SANDUSKY, Ohio (WWJ) - After 19 seasons, one of Cedar Point's flagship roller coasters is retiring, officials said on Tuesday morning.
An announcement to the amusement park's social media around 9:40 a.m. said the Top Thrill Dragster will be retired from service -- the iconic roller coaster opened to the public on May 4, 2003.
"We have an important update regarding our Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster," the park said. "After 19 seasons in operation with 18 million experiencing the world's first strata coaster, Top Thrill Dragster, as you know it, is being retired."
Officials said their team is committed to "creating a new and reimagined ride experience."
"Cedar Point's legacy of ride innovation continues," the amusement park added.
Top Thrill Dragster stands at 420 feet high, and reaches a top speed of 120 miles per hour. At the time of its debut, it was the tallest, fastest roller coaster in the world.
A variety of issues have plagued the $25 million ride ever since. Top Thrill Dragster had a continued problem with its hydraulic system and launch cable, which lead to frequent closures, the Toldeo Blade reported.
A year after it opened, four people were injured while on the ride after they were hit with small pieces of metal and debris that deflected off the cable used to launch riders, Cedar Point had said via the Toledo Blade.
Seventeen years later, the Top Thrill Dragster was closed for the 2021 season following a similar incident when piece of metal fell from one of the ride's trains and struck a Michigan woman, who was waiting in line, in the head.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) launched an investigation into the incident and cleared Cedar Point and its officials of any wrongdoing in February 2022.
The ODA required the amusement park to complete a list of repairs on the Dragster, which included repairing damaged track sections and replacing "different or improper grade" bolts before the ride could be cleared to reopen, Cleveland.com reported.
Cedar Point announced shortly after that the ride could remain closed for the 2022 season.
Over 18 million riders have experienced the Top Thrill Dragster since its opening.
Officials said additional details and information regarding future plans for the ride will be released at a later date.
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