Cedar Point laid out the red carpet last weekend May 8th, 2016 for the unveiling their newest dive coaster, the Valravn. Coaster enthusiasts were excited for early entry into the park. Park goers were treated to paper Valravn crowns and surprise contests while waiting for rides. There was also lots of photo opportunities with Snoopy and the lovable and huggable Peanuts crew. You could feel the buzz in the air and hear the Gatekeeper’s call from the main entrance to Cedar Point. The crowd was all smiles about this world premiere of the Valravn and the opportunity to enjoy opening weekend at America’s Roller Coast! 
The Valravn is now the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster in the world. Don’t let the long lines deter you from the experience. The Valravn has three, 24-passanger trains in rotation nonstop. Also for an extra park fee the Fast Pass is honored at this ride along with all of the other rides this year. The 214 foot vertical freefall is, in my option, the crowning achievement for this ride. Just past the crest of the first hill, the ride comes to a terrifying stop, giving you a “bird of prey” view down on the park. The 3 second dangle has your head and body facing straight 90- degrees down to the park’s pavement below. This is exactly the kind of extreme thrill and suspense any coaster junky craves from such an intimidating ride. The Valravn reaches speeds of 75mph and is complete with a wonderfully engineered Immelmann turn. Giving you the feeling of a being a bird in an acrobatical attack maneuver. The second drop from the same height has less hang time as the first 214 foot dive. This brings you out into some nice and smooth loop-t-loops. The harnesses and track design are well engineered for this and don’t give you the head banging experience like some of the parks older rides. The 0 g experience for the finale is almost as good as the Maverick. I say this because the ride feels a bit shorter and those amazing seat restraints are so good that your butt doesn’t slightly hover over your seat for some “hang time” like the Maverick and the Millennium Force. This ride is a true dive experience with some super quick maneuvers to get the heart pumping and keep you wanting more.
If you want to taste the Valravn experience? I suggest you try the new Valravn, red and black IPA from The Brew Kettle. This IPA is a bit malty and a bit hoppy with a nice snap and bite to finish. The Brew Kettle has crafted beers for Cedar Point like the Rougabrew and the Slaughter House Red to name a few. Try the Valravn IPA with the park’s new ice cream. It pares perfectly with the Valravn, Salty Caramel Fudge Truffle ice cream from Toft’s. Park goers were spotted mixing the two like a beer float and boy was it tasty!
The Park was sparky clean as always and you could tell the large park staff was happy to be back to work for the summer season. I was met at each ride, and many food and beverage stands, with smiles and expert service. I always get a henna tattoo while I am at Cedar Point and this time was no exception. I was able to speak with one of the Points’ newest employees and she was excited to start her young career with them. She said “it feels great to be able to be an artist and get paid for doing what I love.”
The Hotel Breakers, one of the available in-park hotels, underwent a major renovation and opened its new rooms last year to much delight. The Hotel Breakers is more than 100 years old and because of that a certain respect for its history has been upheld. The carnival themed décor and artwork is bright and cheery. The Cape Cod style and color theme of pastel blues and seafoam greens with clean whites and color pops of eco-friendly red furniture really complete the beach front vibe. This new renovation was in my opinion right on time. The air in this historic hotel smells clean and fresh now and the fresh coat of paint and new décor is exactly what you expect at Cedar Point.