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2 days ago
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Siren's Curse at Cedar Point stops 160 feet off the ground, forcing riders to walk down
Cedar Point's newest roller coaster has once again provided riders with some unexpected and unintended terror. Cedar Point guests on July 2 found themselves stuck on top of the Siren's Curse roller coaster's 160-foot-tall lift hill. But unlike riders on June 28 who found themselves dangling facing the ground, the latest incident happened before the coaster's signature tilt feature had started. Park spokesman Tony Clark said the coaster once again "experienced a delay that paused the ride's operation" and left riders sitting in the coaster cars for about an hour on Wednesday evening. "(The coaster's) safety system performed as designed, but the ride could not be restarted," he said. "Guests were safely escorted off the ride." The riders had to walk down the 160-foot-tall platform using the attraction's evacuation stairs. Wild ride: Watch Beacon Journal reporter ride Siren's Curse at Cedar Point and question life decisions In the previous instance, ride technicians were about to reset the coaster and the ride resumed after about 10 minutes. The ride's signature feature is atop the 160-foot-tall lift hill where the coaster train precariously tilts riders to the ground and track below. After the coaster connects to the track below, riders then experience some 2,966 feet of twisting track at a top speed of 58 mph. Clark said the coaster, which made its public debut on June 28, has reopened. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Siren's Curse at Cedar Point stops once again atop its 160-foot tower Solve the daily Crossword
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2 days ago
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Cedar Point guests on Siren's Curse roller coaster had an added scare on Saturday
Cedar Point's newest roller coaster continues to offer more thrills than advertised. The Siren's Curse once again left guests dangling atop its 160-foot-tall tilt tower. The popular ride that opened a month ago stopped mid-tilt the evening of July 19 and left passengers on the coaster train stranded at about a 45-degree angle for about 20 minutes. "The coaster's safety system performed as designed, the ride was restarted, and guests continued their ride," said park spokesman Tony Clark. "It reopened shortly after and all guests exited the ride safely." More: Check out these amusement parks – big and small – within a day's drive from Akron The ride's delay happened in the midst of its signature feature atop a 160-foot-tall lift hill where the coaster train precariously tilts riders to the ground and track below. After the coaster connects to the track below, riders then experience some 2,966 feet of twisting track at a top speed of 58 mph. This isn't the first time Siren's Curse has gotten stuck This is the third instance that sensors on the coaster have stopped the train atop the tower since its public debut on June 28. On the coaster's opening weekend, the coaster stopped with passengers dangling straight down over the midway for about 10 minutes. And on July 2, the coaster train stopped on top of the tilt hill before the tilt even started. Passengers had to be evacuated from the coaster using stairs. The Siren's Curse reopened after Saturday's incident. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Siren's Curse at Cedar Point once again leaves guests dangling in air Solve the daily Crossword
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3 days ago
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Full tilt: Cedar Point's new Siren's Curse roller coaster is not for the faint of heart 🎢
The wait is over. And now the real wait is about to begin. Cedar Point's newest roller coaster made its debut June 26 for the media and a select group of coaster enthusiasts. The Siren's Curse is slated to make its public debut on June 28 after previews for season passholders on June 27. Long lines are expected on June 28 to ride what is being billed as the tallest, fastest and longest 'tilt' roller coaster in America. Anticipating the excitement for the new coaster, Dave Evans, construction manager for Cedar Point's parent company Six Flags, said they have constructed one of the largest queue lines ever at the park. See it in action 🎢: Watch Beacon Journal reporter ride Siren's Curse and question life decisions The ride has a capacity of anywhere from 900 to 1,000 guests an hour. Evans said they have built the lines to accommodate a one and a half to two-hour wait. Unlike other queue lines in the park, he said, this one will not have any in-park TVs that will distract from the theming of an abandoned Lake Erie shipyard. And guests for this coaster will wait within feet of the coaster as it screams overhead. "You are always in the ride," he said. "This is what is cool about it." With 19 roller coasters now in its lineup from big to small, Cedar Point is home to one of the largest collections of such thrill machines in the world. This one might be most unique with its tilt feature. And this dangling of passengers over the Midway, said Park Manager Colleen Murphy-Brady, is what makes this one particularly exciting for riders and those not brave enough to venture on. "This ride has a lot of spectator value," she said. "Guests are going to want to stop and watch that tilt." Akron coaster enthusiast gives coaster two hands up Akron resident Michael Burkes has been riding coasters for as long as he was tall enough to climb aboard. He's been a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts for some 38 years and first visited Cedar Point in 1973. Burkes, 60, recently rode his milestone 500th coaster in Wisconsin. He thought he had seen and ridden just about everything. But this latest coaster at Cedar Point is certainly one of the most unique and thrilling he's ever encountered. "I am just amazed," Burkes said. He was surprised by its speed and variety of elements − particularly the number of instances of airtime or sense of floating out of your seat. "It is fun and furious," he said. "This is an excellent addition to the park." What is the theme of the Siren's Curse? The Siren's Curse is themed after a collection of mythical sirens who reside under the water in Lake Erie and use their voices in song to lure sailors. The Siren's mournful cries along with equally eerie music play inside of the coaster cars as riders climb the hill to the fateful tilt feature of the coaster. The lift hill of the coaster − designed by the Netherlands firm Vekoma − is supposed to resemble an old 160-foot-tall Lake Erie shipping crane tower What makes the Siren's Curse special? The coaster's signature feature is a 160-foot-tall lift hill where the coaster train precariously tilts riders to the ground below. At the top, riders will encounter a broken track that trails off to nowhere. The tower's platform tilts 90 degrees straight down as the track connects to a twisted track below. The coaster train will then plunge down along 2,966 feet of twisting track at a top speed of 58 mph. In all, riders will experience 13 instances of weightless or so-called airtime moments along with two 360-degree, zero-gravity barrel rolls and a high-speed 'triple-down' element with twisted and overbanked track − all in the span of about two minutes. The coaster trains, that will hold 24 passengers, have integrated audio and LED lighting − both a first for Cedar Point. And the coaster is the first at the park to take riders underground. What to know before you ride the Siren's Curse? The new thrill machine – with its compact vertical design – is situated by the Iron Dragon coaster just off the park's Main Midway. Like any new attraction at Cedar Point, expect long lines from the time the park opens to closing time. You have to be at least 48 inches tall to ride. And riders are not allowed to bring any personal items like water bottles, wallets, keys and cell phones onto the new coaster and will be required to pass through metal detectors. Free short-term small lockers will be available for riders near the entrance to the coaster. Parkgoers with larger items like purses and backpacks will still be required to rent a locker to ride these coasters. If the ride's line is too long, you can always hang around and ride the other coasters and return shortly before closing time when the crowds have thinned out. The park's policy is to let all guests ride an attraction as long as they are in line by closing time. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Siren's Curse debuts to roller coaster enthusiasts at Cedar Point Solve the daily Crossword
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3 days ago
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Check out these amusement parks – big and small – within a day's drive from Akron
There's just something magical about amusement parks. They are places where memories are made. And fears are confronted. Northern Ohio is still fortunate to have a fair number of such parks within a day's drive. Most of these parks are steeped in history and are popular destinations for amusement park enthusiasts from near and far to ride not only classic rides but the latest scream machines. There are also some smaller parks that offer fun – albeit on a smaller scale. Cedar Point The granddaddy of American amusement parks is situated right in our proverbial backyard on the shores of Lake Erie. Cedar Point in Sandusky has been a summer destination for generations of families for some 150 years. The park is home to 67 rides including 19 roller coasters that are the star attraction for thrill seekers. Some of these coasters that reach high into the sky offer breathtaking views of Lake Erie and the park's mile-long beach and historic Hotel Breakers before plunging riders at a breakneck speed. The park with its historic charm continues to evolve with new rides and experiences added each season. And this year is no different. The park has added Siren's Curse, billed as North America's tallest, fastest and longest tilt roller coaster. The coaster, themed after a mythical Lake Erie siren, is already a fan and spectator favorite with long lines this summer. The coaster's signature feature is the tilt that dangles riders 90 degrees over the midway before connecting to the track below and speeding some 58 miles per hour along a twisting track. This summer is also the first chance for many visitors to ride the Top Thrill 2 roller coaster that closed shortly after its debut last season. For more, visit Kennywood A trip to Kennywood located in West Mifflin, just outside of Pittsburgh, is like taking a stroll through the past. This Pennsylvania amusement park holds the distinction of being considered a National Historic Landmark for its collection of historic buildings and 40 some rides. The park that dates back to 1898, is home to the Old Mill boat ride that takes guests past a series of humorous old western scenes and the classic Noah's Ark walkthrough funhouse that sways back and forth as guests navigate narrow passageways and encounter animals and other surprises along the way. Kennywood also has an impressive collection of roller coasters including some that are pretty old like the Racer and the Jack Rabbit. The 3,365-foot-long Phantom's Revenge takes full advantage of the park's hilly terrain and was recently ranked No. 1 by USA TODAY. Kennywood's Steel Curtain roller coaster reopened this summer after work throughout last season to reinforce its supports. Themed after the Pittsburgh Steelers, the coaster reaches 220 feet making it Pennsylvania's tallest roller coaster and with nine inversions, it is the most of any coaster in the country and has the highest inversion. And no visit to Kennywood would be complete without trying its famed Potato Patch fries with gooey cheese and fresh bacon. They love these fries so much at Kennywood they even have dodgem cars themed after the tasty dish called the Potato Smash. Kings Island Cedar Point may get a lot of the attention, but its sister Six Flags Park just outside Cincinnati is also a popular destination for thrill seekers. Kings Island in Mason is home to a signature replica of the Eiffel Tower and some 16 roller coasters from the tame – like the Great Pumpkin – to the extreme Orion with a breathtaking 300-foot first drop. One of the oldest coasters in the park is arguably its best. The Beast made its debut in 1979 and still holds the record as the longest wooden roller coaster in the world. Over the span of 4 minutes, riders whisk along 7,361 feet of track at 65 miles per hour over some 35 wooded acres. For those looking for a little tamer experience, the park's Boo Blasters on Boo Hill offers a fun and cool indoor experience where guests have to hunt down and capture ghosts. For more, check out Smaller regional parks A summer escape to an amusement park does not have to be an all-day or break the bank kind of thing. There are smaller regional parks that offer thrills on a smaller scale. Memphis Kiddie Park situated in the Cleveland suburb of Brooklyn not far from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is geared toward young riders. Unlike the big parks where you have to purchase a daily admission, Memphis Kiddie Park offers tickets for just one or all of the 11 amusement park rides geared to children under 50 inches tall. The park's rides are from the early 1950s and look like the day they arrived at the quaint park that has a nice miniature golf course. Ride tickets are $3.25 each or 10 for $29. For more, visit Nestled in the hills of New Philadelphia, Tuscora Park is another short escape for young families. The city-owned park has a collection of rides geared toward young kids including a train ride and a carousel. Like Memphis Kiddie Park, there is no daily admission and ride tickets are $1.50 each or a book of 12 for $10. For more, visit Sluggers & Putters in Canal Fulton is home to 10 rides from the Space Jets to the Tea Cups to the classic Scrambler. The small Stark County amusement park is also home to a pretty cool themed miniature golf course and go-cart tracks for both young and adventurous riders. Ticket prices vary by attraction. For more, visit Funtimes Fun Park in Alliance is also home to a nice collection of small rides and attractions. The park also features miniature golf, Go-Karts and even bumper boats. Among the collection of amusement park rides is the original Tilt-A-Whirl from the former Geauga Lake Amusement Park. Ticket prices vary by attraction. For more, visit Waldameer in Erie, Pennsylvania, also does not charge a daily admission to its large amusement park. To visit the water park that has a number of slides and attractions, you have to purchase a day pass. You are free to stroll through the amusement park, but to ride any of the 33 attractions you can either purchase a day pass or put credits on a ride card. Waldameer has a fun walk-through Pirate-theme funhouse and the classic Wacky Shack dark ride. The park is also home to five roller coasters including the super-fast Ravene Flyer II. For more, visit This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Check out these amusement parks a quick drive away from Akron Solve the daily Crossword
