Before Iron Dragon's 1987 debut, the Western Cruise boats circumnavigated the waters around this island. The popular boat ride's station sat on the same part of the midway where Iron Dragon’s station rests today. The Monster circular ride used to call the land under Iron Dragon's transfer track home. Monster closed on Labor Day weekend in 1986 so Iron Dragon construction could begin. Planning for Iron Dragon began in 1985, the same year the Frontier Lift cable car ride opened for its final season. In the early and mid-1990s, a "remote a boat" game was housed in the water under Iron Dragon's final helix element. This was removed in 1997.
Characteristics
Iron Dragon's previous color scheme was red track with gray supports, similar paint schemes to that of Ninja at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Vortex at Canada's Wonderland. In 2004, the supports were repainted yellow orange, giving Iron Dragon a similar paint scheme to Top Thrill Dragster. Unlike most Arrow suspended coasters, the lead car on each of Iron Dragon's train has a silver grab handle for riders to hold onto mounted on the front of the car.
Virtual reality
In July 2016, Cedar Point began testing the use of virtual reality on Iron Dragon, in which riders wear Samsung Gear VR headsets to experience the 3D digital effects. Availibility was limited from 6 – 9 p.m, and guests were required to sign up earlier in the day. Following positive feedback, Cedar Point made the new feature permanent on June 9, 2017, but later removed it on September 8, 2018.
Ride experience
This type of roller coaster features cars that hang beneath the track by a chassis allowing them to swing side to side. Some parts of the ride are built on artificial lagoons, and the track takes riders into wooded areas and over water. Iron Dragon is one of two roller coasters at Cedar Point to utilize two separate lift hills, the other being Cedar Creek Mine Ride. Both hills are built side by side and head in opposite directions. After departing the station, the ride turns to the right. After ascending the first lift, which travels partially underneath Rougarou's lift hill and first drop, the ride descends down the ride's first drop and then rises into a wide left turn. This leads into a right turn, followed by a slight turn to the left and another turn to the right. The ride descends as it continues right and climbs upward, entering a descending, 270-degree helix. The train then enters a brake run and second lift hill, which moves in the opposite direction as the first. The drop is not very steep, but twists side to side, first going left, then right, then left again. The ride then pulls up, transitioning from a left to a right turn. The next drop curves left slightly, followed by a right-hand turn and drop into a right-hand helix. Water nozzles that spray mist are positioned under the pretzel-shaped helix, although these do not always run. After exiting the helix, the ride dips and rises once more, turns left and then right, followed by the final brake run leading back into the station.
