As we head through April 2024, one of the main headlines for roller coaster fans in the US will be the debut of Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point on the opening day of the season, Saturday May 4. Initial testing of Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point was completed back at the end of December with further testing currently taking place on site.
In a new video posted to YouTube by G-Force Productions we get to see further footage of Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point. Some roller coaster fans appear to be speculating online that the first launch is going to be disappointing but I think it is important to note that in order for the train to not travel too high up the top hat it has to be that way. It will be the second launch which is the 101mph backward launch and then the third and fastest 120mph launch up and over the crest of the top hat that will be the most impressive.
In the latest Top Thrill 2 Pit Stop video which was released on April 16 to YouTube by Cedar Point, we got to see all the latest developments which had taken place in recent weeks on Top Thrill 2.
As you can see from the video, the entry portal which welcomes guests to Top Thrill 2 has been completed and includes TT2 at the top with the grey and red circular theming around it. There are two racing drivers displayed one on either side which will certainly give guests a dramatic entrance.
We can see that a large black TT2 sign along with the CP Racing sign has been placed next to the launch track and the Top Thrill 2 Racing signs have been added to both sides of the midway at the entrances of the Top Thrill 2 plaza.
Heading to the actual ride itself, we see that the queue rails are now in place and TVs have been added to the queue line. The ride operators are being trained on all aspects needed to safely dispatch the Top Thrill 2 trains in preparation for its opening.
The CP Racing store where guests will be able to purchase exclusive Top Thrill 2 merchandise has been painted on the outside and work continues on the inside.
With only a couple of weeks remaining until Cedar Point officially opens for the 2024 season, we will keep you updated on further developments for the highly anticipated Top Thrill 2.
Earlier in April, Cedar Point has just released details of new restrictions for guests riding on Top Thrill 2 when it officially opens to the public on May 4th! The main points for riders to consider are “Loose articles are not permitted past entrance. They may either be left with a non-rider or placed in lockers for storage.” For those of you thinking you can secure phones in a zipped pocket, think again. This is not allowed. Guests will pass through a metal detector before being allowed to ride.
Glasses are not allowed unless secured with an athletic strap and loose fitting shoes without a back are also not allowed past the entrance including flip-flops or sliders. Those guests with any type of prosthesis must ensure they are properly secured if not they must be removed prior to riding.
The lockers are located outside the entrance to Top Thrill 2 are all loose items must be stored prior to going through the ride entrance.
In the recent Pit Stop video posted to YouTube by Cedar Point work continues to be done on the foundations for the entry portal and pylons and we get to see new concept art for the entrance plaza. Concrete continues to be poured for the queue line and it is confirmed that the roof structures will house fans and misters to keep guests cool as they wait in line to ride Top Thrill 2. The black train is also now on site and being loaded onto the track.
The most exciting news in the new Pit Stop video embedded above is that Director of Communications, Tony Clarke gets his first front seat test drive of the new Top Thrill 2 and it certainly looks like a smooth and enjoyable ride packed with airtime, positive and negative Gs and weightlessness.
At the end of March Cedar Point released details which can be viewed on the official website, here. Top Thrill fans had been eagerly awaiting further details regarding the promised preview events taking place prior to the official opening to the public on the opening day of the season, Saturday May 4.
The key date for your diary is Wednesday April 3 when registration opens for these highly anticipated events. We advise you access the Top Thrill 2 preview page as early as possible to avoid disappointment as these events are sure to be highly lucrative and there is limited availability.
For those guests who do not have a Prestige, Gold or summer pass and didn’t manage to get hold of a keychain, the only paid event is the Prayers From Maria Charity Ride which is taking place on Sunday, April 28 from noon – 3:00pm. Tickets can be purchased for $120 each beginning April 3, with guests getting the chance to experience Top Thrill 2 twice along with Power Tower, Corkscrew, Super Himalaya and Magnum XL-200. A commemorative Top Thrill 2 gift will also be provided as well as complimentary food and drink.
Recently, Cedar Point gave us our first look at the new signage coming to the main entrance and Plaza for Top Thrill 2 as can be seen embedded below. There has already been mixed views online with some loving the crispness of the new signage and others questioning why the full name is not displayed.
? “Signs” of spring are in ? bloom? for today’s #TopThrill2sday.
Get a first look at some of the new signs that are coming to the Top Thrill 2 main entrance and plaza!
? https://t.co/gAOfWsOHBe pic.twitter.com/CYQRAwQ9Ez
— Cedar Point (@cedarpoint) March 26, 2024
We will look forward to seeing this new signage in place for Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point. Let us know your thoughts by voting in our poll or leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
For those fans getting excited for the official opening of Top Thrill 2 there was a recent video posted to YouTube by American Coaster Enthusiasts showing that testing has resumed on Top Thrill 2. Engineers from Zamperla have been programming the Top Thrill 2’s fully automated ride sequence, fine tuning the linear synchronous motor launch system and testing rider safety systems. In the video we can see the metallic silver train being tested.
Earlier in March, Cedar Point released a new Top Thrill 2 Pit Stop video to YouTube which is embedded below which updated us on the current progress on this highly anticipated roller coaster.
As you can see in the video embedded above, the canopy over the main entrance where ride hosts will greet guests and explain about ride safety has now been added.
The real life race way fencing is being added and foundations are being poured for the queue line. The gates are now in place at the station which will open to let guests onto Top Thrill 2 and the red and white flags have been added on top of the loading platform. Decorative panels are being added to the station.
The control panels have been installed for Top Thrill 2 and are now waiting to be connected. We will continue to update you on progress on Top Thrill 2 as we head closer to the official opening date on Saturday May 4.
At the beginning of March, the video embedded below was posted using footage taken during the Winter Chill Out event at Cedar Point which gave guests the first look at Top Thrill 2.
The Winter Chill Out event event gives guests an exclusive, sneek-peek inside Cedar Point in the middle of winter whilst also helping the event benefit A Kid Again which helps thousands of kids living with life-threatening illnesses as a portion of the proceeds goes to this cause.
The Passholder Preview Event was confirmed back at the beginning of the year as being April 30 – May 2. A recent live TikTok post from Cedar Point, Director of Communications Tony Clark showed us all the latest developments on the construction site and confirmed some further details regarding the highly anticipated Top Thrill 2 which will officially open on Saturday May 4.
The first piece of information confirmed in the video is that there will be no bins to put your items in when boarding Top Thrill 2 as you will load and unload in different places. Lockers will be available but we still await confirmation on whether Top Thrill 2 will have a Loose article policy as is the case with Steel Vengeance and therefore will have in-queue lockers for items to be put into.
We also found out that the Fast Lane queue will go right up to the station rather than merging with the regular line as is the case with a number of other roller coasters.
In the video, Tony Clark kept using the phrase “more information is coming in a couple of weeks” so it appears Cedar Point is slowly releasing information and we look forward to bringing you further details regarding the Passholder Preview days, when you can get your hands on the new key chains and more.
Earlier in February, Cedar Point released information on their official website regarding Fast Lane options for Top Thrill 2. For those fans with Season Passes, you can get your hands on a Season Pass Fast Lane Plus from $950 which allows you unlimited access to Top Thrill 2.
Many guests who do not have a season pass will be visiting Cedar Point in 2024 and will have the option of purchasing a single day Fast Lane Plus from $115 which will allow them to bypass the regular line on all Fast Lane attractions including Magnum XL-200, Raptor, Rougarou as well as the popular thrill rides Steel Vengeance, Maverick, Millennium Force and Valravn. This Fast Lane Plus option will also allow guests who purchase it to enjoy one-time access to Top Thrill 2.
It is certainly clear that the demand for Top Thrill 2 will be immense and whilst we understand the reasoning behind it, for many fans who are used to unlimited access when purchasing the Fast Lane Plus option this one-time access to Top Thrill 2 will likely come as a shock and an annoyance.
Will you still purchase the single day Fast Lane Plus ticket which gives one-time access for Top Thrill 2? Let us know your thoughts by voting in our poll and by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
In the recent Top Thrill 2 Pit Stop episode which was posted to YouTube on February 6 and is embedded below, we get to see all the latest developments on this hugely anticipated roller coaster which is set to debut at Cedar Point in May.
Work is now focussing on area development as well as further modifications to the station. The biggest change to the station was the addition of the safety envelope for the spike. We can now see that another section of canopy structure has been added to the station itself in order to complete the new roof.
The entry and exit ramps are being installed which will bring guests onto the loading platform and then lead them to the photo booth. The operations booth is also being constructed.
In the coming weeks we are set to see further vehicle testing as well as area development including the installing of the queue lines and fencing. We will continue to bring you updates on Top Thrill 2 here at Theme Park Tourist.
At the beginning of February Cedar Point released a new video showing an animation of all three trains which will be running on Top Thrill 2 when it opens this year.
We had already seen the metallic-blue train which was revealed at the IAAPA convention last year. We now also get to see the metallic-silver train and the metallic-black train.
Which do you like best? Let us know by voting in our poll or by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
There was very exciting news in mid-December when on December 11, videos began to appear of slow test runs with Cedar Point confirming on December 13 that it had completed its first full circuit test run. In the video posted to YouTube on December 20 by Cedar Flags we get to see on ride and off ride footage of this testing.
In further updates there have now been three pre-season events confirmed by Cedar Point which include:
Winter Chill Out, February 24
This event will give guests an exclusive, sneek-peek inside Cedar Point in the middle of winter whilst also helping the event benefit A Kid Again
.
We now know that the first day of Cedar Point’s 2024 season will be Saturday May 4, this is also when Top Thrill 2 is expected to be debut.
In further news, the positive and negative Gs are set to be intense on Top Thrill 2. Trim brakes have been confirmed as being at the top of the 420ft spike and we know the lightning trains will not reach the actual top which was to be expected.
Very exciting news came out of Cedar Point on December 11 when we saw the video posted by Beachcliff Studios to YouTube below that testing had begun on Top Thrill 2.
As you can see, currently the new Zamperla Lightning Trains are shooting backwards about half way up the spike. When it is fully tested we are expecting it to go higher than this. The train can then be seen heading up the top hat but not reaching the top before rolling back.
We assume Zamperla and Cedar Point are testing out the LSMs but the roller coaster is not currently being tested at the full speed at this time. When the ride opens the first launch will be a 74mph forwards launch taking riders up the top hat approximately 200ft. The train will then roll back and hit the second launch, this time a backwards 101mph launch taking riders up the 420ft rear spike. The final 120mph forwards launch will take riders over the crest of the top hat and down again and back into the station.
Testing a ride well before the proposed opening date is always positive to see as it means there is plenty of time for Cedar Point and Zamperla to smooth out any potential issues there may be, meaning come opening day in spring 2024 we should see Top Thrill 2 running reliably without too much down time. We will continue to update you as testing continues on Top Thrill 2 over the coming weeks.
Earlier in December it was confirmed that the new 420ft rear spike for Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point was officially topped off! In the recent construction video posted to YouTube by Lake Erie Lifestyles you get to see the rear spike in all its glory. As hoped, the weather stayed favorable so construction crews managed to top off the huge 420ft rear spike at the weekend.
The next big question is when will we see the first launch of Top Thrill 2? Work has been ongoing on the programming of the LSMs and controls and if the weather cooperates we could see the first launch before Christmas.
With the addition of the 420ft rear spike it has definitely changed the skyline of Cedar Point and dominates the view of Sandusky Bay. We will keep you up to date on the latest regarding when the new lightning trains will be loaded onto the track and when the first launch take place.
As can be seen in the previous construction update posted to YouTube by Lake Erie Lifestyles on December 1, the exciting development at Cedar Point is that the Lightning Trains are now on site and are being loaded onto Top Thrill 2.
If the weather remains settled at the weekend, we could see the topping off of the 420ft rear spike and we will keep you up to date on these over the coming days and weeks leading up to the opening of Top Thrill 2 at the start of the 2024 season.
The most exciting update from the November 18 update was that we saw that the rear spike had now exceeded 400ft with three new track sections having been added including the second red racing stripe segment. With three more track sections awaiting installation and the weather looking clear for the coming few days we could see the 420ft rear spike for Top Thrill 2 complete within the next week.
We also see that the painting of the station roof is now complete in bright white which contrasts with the striking blue paint of the rest of the station. The top section of the old dragster seating area has now been removed. We are getting very excited to bring you news of the topping off of the 420ft rear spike which is expected very soon.
In the update on November 17, we saw that painting on the top hat was almost complete and the newly painted grey supports really contrasted with the white track and red racing stripes. The blue painting of the station is now complete and the roof is being painted white. The return curve to the station is complete with work on the switch track still continuing.
The rear spike is continuing to extend higher and is getting closer to the finish line. Everything is currently being connected with diagonal supports in preparation for further ascent. We expect the topping off of the rear spike to happen in the coming weeks and will keep you posted on this.
Back on November 9, the main news was that painting has resumed on the top hat structure with majority of the yellow now being replaced with grey. We also see that the station building is now mostly blue covering up the previous yellow paint of Top Thrill. We love the new color scheme for Top Thrill 2 and it is very exciting seeing the vibrant colors coming to life.
New sections of track for the rear spike have arrived on the midway at Cedar Point and it is expected that majority of the structural work on the rear spike will be completed before the harsh winter months so expect more exciting updates in the coming weeks as the 420ft rear spike continues to climb higher.
Back on November 4, regarding the track infield, the maintenance track leading to the storage area is complete and progress has continued to be made on the switch track. But, the exciting news was that the second crane which we reported being assembled on site at Cedar Point had allowed the use of a man basket so installation of the 420ft rear spike had resumed.
Last week, also brought the huge news of the Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger, read all about what these means in our recent news article, Six Flags and Cedar Fair Are Joining Forces. Here’s What Will Happen Next.
In the previous update, posted October 31, significant progress is being made at the track infield with the maintenance and switch tracks. There is also a lot of action at the Breakers Express storage lot as the remaining spike parts are being transported from the Cedar Point Storage lot to the park ready to resume the spike installation.
There is now the exciting news of a second crane being assembled on site, currently located on the midway. It is expected that this crane could be used to complete the remaining top hat modifications. At this point it appears that painting on the top hat remains on hold.
In the previous construction update we got to see the 500ft crane which will be responsible for completing the track installation of the 420ft rear spike now in place.
This week work had been taking place on extending this colossal crane which now looms over Sandusky and can be seen from downtown Sandusky across the bay. Although there still hasn’t been any new shipments of track from Zamperla arrive as of yet to the Breakers Express Lot, we expect there to be a delivery arrive in the next week and will update you accordingly.
In the previous update posted yesterday to YouTube by Lake Erie Lifestyles, the remaining sections of the cat walk are being installed on the return side of the ride. We can also see the beginning of the wall construction for the brand new covered queue line which will be an excellent addition to Top Thrill 2.
In exciting news, the huge crane currently onsite is undergoing what looks to be a huge extension process which we assume will be for the continuation of the 420ft spike installation. We still await news of the arrival of track sections for the rear spike from Zamperla to the Breakers Express Storage Lot. The crane could also be extended in preparation for the continuation of painting on the top hat. We will bring you further information regarding this massive crane as soon as these details are revealed.
In the previous update from Top Thrill 2 posted on October 19, we can see that work continues on the dark gray painting of the diagonal supports and spine of the top hat. The roofing is complete for the LSM electrical vault and groundwork has now begun on the covered queue area.
We are hoping to bring news soon that further track parts have arrived from Zamperla so the installation of the rear spike can continue.
In the previous update posted to YouTube on October 12 by Lake Erie Lifestyles, we see that the rear spike has continued to rise over the last week and it has now reached the maximum height possible until there are further deliveries of parts from Zamperla.
The white and red chequered racing theme on the upper third of the top hat has been completed and work is underway on the back spine of the top hat. There has also been the construction of new concrete pads in the track in-field. More work is expected to be done over the weekend so we will bring you another update next week.
In the previous update we saw a number of developments on Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point. Painting was continuing on the red and white chequered racing track theme on the upper section of the top hat. This pattern really made the top hat stand out and look vibrant against the skyline.
Regarding the track infield, back filling had been completed on the concrete pads for the track supports and in the train storage area. This means that it is ready for the next stage of construction.
In an exciting development, another level has now been added to the rear spike and it has now reached 145ft. There are further diagonal supports located on the midway which are expected to be installed very soon and reports that we could see the 420ft rear spike being completed by the end of October! We will continue to keep you posted.
In the video update posted on September 20, by Lake Erie Lifestyle, the rear main supports for the spike are now in place with the last section which was waiting in the midway area, expected to have been installed by the end of yesterday.
Majority of the diagonal braces are now in position and we expect further to be added before Cedar Point opens for the weekend as well as extra track sections up the spike.
In the exciting update posted on September 13, to YouTube by Lake Erie Lifestyles, we get to see the latest developments on Top Thrill 2. More track sections had been installed for the switch track, the track had been laid in the station and work continued on the train covered storage building. We can also saw that the roof of the station building had been cut out to allow for the curvature of the spike track.
The final supports leading to the spike had been put into place and curved track sections installed. The big news was the arrival of a huge crane to the Top Thrill 2 site in preparation for the 420ft rear spike to go vertical. We expected to see track sections being moved from the Breakers Express Storage lot in the near future to begin this exciting task.
In the update on September 5, we got to see what we have all being waiting to see, the first supports have now been installed for the 420ft rear spike! We expect to see further progress having been made on the rear spike in the next update.
The concrete forms on the launch side of the track infield are now transforming into an actual structure that can be seen on the official Top Thrill 2 animation created by Cedar Point. This structure is expected to house the electrical vault for the LSMs.
In the official announcement on August 1, we found out the new name for the iconic Top Thrill Dragster and long awaited details regarding the layout for this highly anticipated reimagining coming to Cedar Point in 2024. Top Thrill 2 was confirmed as being the world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch coaster with a 420ft rear spike.
In the latest construction update from Lake Erie Lifestyles posted to YouTube on September 2, we get to see that the launch track has now been fully installed and the concrete footings for the switch track have been revealed. Further sections for the switch track have been delivered to the Breakers Express Storage Lot as well as new sections of track for the 420ft rear spike.
The most exciting development on Top Thrill 2 is that a number of the supports for the 420ft new rear spike are now on site and we expect these will begin to be installed in the very near future as Cedar Point begins its weekday closures (Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays). We will continue to update you with further news on the construction of Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point.
There is good news on the construction site of Top Thrill 2 as regular work resumes after flooding following the tornadoes and inclement weather which hit Sandusky last week. In the latest video update posted to YouTube on August 29, by Lake Erie Lifestyles we get to see the current developments on site at Cedar Point.
Installation of LSM motors continues and the remainder of the launch track is being put in place. More track and electrical components have been delivered to the Breakers Express Storage Lot with the launch side track being transported to the construction site at Cedar Point.
Work continues on preparation for the installation of the transfer track and on the station area where another concrete form has been added. We are still eagerly awaiting news that the rear spike is going vertical and we will continue to update you on the construction progress of Top Thrill 2 as it develops.
Unfortunately, tornadoes and flash floods hindered progress on Top Thrill 2 last week with the track infield area housing a lot of water but there was good news at the Breakers Express storage lot where there had been a new shipment delivered.
In the video posted to YouTube on August 26 by Lake Erie Lifestyles, we saw that there had been a new delivery of support structures for the rear spike. There also appeared to be new track sections which are believed to be for the lower part of the rear spike. Further track components had also arrived which could also be for the spike or for the station area.
In the construction video posted to YouTube on August 23 by Lake Erie Lifestyles, we can see painting on the top hat remains to be halted. The entire cat walk along the launch track has been assembled and the iron workers are continuing to install the LSMs onto the tracks. Electricians will then be responsible for completing the wiring of the LSMs. Electrical control technicians will work on the control systems including the sensors and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) which are needed in order to make the ride run smoothly.
A number of new concrete forms have appeared on the switch track with further concrete being poured and concrete pads have been revealed in the station.
Regarding the rear spike, we still await vertical construction which is expected to begin in September when Cedar Point reduces their opening hours and closes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays each week.
In the latest previous update, painting still remains at a halt on Top Thrill 2 and most of the developments have been happening on the station and track infield where numerous concrete forms have been erected inside the station. At the back of the station concrete is being poured into further forms which shows progress is being made on what will be the two-storey station building.
Concrete forms have been constructed where the switch track will be positioned and in the middle of the track area a large concrete pad has been created which could form part of the queue system. Electricians continue to install the wiring for the LSM staters and we will bring you further updates on the construction of Top Thrill 2 as they happen at Cedar Point.
Cedar Point had been hit by inclement weather and subsequently suffered some flooding in the track infield area. Having said that according to the latest Top Thrill 2 construction update posted to YouTube by Lake Erie Lifestyles on August 13, we can see that work continues to progress on the launch track where workers are currently in the process of installing LSM Staters onto the track.
There will also be a range of tasks happening behind the scenes including programming the new control system, laying immense lengths of necessary cables and other technical tasks imperative to the construction of the new Top Thrill 2 triple launch coaster.
In the video update posted on August 4, to YouTube by Lake Erie Lifestyles, we get to hear further details regarding Top Thrill 2 including the queue line location, ride capacity, length and capacity.
To recap, Top Thrill 2 will have an LSM swing launch to replace the former hydraulic launch system. The 1st launch will accelerate riders forward to 74mph travelling approximately half way up the top hat before rolling back and experiencing the 2nd launch which will be a backward launch reaching 101mph taking guests approximately 350ft up the 420ft rear spike. Finally the 3rd and final launch will be a forward launch and will be the fastest reaching 120mph cresting the 420ft top hat and heading into the station.
Top Thrill 2 will keep the high speed racing theme but no longer focuses on drag racing. Based on the animation Top Thrill 2 will last almost 2 minutes compared to the 17s ride duration of Top Thrill Dragster.
Surprisingly, the queue line will remain in the same location as it was formerly positioned prior to it being shut down after a woman was hit by falling debris whilst standing in the queue in 2021. There will now be a new configuration and structure to protect guests as well as fencing which will be installed along the systems edges to provide further protection. The covered queue will also protect guests from the sun whilst waiting in line.
We know the control booth is now going to be positioned above the station track and loading and unloading will now happen in the same station building. Riders will exit through a tunnel.
In regards to capacity on Top Thrill 2, the video explains that there will be three trains which although is half of what there was on Top Thrill Dragster, each train will hold 20 riders instead of 18 riders and will utilize Zamperla’s fast switch meaning it will able to quickly switch from accepting new trains to connecting the launch track.
There is also a staging position before the track switch meaning that a train can be dispatched into the staging area whilst another train completing the launch cycle.
Originally Top Thrill Dragster had a ride per hour capacity of 1080 with releasing the 18 passenger trains every 60 seconds. To ensure the same rider per hour capacity Top Thrill 2 would have to release a train every 66 seconds. The key point here is that the LSM launch will be more reliable and safer than the former hydraulic launch, meaning overall the capacity will be higher but we await confirmation of exactly how many riders per hour Top Thrill 2 will accommodate.
Performance on Top Thrill 2 with the LSM launch appears to be from the animation, significantly less than on Top Thrill Dragster which had the hydraulic launch. Acceleration on Top Thrill Dragster saw riders go from 0-120mph in 3.8s where Top Thrill 2 will take 7s to get from 0-74mph on the first launch. Again, as in the case of the capacity we will have to wait for confirmation on the acceleration of the LSM launch on Top Thrill 2.
Another difference on Top Thrill 2 is that the seats are higher up from the track which could affect the thrill factor of this reimagining and the video suggests that 270 degree top hat roll should be more intense because of it.
It has been brilliant to learn about Cedar Point’s plans for Top Thrill 2 and we will continue to bring you construction updates on Top Thrill Dragster…
In the previous video update posted by Lake Erie Lifestyles on August 4, we can see that more supports for the 420ft rear spike have been delivered to the Breakers Express Storage Lot. In the video we get to see the animation which shows that the old unloading area will become the two storey station with the control booth on top. This looks to feature the colors blue and white which will match the design of the new Zamperla Lightning trains which will be used on Top Thrill 2. This two storey style station is similar to Gate Keeper which is also located at Cedar Point.
The large crane used to install the three base support pillars earlier this week has been moved. We are not sure exactly when the new supports will be put in place but assume it will be in the next few days as has been the case with other deliveries to the Breakers Express Storage lot.
From the official video of Top Thrill Dragster which is embedded below, we got to see that as expected there will be another color added to the white and dark gray color scheme. We see sections of red stripes on the upper section of the top hat and new 420ft rear spike which will highlight the racing theme and pull in the red from the logo. This will certainly add extra vibrancy to Top Thrill 2.
When it was first discovered that white and dark gray appeared to be the two main colors in the new colour scheme, we asked you what you thought. Our first results showed 84% voting that it looked great, this then dropped dramatically to 61% and now at the time of writing has raised slightly to 64% saying “Yes, looks great!” and the remaining 36% saying “No, don’t like it!”.
Now we have confirmation, that Top Thrill 2 will also have red stripes on the upper section of the top hat we ask you in our new poll, do you like the white, dark gray and red color scheme of Top Thrill 2? We are expecting there to be an overwhelmingly positive response to this poll and will look forward to updating you on this.
The first Top Thrill 2 Construction update was posted to YouTube by Lake Erie Lifestyles on August 1, where the three base pillars have now been installed.
These were the supports that arrived at the Breakers Express Storage Lot last week and were then moved to site and have now been put into place in preparation for the confirmed 420ft rear spike which riders will travel up backwards at a speed of 101mph before being launched up the top hat at the top speed of 120mph.
We will continue to update you on all the construction developments on site for Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point over the coming weeks and months as we head towards the opening date in 2024. We would love to hear your thoughts on the official announcement by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook page.
In yet another video construction update posted to YouTube by Lake Erie Lifestyles on July 30, we see that painting has now resumed on the top hat supports and a large crane has arrived on site which we assume is to install the recently delivered supports for the rumored spike.
The box track with the retractable friction drive wheels and magnetic brake fins has now been installed between the static brake run and turn behind the station.
This piece of box track is indeed very interesting and that coupled with the combination of large and smaller footers behind on the return curve as well as the four large footers on the track infield should give Top Thrill Dragster that unique, “never been done before” element which Tony Clark promised us.
We are now only a couple of days away from the official announcement and we can’t wait to bring you our reaction to this on Tuesday August 1.
In the previous video update posted on July 28, we see that fifty per cent of the track on the top hat has now been painted white. Painting now seems to have halted, could this be to add a different color? It would certainly be awesome if we saw another color added such as red or yellow. We assume we will hear confirmation on this on Tuesday when the official announcement is made.
All of the new track pieces which were delivered to the Breakers Express Storage Lot this week, have now been moved to the Top Thrill Dragster Site. The launch side track is being installed and appears to have electrical junction boxes affixed to it where we are expecting to see the LSMs connected.
Track is being installed on the return side of the track at the end of the brake run. This track appears to have friction wheels which move up and down and there are additional magnetic brakes that move up and down too.
In the area in front of the station, more concrete foundation work continues and the pit in the middle of the track infield has been excavated even further. There is also excavation being done around the foundational pillars of the old queue pavilion. Additional forms are being constructed in the final curve.
In the video update from July 24, we saw work continuing on the track infield and station. The rebar and concrete prep-work is continuing which is expected to be for the switch track.
The big news in that trucks delivered more supports to the Breakers Express Storage Lot on morning of July 24. This delivery looks to include a massive new ground support, another mid section as well as new thinner supports, making a total of 11 which are expected to be for the top section. Additional track pieces have also been delivered in this shipment. We will continue to update you on further deliveries and also movement of track and supports from the Breakers Express Storage Lot to the Top Thrill Dragster site.
On July 23, we got to see a further new teaser added to the midway fence. “Nowhere To Go But Back” joins the many other teasers and implies that the rumor of a second top hat is not on the cards.
It is reported that painting on the top hat has currently ceased, regarding the track infield, the hole right in front of the station looks ready for the foundations to be poured. This could be for a possible switch track.
We can also see that the sides are being built up with three or four structures on the foundations on the north side of launch track.
On July 22, we saw this update regarding the new teasers which suddenly appeared on the midway fence.
So here are the teasers added so far to the midway fence:
- “Get Revvvd Up 08.01.23”
- “Smoke The Competition”
- “A New Formula For Thrills”
- “Drive The Sky”
- “Accelerate Your Adrenaline”
From these teasers, our hopes are certainly set sky high for the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster. All eyes are set on August 1, as “Smoke The Competition” implies that it will break a record of some sort, will it be the tallest? Will it be the fastest? We literally can not wait to find out and will bring you our reactions as soon as the announcements are made.
In the update posted July 21, we saw more progress being done on the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster. Painting is progressing very well on the top hat with 25% of the lower top hat and track having now been completed.
On the track infield, work is quickly progressing on the concrete foundation which was recently poured prior to the last update and it appears that additional new forms are being built on top of this new structure.
Excavating continues in the area in front of the station and a new wall is being constructed for what appears to possibly be a new concrete form. Work also continues on the curve behind the station. We now await track supports being mounted on top of the new footings.
There have still be no new permits filed with the FAA or City of Sandusky and no new track has been delivered to or removed from the storage lot next to Breakers Express. We will continue to update you with the construction progress on Top Thrill Dragster. Continue reading to see previous updates.
In the latest video posted on July 18, by Lake Erie Lifestyles we get to see more progress being done on the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster. Painting is continuing on the top hat with the contrast of the white track and the dark gray supports really beginning to come to life.
There was news that the Midway was shut after hours on Sunday which seems to have been to get cement trucks in as a lot of new concrete has appeared on the track infield. The station area curve has been freshly poured with concrete and there looks to be new forms for track supports.
The whole area of the north west area of the launch has been poured with concrete and new square track supports have been added for the return side after the brake run.
In the video posted July 13, by Lake Erie Lifestyles, the big news is that the theme for Top Thrill Dragster has now been confirmed as “racing” with a painted logo having appeared on the ground in the Midway next to Power Tower and a billboard sign mounted on the old Top Thrill Dragster hydraulic building. This logo is the same as the design of the keychain handed out at the Q&A session with Tony Clark back in June, with the addition of “RACING” in the middle.
There has still been no filings with the FAA for a structure over 200ft at Cedar Point. We get to see the Zamperla tag on a large box that is currently sitting in the Breakers storage yard where the new Top Thrill Dragster track and supports are being held before being moved to Cedar Point to be added to Top Thrill Dragster.
It is confirmed that the current pieces of track that are being installed on Top Thrill Dragster are brake fins and are for the return side of the ride rather than LSMs. We see work continuing on the track infield and station where concrete has been poured into the foundation on the launch side. New groundwork is being done just in front of the station and an interesting new concrete form is being built just behind the station which implies that the train will return to the station from the brake run coming off the top hat.
In the new video update posted July 11, by Lake Erie Lifestyles, we can see the very exciting development that new track has been laid on the return side of the Top Thrill Dragster infield. It appears that this is the track which was missing from the Breakers Express storage area seen in the video update on July 10.
According to a number of sources it appears that this new track was moved from the storage area Sunday night/ Monday morning. Everything continues to be very secretive surrounding the Top Thrill Dragster reimagining. You can expect another update very soon as construction continues at full throttle.
On July 10 we got to see that painting is continuing on Top Thrill Dragster. More track has been painted white including high up on the top hat. We also got to see the start of the painting of the top hat structure at ground level. The yellow structure of the top hat is being painted the same dark gray as the track supports.
Work is progressing very well on the track infield and station area. Concrete footers have appeared in the station area and a concrete foundation has been poured from the load to the old unload area. It appears that the current focus is on getting the two story station building erected as well as getting the remainder of the existing track and supports painted.
A new shipment has arrived at the Breakers Express storage area including a large footer and five smaller ones. It is clear that some of the original delivery has been moved elsewhere and we will inform you of exactly where when this information comes to light.
We will continue to update you with further construction updates on Top Thrill Dragster and information regarding the confirmed manufacturer, Zamperla.
From the July 6, construction update from Lake Erie Lifestyles we got to see onsite painting continuing with the lower track on the launch and return sides of the top hat having been now been completely painted bright white. The supports continued to be painted dark gray and prep work was being done on the top hat which was the next part expected to be painted white.
As already stated, work has started on the station area and more of the midway concrete is being torn up and there is a new concrete form located in the middle of the launch track which is likely to be filled with concrete in the next few days.
For further construction updates and information on the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster, read on…
At the beginning of July, we brought you these photos posted by ElToroRyan of the new supports for Top Thrill Dragster which confirmed 100 per cent that Zamperla is the indeed the manufacturer put in charge of this extensive reimagining. If any one still had doubts this is what you needed to see.
You guys believe me now? ? Dragster’s new supports shipped straight from Zamperla pic.twitter.com/9HUZs9J4Nj
— ElToroRyan (@ElToroRyan) July 1, 2023
In the newest video update posted by Life Erie Lifestyles which is embedded below, we get to see that a lot of work is currently being done on the infield and station on Top Thrill Dragster. Track painting continues with almost the whole of the lower track having received a fresh coat of white paint. Extensive groundwork is being done and it appears that an elongated horse shoe shaped foundation is being dug half way down the launch track and a new concrete foundation has been laid in the old loading area.
With the recently filed permit coupled with the work that is taking place on the infield it is safe to say that the current focus appears to be on the construction of the two story load/unload station.
Top Thrill Dragster fans are still trying to digest the news that Zamperla, not Intamin will be carrying out the extensive reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. In this newly posted video we get to see further footage of the new white track and dark gray supports which were delivered this week.
Rumors and speculation have been rife in recent months and earlier this week we brought you actual confirmation that new track had arrived on site for Top Thrill Dragster, news of the color scheme, theme and updates on the ride manufacturer!
In the video posted to YouTube on June 27 by Lake Erie Lifestyles we got to see footage of the new white track in the staging area which is rumored to be for the new rear spike. This is the first glimpse we had got of the track since the news of the reimagining of this iconic roller coaster back in September 2022.
As well as the new white track, we also saw more gun metal gray supports. It had been predicted, based on the keychain handed out at the Q&A session with Tony Clark that red and gray would be the new colors. White is definitely featured with the newly delivered track and so far there isn’t any red in sight but we assume that this could change as further sections of the track are delivered over the coming weeks. There may be hope for the iconic red color yet, watch this space.
We are not surprised to see new white track as the existing Top Thrill Dragster track is being painted white as we reported in a recent update.
We also see what appears to be brand new racing flags which could further hint that Top Thrill Dragster will keep its existing racing theme. Yesterday, Cedar Point posted a photo on their twitter account of a delivery which is rumored to be a support for the potential rear spike. The hashtag, #CP24PHP is included. This has led to speculation that PHP could hint at the new name. Nothing more has been announced on this as of yet.
First shipment.
Signed. ✅
Unsealed. ✅
Delivered. ?#CedarPoint #CP24PHP pic.twitter.com/e4UlTBpNGG— Cedar Point (@cedarpoint) June 27, 2023
The huge news which was aired at the beginning of the week was in relation to the manufacturer put in charge by Cedar Point to carry out one of the most highly anticipated roller coaster reimaginings in history. Well, it will have certainly come as a surprise to majority of Top Thrill Dragster fans to hear that after thinking Intamin was almost certainly the right manufacturer for the job, that Zamperla has indeed been the manufacturer of choice.
Now, let’s just take a moment. Zamperla, really? Well, according to the video posted on YouTube by Theme Park Predictions earlier this week, majority of us got it wrong, it will be Zamperla, not Intamin who will carry out the reimagining of the legendary Top Thrill Dragster.
It is obvious from reports online that a lot of fans are very unhappy about this decision with frequent downtime being predicted already. It certainly seems an interesting choice, considering the attraction was manufactured by Intamin and Intamin would seem like the best choice to give this iconic coaster the new lease of life it needs.
Zamperla has stated that their lightning trains can be used on the world’s fastest roller coasters but according to Theme Park Predictions, Zamperla has built 374 different coasters with only 17 of them considered extreme or major coasters and the fastest offering a maximum speed of 56mph.
Cedar Fair has worked with Intamin since 2010 and although tensions have ensued since the 2021 accident, it looks like the decision has come down to cost as both manufacturers put in bids for the project.
It seems risky to trust Zamperla with this project and in order to bring Top Thrill Dragster 2.0 to fruition it is going to now involve the replacement of the entire operating system and to marry up 20 year old existing Intamin track with new Zamperla trains. I will say it again, it certainly sounds very risky!
In June, further information was revealed regarding the construction progress of Top Thrill Dragster from Lake Erie Lifestyles. The painting of the track supports continues in the dark gray color which is now being predicted as one of the main colors being used in the reimagining.
The old track is being painted white and a moveable platform has been erected which we assume will be used to paint the rest of the top hat.
In the last update from June 20, there was news of a permit filed with Sandusky which is now revealed to be for a 2 story load/unload station with an elevated control booth as the second story. It is likened to the station used for the steel winged roller coaster, Gatekeeper at Cedar Point station where the operators look down on the guests below.
More heavy machinery has been moved to the infield and loading areas and with water having been removed from the pit which was dug in front of the old station this could signal that they are ready to start working on building the station.
Work certainly appears to be moving fast and we are looking forward to bringing you further updates on the station and ride layout as construction work continues on this epic reimagining.
In the previous video update from June 20, which is embedded below, we heard that Cedar Point has still not filed any FAA Construction permits to build any structure over 200ft tall. However, Cedar Point has filed several construction permits with Sandusky for upgrading electrical and foundation for a building associated with the ride. We speculated correctly that this was indeed for work to be done on the station building.
The biggest news was that contractors are currently on site at Top Thrill Dragster, prepping, priming and painting the base track supports. As can be seen in the video they have been painted gray. Many are speculating that this is a primer rather than the end color but so far this has not been confirmed.
From a Q&A session where keychains were given out and guests were told they would need them to ride in 2024, the rumor that there will be two top hats has come about. You can check out the video embedded below which was posted two weeks ago by Coaster Freak Jr. giving you more information on the possibility of this theory.
At the beginning of June we posted a theory which had been rumored, Rumor – Top Thrill Dragster To Get A NEW Top Hat Hitting 500ft! If you haven’t already done so, check it out and then let us know what you think by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
Will there be two top hats, a rear spike, will it break the record to be the tallest again, will it have a new space theme? So far, there are a lot of rumors and speculation but still no confirmation from Cedar Point. We will continue to update you on this hugely exciting reimagining of the iconic Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point.
It was back in mid-May that we were talking about the large crane that had appeared onsite at Top Thrill Dragster near to the Top hat and we were speculating what it may be used for.
Although it was suggested that the most plausible idea was for this huge crane to be used to build a tower crane for use in the reimagining of this iconic coaster, it has now been confirmed that this was not the case at this point as the huge crane was taken down a couple of weeks later.
We can now only assume that the crane was in place to either take measurements or test welds or a combination of the two. This information will be needed to make an application to file for a permit from the FAA.
According to the latest update posted to YouTube by Lake Erie Lifestyles on May 21, there appears to have been nothing obvious done to the Top hat whilst the crane was in place. It is thought that it was taken down between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning.
From the FAA’s database it currently looks like there are no permits on file from Cedar Point to build any structures. It is Federal Law to file if you want to build or alter any structure 200 feet or higher above ground level, meaning the Top hat on Top Thrill Dragster. This revelation seems quite odd considering we are certainly expecting something to happen on Top Thrill Dragster with a vertical spike still seemingly being the most likely.
It is certainly puzzling and leaves us to ask, why hasn’t Cedar Point filed any permits for Top Thrill Dragster as of yet? Is it to keep everyone guessing and to build suspense further or is it simply that they haven’t got all the measurements needed hence the large crane that was in place last week.
We will update you with further information as soon as we have it. We expect there to be news on the filing of permits for Top Thrill Dragster in the coming weeks if it is going to be checked and authorized and give Cedar Point enough time to complete the work ready for an opening in 2024.
On another point, it is now believed that the objects in the parking lot are actually hydraulic accumulator tanks from the old hydraulic launch from Top Thrill Dragster.
Now, regarding the excitement there has been surrounding the speculated track for Top Thrill Dragster seen on Google Maps at an Intamin Manufacturing Plant in Europe. Well, there has been further speculation this week that this blue and orange track could well be for the new Fast and Furious roller coaster being built at Universal Studios Hollywood and slated to open next year.
In the video below posted by Zero-G Coasters it is considered that the footage of the blue and orange track shows single spined track which seems unlikely as double spined track would be expected considering the amount of stress it will be put under. Also if this is indeed for a vertical spike the pull out would be way too sharp giving off too much positive G-Force.
As with everything surrounding this hugely exciting Top Thrill Dragster reimagining, nothing has been confirmed or denied by Cedar Point and we still await news of which manufacturer is taking on this high profile project. Recent thoughts have been swaying more towards Intamin but it could still be Zamperla. We will investigate further and update you as soon as possible.
In the update from May 18, Lake Erie Lifestyles we get to see a close up view of the large footer which we assume is for the rumored spike and it certainly does look big from ground level.
The exciting news is that the large crane appears to be doing work on the upper third of the Top hat. A manned basket is hanging from the crane basket so workers can access that upper third of the Top hat. Currently the crane reaches slightly below the height of the Top hat.
There could be a number of possibilities for what the workers are doing including; prepping the metal for painting, inspecting welds, taking measurements or perhaps the most plausible is that the crane will be used to construct a tower crane.
Tower cranes have become standard operating equipment on massive construction projects. It could be used to do all the construction for the new coaster including necessary track removal on the Top hat, work on the substructure as well as building the rumored spike.
Although we are still not clear exactly what Cedar Point has planned for Top Thrill Dragster it looks like their budget is pretty sizeable if they are hiring a crane this big and with it now in place, we are expecting things to start moving very quickly, meaning we should get to know sooner rather than later more information regarding this highly anticipated project.
Theme Park Predictions has also released a recent video on YouTube which shows blue track and orange supports sitting outside an Intamin fabrication plant in Europe that is believed to be destined for Top Thrill Dragster. That’s right, Intamin!
The ongoing question has been Intamin or Zamperla and although, like with everything Top Thrill Dragster, nothing has been confirmed from the rumors online it appears Intamin could be the more likely. For an exact answer on this we are just going to have to continue to wait patiently.
From the Google street view images shown in the video, there seems to be a large amount of straight track which could be for the spike or launch for Top Thrill Dragster. We will keep you posted on further news regarding Top Thrill Dragster.
Let us know what you think about the potential blue track and orange supports by voting in our poll or by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
May 10 – The hype surrounding the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster intensifies as Cedar Point is now open for the 2023 season. We continue to closely follow the progress and are grateful to Lake Erie Lifestyles for their most recent video update which is embedded below from May 9 which shows excellent footage of the current site.
The large triangular footer which begun to appear back in March is being filled with dirt in what looks like the final stage of creation. The video incorporates the footage taken from March and each update since to clearly track the progress from the beginning to its current state which is very interesting to see.
The Iron Dragon pond has now been refilled with water and there is significant work being done in the track infield where a large trench approximately 18 meters wide has been dug between the launch and return track stretching from the middle of the bleachers to the front of the station which could be for the rumored rear spike.
The new footing by the old loading area looks to be the base track support. It appears that the concrete has been added and has dried and the wooden forum has been removed. This new footing aligns perfectly with the large triangular footer and the original Top Hat track giving further evidence that a large rear spike could be coming to Top Thrill Dragster.
However, in an interview on Fox 8 News with Director of Communications, Tony Clarke as well as saying that further details will trickle out during the summer said this, “I can tell you that as a coaster enthusiast but not a totally crazy coaster enthusiast that I am looking forward to it, it is going to be an attraction that our guests are going to really love and provide that thrill and in Cedar Point fashion doing something nobody else has done.”
Although not giving much away, Clarke’s comments “in Cedar Point fashion doing something nobody else has done” has led to speculation that this project may not include a traditional rear spike at all and will actually be something completely different.
So, perhaps we have been wrong being so caught up with the question, how big will the rear spike be? And, from the point that Clarke gave saying that he is a coaster enthusiast but not a totally crazy coaster enthusiast and he is really looking forward to it, perhaps that is a hint that we will not be seeing a record breaking rear spike if we will indeed be seeing a rear spike at all.
With all that said, it could just be an media stunt to keep us all guessing and intensifying further the mystery around this highly anticipated project and a large rear spike is planned which the current construction work on site leads us to believe.
We will continue to closely follow the progress of this hugely anticipated Top Thrill Dragster reimagining. Let us know what you think could be coming to Top Thrill Dragster and also what you would like to see coming by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
February 13 – The ongoing story of Top Thrill Dragster’s reimagining is indeed an exciting one and we are pleased to be closely following its progress.
From the tweet below from Updates About Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster, we can see that work is progressing fast and all that now remains of where the queue line stood is a hole in the ground.
A hole in the ground where the Top Thrill Dragster queue used to stand. pic.twitter.com/pMPsB2rKxg
— Updates About Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster (@ttdupdatescp) February 12, 2023
There is a continued debate whether Intamin is involved in the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster? Although Intamin has not worked with Cedar Fair since 2010 due to a number of issues with its installed rides at the parks, it would seem sensible with all the developments in reliability that Intamin has made in the last decade that Cedar Point would want their input for this extensive project because surely who best to do the job but the original creators of the attraction.
Theme Park Predictions & More! take a deeper dive into this in the video below. We will continue to follow the development and progress of the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster which is slated to open in 2024 here at Theme Park Tourist.
January 10 – Since September 2022 when it was confirmed that this legendary coaster would indeed be reimagined, all eyes have been on Cedar Point and the construction progress of the iconic Top Thrill Dragster. Yesterday, Cedar Point announced through a simple video posted to their official twitter page that the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster will return in 2024.
As you can see from the video which is embedded below, the only words which appear are “A NEW FORMULA FOR THRILLS” “COMING 2024”. This could be seen as a reference to Formula One racing (and, perhaps accidentally, to the world’s fastest roller coaster, Intamin’s Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi).
— Cedar Point (@cedarpoint) January 9, 2023
Top Thrill Dragster fans have been speculating the possibilities over the the last few months of what this reimagining will include and although nothing is still officially confirmed, what we do know for certain is that the hydraulic launch will be replaced by a LSM launch track. There have been recent rumors that Cedar Point could increase the theming of both the rollercoaster itself and the surrounding area. This is where the Formula One aspect could potentially come in.
To read the full story about Top Thrill Dragster from start to finish, check out our recently updated featured article, TOP THRILL DRAGSTER: The High Octane Story of Cedar Point’s Coaster Wars Icon… And Its Post-Pitstop Second Life.
Top Thrill Dragster is one of Cedar Point’s biggest and most popular rides so we originally assumed that Cedar Point would be keen to get the reimagining completed as soon as possible and the ride open again in 2023. However, although work appears to be progressing well we now know for certain that Top Thrill Dragster will remain closed for the entire of the 2023 season and will be ready to thrill guests once again at some point in 2024.
A range of photos were leaked online before Christmas of the current Top Thrill Dragster site. They can be seen in the video embedded below along with a commentary from America’s Coaster Network with their thoughts on further changes.
In summary this is what we know, work is clearly going on at the station. The original metal fences have gone from the queue line so it highly likely they are moving the queue which has been assumed from the start. There is a unconfirmed rumor that the building where you would get Top Thrill Dragster photos from is to be torn down and will be part of the replaced long and thin queue line.
We all know that the launch will be the biggest change and it is clear from the photos that all track linked to the launch and brake system has been removed in preparation for new LSM launch track. Brake run supports remain whilst the rest have been removed and the track for the legendary Top hat track also remains.
It is thought that the old track will be re-used with new LSM launches being put on and retro fitted. There is a strong possibility that Zamperla are involved in the reimagining as they are currently retrofitting another Intamin accelerator coaster with LSM track. It would be great to see Top Thrill Dragster fitted with new lightning trains which were unveiled at IAPPA in November 2022. Intamin, however, could still be the ones to convert Top Thrill Dragster but they have now removed the ride from their website which could give clue that they are distancing themselves from the attraction.
It doesn’t appear that there are plans for an extended layout which was originally speculated. Could we also see a more highly themed area surrounding Top Thrill Dragster? We will keep you updated on the progress with Top Thrill Dragster on our news and Facebook page. Are you excited to ride the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
October 18 – We are closely following the progress of the eagerly awaited Top Thrill Dragster reimagining which was first announced back in September. Updates About Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster has recently posted a tweet showing that the station has been pretty much completely emptied.
#TopThrillDragtser‘s station has been just about completely emptied at #cedarpoint.
?: @Freeziebuddy #rollercoasters #themeparks #amusementparks pic.twitter.com/OkgbokSDtJ
— Updates About Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster (@ttdupdatescp) October 15, 2022
We can also see from an aerial image (October 7) that a lot of track has been removed so far and work appears to be progressing at a good pace. So far, we have not had confirmation of what exactly this reimagining will look like when it is finished but there has been a lot of speculation online from Top Thrill Dragster fans and coaster enthusiasts (see below). The large crane which was previously on site has now been reported to have gone.
I’m not saying that you should look down on #TopThrillDragster, but I AM saying that you should enjoy another aerial shot.#cedarpoint #rollercoaster pic.twitter.com/NlPcnrwSCV
— Updates About Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster (@ttdupdatescp) October 7, 2022
October 3 – In an update posted today by Screamscape which includes a number of photos, we can see work continues at an impressive rate on the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster At Cedar Point.
A large crane is on site and more launch track has now been removed. The photos also show that the returning/ brake track run is also being removed from the station to just past the “Finish” line. The transfer tracks that sat between the launch track and the inner queue have also been removed.
It is great to see that Cedar Point is wasting no time at all in pushing forward with this much needed reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster. We will continue to update you on the progress as it happens on our news and Facebook page.
September 30 – For anyone who is interested in the current progress of the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, you may be interested to see this video which has been posted to YouTube by Amusement Park Portal showing a view over the top of the construction fencing.
The video shows the removal of parts of the track around the loading station. We are very excited to see what Cedar Point has in store for the legendary Top Thrill Dragster in this extensive reimagining.
Check out the rumors that are currently swirling below of what we may see in the reimagining and we will keep you posted with further updates when they are revealed on our news and Facebook page. With 87% of people who voted in our recent poll saying they want to see Top Thrill Dragster reopening we are guessing many of our readers will be following the progress of this closely.
September 26 – We heard at the beginning of September that the legendary Top Thrill Dragster “as we know it” at Cedar Point is to be retired and reimagined. Well this led to theme park fans speculating as to what Cedar Point has got planned. We posted an article, Top Thrill Dragster To Be Reimagined, Rumors Fly Of What This Could Look Like!, which outlined a number of potential ideas which included:
- Using a new LSM Launch system to make Top Thrill Dragster go faster than Kinda Ka’s current record of 0 to 128mph in 3.5 seconds. Target of 130-135mph could maybe be feasible.
- Increasing the height by either taking the top section off and re-engineering it or lowering the bottom ends of the track at the base of the tower into a below-grade trench. If this was possible and the height could be increased above 418ft then Top Thrill Dragster would take back the record from Kingda Ka of being the tallest stratocoaster in North America.
- Adding air time hill after drop
- Adding a roll-over inversion built into the hill
- Adding a Multi-launch system which could then include a roll-back.
Screamscape has posted on their Facebook page a number of photos which were sent in from a reader who had captured photos of parts of the track being removed. It seems as if the launch cable and retractable brake-fins on the launch track are being removed which isn’t going to be a surprise to most now we know that the coaster is being reimagined, likely with a magnetic launch system.
The post goes on to say that track is also being removed from the load/unload station which does suggest that major work is being done which could mean the Top Thrill Dragster is getting a “switch-track and dedicated multi-launch track segment,”
We will keep you updated as work continues on the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. Let us know what you would like to see from the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
