GateKeeper

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GateKeeper

Cedar Point Location Sandusky, Ohio, USA Status Operating since May 11, 2013 Cost $25,000,000 Replaced Disaster Transport Space Spiral
Statistics
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Type	Steel - Winged - Out and Back
Product	Wing Coaster
Riders per train	32
Hourly capacity	1710
Propulsion	Chain lift hill
Height	170 feet
Drop	164 feet
Top speed	67 mph
Length	4164 feet
Inversions	6
Duration	2:40
HELP

GateKeeper is a steel winged located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, USA. It is the largest Wing Coaster built by Bolliger & Mabillard. Both Disaster Transport and Space Spiral (an Observation Tower) were removed from the park to make room for the ride. The attraction opened on May 11, 2013.

History

GateKeeper was officially announced on August 13, 2012, shortly after the demolition of Disaster Transport commenced.

The lead car from one of GateKeeper's trains was on show at Bolliger & Mabillard's IAAPA booth in 2013.

The ride opened on May 11, 2013.

Design

Elements
Chain lift hill Dive drop 140 foot tall immelmann 105 foot tall hill 113 foot tall corkscrew 97 foot tall zero-g roll 72 foot tall inclined dive loop 88 foot tall in-line twist Block brake Helix

GateKeeper was the fastest and tallest Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster when it opened. The coaster itself is described as a “front gate statement— a roller coaster that flies overhead, rolls and flies back— highly visible above guests entering the park."

There are two "keyhole" elements — narrow slots which the coaster passes through — which form part of the entrance to Cedar Point.

Trains

3 trains with 8 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 4 across in a single row, for a total of 32 riders per train.

Ride Experience

The train is hoisted up a 170 foot lift hill at a 40 degree angle. Once riders crest the top of the lift hill, the train will rotate 180 degrees to the right and the train will fall down the 164 foot drop, reaching speeds of 67 mph. The roller coaster then rolls through a 140 foot adjacent immelmann, and then coasts over a 105 foot foot camelback hill. Followed by a "giant flat spin" and through a zero-g roll—which includes two key-hole towers. At the bottom of the zero-g roll, the train coasts through an inclined diving loop, then through an inline roll adjacent to the keyhole towers. The train continues through a mid-course brake-run, a camelback drop, a 360° helix, a small bunny hop and then into the main brakes.

Incident

On July 12, 2021, the lift chain broke causing a train to become stuck on the lift hill. Riders had to be evacuated via the stairs adjacent to the lift hill. GateKeeper is closed to allow the chain to be replaced.

Photo Gallery

• 

  The official unveiling of GateKeeper on August 13, 2012

• 

  The safety sign

• 

  The queue line

• 

  The building

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  The keyholes

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  The dive drop and immelmann

References

Highest inversion on a roller coaster May 11, 2013 – May 3, 2019
Preceded by Volcano The Blast Coaster	Highest inversion on a roller coaster May 11, 2013 – May 3, 2019	Succeeded by Yukon Striker

External links

• 
  GateKeeper on the Roller Coaster DataBase.