World's second-tallest rollercoaster is closing permanently

A year ago, a small metal object flew off the 128-metre tall Top Thrill Dragster ride and struck a woman in the head

Cedar Point Amusement Park, in Sandusky, Ohio is permanently closing the world’s second-tallest roller coaster. AP

Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster in in Sandusky, Ohio, May 2003. AP

Objectif Mars is a steel multi-launched spinning coaster at Futuroscope in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, France. AFP

Objectif Mars combines elements of a dark ride and educational technology to simulate a training session and mission to Mars. AFP

The out-of-service roller coaster at Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet hotel in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Thirty-one people were injured, one seriously, when two roller coaster trains crashed in Legoland theme park in Guenzburg, southern Germany, Bavarian police said last month. AFP

The Tron Lightcycle Power Run roller-coaster at Shanghai Disneyland in China. Bloomberg

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The Smiler roller coaster at Alton Towers theme park in Alton, UK. Bloomberg

Running everything from hotels to roller coasters and circuses is getting tougher as the economy deteriorates and people have less to spend. Bloomberg

The Ferrari World roller coaster VR tour at the Abu Dhabi Arabian Travel Market at yje Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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A family at a fun fair during the Eid Al Fitr holiday, marking the end of Ramadan, in Karachi, Pakistan. AP

After the closure of the Feria de Chapultepec amusement park in Mexico City, Mexico in October 2019 after an accident that killed two people, authorities began with the removal of the roller coaster to start the Aztlan Park project. EPA

An aerial view of the roller coaster being dismantled at Feria de Chapultepec amusement park, in Mexico City. EPA

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A roller coaster in Kabul, Afghanistan, in February, 2022. AP

A roller coaster in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP

Roller coaster riders on De Baron at the Efteling amusement park in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands. EPA

Riders stranded on a roller coaster at Universal Studios Japan after a power failure in Osaka, Japan, October 2021. Reuters

Ferrari World Formula Rossa roller coaster bathed in green light to mark the occasion of Saudi Arabia’s 91st National Day. Victor Besa / The National

The fastest roller coaster in the world is at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

A roller coaster under construction at Motiongate at Dubai Parks and Resorts in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The fastest roller coaster in the world at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, 2012. Christopher Pike / The National

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The Flying Aces roller coaster in Abu Dhabi has the world’s steepest and fastest cable lift, at 51 degrees and 30 kilometres per hour, and the world’s tallest inverted loop, at 52 metres. Christopher Pike / The National

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Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world. Photo: Christopher Pike / The National

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Visitors on Flying Aces, a roller coaster at Ferrari World. Christopher Pike / The National

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Japanese women on a roller coaster during their Coming of Age Day celebration ceremony at an amusement park in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters

Smurfs Village Express at Motiongate Dubai. Photo: Motiongate Dubai

Staff at Yas Waterworld giving a demo at the Bandit Bomber roller coaster for media at Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

An amusement park in Ohio announced on Tuesday it would be permanently closing the world’s second-tallest rollercoaster.

The decision by Cedar Point comes a year after a small metal object flew off the 128-metre tall Top Thrill Dragster ride and struck a woman in the head at the park in Sandusky.

A state investigation found no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe.

Amusement park visitors ride Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster in Sandusky, Ohio, in May 2003. AP

The ride has remained closed since the August 15, 2021 accident. Park officials did not say if the accident influenced their decision to permanently close the rollercoaster, which has operated for 19 years and carried 18 million riders.

In a statement announcing the closure, the park noted it “legacy of ride innovation continues. Our team is hard at work, creating a new and reimagined ride experience”.

It said more details about its plans would be disclosed in the future.

The Kingda Ka rollercoaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, is considered the world's tallest, with a 139-metre elevation.

Desolate Turkish amusement park — in pictures

Crumbling model dinosaurs at the abandoned Wonderland Eurasia theme park near the Turkish capital of Ankara. AFP

The former attraction opened in March 2019 with the ambition of being 'Europe's largest theme park' but shut down within a year. AFP

Wonderland Eurasia, previously known as Ankapark, has been left to rot since. Reuters

The park had 17 roller coasters, the second-most worldwide. It was closed permanently in February 2020. AFP

Political turmoil, uneven ride quality and a lack of attendance caused the massive park to close its doors after less than a year of operation. AFP

Abandoned dinosaur statues. AFP

The project, built by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, cost hundreds of millions of dollars. AFP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had delivered a rousing speech at the opening ceremony of Wonderland Eurasia, but now even this lion looks fed up with his lot. AFP

Wonderland Eurasia theme park is left to gather dust. AFP

This dinosaur has lost much of its ferocity. AFP

The much-vaunted theme park has been reduced to its bare bones. AFP

What remains of the site is an eyesore. Reuters