Glitch shuts new Cedar Point ride

5/9/2006

SANDUSKY - Less than a day after Cedar Point's newest thrill ride opened to the public, the ride was shut down and remained closed last night, park officials said.

The Skyhawk, a 125-foot-tall loop swing which opened Friday and cost about $6 million, was shut down about 9:30 p.m. Saturday for mechanical problems.

Robin Innes, director of public relations for Cedar Point, said a part on the ride had to be replaced, but did not specify which part, why it had to be replaced, or how it had malfunctioned.

He said the ride completed its last cycle without a disturbance to passengers.

Mr. Innes said park officials are not certain when the ride will reopen, but anticipate it will be within the next several days.

Another of the park's well-known rides, the Top Thrill Dragster, a high-speed roller coaster, has closed multiple times since it opened in 2003 due to a variety of mechanical problems.