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Rougarou (roller coaster)
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| Rougarou | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Mantis (1996–2014) | |
A train coming out of the loop following the first drop | |
| Cedar Point | |
| Location | Cedar Point |
| Park section | Millennium Midway |
| Coordinates | 41°28′57″N 82°41′14″W / 41.482583°N 82.687353°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 9, 2015 |
| Cost | US$12,000,000 |
| Replaced | Mantis |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Floorless Coaster |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Floorless 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 | 2:40 |
| Max vertical angle | 52° |
| Capacity | 1800 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 54–78 in (137–198 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train. |
| Rougarou at RCDB | |
Rougarou, formerly known as Mantis, is a floorless roller coaster located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard, the roller coaster originally opened in 1996 as a stand-up roller coaster called Mantis, which at the time was the tallest, fastest, and longest of its kind in the world. Cedar Point had planned to name the ride Banshee, but due to negative publicity following the announcement, the name was later changed to Mantis.
In September 2014, Cedar Point announced the pending closure of Mantis, scheduled for the following month. The park later revealed that Mantis would not be removed but would be transformed into a floorless roller coaster design for the 2015 season. It reopened as Rougarou on May 9, 2015.
History
[edit]
On September 8, 1995, Cedar Point announced plans to build a new roller coaster, which would open as the tallest, fastest, and longest stand-up roller coaster in the world.[1] The ride was to be named Banshee after the mythical wailing ghost in Irish folklore.[2] In the days following the announcement, there was some negative reaction from the public regarding the term Banshee, which in the dictionary is described as a female spirit that warns of an impending family death.[2][3] On November 14, 1995, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company filed a trademark for the name Mantis, which later became the ride's official name.[2][4] As a result of the name change, its logo was also changed to resemble a mantis.[5] The discarded logo would be repurposed by Dorney Park for use on Steel Force,[6] while the Banshee name was eventually used for an inverted roller coaster that opened at Kings Island in 2014.[7]
Construction on the new roller coaster began during the 1995-1996 off-season and was completed on January 9, 1996.[8] More than 20% of the track was built over water.[2][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.
Over the years, Mantis became known as a rough ride and its popularity began to decline.[10] 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.[11] However, Cedar Point revealed on September 18, 2014, that Mantis would not be removed, but instead would be converted into a floorless roller coaster complete with new trains, new colors, and a new theme.[12] It reopened as Rougarou, the name of a legendary creature in French folklore that draws comparisons to the mythical werewolf, on May 9, 2015.[13][14]
Ride experience
[edit]
Layout
[edit]The ride starts with a slight left-turn and then the train begins to climb up the 145-foot (44 m) chain lift hill. Once the train reaches the top and passes through the pre-drop, the track makes a 180-degree right turn, 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) and enter a 119-foot (36 m) vertical loop. This is immediately followed by a 103-foot (31 m) dive loop, a non-inverting overbanked turn directly above the station, and an 83-foot (25 m) left-leaning inclined loop. From here, the track makes an uphill right turn into the mid-course brake run. Off the midcourse brakes, the track drops into a Corkscrew, and finish off with a figure-eight turn. The train then enters the final brake run, and then makes a right turn, passing through the transfer track before returning to the station.[9][15][16]
Trains
[edit]As Mantis, the ride operated with two steel and fiberglass trains. Each train had eight cars with four seats in a single row supporting a total capacity of 32 riders.[15] Mantis originally operated with three trains but the park later reduced operation to two trains due to the trains "stacking" on the brake run.[17] Riders were secured by an over-the-shoulder harness.[15] Although Mantis was a stand-up roller coaster, there was a small bicycle seat riders could lean on.[18] Following the closure of Mantis, a portion of the trains were retained for parts while the rest were scrapped.[19]
For its transition to Rougarou, the ride received three new floorless trains which allows riders' legs to dangle freely above the track, as there is no floor between rows.[20] Each has the same 32-rider configuration as the previous trains on Mantis. Riders are also secured by an over-the-shoulder harness with an interlocking seatbelt.[15][20]
Records
[edit]Mantis set several records among stand-up roller coasters when it opened in 1996. It set the world record for height at 145 feet (44 m), speed at 60 miles per hour (97 km/h), and length at 3,900 feet (1,200 m).[1] It was also the first stand-up roller coaster to feature a dive loop and an inclined loop.[1][21][22]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Mantis at Coaster-Net". Coaster-Net. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Cedar Point finds new name for roller coaster". Sunday Times-Sentinel. November 19, 1995. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Cedar Point changes coaster's name". The Bryan Times. September 14, 1995. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Mantis Trademark". Legal Force. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
- ^ "Mantis photo gallery at Ultimate Roller Coaster". Ultimate Roller Coaster. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Steel Force (Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ "Largest Amusement & Waterpark in the Midwest | Kings Island". www.visitkingsisland.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Cedar Point Mantis Roller Coaster Top Off January 9, 1996". Cedar Point. September 10, 2012. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ a b "Mantis POV". Cedar Point. August 2, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ "Squashing the Mantis – The Observer".
- ^ 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.
- ^ Haidet, Ryan (October 20, 2014). "Cedar Point closes Mantis roller coaster forever". WKYC. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Creager, Ellen (April 26, 2015). "Extreme ride: New Cedar Point coaster is floorless". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Marden, Duane. "Mantis (Cedar Point)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ "Mantis ACN review". American Coasters. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ "Mantis at Top Coasters". Top Coasters. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ^ "What is a stand-up roller coaster?". The Coaster Critic. August 25, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ "Cedar Point removes Mantis coaster trains from attraction - Ohio.com".
- ^ a b Glaser, Susan (September 19, 2014). "The same Mantis track with new trains: Is Cedar Point's Rougarou roller coaster really new?". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ 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
[edit]Rougarou (roller coaster)
View on GrokipediaOverview
Location and park
Rougarou is a floorless roller coaster situated at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, United States.[1] Cedar Point serves as the flagship property of the former Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, which merged with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation on July 1, 2024, to create the largest regional amusement park operator in North America.[12] The ride debuted as Rougarou on May 9, 2015, following its conversion from the previous stand-up coaster Mantis.[1][13] As of November 2025, Rougarou remains in operation at Cedar Point with no permanent closures or significant modifications since its opening, having run during the 2025 season.[1][14] Within the park, Rougarou is located in the Millennium Midway area, near the Millennium Force roller coaster.[11]Technical specifications
Rougarou is a steel floorless roller coaster featuring four inversions, manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and designed by Werner Stengel.[11] Originally constructed as a stand-up roller coaster named Mantis, it was converted to its current floorless configuration in 2015.[9] The ride's key dimensions include a maximum height of 145 feet (44 meters), a first drop of 137 feet (42 meters) at a 52-degree angle, a total track length of 3,900 feet (1,189 meters), and a top speed of 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour).[9] These specifications contribute to an intense experience over the Cedar Point lagoon, with the coaster's engineering allowing for smooth operation through its inversions and high-speed elements.[1] The ride duration is 2 minutes and 40 seconds, with a theoretical hourly capacity of 1,800 riders. Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall. The ride is supported by three trains each accommodating 32 passengers in eight cars with four seats per car.[9]| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Steel floorless |
| Inversions | 4 |
| Height | 145 ft (44 m) |
| Drop | 137 ft (42 m) at 52° |
| Length | 3,900 ft (1,189 m) |
| Top speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Duration | 2:40 |
| Capacity | 1,800 riders/hour |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |