At Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, towering rollercoasters dominate a narrow strip of land jutting into Lake Erie. Known for its record-breaking rides, the park delivers high-speed thrills led by headline attractions such as Valravn and Top Thrill Dragster.
Facing the drop on Valravn at Cedar Point
It’ll all be OK if I can just look towards the horizon. Stare out at peaceful, calming Lake Erie, and I can happily block out what’s about to come.
The car teeters on the edge, held only by brakes. When those brakes are released, a 65 metre plummet awaits. At a 90 degree angle.
And it’s as Valravn enters its most horrifying point that the flaw in my plan becomes apparent. When the car is hurtling to earth, facing straight down, it is practically impossible to look out at the horizon.
Cedar Point as the rollercoaster capital of the world
Valravn is part of an impressive series of utterly terrifying rides at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.
It bills itself as the rollercoaster capital of the world, and with good reason.
There are 17 coasters crammed onto a spit jutting out into the lake, and most of them are absolute monsters.
The no-frills approach at Cedar Point
As theme parks go, it doesn’t need to dress anything up with frippery.
There’s not even a theme, just a collection of some of the planet’s highest, fastest and most fearsome rides that are allowed to do the talking.
Valravn and the dive coaster experience
Valravn is a recent and most gruesome take on the dive coaster genre, which started with Oblivion at Alton Towers.
It includes any coaster with a big free fall drop.
Valravn smashes all manner of dive coaster records, including the longest drop, fastest speed, most inversions and highest inversion.
While it sounds impressive on paper, it is even more so once strapped in.
The climb before that first drop seems to go on forever, while the upside down twists and turns afterwards set the stomach churning to go with the racing heart.
Thrill or ordeal on Cedar Point’s biggest rides
It’s either a top grade thrill or a terrible ordeal, depending on your perspective.
But it’s harder to whimper when there’s a nine-year-old girl sat next to you screaming: “This is awesome”.
Classic coasters at Cedar Point
Some of the older coasters at the park seem relatively tame and cosy by comparison.
The Corkscrew, for example, would be a big deal elsewhere, but here its low-lying loops seem like small-fry, especially when surrounded by five rides that top the 60 metre mark.
Best balanced rides at Cedar Point
Others hit that sweet spot of fun and fury.
The Gemini looks like an endearingly old-fashioned wooden coaster, but it climbs surprisingly high, then has two mini trains racing against each other round the track.
The Magnum XL-200 climbs 61 metres, drops, then embarks on a relentlessly fun series of hops, tunnels and unexpected speed bursts.
Top Thrill Dragster and extreme coaster thrills
But it’s the coasters that fall firmly on the wrong side of the terror versus enjoyment line that bring the crowds to Cedar Point.
And the Top Thrill Dragster falls very much into that category.
It employs zero subtlety, firing riders up one side of a phallic, yellow 120 metre tower, then sending them hurtling back down at a 90 degree angle on the other side.
And it’s at this point that the intrepid adventurer gives way to the inner coward who’d prefer to take a soaking on the gentle rapids ride.
Nearby attractions near Cedar Point
- Cedar Point Beach: A sandy stretch along Lake Erie right next to the park, ideal for a quieter break from the rides.
- Downtown Sandusky: A small waterfront district with restaurants, bars and views over the harbour.
- Merry-Go-Round Museum: A quirky museum dedicated to carousel history and restoration.
- Kelleys Island: A short ferry ride away, known for its glacial grooves and relaxed island atmosphere.
- Put-in-Bay: A lively island destination with historic sites, waterfront bars and lake views.
Cedar Point visitor information
| Question? | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where is Cedar Point? | Cedar Point is in Sandusky, Ohio, on a peninsula extending into Lake Erie. |
| How many rollercoasters does Cedar Point have? | The park has 17 rollercoasters, making it one of the most coaster-dense parks in the world. |
| What is Valravn? | Valravn is a dive coaster featuring a near-vertical drop and multiple inversions. |
| What is the tallest ride at Cedar Point? | Top Thrill Dragster reaches around 120 metres and is one of the park’s most extreme rides. |
| How do you get to Cedar Point? | The park is about a 2 hour drive from Detroit, the nearest major airport. |
| How much do Cedar Point tickets cost? | Tickets cost from $52, depending on the day and season. |
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More Ohio travel
Other Ohio travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Review of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
- What to expect at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Meet the wildlife at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
- Plan your visit to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum.
- What to see at Toledo Zoo and the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio.
