Cedar Point's stand-up coaster Mantis will be transformed into the floorless coaster Rougarou by spring 2015.

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Mantis, the stand-up coaster that Cedar Point announced this month would close in October, will be transformed into a floorless coaster, Rougarou, named after a werewolf-like creature in French folklore.

The ride, which will debut in the spring, will feature all new trains – without floors, so riders' feet will dangle just inches above the track "and the murky water below," said Cedar Point in a statement.

The announcement brings to a conclusion widespread speculation about what Cedar Point planned to do with Mantis, a record-breaking stand-up coaster when it was introduced in 1996 that has lost favor among coaster riders in recent years.

Jeff Putz, co-founder of PointBuzz.com, a Cedar Point fan site, was thrilled with the news.

"Personally I think this is a fantastic move for Cedar Point," he said. "They took a ride that had a lot of challenges in terms of capacity and popularity in the stand-up format and transformed it into something much better. The floor-less coasters are universally crowd-pleasers, and I think the layout on Mantis is well suited for this."

He added, "Younger fans might be disappointed because they're so used to the next thing being bigger or faster, but I think they'll be into it once they take a spin."

The track will remain largely the same, with a 145-foot first hill, followed by a 180-degree turn to the right and a 137-foot plummet at a 52-degree angle. Rougarou will feature the world's only inclined loop -- a vertical loop that is tilted at an angle -- on a floor-less coaster.

"Rougarou is going to be a fantastic addition to our coaster lineup and our guests are going to love it," said Jason McClure, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point. "With the swampy waters below, the vibrant colors of the supports and track, lighting and other effects, it will be a ride like no other at the park."

Swiss-design firm Bollinger & Mabillard will design the floor-less trains, which will seat 32 -- eight rows with four seats across. The company also designed popular park rides Raptor and GateKeeper.

Park spokesman Bryan Edwards said work had already started on the transformation to Rougarou, which will feature a new color scheme of teal and orange.

"We will be ready for opening day next year," he said.