Cedar Point: GateKeeper will feature "world's tallest roller coaster inversion"

Riders on GateKeeper are set to plummet towards the ground from an inverted position. Image © Cedar Point

Cedar Point has revealed that its new roller coaster for 2013, GateKeeper, will feature what it claims will be the world's tallest inversion.

The inversion will be located at the top of the ride's 170-foot lift hill, with guests rolling 180 degrees to start the circuit in an upside-down position. They will then plummet down a half-loop, hitting a top speed of 64 miles per hour before racing through a series of other inversions.

The half-loop element is similar to that found on Thorpe Park's The Swarm, which opened in March 2012. Like GateKeeper, it is a Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Rider coaster, and sees riders boarding "wings" on either side of its trains.

The height of GateKeeper's first inversion will top that of the existing "tallest inversion" record holder, Volcano: The Blast at sister park Kings Dominion. This features a sidewinder inversion that stands at 155 feet tall, and has held the record since August 1998.

GateKeeper's circuit will feature a total of 6 inversions, including the dive loop, an Immelmann loop, a giant corksrew, two zero-g rolls and an inclined dive loop. The ride's track will be teal-colored, with white supports, and will come into close contact with buildings and portals in the park's entrance gates to provide a "near-miss" sensation.

You can keep up to date with the latest confirmed and rumored opening dates for new attractions through Theme Park Tourist's "New Attraction Watch" section, and by signing up for our weekly newsletter.