By: Beth Geraci, Questex Media Group LLC
The last time I went to Cedar Point, it was 1990. I was a fearless high school senior — one who nonchalantly took on the The Magnum, what was then the world’s fastest, tallest rollercoaster.
Fast forward to two weeks ago, when I hadn’t so much as ridden a merry-go-round in 20 years (I’m not kidding). And yet there I was, at Cedar Point again, riding rollercoasters with my 11-year-old nephews. What’s more, this 40-year-old was keeping up!
Brushing aside my growing fear of heights, I conquered the Raptor, one of the world’s tallest and fastest inverted coasters. I laughed and screamed all the way as it thrust us upside down and whipped us around, our legs dangling in the air.
I tackled WindSeeker, a 300-ft.-tall tower that spun us nearly 30 stories above the Lake Erie shoreline. I even got drenched beneath Thunder Canyon’s waterfalls. Who cares that it took me the rest of the day to dry off?
When the end of the day arrived and we had time for just one more ride, I was eager to take my nephews on the Gemini — among Cedar Point’s trustiest and legendary rollercoasters. We were about to stroll over to it when we noticed that the towering Mean Streak was much closer.
“That looks like a good one,” I said to my nephews. They agreed. So off we went.
Who knew that the Mean Streak was so aptly named? Who knew that wooden rollercoasters such as it are notorious for the pain they inflict on riders? And who knew that the Mean Streak is among the world’s longest wooden rollercoasters? Among those with the steepest hills? Not my nephews. Not I.
The Mean Streak turned out to be just as nasty as its name. It rattled violently from beginning to end, and so did I. Clenching my teeth the whole way, I was filled with more and more dread with every hill. And there were many. I knew from the start I would not emerge from the Mean Streak unscathed.
And I didn’t. I got a concussion. I was out of commission for more than a week. My mind dazed and my senses jarred, all I could do was lie in bed.
As a child, I stood on my tiptoes to try to meet the Gemini’s height requirement. As an adult, I took one look at Millennium Force’s epic steepness and said, “I’m out.” I know my limitations. I’m daring—up to a point.
I thought the Mean Streak would be kinder to my 40-year-old bones, my 40-year-old head. I assumed the ride would be completely safe. We’re talking about one of the world’s most renowned amusement parks, after all.
Whether at play or at work, it’s easy to take safety for granted, to think “It won’t happen to me.” But it can. And it does. Check out our September cover story to learn more about safety in the landscaping industry.
