• Cedar Point announces Gatekeeper for 2013

    by
    Katie
    Published on 08-13-2012 03:40 PM
    14 Comments Comments


    The skyline is sure changing at Cedar Point right now. Earlier this year, the park has announced the closures of Wildcat (a Schwarzkopf coaster), Disaster Transport (an Intamin bobsled coaster) and Space Spiral. While Wildcat is in a different area, it is surely missed by everyone. Disaster Transport has been almost torn down. While the facade still stands (for now), the ride is being scrapped with few items being donated to the National Roller Coaster Museum.

    So....to what you all have been waiting for. Gatekeeper. While Cedar Point had a little "oopsie" on Saturday evening, the official announcement is taking place as we speak (3:30pm EST).

    Gatekeeper will sweep over the main entrance of the park and will drastically change the front area of the park and give a better and more open view of the beach area (near Wicked Twister).

    The newest addition to the park will be built by Bolliger and Mabillard coasters and is a "wing rider" type coaster with the seating on the edges of the track (like Wild Eagle and X-Flight).

    Some facts about the ride:

    -Teal track, white supports
    -64 miles per hour
    -Double key hole element
    -170 feet tall
    -Longest drop on a wing rider
    -4164 feet long
    -Will have no B&M roar
    -6 inversions (1-Dive Drop, 2-Immelmann, 3-Giant Corkscrew, 4-Zero-g Roll, 5-Inclined Dive Loop, 6-Zero-g Roll)

    Stay with us as we receive the information from Cedar Point in their official press release. You can also visit their website for information as well.
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    Comments 14 Comments
    1. coasterlove - 08-13-2012, 03:49 PM
      How many inversions? It was hard to tell for sure from the video.
    1. Katie - 08-13-2012, 03:50 PM
      They didn't release that in the video. It looks to be 6 but we aren't sure yet as we don't have their press release yet.
    1. steel - 08-13-2012, 03:59 PM
      1-Dive Drop
      2-Immelmann
      3-Giant Corkscrew
      4-Zero-g Roll
      5-Immelmann
      6-Zero-g Roll

      It looks amazing!! All the best bits of X-Flight and Wild Eagle, plus the flyover, the coastline, and the gorgeous coloring!
    1. Katie - 08-13-2012, 04:01 PM
      Thanks steel, will update the story.
    1. steel - 08-13-2012, 04:03 PM
      Sorry, the 5th should actually be an Inclined Dive Loop.
      http://www.cedarpoint.com/gatekeeper is now unlocked.
    1. APE - 08-13-2012, 04:06 PM
      Love the way this ride looks and cannot wait to get my first ride on it next season. Really the only negative I have is the name gatekeeper is kind of lame but that is a complaint that doesn't matter.
    1. amnesiac - 08-13-2012, 04:26 PM
      Looks like a great addition to the Point!
    1. tornbretto - 08-13-2012, 04:30 PM
      What hasn't been mentioned in the press release (unless some other park beats it before opening) is that at 170 feet, that will be the worlds Tallest Inversion (Volcano holds it at 155 presently).
    1. Joe R - 08-13-2012, 05:14 PM
      I thought one of the Skyloop Mauer Rides held it at like, 165

      Edit: Nope, Volcano has highest inversion at 155ft. This would be the tallest inversion at 164 feet.
    1. Leo C - 08-14-2012, 10:17 AM
      Oh noes: after the MCBR it has a similar course as Behemoth and Intimidator. If the trains didn't restrict the corkscrews to just being wide I would have wanted a small corkscrew there. Maybe an inline should have been placed there. Cedar Point though will warrant the high capacity for the coaster since it's in the front of the park so I see why the MCBR is there.
    1. Brian H - 08-14-2012, 11:04 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Joe R View Post
      Edit: Nope, Volcano has highest inversion at 155ft. This would be the tallest inversion at 164 feet.
      The inversion should take place at 170 feet, the height of the coaster, not 164 which is the length of the first drop? Or somewhere in-between, as there needs to be a decline after the end of the lift?
    1. tornbretto - 08-14-2012, 01:48 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by APE View Post
      Love the way this ride looks and cannot wait to get my first ride on it next season. Really the only negative I have is the name gatekeeper is kind of lame but that is a complaint that doesn't matter.
      The 6th (Final Inversion) isn't a Zero G roll either. According to the site and press release, it is just a 360 degree In-Line Roll.

      And yes, the first inversion height is at 170 feet.
    1. Leo C - 08-19-2012, 11:11 AM
      Hydra at Dorney should have been a wing rider because it travels too slow to be a floorless. Since Gatekeeper lacks a true traditional loop it reminded me of Hydra. I also had a flashback moment to Drachen Fire: the big airtime hill after the first drop element. If only Drachen Fire was that original B&M it was supposed to be.
    1. Brian H - 08-20-2012, 12:29 PM
      I didn't mind that Hydra was a little on the slow side, it still packs a punch, enough to need a break between walk on rides for me.