Cedar Point Shuts Millennium Force After Metal Bracket Falls Into Guest Area

Cedar Point closed its Millennium Force roller coaster on October 16, 2026, after a metal bracket fell from a ride car and landed in a guest area. The Sandusky, Ohio, park said no guests or team members were struck and no injuries were reported. Yahoo reported the closure, and the ride remains shut pending an internal review and a state inspection.

Cedar Point's Millennium Force Closure and Inspection

A park spokesperson told 3News that the ride was taken out of service immediately under established protocols. "The ride was immediately taken out of service in accordance with established protocols and will remain closed as pending our internal review and additional state inspection to ensure safety before reopening to the public," the spokesperson said. "The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority." No reopening date was given.

Millennium Force opened in 2000 as the first roller coaster in the world to top 300 feet. At its debut it had the longest drop and reached a top speed of 93 mph. The incident recalls a 2021 episode in which a bracket piece fell from the park's Top Thrill Dragster and struck Michigan native Rachel Hawes in the head. Hawes sued the park, claiming a traumatic brain injury, and the two sides reached a confidential settlement in 2024. Earlier in 2026, several riders said they could no longer fit into Millennium Force because of shorter seatbelts; Cedar Point acknowledged the belts had been shortened and said they would eventually be replaced. 3News' Ryan Haidet contributed to the report.

Cedar Point's Scale Within Six Flags

Cedar Point is a 150-plus-year-old amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, operating 66 rides including 18 roller coasters, according to akta.pro company records. The park also runs a waterpark, five resort hotels and event venues, and is owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp. Six Flags merged with Cedar Fair, Cedar Point's former parent company, in 2024 to form Six Flags Entertainment Corp., with Cedar Point operating as a flagship park in the combined portfolio. The park launched a hiring campaign for 7,000 seasonal workers for the 2026 season and opened on May 9, 2026.

Cedar Point's Recent Season and Ride Events

Cedar Point remains open Thursday through Sunday through November 1 for HalloWeekends, its Halloween-themed fall experience, the Detroit Free Press reported, with the park's 2026 season closing November 1 and a spring 2027 reopening. In October 2026, Six Flags surveyed Cedar Point season passholders about new names, including Six Flags of North Ohio and Cedar Point by Six Flags, drawing criticism from fans, cleveland reported. In August 2026, a guest was injured while riding Cedar Point's Siren's Curse tilt coaster and was transported for treatment, and the ride reopened after routine safety checks, according to fox19.com.

Millennium Force's Reopening Review

Cedar Point said Millennium Force will stay closed through its internal review and an additional state inspection before it reopens to the public. The park has not announced a reopening date.