Cedar Point

Cedar Point
Location	Sandusky, Ohio, USA
Website	www.cedarpoint.com/
Owner	Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
Opened	1870
Operating season	May 15 - October 31
Area	364 acres (0.569 sq mi) (1.47 km²)
Rides	75 total 17 roller coasters 3 water rides
Slogan	"America's Rollercoast", "Ride On", and "The Fun and Only"

Aerial view of Cedar Point

Cedar Point is a 364-acre (1.47 km²) amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. The park holds the world record for the most roller coasters in a single amusement park (17). Cedar Point is also the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than 200 feet (61 m). As of 2010^[update], Cedar Point has more rides (75) than any other amusement park.^[1] Cedar Point is officially dubbed "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World."

It also has a mile-long white sand beach, an outdoor water park (Soak City), an indoor waterpark and hotel (Castaway Bay), two marinas,^[2] several hotels, and Challenge Park, which features attractions such as go-karts, miniature golf, Ripcord and Skyscraper. Known as "America's Roller Coast", Cedar Point has been deemed "Best Amusement Park in the World" by Amusement Today for the past twelve years.

The park opened in 1870, and is the second oldest amusement park in North America after Six Flags New England which was opened in 1840 as Riverside Amusement Park (Six Flags bought it in 1995 and renamed it Six Flags New England). Cedar Point is the flagship park for Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (which is headquartered at the park) and, along with Valleyfair, was one of the original parks owned and operated by the company. Cedar Point's normal operating season runs daily from early May through Labor Day, then for nine weekends following Labor Day. Operating hours vary throughout the summer, but on most days the park opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m. However, on July 4th, the park stays open until 1 a.m. Cedar Point also has six resorts (Hotel Breakers, Sandcastle Suites, Lighthouse Point, Camper Village, Breakers Express and Castaway Bay).

History

Historic Marker

Prior to development, the Cedar Point peninsula was covered by native cedar vegetation and the crystal clear waters provided superb fishing grounds. From the 1840s through the 1870s, local fishermen often leased space on the peninsula in order to ply the profitable waters.^[3]

In the 1860s, during the American Civil War, housing for a battery of four field artillery pieces was constructed at the tip of the peninsula to guard access to the confederate prisoner of war camp on nearby Johnson's Island. When the war ended, Cedar Point resumed its role as a summer picnic area, and the initial park was constructed in 1870. In 1870, Louis Zistel, a German immigrant, who was a cabinet maker at the time in Sandusky, Ohio, constructed a beer garden with a small dance floor on the peninsula. He also made a set of small, unsightly bathhouses, and constructed a couple of children's playground attractions. Zistel charged 25 cents a ticket to get a ride from Sandusky to Cedar Point on his boat, "Young Reindeer." In 1871, there had been no indication of Cedar Point reopening. The activity level at Cedar Point from 1871 until 1878 was nearly zero. In 1878, James West opened a group of bathhouses, when there were no boating services to Cedar Point. Benjamin F. Dwelle and Captain William Slackford made a lease with the peninsula's owners, Adolph and Stoll, in 1882, and started to make major improvements for the upcoming season. They laid wooden walkways and picnic tables through a couple of acres of the peninsula. Yet another set of bathhouses was built. A gentleman named Theodore Moore also built Cedar Point's first dance hall. Both the steamboats "Lillie," and "R.B. Hayes," made round trips from Biemiller's Cove to Cedar Point for 25 cents. In 1887, the five-year lease for Dwelle and Slackford ended. Captain Slackford was chronically ill, and was unable to participate in the upkeep of the park. Mr. Dwelle was still anxious to see the park grow, so he, along with the peninsula's owners, Louis Adolph, Adam Stoll, Jacob Kuebeler, and Charles Baetz formed a company, Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company. The Cedar Point Steamboat Company also evolved from the five men. Baetz was elected General Manager of Cedar Point for the year of 1888. Architect D. L. Stine from Toledo, Ohio was hired that year to build the Grand Pavilion. The Grand Pavilion was a giant theater and concert hall. The "Candy Pagoda," opened in the mid-1890s, by Max Stenzel sold many confections. In 1892, the peninsula's first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, was opened. The Switchback Railway ran only on gravity's momentum, and the trains often did not have enough "boost" to make it back to the station, and boys or horses had to push or pull the cars back to the station. No other major additions were made to Cedar Point until the appearance of George Arthur Boeckling.

The Corkscrew at Cedar Point.

Boeckling Era

George A. Boeckling arrived at Cedar Point in 1897 with only the intention of increasing passenger traffic as a representative of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad (Sandusky Star Journal, 1922-12-2). Boeckling was working for the railroad at the time, however, once he saw Cedar Point, he knew that he wanted to be a part of it and he never looked back.^[4] Being the promotional genius that he was, Boeckling was able to talk his way into the existing co-partnership after Ben Dwelle, who was one of the original co-partners, defaulted on his portion of the Cedar Point loan payment. In December of 1897, the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company of Indiana (Boeckling was born in Michigan City, Indiana) was then formed (Sandusky Register, 1897-12-5). With Boeckling as part of the company, Cedar Point was acquired for $256,000 of which Boeckling reportedly contributed $55,000 of his own money.^[4] The remainder of the money was raised by the selling of stock (CP: Queen of American Watering Places, l988).

Beginning in 1897, businessman George Arthur Boeckling took control of Cedar Point. Boeckling soon took over management of Cedar Point at the end of the 1897 season from Charles Baetz and spent the remainder of his life improving and promoting the park. He would prove to be the “resort’s salvation” after the difficult 1897 season. Boeckling innately understood what people wanted in a resort and tried to provide that for his guests. (CP: Queen of American Watering Places, 1988) In fact, by 1901, the resort was controlled by G. A. Boeckling, August Kuebler, Jocob Kuebler, and Charles G. Nielsen who bought out Adam Stoll’s interest in Cedar Point according to an article in the September 28, l899 issue of the Sandusky Register.

In 1902, The Racer, a figure eight roller toboggan coaster, was built by Fred Ingersoll. Tickets for The Racer were just a nickel. A pony track was built near the beach that same year. Although families flocked to Cedar Point together, the resort was still known as a beer garden.

In 1904, the Detroit Dredging Company dug the lagoons that now are home to the Paddlewheel Excursions boats and also run under Iron Dragon, Mantis, and Millennium Force. The historical Hotel Breakers was built in 1905, which still is in operation today. In 1906, a new powerhouse was installed and a brand new "Amusement Circle," was formed southeast of the mammoth Coliseum. A circle swing and a carousel were put into place at Cedar Point. The year 1908 brought the Dip the Dips Scenic Railway, which was overlook in 1912 because of the Leap the Dips coaster.

A giant part of Cedar Point's history includes the steam boat vessel, G.A. Boeckling, which made rounds to Cedar Point from 1909–1951. The boat was replaced in 1951 by the G.A. Boeckling II.

Leap Frog Scenic Railway was constructed in 1917 on the site of the demolished out of date coaster, Dip the Dips. Cyclone, a rickety and rough coaster, was built in 1926.

Many more hotels and restaurants were constructed during the 1900–1930 time period, including Hotel Cedars, White House Hotel, Crystal Rock Castle, and Crystal Gardens Ballroom. By 1919, alcoholic beverages left the resort by order of a law.

It was clear in 1929 that Cedar Point was trying to update their attractions, by razing Racer, A Trip to Rockaway, the circle swing, and many other rides to make way for Shoot-the-Chutes water ride, a Tilt-A-Whirl, fun houses called Noah's Ark and Bluebeard's Palace, the huge Cyclone coaster, and many other rides.

It was also clear that George Boeckling's health was declining, fast. He was confined to his home, where a local doctor told him that he was suffering with chronic nephritis. In 1931, Boeckling had to be put into a wheelchair. He was pushed around Cedar Point by an employee or a relative to overlook the park. The heat of the summer took its toll on Boeckling, when he collapsed. He was forced to stay home after that, where he developed uremia.

At 5:00 pm, on July 24, 1931, George Arthur Boeckling died. His portrait in the lobby of Breakers Hotel were draped in black crepe. Flags in the resort, and on the G.A. Boeckling steamboat were lowered to half mast. Most people think that this event affected Cedar Point more economically than the Great Depression.

After Boeckling

View from across Sandusky Bay

After the death of George Boeckling, Cedar Point fell into the hands of a man named Edward Smith. Little expansion happened through the 1930s Great Depression. One of the few rides put in place at Cedar Point in the 1930s was the Tumble Bug. The decaying Leap the Dips coaster was razed in the mid-1930s.

In the 1940s, the restaurant business blossomed in Cedar Point, including Ross' Hot Dogs, Coffelt's Fudge, Green and Silver Grill, Castle Sandwich Shop, and the legendary Momma Berardi's Home Made French Fries. French Fries similar to Momma Berardi's are sold in the existing restaurants in Cedar Point, Hot Potato, the Happy Friar, and Mr. Potato.

By the end of the second World War, Cedar Point was in a strong need of financial help. The wood of the Cyclone coaster was rotting away, the boardwalk was cracked in many places, and the fishing dock was in need of repair. Things started to turn around for Cedar Point in 1945. In 1946, Cedar Point's oldest-still existing ride, the Midway Carousel, was installed. By 1951, the Cyclone coaster was razed because of its poor condition. The resort then did not have a single roller coaster after the Cyclone disappeared. While the Cyclone was departing, the Laff-in-the-Dark, Rocket Ships, and Loop-A-Plane were newcomers. Cedar Point Causeway, built in 1957, is still used many times a day. The then current president of Cedar Point, Bernie Zeiher was replaced by George Roose around 1958, and Emile Legros was elected chairman that same year. Bernie's penny arcade was removed in 1959 to make way for construction. Back in the 1950s, the Pagoda Gift Shop was a post-office. The Crystal Rock Castle was turned into a maintenance shop in the late-1950s. In 1959, the hotels received a needed fresh coat of paint, concrete had been poured for the new admission gates, and over $1,200,000 had been spent to refresh Cedar Point. Cedar Point's first roller coaster since the Cyclone had been built. It was called the Wild Mouse. The huge resort also got a new kind of ride, a monorail. It was the most ridden ride in 1959. Breakers Hotel was restored to its natural beauty, and the neglected cottages were burned. The Coliseum and Grand Pavilion were both also painted and remodeled. The Crystal Rock Castle Maintenance Shop, bathhouses, and the old powerhouse were burned. A new $50,000 bathhouse, boiler house, and maintenance shop were built to make up for the burned buildings.

In the 1960s, the idea of "pay one price" season passes was spread. In 1964, Cedar Point's oldest existing roller coaster, Blue Streak, was planned and built. It was named after the local High School's sports teams, the Sandusky Blue Streaks. By 1967, the Dodgem, Cedar Downs Racing Derby, San Francisco Earthquake Ride, Pirate Ride, Sky Ride, Mill Race, and the Cadillac Cars had been built, along with many others. George Roose loved to plant flowers all around the park, and made sure many magnificent flower displays were seen by guests. Jungle Larry's Safari Island was a well known attraction from the mid-1960s until Jungle Larry's death in 1991.

1970 brought the Centennial Theatre, due to Cedar Point's 100th birthday. In 1975, Robert L. Munger Jr. took over as president of Cedar Point after Roose's retirement. The record breaking coaster, Corkscrew, was built in 1976. It was the first corkscrew roller coaster to span a midway and have three inversions. In 1985, the San Francisco Earthquake Ride was transformed into the Berenstain Bear Country.^[5] The bears occupied this area of Cedar Point until 1998, when Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts characters replaced them.

Modern Era

Entrance sign

In 1987, just one year before the death of Robert Munger Jr, Iron Dragon, a suspended swinging roller coaster, debuted on the Million Dollar Midway, near the station of the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad Station. In 1988, Soak City, Cedar Point's own outdoor water park opened near Hotel Breakers. It features speed slides, over more than 10 body and tube slides, a family raft ride, a water playhouse and two lazy rivers.

Magnum XL-200 roller coaster opened in 1989, breaking world height and speed records. The ride was the first to exceed heights of 200 feet (61 m) and speeds over 70 miles per hour.

For the 1990 season, the roller coaster Avalanche Run was transformed into the indoor Disaster Transport. Richard Kinzel, the president of Cedar Point at the time, hired a man from Toledo, Ohio, named Eric to design the building that would enclose the Avalanche Run. The 12E on the current building stands for the 12th building design by the man named Eric. The interior of the building was painted and designed to recreate a battered, worn down and abandoned shuttle launching facility. More than 150 moving robots, projectors, lasers, wind making machines, audio-visual and other props were installed. Guests entering the air-conditioned building are informed that they are on a mission to deliver cargo to Earth, and on the way, they have many drops, curves and screams. The effects in the structure have disolved in the past decade.

Mean Streak opened in 1991 as the northernmost attraction in Frontier Town and the park. It as well broke records for the fastest and tallest wooden roller coaster in the world, reaching speeds of 65 miles per hour and the height of 165 feet (50 m).

In 1992, Cedar Point celebrated its 100th year of having roller coasters in the park. Challenge Park was created between Hotel Breakers and Soak City that same year. Challenge Park included a go kart car race track, and two eighteen hole mini-golf courses. The Berenstein Bear Country expanded outside, with slides, a miniature train rides, and other playground equipment.

Snake River Falls was constructed in 1993, because of the popularity of Soak City. The 83-foot (25 m)-tall structure sent riders plunging down at forty miles per hour. At the bottom of the hill, a splash landing tops off the ride. When landing in the water, the boat creates a large wave.

In 1994, Cedar Point installed a new roller coaster, Raptor. The Mill Race log flume was removed from the park, and the circular Calypso was relocated in order to make room for the Raptor, which featured a Cobra Roll.

In 1996 Cedar Point opened Mantis, then the tallest and fastest stand up roller coaster in the world. The original name for the Mantis was "Banshee", but many people thought it was offensive and the name was changed (the logo for the Banshee was later used as the logo for Steel Force at Dorney Park, another Cedar Fair holding).

1999 brought Camp Snoopy into the park. Camp Snoopy features 8 attractions themed as snoopy (for the exception of Tilt-a-Whirl). The area also features a junior roller coaster built by Vekoma, Woodstock Express.

In 2000, Cedar Point built the first Giga Coaster Millennium Force. When it debuted, it was the tallest and fastest complete circuit coaster in the world reaching speeds of 93 miles per hour.

In 2002, Wicked Twister debuted, the first 2nd generation Intamin inverted impulse coaster. Today, Wicked Twister is the tallest (215 feet) and fastest (72 miles per hour) inverted roller coaster in the world.

In 2003, Top Thrill Dragster debuted as the tallest (420 feet) and fastest (120 miles per hour) roller coaster in the world. Top Thrill Dragster was the first Strata Coaster in the world.

For 2007, Cedar Point debuted Maverick. The ride features a 105-foot (32 m) drop at a 95 degree angle. Maverick also includes an LSM launch in the middle of the ride reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour.

In 2008, Cedar Point introduced Planet Snoopy, a kiddie area was constructed where Peanuts Playground used to be. This area consists of family and children rides that were relocated from Cedar Point's sister park Geauga Lake after its closing. The area also consists of a "Kids Only" restaurant called Joe Cool Cafe (there is a small menu for adults). In 2009, Joe Cool Cafe started to include Pizza Hut Pizza.

2009 saw the addition of the Starlight Experience, a night time LED light extravaganza with floats themed to the four seasons. This $1,000,000 attraction takes place on the Frontier Trail nightly beginning at twilight. In order to prepare for Starlight Experience, the Frontier Trail closes for approximately 30 minutes before the event.^[6]

In 2010, Cedar Point added a new flume ride located on the parks Frontier Trail. Shoot the Rapids includes two drops and a three minute journey through a rustic western environment.

In May 2010, Dick Kinzel, CEO of Cedar Point, announced that the park had already ordered a new thrill ride for the 2011 season, but did not confirm what it would be.^[7] In an interview in July 2010, Kinzel stated that the new ride is something they believe the teen demographic will really like and that they are planning to announce the new ride in mid-August.^[8] On August 11, 2010, Cedar Point stated that the announcement for their 2011 plans will first be released to their fans via their official Facebook Fan Page.^[9] On August 17, 2010, Cedar Point announced via their Facebook Fan Page that the new attraction will be announced on August 24, 2010 at 2 p.m.^[9] On August 24, 2010, Cedar Point announced that their new ride to debut for the 2011 season would be WindSeeker, a 301-foot (92 m) tall tower that will spin riders almost 30 stories high along the shoreline of Lake Erie.^[10]

Roller coasters

Blue Streak	Mantis	Wicked Twister	Maverick
Top Thrill Dragster	Raptor	Corkscrew	Iron Dragon

Thrill rides

• Calypso - Similar to the park's Scrambler ride, Calypso spins riders on a giant, moving platform. The cars spin counter-clockwise while the tilted platform spins clockwise, giving riders a crazy experience!^[11]
• Cedar Downs Racing Derby - Ride one of 64 horses, all racing for a first-place finish in the Derby! It's one of only two racing carrousels in the U.S. and its history dates back to 1920. Four-abreast horses "race" on a giant rotating turntable, and each horse moves forward and backward.^[11]
• Chaos – A Chance-Morgan Chaos that opened in 1997 as one of the first rides of its kind in the world. It inverts its riders in three degrees of motion: lifting, inverting, and spinning. Chaos is currently for sale. There was another Chaos present at Indiana Beach in Monticello Indiana. The ride is in full operating order as of the 2010 season.^[12]
• Dodgem - It's an amusement park classic. Get behind the wheel of your own bumper car and take a crash course in family fun!^[11]
• Matterhorn - Feel the sensation of traveling up and down the hills of the Matterhorn. Individual cars rock back-and-forth while rotating around a circular, hilly course.^[11]
• maXair – A Huss Giant Frisbee ride that swings back and forth at an arc of up to 120 degrees and reaches a height of 140 feet (43 m). maXair provides the amazing sensation of airtime. 50 riders strap in with their feet dangling below.^[11]
• Monster - Spin, turn and move up and down on the Monster. Each of the ride's cars spin individually while the arms they're attached to turn, rise and fall.^[11]
• Ocean Motion - The seas aren't rough on this classic! Climb aboard this giant swinging ship and prepare for a journey 65 feet (20 m) into the air.^[11]
• Power Tower – A Drop Tower ride featuring both a Space Shot and Turbo Drop. Power Tower is the only four-towered Drop Tower ride in the world, devoting two towers to each drop cycle. All four towers are 240 feet (73 m) tall.^[11]
• Scrambler - The classic Scrambler was definitely named appropriately. Spin counter-clockwise in your car while at the same time, the entire ride spins clockwise.^[11]
• Skyhawk – An S&S Screamin' Swing, it is currently the world's largest swinging ride, reaching a height to 125 feet (38 m), reaching speeds of 60 mph (97 km/h) and swings up to an arc of 92 degrees.^[11]
• Super Himalaya - It's a circular ride that travels clockwise on a track filled with hills. Take a ride with friends while you laugh and smile at the feelings this ride produces!^[11]
• Troika – A common Huss Troika ride. It's just like the Scrambler, but on this ride, your car rises 25 feet (7.6 m) above the ground.^[11]
• Wave Swinger - Feel the sensation of floating on this giant swing ride. Rise 16 feet (4.9 m) into the air in your individual swing that's attached to a rotating, rising tower.^[11]
• WindSeeker (New for 2011) - Look straight down at the ground 300 feet (91 m) below in this new ride for 2011. Rise up 300 feet (91 m) in the air in one of 32 double seats that spins around a center pole at a max speed of 25-30 mph.^[10]
• Witches' Wheel – A Huss Enterprise attraction. A thrilling variation of the Ferris wheel, the Witches' Wheel turns riders upside down more than a dozen times nearly 60 feet (18 m) above the midway at a 90 degree angle.^[11]

Water rides

• Shoot The Rapids – A Shoot-the-Chutes ride designed by Intamin AG, that opened during the 2010 season. Shoot the Rapids has two drops, one of 85 feet (26 m) and another of 49 feet (15 m), and two splashdowns. The ride also features waterfalls, rock work, and water bombs.
• Snake River Falls – A Shoot-the-Chutes ride designed by Arrow Dynamics, Snake River Falls opened in 1993 as the tallest and steepest water ride in the world upon opening.
• Thunder Canyon – A river rafting ride designed by Intamin AG, Thunder Canyon opened in 1986. Thunder Canyon was the second ever Intamin AG river rafting ride built, and is currently the oldest operating water ride of its type. Thunder Canyon normally closes in early September in order to transform into a Halloween attraction called CornStalkers (formerly Werewolf Canyon).

Family rides

• Antique Cars – An automobile track ride designed by Arrow Dynamics. One of three track rides in the park.
• Cadillac Cars – A second track ride with cars designed to look like a 1914 Cadillac. Also made by Arrow Dynamics.
• Calypso – A Mack Calypso ride that spins riders in two degrees of motion.
• Cedar Downs Racing Derby Built in 1920 by Prior and Church and brought to Cedar Point in 1967, this Carousel simulates a horse race and is one of only three still operating today. The other two are located at Playland,^[13] in Rye, New York; and Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, in Blackpool, UK.
• Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad – Opened in 1963. The 15-minute train excursion encompasses a two-mile (3 km) trip along Lake Erie and through a western themed "Bone Town".[1]
• Giant Wheel – A Ferris wheel Manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf.^[14] At 136 feet (41 m) tall, Giant Wheel is one of the tallest Ferris wheels in North America.[2]
• Kiddy Kingdom Carousel – A carousel designed by the William H. Dentzel firm of Philadelphia. It is located in the Kiddie Kingdom section of the park.
• Matterhorn – A Mack Matterhorn circular ride that swings riders as it moves in a clockwise motion while traveling up and down.
• Midway Carousel – One of the few remaining Daniel Muller Carousels, it was built in 1912 and moved to Cedar Point 1946. It is the oldest operating ride at Cedar Point.
• Monster – A standard Eyerly Monster ride.
• Ocean Motion – A Huss swinging pirate ship ride. This ride will be retired in 2011 to make room for WindSeeker.
• Paddlewheel Excursions (formerly Western Cruise) – Boats that transport its guests on a relaxing voyage around Cedar Point’s lagoons past scenes depicting early Americana.
• Scrambler – An Eli Bridge Scrambler ride that is one of the oldest rides at Cedar Point.
• Sky Ride – Manufactured by Von Roll, this standard aerial tram-way opened in 1961.
• Space Spiral – This 330-foot (100 m) tall Von Roll observation tower gives riders a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. Space Spiral was the first amusement park ride in the world to top 300 feet (91 m) and was the tallest in the world when it was built. Space Spiral is the second tallest ride in the park if you include the antenna.
• Super Himalaya – A circular Mack Musik Express ride that travels in a clockwise motion on a track of various elevations.
• Tilt-a-Whirl – A Sellner Tilt-A-Whirl ride.
• Turnpike Cars – The park's third car track ride, it features big 1960's-style cruising cars.
• Wave Swinger – A Zierer Wave Swinger ride featuring hand painted murals.

Children's rides

Resorts

Cedar Point owns and operates six resorts located either on park grounds, or less than a mile away. Guests who are staying at Castaway Bay or Breakers Express are able to use the free shuttle service to get to Cedar Point or Soak City. All Cedar Point Resort guests are able to take advantage of the early entry to the park. Guests may arrive one hour early to the park to enjoy the park before the general public each morning. Rides that operate during this early entry session are: Maverick, Iron Dragon, Millennium Force, Raptor, and Planet Snoopy Children's Area. More information on all of the Cedar Point Resorts can be found on The Cedar Point Resorts Website.

On-site Resorts and Campgrounds

Hotel Breakers is the oldest resort at Cedar Point being built in 1905. The hotel consists 650 rooms and suites and is also the closet resort to Cedar Point and Soak City. In 1997, Hotel Breakers was renovated and received a new addition doubling the room size. Hotel Breakers have standard hotel rooms, suites with view of Lake Erie, and Snoopy themed rooms. Some of the amenities that are found at the Hotel Breakers are three different pools, complimentary Wi-Fi, beach access, conference center, and five restaurants including T.G.I. Friday's and Perkins Restaurant and Bakery.

Sandcastle Suites is an all suites hotel located at the northern most part of the peninsula. All of the resorts suites were updated in 2008. Some of the amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi available in lobby and guest suites, outdoor heated pool and whirlpool, beach access, tennis courts, complimentary shuttle to both Cedar Point and Soak City, and two restaurants, including The Breakwater Cafe.

Lighthouse Point contains 40 cabins and 64 cottages and is located along the west bank of the peninsula. The centerpiece of Lighthouse Point is the Cedar Point Lighthouse, and having been built in 1862, it is the oldest existing structure on the peninsula. The amenities include the Camper Village Store, an outdoor pool and outdoor whirlpool spa, shuffleboard court, game room, and courtesy shuttle service.

Cedar Point Camper Village is the only place at Cedar Point where it is possible to hook up an RV to water and electricity. Camper Village includes anything from deluxe sites with electricity, water, sewer, and cable to 112 electric only sites. Some of the amenities at the Camper Village include the Camper Village Store, an outdoor pool, shuffleboard court, game room, complimentary Cedar Point parking, courtesy shuttle service on Cedar Point Peninsula, modern restrooms with showers, dump station, and laundry facilities.

Off-site Cedar Point Owned Resorts

Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort was introduced by Cedar Point in 2005 to provide guests with an indoor water park experience. The indoor waterpark is over 38,000 feet (12,000 m) filled of slides, shops, and a wave pool. The resort consists of 237 remodeled guest rooms and luxury suites. The rooms all have a refrigerator and microwave and most have a balcony. The resort also features a 6,000-square-foot (560 m²) game room. The Spa at Castaway Bay features a variety of massages, pedicures, manicures, facials, and hair/ make-up services. Castaway Bay features five restaurants including T.G.I. Friday's and Bay Harbor. Castaway Bay also features a website to make reservations and find out more about the resort.

Breakers Express is a resort located one mile (1.6 km) away from Cedar Point and is the closest hotel to the peninsula. It was opened in 2000 and includes 350 guest rooms. The amenities at Breakers Express include an outdoor heated pool, outdoor whirlpool spa, game room, and complimentary Wi-Fi in lobby.

Awards

Cedar Point has received the Golden Ticket Award by Amusement Today for "Best Amusement Park in the World" in 2009, winning for the twelfth consecutive year. The park also placed in the categories for "Friendliest Staff", "Best Outdoor Night Production" and "Best Halloween Event". Cedar Point also won "Best New Ride of 2007" with their new roller coaster Maverick.^[15]

Roller coaster rankings

The following steel and wooden coasters were ranked by Amusement Today in 2009:

Steel

• Millennium Force: 2nd
• Magnum XL-200: 9th
• Top Thrill Dragster: 10th
• Maverick: 15th
• Raptor: 22nd

Wooden

• Blue Streak: 47th (Tied)

Cedar Point also holds several IAAPA Big E Awards for Live Entertainment productions.

Slogans

• Early 1900s: "America's Most Beautiful Summer Pleasure Health Resort"
• Mid 1930s: "Queen of American Watering Places"
• 1951-56: "The Most Popular Summer Vacationland in the Midwest"
• 1972: "Cedar Point 72, It's like you've never been there before!"
• 1974-75: "All the places that you wanna go this summer are at Cedar Point"
• 1976: "Cedar Point, for the time of your life"
• 1977: "With more rides than ever before, and a lot more than just rides. Cedar Point."
• 1978: "And share it, with someone you love, Cedar Point"
• 1979-1985s: "The Amazement Park," while ads featured "Cedar Point is the cure for the summertime blues" (sung as a modified version of the classic Eddie Cochran song "Summertime Blues")
• 1986-87: "The Cure for the Summertime Blues!"
• Late 1989-early 1990s: "Get to the Point!"
• Early 1990s - present: "America's Roller Coast"/"America's Rockin' Roller Coast"
• Mid 1990s: Commercials featuring hairstyles caused by Cedar Point's collection of roller coasters hit local television. One actress had a large wind-whipped "Frankenstein's Bride-esque" hairdo caused by a day at Cedar Point and her line at the end of the commercial was: "I call it the Sandusky!" This commercial ran during the "Get to the Point!" ad campaign.
• 1995: "Real Thrills"
• 1996: "Get to the Point!"
• 2000-03: "Hold On!"
• 2003-04: "Are You Ready?"
• 2004-05: "Absolutely Amazing"
• 2006-09: "America's Roller Coast"/"America's Rockin' Roller Coast", "Ride On!"
• 2010: "America's Roller Coast"/"America's Rockin' Roller Coast", "The Fun and Only", "Ride Warriors", "Ride On!"

Retired attractions

Among the notable rides and attractions Cedar Point was home to in the past (with their last year of operation):

• Switchback Railway (c.1907) — Cedar Point's first roller coaster.
• High Frolics (1940) — Built in 1918 by Andy Vettle, this coaster was originally called "Leap Frog Railway"
• Cyclone (1951) — A Traver built wooden twister built in 1929.
• Scamper (1969) — Wooden Wild Mousecoaster built in 1962
• Jumbo Jet (1978) — a steel roller coaster similar to the Wildcat, but larger and longer. It used individual self-powered cars to run up a spiral lift hill unassisted. The coaster run had some 90° sections, and an ATC-style radar prop rotated up above the ride. The Jumbo Jet had the tallest height requirement in the park at the time. One of several built by Schwarzkopf, CP's Jumbo Jet is now at Dreamland in Minsk, Belarus.
• Sky Wheel (1980) — Two smaller Ferris wheels mounted on opposite ends of a giant pivoting arm, allowing one wheel to turn high in the air while the other was being loaded. It was located in the middle of the Funway in front of the main entrance.
• Fun House (1981) — A creepy 3-story walk-through house. Of particular popularity was the upside-down room (which featured someone in a rocking chair on the ceiling) and the labyrinth room where the floor was at an angle. At the end of the tour was a stairway back to ground level, but kids had the option of exiting via one of three enclosed spiral slides. Replaced with the Kid Arthur's Court play area, which would also eventually be removed. Portions of this attraction are used in the Holloweekends attraction "the house on boo hill"
• Shoot the Rapids (1981) — a lengthy flume ride with twin tracks. Located in Frontiertown near the train station. In 2010, a new water ride opened with the same name, but in a different location.
• Earthquake (1984) — a dark ride based on the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. This ride formerly operated at Freedomland U.S.A. and was relocated to Cedar Point in 1966.
• Frontier Lift (1985) — A second sky ride which operated separate from the existing one. It ran from the main midway to Frontiertown. The site of the midway station is now the queueing area of the Iron Dragon, but the Frontiertown station still stands; restrooms occupy the ground floor, while the second floor is used for employee meetings and storage.
• Avalanche Run (1989) — Opened in 1985, this ride reopened in 1990 as Disaster Transport after it was enclosed and rethemed.

The Sky Slide in 1975. Note the Colosseum in the background.

• Sky Slide (1991) — a huge cyan-colored fiberglass slide located just west of the Main Arcade. Guests had to sit on a burlap mat while sliding down. There were two long steep drops followed by a short dip, and the slide had 15 "lanes" for riders. Unfortunately, the adjacent first-aid station saw many treatments for slide-related friction burns.
• Mill Race (1993) — A flume ride that was located near the main entrance. It had a relatively small footprint, and was one of the first Arrow Dynamics flume rides opened. The final drop on this ride was once sponsored by Nestea and was called the "Nestea Plunge", named after a very popular advertising slogan of the time. This ride was retired after the 1993 season to make room for Raptor.
• Jungle Larry's African Safari (1994) — a zoological attraction with live animal exhibits, including some trained-animal shows. Originally, guests had to walk a long bridge over a lagoon to get there. When the midway was extended in 1976, this part of the lagoon was filled in. For its remaining 18 years, Jungle Larry's was located in the shadow of the Corkscrew.
• Pirate Ride (1996) — a pirate themed dark ride located near the Blue Streak queueing area. This ride formerly operated at Freedomland U.S.A. and was relocated to Cedar Point in 1966.
• Vertigo (2002) — An air powered thrill ride that used three 265-foot (81 m) tall towers and cable to propel riders over 300 feet (91 m). This ride was damaged during a storm and partially collapsed after its debut season. Park management felt the potential for failure of this ride design outweighed the positive impact made by repairing it for the next operating season.
• White Water Landing (2005) — a log flume built by Arrow Dynamics in 1982 on the former site of the original Shoot the Rapids. It operated for twenty-three years before it was retired to make room for Maverick. The station and queue are now part of Maverick's queue.
• Demon Drop (2009) — an Intamin generation one freefall attraction that was removed following the 2009 season. It will be relocated to Dorney Park and will open for the 2010 season.^[16]

Former flat rides included:

• Zugspitz(1966) - a Himalaya-like ride; demolished when Super Himalaya was built in 1972.
• Comet (1969) - a Hrubetz Round-Up; removed to make room for Trabant/Schwabinchen in 1990.
• Bayern Kurve (1984) — a bobsled-themed ride that ran around an ovoid track.
• Rotor (1984)
• Tiki-Twirl (1984) — a Tilt-A-Whirl type ride. Similar to the Calypso except for tropical theming.
• Trabant (1990) and Schwabinchen (2002) — two rides in which the riders sat on the ends of a round disc-shaped object similar to a flattened cone. The ride motion pattern resembled that of a spinning coin before coming to rest. Theming was different; the Schwabinchen featured a beautiful German tavern dancer in the ride's center, where riders "sat" on the outskirts of the "Lady In Red's" dress, while the Trabant had a disco ball as its centerpiece.

Popular culture

Cedar Point has surfaced in several movies, TV shows, and books:

• In Bob Greene's book Be True to Your School: A Diary of 1964 (ISBN 0-689-11612-8), Greene and two friends, who all live in suburban Columbus, Ohio, take a trip in August to Cedar Point. While there, Greene has a brief affair with a 26-year old married woman who was a chaperone for a group of girls vacationing at the park.
• Characters in the series finale of Gilmore Girls discuss taking a summer-long trip to notable amusement parks, among them Cedar Point.
• A character in the TV adaptation of the Jean Shepherd short story "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss" is seen wearing a Cedar Point cap.
• A character in the Michael Crichton novel Next indirectly discusses visiting Cedar Point in order to film a documentary on "the novelty gene."
• A character, Ed Handby, in the Sherwood Anderson novel Winesburg, Ohio (novel) (An Awakening) mentions visiting Cedar Point during his 'orgy of dissipation'. "One night at a resort called Cedar Point, he got into a fight and ran amuck like a wild thing."
• In the movie Knute Rockne, All American, as a life guard on the beach at Cedar Point, Knute and his college roommate and teammate, Gus Dorais, worked on the forward pass. The forward pass was first used in a scrimmage game on the Cedar Point beach.
• Characters in the gay "coming of age" movie Edge Of Seventeen work at a restaurant at Cedar Point. Though the movie is set in the 1980s, the only shot featuring the park is filmed at a distance and clearly shows Raptor, which was built in 1994.
• The 2004 movie Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind: Infestation From Mars^[17] is set in Sandusky and contains numerous scenes set at the park. Cedar Point plays an integral role to the plot of the movie. Some Cedar Point executives appear in the movie in cameo roles.
• Mentioned in the song "Gospel Weed Song" by Bizarre
• Mentioned in the song "Posse On Vernor" by Insane Clown Posse, released in 2000.
• Alluded to in the Adult Swim show Metalocalypse. In the episode "Mordland", Dethklok's manager is seen talking to two fans attempting to blackmail the band. During this conversation, he asks where they are from. One responds by telling him Sandusky, to which he asks, "There's an amusement park there, right?"
• Mentioned on the TV show Glee in 2010, Season 1, Volume 1. In an argument with the cheerleading coach, the main cheerleader Quinn, brings up the fact that their cheerleading squad received free season passes to Cedar Point, but sold them on eBay.

References

Further reading

• Francis, David W.; Diane DeMali Francis (1995). Cedar Point: The Queen of American Watering Places. Amusement Park Books. ISBN 0935408037. 

External links

• Official site
• Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad, Over 40 years of History!
• Cedar Point at the Open Directory Project

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