Cedar Point announced Millennium Force on July 22, 1999, presenting a new steel landmark for the coming millennium. By May 13, 2000, visitors to Sandusky could board the finished work on the Lake Erie peninsula. ultimaterollercoaster.com· guinnessworldrecords.com

Intamin supplied the machine, and its cable lift gave the climb a clean, modern ceremony quite unlike the old chain-lift rattle. The track winds through the park, crosses a lagoon, enters tunnels, and reaches Millennium Island before returning its passengers to the midway. ultimaterollercoaster.com· coasterpedia.net

The scale was new enough to give the industry a new name. Guinness World Records recognizes Millennium Force as the first giga coaster opened to the public, a complete-circuit ride in the range above three hundred feet. guinnessworldrecords.com

Its arrival made the queue itself part of Cedar Point folklore, with early visitors hurrying from the gate for a place in line. Coaster101 also records its first-year cost at $25 million and notes its long standing among highly rated steel coasters. coaster101.com