WildCat was a steel roller coaster that operated at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, from 1979 until 2011. Designed by Werner Stengel and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf, it used the compact Wildcat/65m model, a design built around small four-passenger cars threading an overlapping, interlocking figure-eight track.
Despite standing just 50 feet tall, WildCat packed a surprising punch, snapping riders through tight turns and small hills that produced sharp negative g-forces and strong lateral jolts. Over more than three decades of operation, it delivered upwards of 25 million rides before Cedar Point retired it to make room for park expansion.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)
- Manufacturer: Anton Schwarzkopf
- Designer: Werner Stengel
- Opened: 1979
- Closed: 2011 (removal announced May 2, 2012)
- Height: About 50 ft (15 m)
- Top speed: About 40 mph (64 km/h)
- Length: About 1,837 ft (560 m)
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
WildCat’s small, four-seat cars ran through a dense, overlapping figure-eight layout packed into a modest footprint. Rather than height or speed, the ride relied on quick transitions between tight turns and short hills to generate abrupt negative g-forces and lateral forces, a hallmark of Schwarzkopf’s compact coaster designs. Riders were secured with a lap bar, and seatbelts were added to the trains in 1997 following a fatality on a similar ride at another park.
The coaster carried a 48-inch height requirement and could move roughly 900 riders per hour, modest by modern standards but typical for a tightly wound, low-capacity steel layout of its era.
Relocation and Retirement
WildCat holds a unique distinction at Cedar Point: it was the only roller coaster in the park’s history to be relocated after being built, eventually settling into a spot across from Iron Dragon. Its color scheme also changed over time, moving from black track with white supports to purple track with yellow supports.
By the 2000s, annual ridership had fallen sharply, from more than 500,000 riders in 1996 to around 300,000 by 2008. Citing declining ridership and the ride’s age, Cedar Point announced on May 2, 2012, that WildCat would be permanently removed to expand Celebration Plaza. It was dismantled before the 2012 season, closing out a run that had produced more than 25 million rides.
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WildCat FAQs
What kind of roller coaster was WildCat at Cedar Point?
WildCat was a steel Schwarzkopf-manufactured coaster using the compact Wildcat/65m model, featuring an overlapping figure-eight layout with small four-passenger cars.
When did WildCat open and close at Cedar Point?
WildCat opened in 1979 and operated through the 2011 season. Cedar Point announced its permanent removal on May 2, 2012, and it was dismantled before the following season.
Why was WildCat removed from Cedar Point?
Cedar Point cited declining ridership, the coaster reaching the end of its service life, and the need to expand Celebration Plaza as reasons for removing WildCat.
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Photo: Chris Hagerman / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.