EDITOR'S NOTE: Cedar Point's new record-setting Steel Vengeance roller coaster opens to the public May 5-6. The Times sent Beaver County coaster enthusiast Erin Kilpatrick to Ohio's north coast for a preview ride so that she could give us the lowdown.
SANDUSKY, Ohio — When Cedar Point announced it would refurbish the timeworn wooden roller coaster Mean Streak in the fall of 2016, I allowed myself to be cautiously optimistic.
Mean Streak had always held a special place in my coaster-loving heart. It delivered a long, fitful ride that could leave various parts of your body in pain, but I loved its usually short wait time to board and its impressive ride duration of more than three minutes. Occasionally, the disengaged brake run allowed more speed to free-fall through its impressive timbers with the wind restyling your hair.
When Mean Streak opened in 1991, it was the tallest and fastest wooden coaster in the world. Over the years, ridership dwindled and Cedar Point decided to make a change.
Now, I have ridden other hybrid coasters, but none was more impressive than the newly christened Steel Vengeance.
Steel Vengeance is the world’s first steel-on-wood hyper-hybrid coaster — hybrid meaning steel rails on wooden supports, and hyper meaning over 200 feet tall. The anticipation to see what the engineers at Rocky Mountain Coasters had done to my beloved Mean Streak was increasing with each warm day, scarce as they were.
Steel Vengeance now owns 10 world records for a hybrid roller coaster, including tallest (205 feet), fastest (74 mph), steepest drop (90 degrees), longest drop (200 feet), overall length (5,740 feet), most inversions (four), and, one near and dear to coaster enthusiasts, most airtime at 27.2 seconds.
The weather did not totally cooperate the morning of Media Day, with a misting rain and 40-degree temperatures. Prepared to make the most of my unlimited ride time, I bundled up two layers deep and headed to the park. As usual, Cedar Point hosts an impressive event. The Gemini Midway was in a blaze of quiet glory with overhead lights illuminating the way to FrontierTown. The only open souvenir shop displayed freshly minted Steel Vengeance merchandise just waiting for guests to indulge.
As I approached the ride, I noted the changes in the courtyard. Some new lockers have been installed on the right of the ride entrance to store your loose articles not allowed to accompany you on the coaster (smart phones can be deadly weapons at 74 mph). New fencing and the queue entrance are also updated, but other than that, it pretty much looked like the old Mean Streak.
Then I looked up.
The first hill was noticeably higher and much steeper. Engineers added 40 feet and a 90-degree drop to it. A train full of cheering guests sped past, and I eagerly entered the queue.
Most of the existing Mean Streak structure was kept; only 20 percent of the ride is new wood.
As I walked under the structure, I thought to myself, this may be the only time I will ever get to “walk on” Steel Vengeance with no line.
Surprisingly, the new trains dispensed with over-the-shoulder restraints, even though this coaster has four inversions. A new leg restraint system, along with a seat belt, of course, keeps passengers safely in place. Excited, I sat down, buckled in and waited for my favorite word: “clear.”
The lift hill went quickly for a 200-foot ascent on a thunderous chain lift. Although it is not listed as one of the 10 records Steel Vengeance holds, it would win as the loudest lift chain in the world.
The view was excellent: a dusky morning view of Lake Erie on the left and a silent park to the right. Cresting the hill, I raised my hands and excitedly surrendered to the power of Steel Vengeance.
The train’s frictionless wheels glided effortlessly over the velvety track. In and out of itself, too many times to count, I swooped through unpredictable turns and inversions that kept coming one after another. The only breath I took was during a short brake run halfway through the exhilarating ride. Pulling into the station more than two minutes later, I knew Cedar Point had a winner.
Discussions with other riders indicated complete agreement on its smoothness and the unbelievable amount of airtime.
Just to be sure it was my new favorite ride at Cedar Point, I rode it four more times that morning. I made it a point to let Adam Pooch, the Steel Vengeance project manager, know that there was one fault in the masterpiece. “The queue is too small,” I declared.
This world record breaker is sure to draw a hefty crowd to the sleepy corner once occupied by a ramshackle coaster. Mean Streak has been reborn into a sleek thrill machine that leaves riders stunned that such a transformation could have been so expertly performed.
Move over, Maverick, there’s a new sheriff in FrontierTown.
Erin Kilpatrick, a longtime roller coaster enthusiast, began her riding career on the Wild Cat at Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio, at age 7. A former member of American Coaster Enthusiasts, she has visited parks across the country, adding new thrill rides to her resume each year. Steel Vengeance media day is her fourth attended event and is the beginning of her eagerly anticipated amusement park season.