Cable Snaps on Popular Theme Park Ride as Guest Describes ‘Giant Whip’ Falling From the Sky
- - Cable Snaps on Popular Theme Park Ride as Guest Describes ‘Giant Whip’ Falling From the Sky
Colson ThayerAugust 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
David Chapman via Amusement Park Portal; Alamy
L: Cedar Point's Power Tower cable laying on the ground; R: Cedar Point's Power Tower
Cedar Point's Power Tower ride remains closed after a cable detached from the attraction on Sunday
A spokesperson for the park told Fox 8 that all guests on board exited the ride safely
An eye witness at the Ohio theme park described the scene as a "giant whip" falling out of the sky
A popular attraction at Cedar Point remains closed after one of its cables snapped over the weekend.
On Sunday, Aug. 10, the Power Tower ride at the Sandusky, Ohio amusement park was evacuated and shut down after a cable detached with riders on board. Tony Clark, a spokesperson for the park, confirmed the event to local outlet Fox 8 News.
Eye witness David Chapman, who runs the YouTube channel Amusement Park Portal, shared images of the snapped cable on Facebook.
“They just had to have maintenance come out and [evacuate] people off the ride,” Chapman said in a video posted on YouTube. “You can see the cable laying on the ground right there.”
David Chapman via Amusement Park Portal
Cedar Point's Power Tower cable lays on the ground.
Fox 8 spoke to another eye witness who was standing in line for the ride with his family when the dramatic moment unfolded.“Me and my two daughters were next in line, standing directly below the drop towers,” Ryan, who was not identified with a last name, told the outlet. “I heard a twing type of sound — like tension being released — and then this giant cable came down. It was like slow motion.”
“Then the cable hit the guard tower, and it sounded like the earth was coming to an end,” Ryan added. “That’s when everyone started freaking out, scattering and running.”
“It broke from the top. Whatever the weight of a steel cable falling from 250 feet is, it was like a giant whip. It was scary,” he said.
David Chapman via Amusement Park Portal
Cedar Point's Power Tower cable lays on the ground.
https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf
The Cedar Point spokesperson explained in an email statement to the outlet that "the ride’s safety system performed as designed, the ride vehicle returned to the loading position and all guests exited the ride safely,” He noted the ride will remain closed until a “thorough review and inspection” is completed.
A representative for the park did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
According to Cedar Point’s website, the Power Tower attraction places riders in a chair lift-type seat. Guests can choose to either launch up or down the 240-foot-tall structure at speeds up to 60 mph. The ride first opened in 1998, per the park’s timeline.
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Alamy
Cedar Point entrance
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), which oversees the state’s division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs, confirmed the events to PEOPLE.
"ODA’s Amusement Ride Safety Division placed a Stop Operation Order on the ride and its inspectors are working with Cedar Point and the ride’s manufacturer to determine the cause of the incident," director Brian Baldridge tells PEOPLE. That order will be lifted after a "complete reinspection."
Investigators told Fox 8 it is too early to tell if negligence played a part.
on People
Source: “AOL General News”
