Things to Do

Must Do CLE: An Ode To The Magnum XL-200

Why a ride on the steel roller coaster still leaves us breathless.

by James Bigley II | Apr. 1, 2020 | 12:00 PM

Cedar Point

Cedar Point

Before opening on May 6, 1989, Cedar Point touted the wild thrills of the Magnum XL-200, promising for an out-of-this-world experience. It didn’t disappoint. With former NASA mechanical engineer Ron Toomer as its designer, it garnered world records for being the fastest (70mph) and tallest (201 feet) coaster at the time. As a kid, the slow and steady racket of the belt click-click-clicking as you’re pulled up that first monstrous hill was enough to make your hair stand on end. More than 30 years later, plummeting down the first drop still feels like falling off the edge of the world. After being thrown down three steel tunnels and taken through a twisted out-and-back run along the shores of Lake Erie, it still has the power to leave you breathless. cedarpoint.com

Get the Latest in Your Inbox

Whether you're looking for daily news bites, the latest bites or bite-sized adventures, the Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter experiences have something for everyone.