The World's Tallest, Fastest and Longest Dive Coaster is Coming to Cedar Point

September 9, 2015 at 11:53 AM · I think this calls for another trip to Ohio!

September 9, 2015 at 12:41 PM · I think B&M is finally figuring out how to make dive coasters interesting all the way through the ride experience. Yay for Cedar Point!

September 9, 2015 at 12:53 PM · Meh...Not terribly impressed by this one. I was hoping Cedar Point would really kick it up a notch, but it's only slightly taller than Sheikra (200 feet) and Griffon (205 feet). I guess I'm fine that they really didn't make a big jump in the coaster style, but then they didn't bother to do anything else with the design aside from going through an Immelman backwards (dive loop) and throw in a roll. There's no terrain, tunnels, or anything else that make dive coasters interesting. Aside from the first drop, the sensations on dive coasters are very broad and sweeping, so in order to make the ride more interesting, the use of terrain and standing features need to be used. Cedar Point does nothing here, and takes the Six Flags approach with no trenches, tunnels, or even close calls with the supports.

Overall, I'm very disappointed with this announcement. I expected far better from Cedar Point, especially with B&M's 100th installation.

September 9, 2015 at 2:01 PM ·

I think this will be a great addition to Cedar Point, but like Russel said, it's not terribly impressive

September 9, 2015 at 2:01 PM · I'm not sure I completely agree Russell. Griffon is one of my favorite rollercoasters of all time, and I'm lucky enough to have been to both Busch Gardens' and Cedar Point, among dozens of other parks. My argument would be that Valravn gives the "midwest" a phenomenal ride to millions of riders that might not otherwise get to ride on the east coast. Even if it was a mirror image of Griffon, Cedar Pointers should be excited, and it's not. It's a slight step-up with some extra elements. Most people don't get to go to all the country's best parks like you and me ;)

September 9, 2015 at 3:24 PM · I like it.... and that first drop looks to have an amazing view. Perhaps the Rao's and the Koehl's might have to have to plan another CP meet, say May of 2016, Jim? (Provided Valravn is complete by then, of course).

September 9, 2015 at 3:52 PM · Could Valravn have been a better fit for another Cedar Fair park? Possibly. However, if my experience with Griffon is anything to go by Cedar Point is getting another top tier coaster. My guess is this will dethrone Raptor as the park's best B&M and I think this could be the best dive coaster built to date. I'm not sure if I'll make it back to Cedar Point next year or not (Dollywood is still priority #1 for 2016), but I definitely look forward to riding this when I do visit the park again.

September 9, 2015 at 4:16 PM · I'm not too impressed. It is missing a lot of cool elements that other Dive coasters have, like splashdowns and over banked turns. Also, I hate that the MCBR kills all the momentum. Overall, it will probably be the best B&M in the park and will be a good coaster, however Cedar Point could have done a MUCH better job with this.

September 9, 2015 at 5:18 PM · The coaster itself is perfectly fine, B&M makes quality products, but I had been hopeful that they would have done more with that part of the park like put in something like Harmony Hall at Carowinds. I suppose that and the Triotech dark ride might still happen soon enough.

Also, I wish they could have been a bit more forgiving to that section of the park, namely the walkway to the marina with the old-timey globe lamp posts and trees. It clearly won't look anything like that next year.

September 9, 2015 at 6:36 PM · It may turn out to be an excellent coaster, but the name is truly awful. Valravn?? It looks and sounds like a random mishmash of letters -- maybe someone's password? Are they going to tell us how to pronounce it?

September 9, 2015 at 6:53 PM · This should be a good ride for those who don't live on the East Coast. I actually think that dive coasters are a lot of fun, regardless of terrain or special effects. One gets a spectacular view while hanging over the drop but having ridden both Griffon and Sheikra, it's a case of been there done that, and I wouldn't rush out to Ohio to ride Valravn. IMHO what Cedar Point really needs is a wooden coaster of the calibre of El Toro, Outlaw Run or Boulder Dash.

September 9, 2015 at 11:46 PM · Cedar Point practically is on the East Coast.

September 10, 2015 at 1:13 AM · Val-RAY-ven. According to that source of all knowledge, Wikipedia, "valravn (Danish "raven of the slain") is a supernatural raven. The ravens appear in traditional Danish folksongs, where they are described as originating from ravens who consume the bodies of the dead on the battlefield, as capable of turning into the form of a knight after consuming the heart of a child, and, alternately, as half-wolf and half-raven creatures." It fits right into the other happy names of Cedar Point coasters (Raptor, Rougarou (werewolf in Creole),Wicked Twister). I was surprised that they put in into the space already cleared when they removed the old Cedar Point Cinema/Good Time Theater building and moved some other rides. I thought they would also remove the old Cedars Hotel (now employee dorms). Perhaps that will still happen in the future, since it would open up another large area for expansion.

As far as tunnels not being included, if you actually mean underground tunnels, I don't think that would be feasible at Cedar Point. Much of the ground is extremely sandy, and the water table is extremely high. I guess we'll just have to settle for speed, height and magnificent views.

I couldn't go to the formal announcement due to work conflict (but I was invited this time, unlike for Rougarou) so as I hear more I'll try to pass it on. After Cedar Point went for years without a new coaster, having 2 1/2 new ones in three years is spectacular. Do they need a major wooden upgrade/addition? Sure, but we're in Ohio, where the state motto is "There's always next year".

September 10, 2015 at 6:41 AM · @James - Tunnels don't necessarily need to be underground to be effective. Sheikra's tunnel is only about 8 feet below grade, but goes beneath the splashdown pool, so it appears deeper. Cedar Point did great work with Maverick to create near misses and plenty of terrain despite not dramatically reworking the land. I feel that they're really missing the boat here by not giving this coaster something (anything) to give the coaster a sense of place. This is a lazy, "coaster in a parking lot", installation. Fury 325 doesn't have a whole lot of theming, and neither do Gatekeeper or Banshee (Cedar Fair's other recent B&M installations), but they have enough to make them unique - Fury has the dive under the entrance (which incidentally cost a lot of money because they hit a natural spring), Gatekeeper has the thread the needle elements at the front of the park, and Banshee uses the hilly terrain to create larger than expected drops and speeds on the second half of the ride.

Cedar Point really dropped the ball with this. They could have done so much more like create a pedestrian bridge over the first drop (like Griffon), built a tube/tunnel for one of the drops (like Sheikra), or have it interact with Raptor (both birds of prey after all). I'll probably go to Cedar Point to check it out next summer, but I'd be going for the park as a whole, not specifically for Valravn.

@Juan - The MCBR sets up a second near vertical drop, so while it seems like it's killing the speed, it deliberate and necessary to set up the anticipation of the second drop. Both Griffon and Sheikra have this feature, and while the train doesn't "hang" (on the first/main drop the train never actually comes to a complete stop since it hooks into a slow-moving chain that moves the train over the edge until the chain dogs let go) on the second drop like on the first one, slowing down makes that second near vertical drop far more effective.

Also, it has come out that this will use the new B&M OTSRs (like on Gatekeeper and Banshee) with the soft padded vest under the stiff shoulder harness. I don't know how I feel about that, because I find the new style OTSRs more psychologically restrictive, meaning that first drop may not be as effective as on Griffon and Sheikra. Because of the wider restraints, the trains will only have 3 rows of 8 seats, meaning capacity could be an issue, particularly during the first month of so of the season and on busy weekends.

September 11, 2015 at 7:49 AM · This will be a great investment for Cedar Point. A lot of you are comparing this B&M dive coaster to the others in regards to themeing. But you can't forget that Cedar Fair is an Amusement park not a Theme park. Cedar Fair parks, if you notice, place there rides so that you are passing over the midway and close to other guest. This way even spectators get thrills by having coasters pass with in feet. There is nothing better then walking along the midway and seeing the faces of riders. It builds your anticipation for the ride it's self. So yes this will be an excellent addition to the park. As for the parks best B&M I believe gatekeeper will hold that record with the several near misses and keyhole features. Keep up the record breaking Cedar Point.

September 11, 2015 at 5:19 PM · Looks like Sheikra Busch Gardens Tampa

September 12, 2015 at 1:45 PM · Seems like a good coaster - it doesn't make me want to drop everything and go, though.

September 14, 2015 at 4:06 AM · This coaster doesn't seem to come close to 75mph in the video.