(Updated) Cedar Point reopens Millennium Force after part falls, following similar incidents

Sandusky, Ohio — Cedar Point’s Millennium Force roller coaster reopened Saturday night, Oct. 17, a day after a metal bracket detached from a ride vehicle and fell into a guest area, prompting a shutdown and additional safety inspections. The incident follows previous cases of roller coaster parts falling at the Ohio amusement park.

A bracket detached from the roller coaster Friday, prompting a shutdown and safety inspection. No injuries were reported.

Cedar Point has experienced other incidents involving falling ride components, including one that seriously injured a guest.

Cedar Point is part of Six Flags Entertainment Corp., which was formed in 2024 through the merger of Six Flags and Cedar Fair.

Update: Millennium Force resumes operations

Oct. 18, 2026: Millennium Force resumed operations Saturday night, Oct. 17, following its closure after a metal bracket detached from a ride vehicle Friday.

Coasters Unlimited shared nighttime footage on X announcing the reopening. Multiple guests also reported seeing the coaster testing and operating, with some indicating that Cedar Point’s app listed the attraction as open.

Cedar Point previously said Millennium Force would remain closed pending an internal review and additional state inspection. Attractions Magazine received confirmation of the closure and reopening from Cedar Point spokespersons.

Cedar Point confirmed Millennium Force closure

Cedar Point confirmed Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, that a small bracket became dislodged from a Millennium Force ride vehicle and landed in an area accessible to guests.

No guests or employees were struck, and no injuries were reported. The roller coaster was immediately shut down and remained closed pending an internal review.

According to Cleveland 19 News, Six Flags spokesperson Sara Gordon confirmed that a small bracket became dislodged from a Millennium Force ride vehicle and landed in a guest area.

Cedar Point previously said the ride would remain closed until an internal review and additional state inspection were completed. Officials have not publicly disclosed the inspection findings or identified the cause of the detached bracket.

Attractions Magazine contacted Six Flags Entertainment Corp. to confirm the timeline of Millennium Force’s closure and reported reopening. A spokesperson confirmed that the ride has resumed operations following the successful completion of maintenance inspections and all required safety checks.

Other Cedar Point roller coasters have experienced similar incidents

Friday’s Millennium Force closure follows two other incidents involving metal components detaching from roller coasters at Cedar Point.

On June 21, 2026, a metal washer detached from the lift mechanism of Magnum XL-200. A guest reported that the object narrowly missed her head. Cedar Point confirmed the detached component and temporarily closed the roller coaster for inspection before reopening it. No injuries were reported.

A more serious incident occurred Aug. 15, 2021, when a metal bracket detached from a Top Thrill Dragster ride vehicle and struck Rachel Hawes, who was waiting in line. She suffered a serious brain injury.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture completed its investigation in February 2022, finding insufficient evidence that Cedar Point had violated state amusement ride safety laws. The agency did not recommend administrative action against the park.

Top Thrill Dragster never reopened in its original form. Cedar Point subsequently transformed the attraction into Top Thrill 2, which debuted in 2024, but closed after eight days due to mechanical modifications. It reopened on May 3, 2025.

No connection has been established between these previous incidents and Friday’s Millennium Force closure.

What happens for a coaster to reopen?

Millennium Force remained closed pending an internal review, but has now reopened.

Ohio’s amusement ride safety regulations require annual inspections and provide for additional inspections under certain circumstances. The Ohio Department of Agriculture oversees amusement ride inspections in the state.