Cedar Point released a teaser today for what may be on the way to “America’s Roller Coast” in 2015.
In the video, entitled “Darkness Falls on #12,” Cedar Point tells us “Goodbye is never easy…in this case it is.”
A grim reaper walks through the Mantis station, and an eerie voice asks “Ever wonder why you should never step on a Mantis?”
Riders are encouraged to “take one last stand” before Mantis gets “squashed” on October 19.
In a press release on the Cedar Point website, Jason McClure, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point was quoted as saying. “It’s time to say goodbye to one of the park’s coasters, and it’s certainly been a different kind of ride for our guests, but we’re extremely excited about what the future holds here at the Roller Coaster Capital of the World.”
Mantis, one of only 7 Bolliger and Mabillard stand-up coasters in the world, originally opened at Cedar Point in 1996, and set several records among stand-up roller coasters when it opened. These records included height at 145 feet , speed at 60 mph, and steepness at 52°. It was also the first roller coaster in the world to feature an inclined loop, and the first dive loop on a stand-up coaster.
Earlier this summer, a portion of Mantis’ track was repainted from the ride’s red, yellow, and blue color scheme, instead featuring a lime green spine. Is this a sign of what’s to come at Cedar Point?
Full details for Cedar Point’s 2015 Plans will be released at a later date.
What do you think will happen at Cedar Point in 2015? Will Mantis really be squashed? Will it go floorless? Will Cedar Point finally build their long-awaited King James Coaster? Let us know in the comments below!
Story header photo via coaster-net.com
Screamscape rumors say that Mantis will become a floorless coaster, I personally don’t like this, it’s almost like the whole Hades 360 thing to an extent. Though the only thing that’s different is this isn’t new, Vampire at Chessington in the UK recived a new set of Vekoma suspended trains despite being an Arrow designed suspended coaster (why Big Bad Wolf was removed for the waste of land Verbolten with this eludes me) and Siekra didn’t start with the floorless trains. Other examples include Drachen Fire, both Demons so this isn’t as out there as it might seem.
All the signs look to be a remake of mantis with a name change and a paint job. But I wonder if Cedar Point has more planed for the 2015 season than the rumored floor less train replacement. Maybe something like backwards trains and a whole lot of themeing. Or a whole other attraction plus the remake of Mantis. I’m excited to see what is to happen.
I would not be surprised if Cedar Point remade Mantis, The park does not have enough B&M rides so they should really keep the stand- up coaster. Im not really sure if Cedar Point has anything entirely new in store for 2015 but if they do it is probably really bizzare because all the other Cedar Fair parks have the same sort of rides but Cedar Point is kinda random.
Canada’s Wonderland has since closed TOGO stand-up coaster SkyRider after 29 years. Now Cedar Point is closing B&M stand-up coaster Mantis.
In the case of SkyRider coaster, it’s unclear if another theme park has expressed interest in saving the TOGO-manufactured ride… or if the ride is to be scrapped, with pieces to be donated to National Rollercoaster Museum, and remaining pieces be sold as replacement parts for other TOGO coasters.
In the case of Mantis, I may be leaning toward flagship Cedar Fair park converting it into a floorless coaster… stand-up trains being phased out in favor of new sit-down floorless trains… and the ride getting new name. I doubt that CP would want to remove the coaster entirely, and it be sent to another Cedar Fair park as a hand-me-down.
Stand-up coasters still in existence in North America… Cedar Fair parks: Shockwave at King’s Dominion, Vortex at California’s Great America, and Vortex at Carowinds. Six Flags parks: Apocalypse at Six Flags America (formerly Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America), Cobra at La Ronde, Georgia Scorcher at Six Flags Over Georgia, Green Lantern at Six Flags Great Adventures (formerly Chang at Kentucky Kingdom), and Riddler’s Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Shockwave at KD is TOGO-manufactured, and Cobra at LR is Intamin-manufactured. Rest are B&M’s.
I just rode Mantus on it’s last day and not sorry to see it go. It is too rough in the back as a stand up. Still, there are so many bad, outdated coasters at CP; this one is not the worst.
Mantis was a better and more original name. What other coaster is the world is called Mantis?? They should’ve converted the trains and kept the name. Paint track bright green/yellow with Rougarou’s dark green supports. I dont like the name and alot of people stumble over it and dont know what a rougarou even is. Oh well. I guess we’re stuck with it. Ps: coming off lift hill doesnt tickle belly as well as stand up but it is more comfy to ride for sure.