The Rougrarou roller coaster debuted in 2015. Originally, it was announced in 2014 and would be taking the place of the Mantis.
Later that year, it was announced that the Mantis track would stay but that it would be re-purposed. A new floorless train would be added, and the standup trains would become obsolete.
Since its debut, the Rougarou roller coaster has seen many positive reviews and seems to have revitalized a great track.
Problems with the Mantis
The Mantis debuted in the mid-90s as the tallest and fastest standup roller coaster in the world, but negative reviews of the ride had left the Mantis queue line a ghost town.
While the Raptor remains one of the most popular rides, the Mantis was a walk-on. If anyone rode the Mantis, then they would know it was a difficult ride to get through. The G-forces of the ride put so much pressure on the rider's legs that there were often leg cramps.
The first time I rode the Mantis, my calf cramped up after the first inversion, and my focus shifted from enjoying the ride to surviving the ride.
Another complaint of the Mantis was the bicycle seat. Male riders found the seat uncomfortable and could be seen waddling away from the ride after their manhood took a beating.
The seat could get locked in awkward positions, causing further discomfort.
This was unfortunate because the ride showed so much promise, and if you managed to get through the ride without any discomfort, it was a great ride.
There was nothing wrong with the track, but after two decades of beatings, the higher-ups at Cedar Point opted for a change.
At first, I was skeptical, but now I believe it was the right move. The reviews I have heard of the Rougarou roller coaster have been positive, and it provides a new experience.
Layout
The ride starts when the train makes its way up the 145-foot lift hill. Once the train reaches the top, it makes a littlest. Then, the train comes to a complete stop dip and then goes through a right-hand turnaround, leading into the first drop.
Riders then drop 137 feet at a 52-degree angle, reaching a top speed of 60 miles per hour. Coming out of the first drop, the train travels into the first inversion, a 119-foot vertical loop. Next, the train rises into a 103-foot dive loop. Following this, the train enters a non-inverting, highly banked 360-degree turn.
Following the 360-degree turn, riders enter an 83-foot inclined loop – a standard loop tilted at a 45-degree angle. From here, the ride makes an up-hand right turn into the mid-course brake run.
At this point, the track drops into a Corkscrew and finishes off with a figure-eight turn. The train then enters the final brake run and heads back into the station.
My Experience on the Rougarou Roller Coaster
As I said earlier, I was skeptical of the Rougarou roller coaster. I thought it showed a lack of innovation to simply re-purpose another ride, but after riding the coaster, I realized that there was nothing wrong with the ride. Just needed a change.
The floorless train makes a huge difference. The ride is smooth and provides a great thrill. From a management perspective, it allows Cedar Point to use its space wisely and quickly re-purpose one ride while it plans a brand new roller coaster for 2016.