Cedar Point aiming for May 3 opening for Top Thrill 2

Cedar Point is gearing up to finally reopen its much-hyped roller coaster, Top Thrill 2, this Saturday, May 3 - but there's one major hurdle left: the ride still hasn’t passed its state inspection.

Despite heavy promotion ahead of opening weekend, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees amusement ride safety, hasn’t signed off on the coaster yet. That means Top Thrill 2 legally can’t open until inspectors give it the green light.

“Because every roller coaster is unique, it’s difficult to provide a definitive date for when the inspection can be completed,” said Bryan Levin, spokesperson for the Department. “A ride cannot be operational until it passes inspection.”

Cedar Point, however, remains optimistic. Park spokesperson Tony Clark said Tuesday that the ride should be ready in time.

"The inspection of Top Thrill 2 is a multi-day process (much like our other large rides and coasters)," he said. "We anticipate it will be licensed before the park opens"

Anticipation for Top Thrill 2 has been building for months. The ride is a complete overhaul of Top Thrill Dragster, the record-breaking coaster that briefly reopened last year before being shut down after just one week. The problem? Issues with the ride’s brand-new trains.

Since then, Italian manufacturer Zamperla has redesigned the trains, and Cedar Point has put the ride through rigorous testing in recent weeks. The inspection process is currently underway, though the state hasn’t offered a timeline for completion.

Once it’s cleared, Top Thrill 2 promises to deliver a wild ride. At 420 feet tall, it matches the height of its predecessor but adds new thrills — including a vertical spike, a magnetic launch system, and a unique triple-launch sequence that propels riders forward, backward, and then forward again at speeds reaching 120 mph.

As of now, all eyes are on the inspectors. Whether Top Thrill 2 opens on May 3 — or faces another delay — will depend on what they find in the final checks.