Magnum XL-200

By the mid-1980s, Cedar Point had grown into a successful collection of roller coasters and other smaller rides on the shores of Lake Erie. Dick Kinzel took over as president and CEO of Cedar Fair, the company that operates the park, in 1986. In 1988, Kinzel saw a report on CNN about the opening of a new coaster in Japan called Bandit at Yomiuriland that emphasized height and speed but had no inversions.[6] Kinzel wanted to introduce a similar coaster that emphasized steep drops and negative g-forces over inversions and spins, which were common at the time. It had been 10 years since the last major addition, Gemini, was introduced. Cedar Point asked for proposals from TOGO, Dinn Corporation, Intamin and Arrow Dynamics to build a roller coaster without inversions or over-the-shoulder restraints. They chose Arrow, due to the weakness of the dollar at the time, which eliminated overseas production. Arrow was also working on the new Iron Dragon at the time. Arrow and Ron Toomer proposed a 187 feet (57 m)-tall coaster, to best the then-largest roller coaster drop on Shockwave at Six Flags Great America. That got Cedar Point's management interested in breaking the 200-foot (61 m) barrier, partly because of the publicity to be gained from building the first roller coaster to do so.[7] The name Magnum XL-200 was chosen because Magnum, P.I. was popular at the time.[8] "XL" and "200" were added for "extra-long" and standing at least 200 feet (61 m) tall, respectively.[7] The original proposal was to cost $7.5 million, but was raised to $8 million after the height was extended to 200 feet (61 m).[8][9] Funds from Cedar Fair going public on the New York Stock Exchange in April 1987 were used to fund the ride.[7]

Entrance sign introduced on Magnum's 20th anniversary in 2009

Magnum XL-200 was announced on August 16, 1988, and construction began shortly thereafter.[10] Following its completion in 1989, Kinzel was one of the first people to ride the coaster, boarding the train after one test cycle.[11][7] It officially opened to the public on May 6, 1989 as the world's tallest, fastest and steepest complete-circuit roller coaster. It was measured for the Guinness Book of World Records on June 2.[12][13] Cedar Point set a record attendance in 1989, due in part to the introduction of the Magnum.[4]

Magnum is often credited as shifting the focus of Cedar Point, as noted by then-park Vice President, John Hildebrandt: "We all were smart enough to know we had something. Big steel made a big difference and with Magnum we started branding ourselves as a big time roller coaster park".[7] Magnum was awarded the ACE Roller Coaster Landmark award on June 21, 2004.[14] To date, Magnum has been repainted once; the original track color was scarlet red, and later repainted Molly orange in late 2005 which was completed in 2006.[15] Cedar Point celebrated Magnum's 20th anniversary on opening day in 2009 with a ceremony and an appearance by Ron Toomer, its designer. A new entrance sign was also introduced.[3][16]

Magnum XL-200 has been the target of false rumors since 1998 claiming the structure was sinking due to unstable ground. The rumors supposedly started as an April Fools' Day joke in an Ohio newspaper, but quickly spread via the Internet. Cedar Point quickly denounced such rumors.[4][17]

After the train departs the station, it travels over the resort gate walkway, down a slight decline into a 90-degree turn to the right and engages the chain, which operates at a speed of 6 mph (9.7 km/h), to begin the 205-foot (62 m) climb to the top of the lift hill. The train descends 194.7 feet (59.3 m) at a 60-degree angle, reaching a top speed of 72 miles per hour (116 km/h). The train then ascends a 157-foot (48 m) camelback hill, curving to the left into the first tunnel. Coming out of the tunnel, the train ascends a third, 80-foot (24 m)-tall hill. After the third hill, it enters a set of trim brakes and a pretzel-shaped turnaround where it curves to the left toward the beach and then left again into another tunnel. The train then traverses over seven airtime hills and a third tunnel into a mid-course brake run. The train turns left and goes back over the walkway to Cedar Point Shores. It then turns right and enters the brake run, followed by a 90 degree right turn back into the station.[2][18][19] One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes.[1]

Riders coming back to the station

Magnum XL-200 has three white-and-black trains. Each train has red, black or blue striping at the front.[20] Each train has six cars; riders are arranged two-across in three rows for a total of 36 riders per train.[12] Riders are secured by an individual ratcheting lap bar and a seat belt.[21]

When Magnum XL-200 opened, it used up-stop pads similar to those still in use on Gemini, as well as Cedar Creek Mine Ride. Shortly after its debut, however, these up-stop plates were replaced with more traditional up-stop wheels that stops excess wear and tear[22]

Magnum XL-200's steel track is 5,106 feet (1,556 m) in length, and its main hill is approximately 205 feet (62 m) high.[1] Magnum XL-200 originally had a scarlet red track with silver supports. The track was repainted Molly orange in 2005, but the supports remained silver.[15] The track consists of a tubular steel spine connected by struts to tubular steel running rails.[21] When it opened, a steel out and back roller coaster without any inversions was unheard of. Magnum's track is not smooth, with many abrupt transitions. This is partly because its pieces were welded together and unassisted by computer design.[23][24] The track sections range from 2 to 200 feet (0.61 to 60.96 m) and are supported by 157 structural columns.[9]