After announcing that Mantis will be “squashed” this offseason, Cedar Point has announced the name of their 2015 Project, Rougaro.
Named after a terrifying werewolf-like creature in French folklore, Rougarou [roo-guh-roo] feeds on screams and lurks in and around the swampy lagoon at the center of the park, shared with other coasters like Iron Dragon and Top Thrill Dragster.
In a YouTube video first posted to Twitter by Tony Clark, Director of Communications at Cedar Point, jungle drums play while a message says “They said it couldn’t be done. A rumor lurking in the lagoon. For over ten years. But the rumor is finally true” The video then showcases some ride footage, with the track color morphing, and the trains changing from stand-up to floorless. It ends with the phrase “It Feeds on Screams.”
“Rougarou is going to be a fantastic addition to our coaster lineup and our guests are going to love it,” said Jason McClure, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point. “With the swampy waters below, the vibrant colors of the supports and track, lighting and other effects, it will be a ride like no other at the park.”
Mantis’ Red, Yellow, and Blue track will be repainted a bright orange with dark blue supports. The track layout will remain the same, and will feature 4 inversions, and speeds approaching 60 mph.
For more information on Rougaro, stay tuned to Coaster101.com or visit CedarPoint.com.
I’m kind of torn about this, on one hand i find it neat as they’re taking a bad ride and turning it into something better (I’ve never been to Cedar Point so i wouldn’t know myself), but on the other hand i hope this doesn’t snowball. What i mean by that is that the other B&M stand ups like Green Lantern, Georgia Scorcher, both Vortexes with the others take the same path. I found Scorcher to be a little rough and not the best ride, but that was because the ‘seat’ locked into a place that my feet barley touched the floor. I might be overthinking this as no other wooden coaster (so far) has gone through the same treatment that Hades went. But i just hope that Pandora’s Box hasn’t been opened this time, stand ups are rare these days with Skyrider north of the border closing and supposedly bought by some park, these aren’t common rides. The same could be said about the floorless coasters as there are only 12 of them not counting this one. I don’t want this to become a trend and erase one type of coaster completely.
I forgot to add that i actually did enjoy Scorcher despite the slight roughness and bad ‘seat’ placement so I’d be upset if they’d do the same to it. Though i wouldn’t be as upset with that when compared to them removing the masterpiece of force and smoothness that is Mindbender, my #1 roller coaster of all-time. I also found Goliath to be a little rough.