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Ultimate Rollercoaster > Roller Coasters > Where to Coast™ > Cedar Point > Top Thrill Dragster

Top Thrill Dragster

Cedar Point

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On August 1, 2023 Cedar Point announced the permanent closure of the original Top Thrill Dragster and will instead relaunch the roller coaster as a brand-new experience in 2024.

Thrillseekers: this one's for you! Cedar Point amazed scream machine buffs the world over with the debut of Top Thrill Dragster in 2003, and at the time the tallest and fastest roller coaster on Earth. This 420-foot tall, 120-mph steel roller coaster is Cedar Point's 16th scream machine. Top Thrill Dragster is an Intamin "Rocket Coaster" featuring a hydraulic launch that shoots the trains from zero to 120 miles-per-hour in just 4 seconds. The 16-passenger trains then "reach for the sky" as they climb up a 420-foot tall tower, twisting 90 degrees while ascending. Cresting the apex atop 42 stories the train starts a 400-foot vertical drop with a 270-degree spiral twist. While in descent the coaster once again reaches speeds in excess of 100 miles-per-hour!

Roller Coaster Stats

Year Track Type Designer
2003 Steel Launched Out and Back Intamin AG
  • Height
    420
    feet
  • Drop
    400
    feet
  • Angle Of Descent
    90°
    degrees
  • Length
    2,800
    feet
  • Top Speed
    120
    miles per hour
  • Launch
    Hydraulic
    propulsion
  • Ride Capacity
    1500
    riders per hour
  • Number Of Trains
    6 - 18 passenger
     
  • Train Designer
    Intamin
     

Top Thrill Dragster Facts & History

Features: Magnetic braking system; 90-degree twist on ascent; 270-degree spiral on descent

Launch: 0 to 120 mph in 4 seconds

August 15, 2021 – Ride is shut down indefinitely after an incident with the launch mechanism. Top Thrill Dragster remained shuttered for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but will reopen as a new roller coaster in 2024.

The last car of each train was modified by removing the fin and adding a second row, increasing train capacity from 16 to 18 passengers.

Opening date: May 4, 2003

Estimated cost: $25 million

Train has five cars with two rows each, seating two abreast per row, except the first car has only one row.

Height requirement: Riders must be at least 52 inches tall

Where to Coast

Visit Cedar Point to ride this roller coaster.

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