Cedar Point made its debut in 1870, but it was a much different place than what we consider it today. The park was not the roller coaster capital of the world; instead it was one of the best beach resorts ever created. As the technology increased, the invention of the roller coaster took the world by storm. Not wanting to be left out, the park constructed and gravity railroad known as the Switchback Railroad. The ride was a hit and literally kicked open the door for the thrill rides that we see today at the park.

Many new revolutionary coasters made their entrances and thrilled guests for a number of years. As the rides aged, the park removed them one by one and the park was at one point down to one single coaster track and a number of thrill rides. No one expected what we see today at the park. In 1964, the park introduced the Blue Streak. A small coaster compared to today, but this ride was just what the park needed to bring guests back. As always, with increasing revenue brings new rides. New roller coaster debuted ever few years with rides from Arrow Dynamics, Charles Dinn, Bolliger and Mabillard, and Intamin.

New coasters took the place of flat rides that had lost popularity, or were just simply in the way of development. It had seemed as if the park had completely forgotten about flats. The year of 1989 brought the world Magnum XL200, the tallest coaster in the world. Then in 2000 Cedar Point debuted Millennium Force, which once again regained the title of world’s tallest coaster for Cedar Point. Its title was short lived, but Cedar Point was not going to be out done. In 2004, Top Thrill Dragster debuted as the world’s tallest and fasted coaster. When all was said and done, many wondered what Cedar Point was going to add to top their newest attraction.

The answer came at the end of the 2004 season in a form that no one really expected. Cedar Point went conservative and announced MaXair. The ride came from HUSS of Bremen, Germany and claimed no records. Cedar Point had finally realized that to please all guests they needed some thrill rides. MaxAir stands at 80-feet tall and has a top speed of 70-mph. The blue, orange, yellow, and red ride calls the area in front of Wicked Twister home.

The adrenaline junkies that call Cedar Point home may not take a second look at this ride, but they should. Riders make their way down the Cedar Point midway lined with beautiful flowers and scenery and head towards Wicked Twister and Disaster Transport. Once in the area, they hear the screams. Not coming from the Intamin Impulse, but instead from the swinging giant that now resides in the area. Riders enter the queue line and to the loading area of MaXair. The ride operators take their places and open the gates allowing riders into the ride area. After a few heights are checked, the ride operators check to make sure all 50 of the over-the-shoulder restraints are secured and the ride starts. First the floor drops from under the rider’s feet and they are left with nothing under them. Then the motors slowly get the arm swinging back and forth. As it spins, the arm picks up momentum and rises higher and higher until it is swinging 80-feet above the ground. Once at the top, riders really realize the clockwise rotation of the seat pod. The arm swinging endlessly, disorienting riders until the motors start to slow down the spinning. The rotating and swinging slows to a stop and the floor is raised.