Top Thrill 2
| Top Thrill 2 | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Top Thrill Dragster (2003–2023) | |
The top hat and its supports of Top Thrill 2 | |
| Cedar Point | |
| Location | Cedar Point |
| Park section | Top Thrill 2 Midway |
| Coordinates | 41°29′2.25″N 82°41′10.38″W / 41.4839583°N 82.6862167°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Soft opening date | April 25, 2024 |
| Opening date | May 4, 2024 |
| Cost | $25 million |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Launched |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | LSM Lightning Launch Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | LSM |
| Height | 420 ft (130 m) |
| Drop | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Speed | 120 mph (190 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 2 minutes |
| Max vertical angle | 90° |
| Height restriction | 52 in (132 cm) |
| Original manufacturer | Intamin |
| Redesigned by | Zamperla |
Fast Lane Plus only available | |
| Top Thrill 2 at RCDB | |
| Video | |
Top Thrill 2 is a launched roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. The ride originally opened as Top Thrill Dragster in 2003, becoming the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, as well as the first ever strata coaster. The original was an Accelerator Coaster model from Intamin designed by Werner Stengel, featuring a height of 420 feet (130 m) and a drop distance of 400 feet (120 m). It could accelerate from 0 to 120 mph (190 km/h) in 3.8 seconds and was themed to Top Fuel drag racing, with a launch track designed to resemble a dragstrip. Although its height and speed records were surpassed by Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2005, the ride consistently ranked as one of the world's top steel coasters.
Following a serious incident in 2021, in which a guest was severely injured while standing in line, Top Thrill Dragster was abruptly shut down and remained closed with an uncertain future. Nearly two years later, Zamperla was hired to create a new version of the ride, adding a second 420-foot (130 m) tower and replacing Intamin's hydraulic launch in favor of a linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch system. Though less powerful, the LSM launch propels the train three times in the new launch sequence – forward, backward, and forward again – to reach the same maximum speed as the original design.
The coaster reemerged as Top Thrill 2 on May 4, 2024, featuring a new, longer riding experience. However, its inaugural season was cut short after only a week of operation, when an issue with its trains required modifications. It reopened for the 2025 season and also recaptured the title as the tallest roller coaster in the world following the closure of Kingda Ka.