Iron Dragon opened at Cedar Point on June 11, 1987, bringing Arrow Dynamics’ suspended coaster design to the Sandusky, Ohio park. Riders sit in cars that hang beneath the track on a swinging chassis, letting the train swing side to side through the turns as it winds over the park’s lagoon.
Designed by legendary coaster engineer Ron Toomer, Iron Dragon was built for roughly $4 million and uses two separate chain lift hills running in opposite directions rather than one long climb. Nearly four decades later, it holds the distinction of being the longest continuously operating suspended roller coaster in the world.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)
- Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics
- Opened: June 11, 1987
- Height: 76 feet
- Top speed: 40 mph
- Length: 2,800 feet
- Inversions: 0
- Designer: Ron Toomer
The Ride Experience
Iron Dragon’s suspended cars swing freely beneath the track, giving each turn a distinct pendulum-like sway that differs from a standard steel coaster. The layout carries riders out over Cedar Point’s lagoon before winding back through the ride’s structure, with the two side-by-side lift hills creating a rhythm of climb-and-swoop that’s approachable for families and younger riders.
At 76 feet tall and running about two minutes and forty seconds, Iron Dragon is one of the milder coasters in Cedar Point’s lineup, which has helped it remain a steady, low-key option even as taller, faster rides have opened around it.
A Cedar Point Original Still Standing
Iron Dragon is the oldest of the five Arrow Dynamics suspended coasters still operating anywhere in the world. As other suspended coasters of its era, including XLR-8 at the former AstroWorld, Eagle Fortress at Everland, and Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, closed over the years, Iron Dragon became the longest continuously operating suspended coaster on the planet.
The ride has changed cosmetically over time, swapping its original red track and gray supports for a yellow-orange color scheme in 2004. Cedar Point also briefly outfitted the coaster with a virtual reality option, testing it in 2016 and making it permanent for 2017 before removing it in 2018.
Explore more: Explore more roller coasters.
Iron Dragon FAQs
When did Iron Dragon open at Cedar Point?
Iron Dragon opened on June 11, 1987, and has operated continuously at Cedar Point ever since.
Who manufactured Iron Dragon?
Iron Dragon was built by Arrow Dynamics and designed by coaster engineer Ron Toomer.
Does Iron Dragon have any inversions?
No, Iron Dragon has zero inversions. It’s a suspended coaster where the cars swing side to side beneath the track rather than flipping riders upside down.
Get More from Iron Dragon
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Iron Dragon, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Stratosphere assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.