Ronald V. Toomer

Ronald V. Toomer was a pioneer in steel roller coaster design, and Cedar Point became home to the largest collection of his works in one park. A former NASA engineer, he joined Arrow Development Company, later Arrow Dynamics, in 1965, where his first project was the Runaway Mine Train, which debuted in Texas in 1966. He then helped develop Roaring 20's Corkscrew, the first coaster of the modern era to turn riders upside down, which opened in California in 1975; with its pair of barrel-roll-like inversions, it became an immediate success and inspired similar rides worldwide. In 1978, Cedar Point's Gemini, one of Toomer's favorite designs, opened as the first large hybrid wood structure and tubular steel rail coaster. He also helped develop the suspended coaster, featuring swinging vehicles hanging beneath the track, and The Bat was the first of these rides when it opened in Ohio in 1981. He continued refining coaster design and taking rides to new heights. His crowning achievement, Cedar Point's Magnum XL-200, opened in 1989 as the first full-circuit coaster to exceed 200 feet in height, and its enormous popularity sparked a continuing race to build higher and faster rides. His legacy at Cedar Point includes Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Corkscrew, Gemini, Iron Dragon, and Magnum XL-200.

Sandusky, Ohio · United States