The coaster formerly known as Banshee.

Taken from rcdb:

Initially, Mantis was to be named "Banshee." In Irish folklore, a banshee was a female spirit whose wail was said to foretell a death in the family. After this definition was printed in a local newspaper, Cedar Point felt uncomfortable with it in its patrons' minds in association with the new coaster. For sensitivity reasons, the name was changed to Mantis, which was on a short list of names for the coaster. The original logo would come to be that of Dorney Park's Steel Force.

Now that everyone is on the same page, I'm curious about the details of the name change. How long before opening day did they change it? I have this postcard that was sent out to season pass holders in 1996. They wouldn't have been able to change it that late into the game because they would have to order a new sign, change the logos all over the ride/park, the park map, souvenirs, etc. If anyone knows any details, I would love to read about this.

*** Edited 2/4/2006 11:15:48 PM UTC by Vince982***

We'll miss you MrScott

From our own history section:

September 8 - Cedar Point announces plans for Banshee

September 13 - Cedar Point confirms their new stand-up roller coaster will not be called Banshee, due to the connotation of the word 'banshee'

November 17 - Cedar Point announces their new stand-up roller coaster will be renamed Mantis

Walt Schmidt - Co-Publisher, PointBuzz
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The timeline! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks Walt!

We'll miss you MrScott

Bahshee sounds awsome i think they should have named it that. But mantis is also good.

Dan Watson

Look for me this summer on National Geographic special wearing one of my Banshee shirts

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The thing that I thought was wierd when I first heard that it was supposed to be called Banshee was the colour scheme. If it were to be called Banshee it doesn't seem like the name would fit in with the bright yellow and red colours.

We'll miss you MrScott

I read somewhere that banshee's colors were going to be black and silver.Can anyone confirm?

I couldn't help but comment from the OnPoint! blog posted. Since Cedar Fair files trademark names that may be valuable in the future, it only seemed appropriate that Castaway Bays logo is the original Banshee font.

Vince982 said:
The thing that I thought was wierd when I first heard that it was supposed to be called Banshee was the colour scheme. If it were to be called Banshee it doesn't seem like the name would fit in with the bright yellow and red colours.

Yeah, they sure are lucky that Mantises are yellow...

2005: Cedar Point - Millennium Force
2006: Cedar Point - Millennium Force
2007: Magic Kingdom - Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
2008: Hard Rock Park - Maximum RPM! Opening Unit Supervisor
MF ride count: 135

^And "Bird's of Prey" are always bright shades of green.

-Craig-
2008:Magnum XL-200 | 2007:Corkscrew/Magnum XL-200/Maverick
http://www.pointphotography.net/

lol I know Josh, but when I think Banshee I would think dark colours whereas Mantis isn't quite as dreary of a name.

We'll miss you MrScott

A mantis is green. The reason they didnt change the colors is because of Raptor being green, which also doesnt make sense.

Ive never understood Raptor's colors or Mantis'.

We have an odd B & M collection at CP. A green raptor and a purple Mantis?!

Welcome to the psychadelic amusement park.

They didn't change the color because the track was already painted by the time of the name change. Plus, CP doesn't care much about paint jobs, if the colors look nice and add to the look of the park then that's all they can ask for. Bright colors are chosen so that the coaster will draw attention. TTD's tower is yellow for a reason.

-Craig-
2008:Magnum XL-200 | 2007:Corkscrew/Magnum XL-200/Maverick
http://www.pointphotography.net/

When the announcement was made that the ride wouldn't be called "Banshee", the first thing I did was to do a search on "Banshee" with the Patent and Trademark Office. There I learned that "Banshee" was a registered trademark of the Landmark Entertainment Group (among others). My theory at the time was that Cedar Fair wasn't able to get the trademark on the name, and so abandoned it. But that is only MY theory.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Following the topic of Banshee, there are people out there who can't ride Demon Drop due to the "demon" that is in its name.

-Craig-
2008:Magnum XL-200 | 2007:Corkscrew/Magnum XL-200/Maverick
http://www.pointphotography.net/

Personally I like the name Mantis better. However, I don't think the name Banshee is untasteful. When I hear Banshee I don't automatically think "ohhh that's bad, evil spirit, I won't ride it due to the connotation of the name." But that's just me. If a ride were to be named Satan's Red Rocket I could understand why people wouldn't like it. I guess it all comes down to CPs decision making. They didn't have to change it, they just did it out of the common interest of the public.

We'll miss you MrScott

RideMan said:
When the announcement was made that the ride wouldn't be called "Banshee", the first thing I did was to do a search on "Banshee" with the Patent and Trademark Office. There I learned that "Banshee" was a registered trademark of the Landmark Entertainment Group (among others). My theory at the time was that Cedar Fair wasn't able to get the trademark on the name, and so abandoned it. But that is only MY theory.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Interesting theory Dave...I certainly wouldn't doubt the validity of it.

Blue Streak crew 2007
ATL Matterhorn Tri. 2008
Three things you need to fix anything in the universe: duct tape, WD-40, and a hammer. Duct tape if it moves and it shouldn't, WD-40 if it doesn't move and should, and the hammer as the last resort.

Well, there is always the "Red Devil" ride...

...but only rides employees would know about that one.

"People who say they don't care what people think are usually desperate to have people think they don't care what people think." - George Carlin

Ah yes. Red Devil. It's so easy to see that applied at all types of ride locations.

2006 - Rides Supervisor
2005 - Rides Supervisor
2004 - ATL Mantis
2003 - Mantis
2002 - Mantis
2001 - SC Foods Supervisor

?????????????????? Someone fill me in please.

2005: Cedar Point - Millennium Force
2006: Cedar Point - Millennium Force
2007: Magic Kingdom - Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
2008: Hard Rock Park - Maximum RPM! Opening Unit Supervisor
MF ride count: 135