar Point right above Corkscrew (that should tell you how bad this ride is). At this point, it is definitely a “do it for the credit” coaster.
Huge thank you to Donnie for sharing his perspective. Be sure to check him out on Youtube and Instagram, including our crossover podcast episode.
Conclusion
his wraps up the August edition of Captivating Coasters, and I certainly hope Magnum has a few more years left so I get a chance to experience the world’s first hyper coaster!
Come back next month to see what the next edition of Captivating Coasters has in store! And as always if you want to stay up to date on my latest content follow me on Instagram and Facebook to get notified anytime new content drops, and to follow my adventures as they happen!
