UPDATE September 16 – Since Cedar Point’s official announcement last week which stated that the Top Thrill Dragster that we see today will be retired and they are “hard at work, creating a new and reimagined ride experience.”, rumors have been circulating as to what we are likely to see.
Fans are certainly expecting higher and faster! Screamscape has posted a number of ideas which are currently being discussed by fans online of the many different directions Cedar Fair may go in for Top Thrill Dragster:
- 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.
Now with this last idea, Savage Coasters have created an animated concept of this, naming it Dragster 555. The change would appear to be to add a dedicated launch track turning Top Thrill Dragster into a multi-launch coaster. This would mean the coaster would first be launched up a track featuring a twisted spiral track and would then experience a roll-back before launching properly up and over the tower. You can check out this mock up in the video below.
There are certainly a number of possibilities to breathe new life into the legendary Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point and we are expecting great things from the “new and reimagined ride experience” that we have been promised.
It is important to note that all these ideas are just speculations as Cedar Point has not currently announced any details of their plans for Top Thrill Dragster just yet.
Surely though, Cedar Fair will be looking to take back the record of the tallest and fastest from Kingda Ka? We will bring you all further announcements on Top Thrill Dragster. Let us know what you hope to see from the new Top Thrill Dragster by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
September 7 – We had such high hopes after a rumor was recently floated online that guests would once again be able to ride the mighty Top Thrill Dragster but this unfortunately doesn’t seem to be the case for the ride as it stands today. It was announced yesterday on the official Cedar Point twitter account that Top Thrill Dragster “as we know it” is to be retired.
However, wait just a minute, the current Top Thrill Dragster is being retired, yes, but it looks like Cedar Point is working on reimagining the legendary coaster, as it clearly says in the statement below that they are “hard at work, creating a new and reimagined ride experience.”
— Cedar Point (@cedarpoint) September 6, 2022
So far, we don’t have details of exactly what this reimagined ride experience will be like but we will update you with any further details on this as soon as they are announced.
We still await news from Knott’s Berry Farm regarding Top Thrill Dragster’s sister ride, Xcelerator which has also been rumored to be reopening. With the confirmation that Top Thrill Dragster as it currently stands is being retired and reimagined, could we see a similar treatment being done to Xcelerator too? We will keep you posted on our news and Facebook page. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below.
August 25 – We reported a rumor at the beginning of August that Cedar Point may be starting work on reopening the iconic launch coaster, Top Thrill Dragster. We then asked your opinion in our poll as to whether you would like to see a return of this classic coaster. The results are in and there is no doubt that fans are very excited, with 86% of those that voted saying “yes” to a reopening and only 7% saying “no” and the other 7% saying they don’t care.
We were unsure initially whether this rumor had any weight behind it, however, we then heard another rumor that sister ride, Xcelerator at Knott’s Berry Farm is to reopen. There has still not been any official word for Cedar Point or Knott’s Berry Farm either confirming or denying these rumors but we will keep you up to date with further information as and when it is announced.
What we do know for sure is that majority of people would be very excited to hear that Top Thrill Dragster will reopen at Cedar Point at some point in the future.
August 6 – Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point has been closed since August 2021 after an incident where a guest waiting in line was struck by a metal object that fell from the roller coaster. Screamscape has now reported a rumor that Cedar Point is getting ready to start work on the site of the coaster.
Screamscape has posted photos on Facebook of numerous markings which have been added all around Top Thrill Dragster which suggests Cedar Point is gearing up to begin work on the queue area in the near future.
The rumor seems to suggest that the queue area could either be moved from its current place, between the launch and return track, to somewhere further away from the tracks to ensure a similar incident to the one that happened in August 2021 could never happen again. Or, the queue could be completely enclosed. Whatever decision is made, it looks like the previously shuttered Top Thrill Dragster could reopen at Cedar Point in the future.
To further give Top Thrill Dragster fans hope of a return, those of you who are unaware, the lighting package that lights up the coaster has been reported as being switched on to test this year.
For further information on the story of Top Thrill Dragster, be sure to read our indepth featured article, TOP THRILL DRAGSTER: The Inside Track on Cedar Point’s Landmark Coaster and Potential Final Lap. We will keep you up to date with all further details regarding the potential reopening of Top Thrill Dragster on our news and Facebook page.
Would you like to see Top Thrill Dragster reopen at Cedar Point? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page and don’t forget to vote in our poll.
