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Anticipation over the opening of Top Thrill 2 has been building for months, as crews worked at what many enthusiasts call the “mecca of the coaster world.” Cedar Point continued its legacy of innovation by bringing in Zamperla to help reimagine
what was already a thrilling ride and taking it to the next level.
The original Top Thrill Dragster was a thrill seeker’s dream with its hydraulic launch system that shot riders from 0–120 mph in 3.8 seconds over the top hat and spiraling down back to the station. It was an intense experience like no other
in its time. When Top Thrill Dragster closed in August of 2021, enthusiasts were heartbroken and wondered if it would ever make a comeback.
The top hat remained tall and proud over barriers that were placed around the ride. Every passing guest shared their ride experience and their hope that it was not gone forever. In the summer of 2023, Cedar Point began teasing that something new was in
the works. It was not until August of that year that Cedar Point announced the partnership with Zamperla to introduce the first-of-its-kind, triple-launch strata coaster, Top Thrill 2. Top Thrill 2 brings riders up to the starting
line and with its first launch, sends them forward at 74 mph about a third of the way up the tracks before sending them backward in what feels like a rollback, until the second launch. The second launch catches many riders off guard as it sends them
even faster in reverse at 101 mph up the spike for a weightless lift out of their seat. Gravity then takes over and brings riders toward the station once again. As the third launch punches them forward at 120 mph, they are sent over the top hat, nearly
standing the entire time, after which they are whipped into a tight spiral and experience a head chopper that has them ducking.
As ACE members stood in the queue and awaited their next ride, nothing but positive feedback filled the station. Many members spoke about the uniqueness of the ride, while others shared the nostalgic aspect of the queue music being the same songs as for
Top Thrill Dragster, but appropriately remixed. Walking into the queue for the first time since the original Dragster went down was an emotional time for many, including one of ACE’s newest members who said, “Walking up that queue,
I was crying tears of joy. All the memories of the old ride experience came back to me, combined with the anticipation of what the experience was to come.” Another member commented, “I am over the moon with what Zamperla has done here. It was so much
better than I had hoped it could be.” The joy, the excitement, the appreciation of what has taken place at Cedar Point was felt by all visiting the park and will continue as each new rider takes their first ride.
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