Corkscrew (Cedar Point)

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Corkscrew
The train finishing the corkscrew section
Cedar Point
Location Sandusky, Ohio, USA
Coordinates 41°29′01″N 82°41′07″W / 41.483664°N 82.685340°W / 41.483664; -82.685340
Park section Gemini Midway
Status Operating since May 15, 1976
Cost $1,750,000 USD
Rider height 48 inch minimum
Statistics
Manufacturer Arrow Dynamics
Product Custom Looping Coaster
Designer / calculations Ron Toomer
Type Steel
Riders per train 24
Hourly capacity 1800
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 85 feet
Drop 65 feet
Top speed 48 mph
Length 2050 feet
Inversions 3
Duration 2:00
HELP

Corkscrew is a steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, USA.[1] When built in 1976, it was the first roller coaster in the world with three inversions. The ride was built by Arrow Dynamics and opened six days after Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It cost $1,750,000 to build.

Location

Corkscrew is located on the midway directly across from Top Thrill 2, between Power Tower and Magnum XL-200.

Design

Elements

The ride is made out of blue tubular steel track with a 4 foot separation between tubes. Corkscrew was built upon 5 acres (20,000 m²) of land.

Color scheme

Blue track and white supports.

Trains

3 trains with 6 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 24 riders per train. The three trains are painted red with white stripes, blue with white stripes, and white with blue stripes. They are designed like this because they debuted in 1976, the U.S. Bicentennial, a series of observances and celebrations during the 1970s that paid tribute to historical events that lead up to the U.S. becoming an independent republic.

Almost daily, a train is transferred off the track, once ridership reaches a point that permits two-train operation with little or no waiting in line. A different train is cycled off each day this happens.

Ride experience

When the pneumatic station brakes are released, the train rolls out of the station due to a slight decline in the station and down a small drop. The train the goes round a declining 180 degree curve until reaching the lift hill. A lift chain pulls the train up the lift hill. Then, riders drop 65 feet, reaching the maximum speed of 48 mph. After this, riders traverse an airtime hill and then a vertical loop. It then coasts up a slight incline and curves around a 180 degree slight decline into the double corkscrew element, across the midway path. After this, Corkscrew goes through trim and block brakes and back to the station.

Historic Significance

Corkscrew was the first roller coaster with three inversions when it opened on May 15, 1976, overtaking Corkscrew at Knott's Berry Farm (now located at Silverwood Theme Park). It lost this record in March 1980 when The Demon at Six Flags Great America was refurbished to feature four inversions. It was also the second modern roller coaster with a vertical loop, opening six days after Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Also, Corkscrew was the first roller coaster to feature a corkscrew located above the midway, and the first inverting coaster ever at Cedar Point.

Trivia

Corkscrew has given over 30 million rides since opening in May 1976.[2]

Images

References

External links

Most inversions on a roller coaster (3)
May 1976 - 1980
Preceded by
Corkscrew
Most inversions on a roller coaster (3)
May 1976 - 1980
Succeeded by
Carolina Cyclone
Demon
Demon
Articles on Cedar Point