Dozens of people walked down a series of steep stairs over 200 feet tall, overlooking Cedar Point. Moments ago they were stuck on the highest point of a rollercoaster ride, as the infamous Magnum XL-200 malfunctioned and stopped dead right before the anticipated drop.
The Magnum XL-200 construction was completed in 1989 in Sandusky, Ohio, and claimed to be the fastest, steepest, and highest (205-foot drop) roller-coaster in the world, breaking the Guinness World Record. According to Cedar Point, “This isn’t just a roller coaster ride, it’s a roller coaster spectacle.” In addition to the excitement and thrill, riders are able to overlook the fascinating view of the Lake Erie shoreline.
On August 1st, 2023, the ride encountered a technical issue and came to a terrifying halt mid-ride. According to a rider during the incident, it was 25 minutes before staff arrived to help them down. Dozens of riders were forced to carefully get off their seats and climb down safely by foot. Fortunately, no one was injured.
The director for communications at Cedar Point stated the reason for the incident as a “standard ride stoppage” However due to the circumstances, the ride was unable to start immediately and thus the riders had to walk back to the ground from 205 feet in the air.
Though no rider was seriously injured, the record-breaking, much-anticipated ride, had certainly come to a thrilling stop.
In recent years, there were reportedly other rollercoaster malfunctions at Cedar Point. In 2021, one of the other roller coasters had structural debris fall off mid-ride. Like the Magnum XL-200 accident, guests had to walk down from the ride to safety. These minor issues have urged the theme parks to be extra cautious with maintenance and structural checks before opening hours, ensuring the guests have an exciting and safe experience.
The Magnum XL-200 construction was completed in 1989 in Sandusky, Ohio, and claimed to be the fastest, steepest, and highest (205-foot drop) roller-coaster in the world, breaking the Guinness World Record. According to Cedar Point, “This isn’t just a roller coaster ride, it’s a roller coaster spectacle.” In addition to the excitement and thrill, riders are able to overlook the fascinating view of the Lake Erie shoreline.
On August 1st, 2023, the ride encountered a technical issue and came to a terrifying halt mid-ride. According to a rider during the incident, it was 25 minutes before staff arrived to help them down. Dozens of riders were forced to carefully get off their seats and climb down safely by foot. Fortunately, no one was injured.
The director for communications at Cedar Point stated the reason for the incident as a “standard ride stoppage” However due to the circumstances, the ride was unable to start immediately and thus the riders had to walk back to the ground from 205 feet in the air.
Though no rider was seriously injured, the record-breaking, much-anticipated ride, had certainly come to a thrilling stop.
In recent years, there were reportedly other rollercoaster malfunctions at Cedar Point. In 2021, one of the other roller coasters had structural debris fall off mid-ride. Like the Magnum XL-200 accident, guests had to walk down from the ride to safety. These minor issues have urged the theme parks to be extra cautious with maintenance and structural checks before opening hours, ensuring the guests have an exciting and safe experience.
