Did you know that Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point got its name from the show, “Magnum P.I?”
It was chosen due to the popularity of the ride at the time. “XL” was added to emphasize the length of the ride and 200 due to its height.
Cedar Point is known globally as the Roller Coast of the United States.
And to no one’s surprise, Cedar Point has a mildly impressive collection of roller coasters that have helped set the tone, make the standard and essentially ignite the coaster battles of the early 2000s.
Amongst this established collection is a roller coaster named “Magnum.”
This particular one is not amongst the first named when you think of Cedar Point; however, it still has earned its spot with coaster fans.
But what makes Magnum XL-200 special? Today, I will answer that very question!
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Magnum XL-200 at a Glance:
- Opening Date: May 6, 1989
- Launch/Lift System: Chain Lift Hill
- Height: 205 ft (feet)
- Drop: 194.7 ft
- Length: 5,106 ft
- Speed: 72 MPH (miles per hour)
- Inversions: 0
- Ride Time: 2 Mins
- Trains: 3 trains with 6 cars
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History of Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point
Before Magnum XL-200 became a concept at Cedar Point, the Sandusky theme park was already establishing itself as the premier roller coaster destination in the country, featuring a variety of coasters and smaller, historical attractions.
During this time period, the Cedar Fair company gained a new CEO in the form of Dick Kinzel in 1986.
The lore goes that one day, Kinzel was casually watching CNN and saw a feature on a roller coaster named “Bandit” at a park called “Yomiyuriland.”
This whimsical park, located 35 mins from Shinjuku, is still open today!
Bandit really stood out because it was all about being tall and fast, but it didn’t have any crazy flips or loops.
Back then, it had been a solid 10 years since Cedar Point added a cool E-ticket attraction like Gemini. You can learn more about the history of Gemini coaster here.
Creating a Record-breaking Roller Coaster
According to the Cedar Point lore, Kinzel was like, “Hey, let’s make a coaster with crazy drops and those intense G forces, instead of all those loops and spins everyone’s doing.”
Cedar Point would go on to ask for proposals from the most popular ride manufacturers to help create a world breaking roller coaster that DID NOT have both inversions or over-the-shoulder restraints.
In the end, they went with Arrow Development because the dollar was weak, so they couldn’t produce overseas.
Arrow was also working on the cool new Iron Dragon at the time, so it totally made sense to stick with them on the Magnum project.
Arrow suggested a way to compete with Shockwave at Six Flags Great America, but Cedar Fair aimed to set a new record of reaching 200 feet instead.
This is mainly due to the interest in publicity it would bring in being the first roller coaster to do so.
How much did it cost to build Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point?
The original cost for Magnum XL-200 was to be $7.5 million but was raised to $8 million after the height was extended to 200 feet.
Since the company was gonna hit up the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) next year, that cash would go towards building the ride.
After Cedar Fair hit the NYSE and got the funds, they started building Magnum in August 1988.
With construction moving along and testing starting in 1989, Kinzel was among the first to hop on Magnum after just one test ride of the coaster.
When did Magnum XL-200 open at Cedar Point?
Once testing was completed, Magnum XL-200 debuted to the public on May 6, 1989.
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Magnum XL-200 Changes the Roller Coaster Industry FORVER!
It would be marketed as the world’s tallest, fastest and steepest complete circuit coaster.
In addition to this, the coaster’s opening is credited as the reason Cedar Point has record attendance that very year!
On top of this, Magnum was also credited for shifting the focus of Cedar Point as a true theme park competitor.
Magnum XL-200 made it into the Guinness Book of World Records just a few days before it turned one month old.
Additionally, it would become an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark in 2004 for its powerful influence it had on the amusement park industry.
Awards and Recognition for This Cedar Point Roller Coaster
Magnum XL has since been named in multiple awards categories over the past 30+ years.
At Golden Ticket Awards, its been in the top 5 of the Top Steel Coaster category between 1998-2007, being number one in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
From 2007 to 2013, it was all about staying in the top 10, but then it settled into the top 25 after 2013.
With NAPHA (National Amusement Park Historical Association), Magnum totally rocked it by landing in the top 3 of the Favorite Steel Roller Coaster category from 2005 to 2010. And hey, it even scored a tie for second place in this category in 2019.
It would hold the record for:
- World’s tallest complete circuit coaster up until 1994 (beaten by Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in England, also an Arrow Dynamics creation)
- The World’s Longest Roller Coaster Drop and World’s Fastest Roller Coaster until 1991 (beaten by Steel Phantom at Kennywood Park)
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Magnum XL-200 Roller Coaster Stats
Let’s chat about its stats. Bear in mind that Magnum XL-200 is 30+ years old and many coasters have surpassed it in the following years.
However its impact in the industry is important and should be recognized.
- Launch/Lift System: Chain Lift Hill
- Height: 205 ft (feet)
- Drop: 194.7 ft
- Length: 5,106 ft
- Speed: 72 MPH (miles per hour)
- Inversions: 0
- Ride Time: 2 Mins
- Trains: 3 trains with 6 cars
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What to Expect on Magnum XL-200
Magnum XL-200’s track has of a tubular steel spine connected by struts to tubular steel running rails.
Similar to other Arrow coasters back then, parts of Magnum’s track were hand-welded in position without using computer-assisted design.
Due to this, transitions throughout the ride were (and are) bumpy and not smooth. However the ride overall is a good time from my personal experiences!
When the train chugs away from the station, it rumbles over the walkway and slopes down a bit into a sharp turn. Then it veers to the right and the chain kicks in to pull the train uphill, cruising at 6mph.
This begins the 205-foot ascent to the top of the lift hill. The train goes down the 194.7 feet hill at a 60-degree angle, reaching its top speed of 72 miles per hour.
The train then goes up a 157-foot camelback hill, going towards the first tunnel.
As the train comes out of the tunnel, it goes up another 80-foot hill and then slows down a bit after the third hill before heading into a cool pretzel-shaped turnaround.
Magnum goes left toward the beach, then left again into another tunnel.
After that, the train goes over seven airtime hills and into a third tunnel before reaching a mid-course brake run.
You’ll then go to the left as you go back over the walkway to Cedar Point Shores. Following a left turn, you’ll enter the final brake run that’s followed by a 90-degree right turn back into the station.
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My Final Thoughts and Review on the Magnum XL-200 Roller Coaster
Magnum XL-200, to today’s standards, wouldn’t necessarily be the most thrilling coaster for some.
Me personally, it still gives me butterflies going up the very first top hill and throughout the entire experience.
But given its storied history, experience and impact, you cannot deny that it has been an absolute credit in the revitalization of Cedar Point and the roller coaster industry as a whole.
It has managed to break barriers, leave its mark with ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) and with the general public.
To this day, guests visiting Cedar Point still have this coaster on their must-do list.
I’ll end with saying, don’t count Magnum XL-200 out when you visit Cedar Point!
Have you ridden this coaster before? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
Victoria is a professional solo traveler here to make your solo trips as stress free AND enjoyable as possible for you.
She has over 5 years of Disney and Non-Disney travel experience and was featured by POPSUGAR as one of the Top 50 Black Disney Creators you should follow.
She is a Proud Native to Baltimore, Md but always will call Disney World home.