Wild Adventures began it's wildest season yet in 2001 when Cheetah, the park's fastest coaster opened to the public on June 16th. The centerpeice of a newly themed section, Cheetah became the park's first wooden coaster created by the famed coaster company Custom Coasters International. Cheetah charges through the African Pridelands to a speed nearly reaching that of the real thing at a maximum of 52 miles per hour. The coaster also utilizes a unique out & back course with main features including a very unique turn-around section all riding on CCI's wooden track on a steel support structure.

Riders board the cat's trains and head around a curve to the lift-hill. Cheetah then climbs up the lift-hill to an altitude of 92 feet above the Pridelands and begins heading down a steep 9-story drop. Hitting the 52-mile per hour speeds, the ride then sends passengers over two consecutive 50+ foot high camelback hills - elements sure to provide, you guessed it, intense airtime. The second hump begins curving to the ground and begins Cheetah's one-of-a-kind turn-around track section. The second portion of the turn-around throws passengers around a slight fan curve hugging the ground and sends them up the coaster's most unique hill - a double-curving Double-Up hill. Riders then fly down the second longest drop on the ride which begins the 'Back' half of the out & back layout. A small Rabbit Hop follows next, running parallel to the first drop. A large Camelback finishes off the major hills and transforms the course into the final Figure-Eight. The Figure-Eight maneuver consists of two fan curves producing lateral and positive g's and finally heading into the brake run.

Cheetah is sure to prove a valuable coaster addition to Wild Adventures and a draw for coaster buffs from across America.