Cedar Creek Mine Ride is Cedar Point’s classic runaway mine train — an Arrow Development coaster that has been rattling over the lagoons of Frontier Town since May 24, 1969. It is the second-oldest coaster still operating at the park, younger only than the 1964 Blue Streak, and it has delivered more than 62 million rides since its debut.
In an era when Cedar Point’s skyline is defined by giants, the Mine Ride endures as the gentle gateway: a fast-feeling, low-to-the-water family coaster that has introduced generations of kids to the hobby.
Key Stats
| Type | Mine train coaster (Arrow Development) |
| Opened | May 24, 1969 |
| Height | 48 ft (15 m) |
| Drop | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Speed | 42 mph (68 km/h) |
| Length | 2,540 ft (770 m) |
| Ride duration | 2 minutes 50 seconds |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Lift hills | 2 chain lifts |
| Hourly capacity | 2,400 riders |
| Trains | 2 trains × 5 cars, 30 riders per train |
| Designer | Ron Toomer |
| Park | Cedar Point — Sandusky, Ohio, USA |
An Arrow Original
The mine train was the signature product of Arrow Development in the late 1960s, and Cedar Creek Mine Ride is one of the classics of the breed. Designed by Ron Toomer — who would later pen Cedar Point icons like Gemini and Magnum XL-200 — the ride helped kick off the park’s transformation into a coaster capital. Its tubular steel track and locomotive-styled trains defined what a family coaster looked like for a generation of American parks.
The Ride Experience
The layout uses two chain lift hills to build its energy. From the first lift, the train winds through flat, swooping turns pitched just above Cedar Point’s lagoon — much of the course runs directly over the water — before the second lift sets up the finale: a diving double helix that wraps tight and low, where the 42 mph top speed feels quickest. There are no inversions and only a modest 30-foot drop, but the sensation of skimming the lagoon in an open mine car keeps the ride feeling lively more than five decades on.
Fifty-Plus Years in Frontier Town
Cedar Point celebrated the Mine Ride’s 50th anniversary in 2019 with enhanced theming and effects, leaning into its frontier-mining backstory. With 2,400 riders per hour of capacity across two 30-passenger trains, its line moves quickly even on peak days — one reason the ride has been able to rack up its 62-million-ride odometer. Alongside Blue Streak, it remains a living piece of the park’s history that still earns its place in the lineup.
FAQ
How old is the Cedar Creek Mine Ride?
It opened on May 24, 1969, making it the second-oldest roller coaster operating at Cedar Point after Blue Streak (1964). It passed the 50-year mark in 2019 and has given over 62 million rides.
Is Cedar Creek Mine Ride a good first coaster for kids?
Yes. With no inversions, a 30 ft (9.1 m) largest drop and a 48-inch height requirement, it is one of Cedar Point’s most approachable adult coasters — though the helix finale packs more punch than first-timers expect.
How fast does the Cedar Creek Mine Ride go?
The train reaches 42 mph (68 km/h) across 2,540 ft (770 m) of track, with much of the ride running just above the surface of the park’s lagoon.
Photo: Cmedinger via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)