Rougarou at Cedar Point: The Floorless Coaster Reborn from Mantis

Rougarou is a floorless roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, built by Bolliger & Mabillard. The ride occupies the same steel structure that originally opened in 1996 as Mantis, a stand-up coaster that set world records for its type before earning a reputation as an uncomfortable, rattly ride in its later years.

In September 2014, Cedar Point announced Mantis would close, but rather than tearing it down, the park fitted the structure with three new floorless trains and reopened it on May 9, 2015 as Rougarou, named after a werewolf-like creature from French folklore common in Louisiana legend. The redesign let riders’ legs hang free through the same layout, changing the ride’s feel dramatically while keeping its four inversions intact.

Stats at a Glance

• Park: Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
• Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
• Originally opened: May 11, 1996 (as Mantis)
• Reopened: May 9, 2015 (as Rougarou)
• Height: 145 feet
• Top speed: 60 mph
• Length: 3,900 feet
• Inversions: 4

The Ride Experience

Rougarou’s course starts with a 145-foot lift hill and a 137-foot first drop, then strings together four inversions in sequence: a 119-foot vertical loop, a 103-foot dive loop, an 83-foot inclined loop, and a 360-degree flat spin. With riders’ legs dangling free in the floorless trains, the sensation through each inversion is noticeably different from the stand-up era, when riders were locked upright in restrictive harnesses.

From Mantis to Rougarou

When it opened in 1996, Mantis was the tallest, fastest, and longest stand-up coaster in the world, and it held that distinction for years. By the mid-2010s, though, the tight stand-up restraints had earned it a reputation as a rough, uncomfortable ride, and Cedar Point opted to convert it rather than remove it. Swapping in floorless trains for the 2015 season let the park reuse the original track and supports while giving the ride a new identity as Rougarou.

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Rougarou FAQs

Is Rougarou the same coaster as Mantis?

Yes. Rougarou uses the same steel structure and layout that opened in 1996 as Mantis, a stand-up coaster. Cedar Point converted it to a floorless design with new trains for the 2015 season and renamed it Rougarou.

How many inversions does Rougarou have?

Rougarou has four inversions: a vertical loop, a dive loop, an inclined loop, and a flat spin.

How fast does Rougarou go?

Rougarou reaches a top speed of about 60 mph.

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Photo: Bobby Proffer / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.