The Maverick debuted at Cedar Point in 2006 when it replaced the old water ride, White Water Landing. It was the seventeenth roller coaster built since the Blue Streak in 1969.
While it does not look like all the record-breaking coasters along the Cedar Point skyline, it is possibly the most unique and creative.
It was the 3rd most expensive ride in the park, and the track is the fourth longest in the park. Its hill is small but steep, making it the steepest coaster in the park.
History of the Maverick
Maverick sits on the former site of White Water Landing. After White Water Landing closed on October 31, 2005, construction on Maverick began. On January 24, 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company filed a trademark for the name Maverick.
The project became known officially and colloquially as "Project 2007" until the announcement on September 7, 2006.
After the closure of the 2005 season in October, the White Water Landing log flume ride was retired. Although the ride was disassembled, the station was left intact and now serves as Maverick's on-ride photo booth and queue.
Beginning in February 2006, concrete footers were poured on the former White Water Landing site, as well as in the pond that once housed Cedar Point's Swan Boat ride.
In May 2006, track segments arrived in a fenced area near the park's off-site hotel, formerly named Breakers Express, renamed Express Hotel. Initially, Cedar Point covered track segments with blue tarps.
On July 16, 2006, the first steel supports were erected. On the week of August 16, 2006, the first track segments were installed.
On September 11, 2006, the crest of the lift hill was added, thereby topping off the ride. Track installation was completed on October 28, 2006, and the first phase of testing began in January 2007.
On May 8, 2007, four days before Maverick was scheduled to debut, park general manager John Hildebrant announced that the ride would be delayed until early June because three 40-foot track sections after the second launch needed to be replaced.
These sections made up the heartline roll element and put excessive stress on the trains, which also might have caused discomfort to passengers due to high g-forces. On May 17, 2007, the heartline roll was removed and replaced with an s-curve.
The s-curve transitions the existing track from a banked right curve to a banked left curve. Installation of the s-curve was completed on May 24, and final testing and licensing of the attraction resumed.
On the same day, Cedar Point officials also announced that Maverick would debut on May 26.
Overview
Two trains are loaded and dispatched simultaneously. One train is launched while the other sits at the bottom of the lift hill. Once the first train has reached the tunnel, the second train is launched.
The ride starts out with an LSM launch up a 105-foot hill at 20 degrees. At the top of the hill, the train drops 100 feet at a 95-degree angle.
The train reaches a speed of 57 miles per hour, then makes a turn to the right, then turns to the left through a canyon then another turn to the right.
It then goes over a 74-foot airtime hill, followed by a turn to the right into the Twisted Horseshoe Roll, which features two 360-degree corkscrew rolls.
The train then makes a turn to the right into the tunnel, where it is launched 400 feet at 70 miles per hour under the station.
The tunnel features special effects such as blue LED strips. At the end of the tunnel is a sharp turn to the left, followed by a turn to the right into a canyon with a S-curve. Water bombs shoot off as the train enters the canyon.
The train then passes under the lift hill through an over-banked turn at 92 degrees. It then turns to the right into another over-banked turn followed by an airtime hill.
The train then turns to the right into the brake run.
One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Conclusion
The first time I strapped on the harness for the Maverick roller coaster was with my stepdaughter, Marlie.
We waited in line for a couple of hours to ride it, and when we got to the top, there was a temporary shutdown that made us wait longer.
She would not get out of line, so we stayed there until the line started moving again. When we got on the ride, I was expecting a fun ride, but nothing compared to the Top Thrill Dragster, Millennium Force, or even the Magnum.
Boy, was I surprised?
The first hill was short, but since it was so steep, it felt much larger. We went through loops and turns until a tunnel.
The tunnel then revved up the hydraulic and sped us up to over 70 MPH to get us through the rest of the ride. At the end of the ride, I was completely satisfied and wanted to go again. I just thought it was a great thrill.
The line for the Maverick roller coaster is long, and it is one of the most popular rides in the park. Expect to wait.
I recommend riding the Maverick first since the line is not as long in the mornings.