Top Thrill 2 is Cedar Point’s rebuilt, triple-launch version of the legendary Top Thrill Dragster — a 420-foot strata coaster that launches riders forward, then backward up a brand-new second tower, then forward again at 120 mph into the original top hat and a 270-degree spiral dive. It’s the only dual-tower strata coaster ever built, and Zamperla’s redesign replaced the original single hydraulic catapult with a network of linear synchronous motors that fire the train in three separate, escalating stages.
It’s also had an unusually eventful few years: a mid-2024 shutdown that wiped out most of its debut season, a 2025 comeback, an unexpected run as the world’s tallest complete-circuit coaster after a rival was demolished, and the loss of that crown to Saudi Arabia’s Falcon’s Flight at the very end of 2025. Here’s every verified detail — stats, launch sequence, records, and current status.
Quick Answer
Top Thrill 2 is a 420-foot, triple-launch strata coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, rebuilt by Zamperla on the footprint of Top Thrill Dragster. Linear synchronous motors launch riders forward at 74 mph, then backward at 101 mph up a new 420-foot spike, then forward at 120 mph over the original top hat and into a 270-degree spiral. It missed most of the 2024 season for mechanical fixes, reopened May 3, 2025, and continues operating through the current park season — though it lost the title of world’s tallest coaster to Falcon’s Flight, which opened at Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia on December 31, 2025.
Stats at a Glance
Top Thrill 2 stands 420 feet tall with a 400-foot drop and about 3,422 feet of track, roughly a quarter more than the original Dragster’s layout. It’s a full-circuit strata coaster — the classification for complete-circuit coasters between 400 and 499 feet — built with a milled-aluminum, carbon-fiber-bodied Zamperla train that seats 20 riders across five open-air cars. The ride officially opened to the public on May 4, 2024, runs about two minutes per cycle across all three launches, and requires a minimum height of 52 inches (132 cm).
The three LSM launches build in stages: 74 mph forward out of the station, 101 mph backward up the rear spike, and 120 mph on the final forward run over the top hat — matching the top speed the original Dragster hit in a single burst, just reached through a longer, more deliberate sequence.
From Top Thrill Dragster to Top Thrill 2: What Changed
The original Top Thrill Dragster opened May 4, 2003 as a world-record holder — tallest complete-circuit coaster and fastest speed at the time — powered by a single Intamin hydraulic launch that fired riders from 0 to 120 mph in roughly four seconds. It carried millions of riders across nearly two decades before a mechanical failure injured a guest in August 2021; Cedar Point closed the ride immediately and never reopened it under the Dragster name.
In August 2023, Cedar Point announced Zamperla would rebuild the coaster as Top Thrill 2. The redesign kept the original 420-foot top hat and added a second, equally tall vertical spike at the opposite end of the layout, extending the track from roughly 2,800 feet to 3,422 feet. The old hydraulic launch was removed entirely and replaced with a distributed network of LSMs that accelerate the train in controlled stages — the technology that makes the triple-launch sequence possible.
The Triple-Launch Sequence Explained
Riders begin in the station and launch forward at 74 mph toward the original top hat. The train doesn’t have enough energy to crest the tower on this first pass — a deliberate rollback — and reverses back through the station toward the rear of the layout.
On the return trip, the LSMs fire again, accelerating the train backward at 101 mph up the second 420-foot vertical spike. The spike is a dead end: the train climbs it in reverse, stalls out near the top for a moment of weightlessness, then falls back down the same track — now moving forward — before the LSMs fire a third and final time. That last launch reaches 120 mph, giving the train enough momentum to clear the 420-foot top hat, spiral through a 90-degree vertical twist near the summit, and plunge through a 270-degree corkscrew on the way down.
Is Top Thrill 2 Open? The 2024–2026 Status Timeline
Top Thrill 2 had a soft opening on April 25, 2024 and officially opened to the public on May 4, 2024. Within days, Cedar Point announced an unexpected closure — May 12, 2024 — to make mechanical modifications to the ride’s trains. By August 23, 2024, the park confirmed the coaster would stay closed for the rest of the season, wiping out nearly its entire debut year.
Top Thrill 2 reopened at the start of the 2025 season on May 3, 2025, and has operated through the 2025 and current 2026 seasons since. Like most complex multi-launch coasters, it experiences periodic short-term downtime for maintenance, so it’s not unusual to find it closed on any given visit. For real-time hours and ride status, check the official Cedar Point Top Thrill 2 page or the Cedar Point app before you go.
Records: What Top Thrill 2 Still Holds After Falcon’s Flight
Top Thrill 2’s record history is more layered than most riders realize. When it debuted in 2024, it wasn’t the world’s tallest coaster — Six Flags Great Adventure’s Kingda Ka (456 feet) still held that title. But Kingda Ka closed permanently on November 14, 2024, due to aging technology and recurring mechanical issues, and was demolished in February 2025. With Kingda Ka gone, Top Thrill 2 briefly became the world’s tallest complete-circuit roller coaster.
That run ended on December 31, 2025, when Falcon’s Flight opened at Six Flags Qiddiya City near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — a 640-foot, roughly 155 mph coaster that now holds the titles of world’s tallest, fastest, and longest complete-circuit coaster. Top Thrill 2 still holds narrower records, though: Cedar Point markets it as the world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch strata coaster and the only dual-tower strata coaster ever built, since Kingda Ka was the only other coaster in the 400–499-foot strata class.
Height Requirement and Planning Your Visit
Riders must be at least 52 inches (132 cm) tall to ride Top Thrill 2, and Cedar Point enforces this at a measuring station near the entrance. As with most flagship launch coasters, expect Lightning Lane or virtual queue options during peak season if you want to skip the standby line, and be prepared for the ride to occasionally go down mid-day for routine maintenance given its three-stage launch system.
Cedar Point’s operating hours and ticket pricing change by season and day, with tiered pricing for single-day tickets, season passes, and Lightning Lane add-ons typically sold online in advance for the best rates. Rather than rely on a snapshot that goes stale, check the official Cedar Point site for current hours, ticket prices, and Top Thrill 2’s live operating status before you plan your trip.
Top Thrill 2 height, speed, and records FAQs
How tall is Top Thrill 2?
420 feet, with a 400-foot drop and roughly 3,422 feet of track.
How fast does Top Thrill 2 go?
Its top speed is 120 mph, reached on the third and final launch. The full sequence builds through 74 mph forward, 101 mph backward, then 120 mph forward.
Is Top Thrill 2 still the world’s tallest roller coaster?
No. It briefly held that title after Kingda Ka’s 2024 closure, but lost it to Falcon’s Flight (640 feet) at Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia when that coaster opened on December 31, 2025. Top Thrill 2 still holds the title of world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch strata coaster.
Is Top Thrill 2 open right now?
It’s operating during the current Cedar Point season, though like most complex multi-launch coasters it can go down periodically for maintenance. Check the official Cedar Point site or app for same-day status before you visit.
Why did Top Thrill 2 close in 2024?
Days after its May 4, 2024 opening, Cedar Point pulled it for mechanical modifications to the ride’s trains. The park announced in August 2024 that it would stay closed the rest of the season, and it didn’t reopen until May 3, 2025.
What is the height requirement for Top Thrill 2?
52 inches (132 cm) minimum.
How long is the Top Thrill 2 ride?
About two minutes per cycle, including the rollback and all three launches — much longer than the original Dragster’s roughly 30-second single launch.
Who built Top Thrill 2?
Zamperla rebuilt it in 2024 on the footprint and original top hat of Intamin’s Top Thrill Dragster, replacing the hydraulic launch with a network of linear synchronous motors.
Get More from Top Thrill 2 height, speed, and records
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Top Thrill 2 height, speed, and records, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Want the day’s theme park news in your inbox? Subscribe to ThrillZing Daily — free.
2 thoughts on “Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point: Height, Speed, Records & Status”