Rougarou is Cedar Point’s floorless roller coaster — a 145-foot Bolliger & Mabillard machine that sends riders through four inversions at 60 mph with nothing beneath their feet. Located in Sandusky, Ohio, it is one of the park’s most re-rideable coasters: smooth, intense, and consistently shorter on wait times than Cedar Point’s record-breaking headliners.
Named after the werewolf of Cajun legend, Rougarou opened May 9, 2015, after Cedar Point transformed the beloved-but-brutal Mantis stand-up coaster into a floorless experience. The conversion preserved the same 3,900-foot B&M layout while eliminating the head-banging and lower-body strain that defined Mantis’s final years — and it’s this guide’s job to answer every stat, sensation, and detail riders search for before they get in line.
Quick Answer
Rougarou is a floorless steel roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard and opened May 9, 2015, it stands 145 feet tall, drops 137 feet at a 52-degree angle, and reaches a top speed of 60 mph across four inversions and 3,900 feet of track. It was converted from the original 1996 stand-up coaster Mantis and was the first floorless coaster in the world to include an inclined loop.
Rougarou Cedar Point Stats: Height, Speed & Full Specifications
Height: 145 ft (44 m). First drop: 137 ft (42 m) at a 52-degree angle. Top speed: 60 mph (97 km/h) — reached at the bottom of that first drop, right before the ride’s first inversion. Track length: 3,900 ft (1,200 m). Ride duration: approximately 2 minutes 40 seconds. Inversions: 4. Trains: 3 trains with 8 cars each, seating 4 riders across per car for 32 riders per train. Capacity: approximately 1,800 riders per hour. Height requirement: 54 to 78 inches. Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (design by Werner Stengel). Opened: May 9, 2015, converted from Mantis, which opened May 11, 1996.
Those numbers put Rougarou solidly in Cedar Point’s upper-mid tier of intensity. It’s taller and faster than family-friendly rides like Blue Streak, but it doesn’t chase the 120-mph launch of Top Thrill 2 or the sustained airtime of Steel Vengeance — instead, its 60-mph speed is concentrated into a tight, inversion-heavy 3,900-foot layout that feels more compact and relentless than its stats alone suggest.
From Mantis to Rougarou: Cedar Point’s Most Successful Conversion
Cedar Point opened Mantis on May 11, 1996, as the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest stand-up roller coaster — records at 145 feet, 60 mph, and 3,900 feet of track. It was also the first stand-up coaster to feature both a dive loop and an inclined loop. For nearly two decades Mantis thrilled millions, but the rigid stand-up configuration earned a reputation for discomfort: the locked standing position transferred G-forces directly through riders’ legs, and the over-the-shoulder harnesses caused headbanging that worsened as the ride aged.
In September 2014, Cedar Point announced Mantis would close, but the structure and track weren’t going anywhere. Over a roughly $12 million off-season conversion, the park installed three new floorless train sets, repainted the structure in teal, green, and black, and built a swamp-themed queue with fog effects and atmospheric lighting drawn from Louisiana bayou folklore. Rougarou debuted May 9, 2015, on the exact same 3,900-foot layout — now experienced seated, with feet hanging free instead of locked standing. It’s widely regarded as one of the most successful stand-up-to-floorless conversions in theme park history.
The Ride Experience: Every Inversion on Rougarou Explained
The chain lift climbs to 145 feet, with views stretching across Lake Erie on clear days, before the train drops 137 feet at 52 degrees into the inversion sequence. Rougarou’s four inversions, in order, are: a 119-foot vertical loop (the ride’s tallest element, generating strong positive Gs at the base); a 103-foot dive loop (a twisting entry into an inverted arc, one of the smoothest transitions on the ride); an 83-foot inclined loop (the coaster’s signature element — Rougarou was the first floorless coaster in the world to feature one, a left-banking inversion unlike a standard loop or corkscrew); and a corkscrew that closes the inversion sequence before the final brakes.
Between inversions, the track weaves through banked turns and a non-inverting overbanked turn directly above the loading station, giving riders on the midway a close-up look at full-speed trains. The floorless trains amplify every element — during low-to-ground sections the track rushes past inches below dangling feet, and inversions feel more open and exposed than on a standard sit-down coaster.
Best Seat on Rougarou
Front row delivers the clearest view of every element as it approaches and the most vivid dangling-feet sensation during ground-hugging sections — the 119-foot vertical loop looks enormous from the lead car. Back row provides a stronger pull over the first drop, since the trailing cars get yanked over the crest with more urgency. Middle rows are the smoothest option and typically carry the shortest individual-row queues, making them ideal for re-rides. For first-timers, front row is the definitive Rougarou experience; for coaster regulars chasing extra intensity, back row rewards the wait.
The Legend Behind the Name
The rougarou (also spelled loup-garou) is the werewolf of French Cajun folklore, rooted in the bayous of Louisiana, where the creature is said to prowl at night, shapeshifting and preying on those who wander too far into the swamp. Cedar Point leaned fully into the mythology: the queue features fog machines, dim swamp lighting, and bayou-inspired theming designed to unsettle riders before they board. The name fits the coaster’s character — lurking on Cedar Point’s Millennium Midway, easy to underestimate, and ready to deliver.
Where Rougarou Fits at Cedar Point — and Practical Tips
Rougarou is located in the Millennium Midway area of the park. In Cedar Point’s lineup of coasters, it occupies a rewarding middle ground: more aggressive than family rides, but more approachable than the park’s tallest, fastest headliners. That makes it a strong second or third coaster of the day, especially when the marquee rides have the longest lines.
The ride is typically included in Cedar Point’s paid Fast Lane line-skip program, and while there’s no dedicated single-rider queue, ride attendants will often pull solo riders to fill empty seats near the front of the line. Because Fast Lane availability, operating hours, and ride status can change season to season, check the official Cedar Point Rougarou page before your visit for the current schedule and any closures.
Rougarou roller coaster FAQs
How tall is Rougarou at Cedar Point?
Rougarou stands 145 feet tall at its lift hill, with a first drop of 137 feet.
How fast does Rougarou go?
Rougarou reaches a top speed of 60 mph, hit at the bottom of its 137-foot first drop just before the ride’s first inversion.
What was Rougarou called before it became Rougarou?
Rougarou was originally Mantis, a stand-up roller coaster that opened in 1996. Cedar Point converted it into the floorless Rougarou for the 2015 season, keeping the same 3,900-foot track layout.
How many inversions does Rougarou have?
Four: a 119-foot vertical loop, a 103-foot dive loop, an 83-foot inclined loop, and a corkscrew.
Is Rougarou scary or intense?
It’s a mid-to-upper intensity coaster for Cedar Point. The floorless trains make every element feel more exposed than a standard sit-down coaster, but it’s less extreme than the park’s tallest launch and hypercoasters.
What is the height requirement for Rougarou?
Riders must be between 54 and 78 inches tall.
Where is Rougarou located at Cedar Point?
Rougarou is in the Millennium Midway section of the park.
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