Cedar Point Thrill Ride 'Power Tower' Forced to Close After Scary Mid-Air Malfunction

SANDUSKY, Ohio — Cedar Point’s Power Tower ride was ordered closed Sunday evening after a cable detached from one of the ride’s towers, prompting an evacuation and a state investigation. The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs issued a Stop Operation Order following the incident, which occurred around 8 p.m.

Park spokesperson Tony Clark confirmed that the safety system engaged as designed, returning the ride vehicle to its loading position and allowing all guests to exit safely without injuries. “Safety is a top priority, and the ride will remain closed while we complete a thorough review and inspection of the ride,” Clark said.

Bryan Levin, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, said the ride will not reopen until inspectors conduct a complete reinspection in collaboration with Cedar Point and the ride’s manufacturer, S&S Worldwide. “ODA’s Amusement Ride Safety Division and its inspectors have placed a Stop Operation Order on the ride and are working with Cedar Point and the ride’s manufacturer to determine the cause of the incident,” Levin stated.

Some guests reported hearing a loud bang and metal grinding noises during the incident. Cedar Point maintenance crews manually lowered riders to the ground after the cable failure. The Power Tower, which opened in 1998, features four towers that either launch riders upward or drop them in a freefall at speeds reaching 50 to 60 mph.

The mishap comes nearly a decade after a similar cable-related incident at Cedar Point in 2014, when a snapped cable on the Skyhawk ride injured two guests.

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