The Mantis at Cedar Point: Gone, But Not Forgotten — Reborn as Rougarou

If you're seeking the Mantis at Cedar Point, you're 15 years late — but the ride's steel skeleton still screams across the Sandusky skyline under a new name: Rougarou.

The Mantis Era (1996-2014)

Opened May 1996 as the world's tallest, fastest, steepest stand-up coaster (Bolliger & Mabillard). 145ft lift, 60mph, 4 inversions (vertical loop, dive loop, corkscrew, inline twist). Unique stand-up restraint system — riders harnessed upright, bicycle-style seat. Innovative but polarizing: intense positive Gs on vertical loop caused discomfort; "stand-up" posture fatigued legs. Capacity limited (1,200 riders/hr).

The Transformation (2014-2015)

Cedar Point invested $10M+ to convert Mantis to floorless sit-down configuration — a B&M first. Track reused; trains replaced with floorless models (seats dangling, no floor). New theme: Rougarou — Cajun werewolf legend (swamp monster of Louisiana folklore). Queue and station rethemed: cypress swamp, Spanish moss, voodoo accents.

Rougarou (2015-Present)

• Same layout, new feel: Floorless trains eliminate leg fatigue, improve comfort, increase capacity (1,600 riders/hr).
• Ride experience: 145ft lift → 60mph → 4 inversions (same) but now with "airtime" moments (legs free). Smoother transitions.
• Intensity: Still forceful — 4.0 Gs vertical loop, sustained positive Gs. Not for coaster novices.
• Scare factor: Moderate-high. Height + speed + inversions + floorless exposure = psychological intensity. Not "terrifying" by modern hypercoaster standards (Valravn, Steel Vengeance, Millennium Force dwarf it).

Legacy

Mantis/Rougarou pioneered stand-up → floorless conversion — a template for parks refreshing aging inverts. It remains a solid mid-tier thrill coaster, beloved for its lakeside setting (flies over Lake Erie), distinctive roar, and the rare distinction of being two coasters in one lifespan.

So: Mantis is gone. Rougarou lives. Same steel, new soul. Scary? Ask the rider gripping the restraint as the floor drops away at the lift hill crest.