Maverick (roller coaster)

Maverick's footings dot the former Swan Boat pond. Photo taken May 13, 2006

After the closure of the 2005 season in October, the White Water Landing log flume ride was retired.[7] Although the ride was disassembled, the station was left intact and now serves as Maverick's on-ride photo booth and queue.[3] 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.[8] 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.[9] On July 16, 2006, the first steel supports were erected.[5] On the week of August 16, 2006, the first track segments were installed.[10] On September 11, 2006, the crest of the lift hill was added, thereby topping off the ride.[11] Track installation was completed on October 28, 2006[12] and the first phase of testing began in January 2007.[13]

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 (12 m) 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.[4] On May 17, 2007, the heartline roll was removed and was replaced with an s-curve.[14] 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.[15] On the same day, Cedar Point officials also announced that Maverick would debut on May 26.[16]

Maverick train and first airtime hill

Two trains are loaded and dispatched simultaneously. The front train is launched while the rear train sits at the bottom of the lift hill. Once the front train has reached the tunnel, the rear train is launched. The ride starts out with a LSM launch up a 105-foot (32 m) hill at 20 degrees. At the top of the hill, the train drops 100 feet (30 m) at a 95 degree angle. The train reaches a speed of 57 miles per hour (92 km/h) then goes through a series of banked turns, twisting right, left, and then right again. It then goes over a 74-foot (23 m) airtime hill, followed by a turn to the right into the Twisted Horseshoe Roll that features two 360-degree corkscrew rolls, back-to-back, with a 180-degree banked curve between the two corkscrews. The train then makes a turn to the right into the tunnel, which features special effects such as blue LED strips.[3][17][18]

From the tunnel, which is underneath the station, the train is launched at 70 miles per hour (110 km/h), traveling for 400 feet (120 m). At the end of the tunnel, it goes up a hill with trim brakes, followed by a high-banked curve. The train then goes through a turn to the right into a canyon with an S-curve (where the heartline roll was originally supposed to be installed). 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 overbanked turn followed by an airtime hill. The train then turns to the right into the brake run.[3][17][18] One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes and 30 seconds.[3]

Maverick train exiting the first canyon

Maverick features six three-car steam-era style trains that seat twelve passengers each. The trains have tiered seating and are named and colored as follows: Bret, Brass; Brent, Gunmetal; Ben, Iron; Beau, Gold; Bart, Silver; Sam, Copper.[19] The restraint system, similar to Accelerator Coasters, includes a hydraulic over the shoulder harness and an interlocking seat belt. The station features an elevated dual unloading and loading platform enabling two trains to be loaded and unloaded simultaneously.[3] Maverick features western music, contributing to the western theme.[20] There is also an elevator shaft designed to look like a silo, that also contributes to the western theme.[21] The passenger height restriction was initially set to a minimum of 48 inches (120 cm). In May 2007, the height restriction was raised to a minimum of 52 inches (130 cm) per recommendations made by Intamin.[1][16] At the 2015 Winter Chill Out, Cedar Point announced that the traditional over the shoulder restraints would be replaced with the soft vest style restraints seen on Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion.[22]