Cedar Point

This article is about the amusement park in Ohio. For other uses, see Cedar Point (disambiguation).

Cedar Point
Location	Sandusky, Ohio, United States
Coordinates	41.480033°N 82.681818°W / 41.480033; -82.681818
Website	Official website
Owner	Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
General Manager	John Hildebrandt
Opened	1870
Operating season	May - October
Area	364 acres (0.569 sq mi) (1.47 km²)
Rides	76 total 17 roller coasters 3 water rides
Slogan	"America's Rollercoast", "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World", "Ride On", and "The Fun and Only"

Aerial view of Cedar Point

Current entrance sign (2005). The background changes depending on the new attraction that year

Cedar Point is a 364-acre (147 ha) amusement park located on a Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. Opened in 1870, Cedar Point is the third oldest amusement park in North America behind Six Flags New England and Lake Compounce. It is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company featuring a world record 76 rides including 17 roller coasters. Cedar Point is currently tied with Six Flags Magic Mountain for the most roller coasters in the world.

Other attractions outside the park include a mile-long white sand beach, an outdoor water park called Soak City, two marinas, several nearby resorts, and an area known as Challenge Park.

The park's normal operating season runs daily from mid May through Labor Day and then only on weekends until the end of October. Cedar Point has reached several milestones that include being the only amusement park in the world with four roller coasters taller than 200 feet (61 m) - Magnum XL 200, Millennium Force, Wicked Twister, and Top Thrill Dragster - as well as being the only one with roller coasters in all four height classifications - Jr. Gemini (Kiddie roller coaster), Magnum XL-200 (Hypercoaster), Millennium Force (Giga coaster), and Top Thrill Dragster (Stratacoaster). Known as "America's Roller Coast", Cedar Point has received the "Best Amusement Park in the World" award by Amusement Today for the past fourteen years.

History

Historic Marker

Prior to development, the Cedar Point peninsula was covered by native cedar vegetation, and the clear waters of Lake Erie 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.

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 bathhouses and constructed a couple of children's playground attractions. Zistel charged 25 cents per 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 along with 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.

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 Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company. The Cedar Point Steamboat Company also evolved from the five men. Baetz was elected General Manager of Cedar Point in 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.

Boeckling era

Millennium Force, added in 2000, is Cedar Point's signature coaster

John Boyle arrived at Cedar Point in 1897 with only the intention of increasing passenger traffic as a representative of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. Boyle 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. Boyle 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 1897, the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company of Indiana (Boeckling was born in Michigan City, Indiana) was formed. With Boyle as part of the company, Cedar Point was acquired for $256,000, of which Boyle reportedly contributed $55,000 of his own money. The remainder of the money was raised by the selling of stock.

Beginning in 1897, George Arthur Boeckling took control of Cedar Point and spent the remainder of his life improving and promoting the park. Boeckling innately understood what people wanted in a resort and tried to provide that for his guests. 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.

In 1902, The Racer, a figure eight roller toboggan coaster, was built by Fred Ingersoll. Tickets for The Racer were 5 cents. 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 would be home to the Paddlewheel Excursions boats. 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 Coliseum.

A circle swing and a carousel were put into place at Cedar Point. In 1908 the Dip the Dips Scenic Railway was installed, which was replaced in 1912 by the Leap the Dips coaster. 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 were outlawed.

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 Cyclone coaster, and many other rides. It was also clear that George Boeckling's health was declining. 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. On July 24, 1931, Boeckling died. His portrait in the lobby of Breakers Hotel was draped in black. Flags in the resort and on the G.A. Boeckling steamboat were lowered to half mast.

After Boeckling

After the death of Boeckling, Cedar Point fell into the hands of Edward Smith. Little expansion happened through the 1930s. 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 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 World War II, Cedar Point was in a strong need of financial help. The wood of the Cyclone coaster was rotting, the boardwalk was cracked in many places, and the fishing dock was in need of repair. 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 roller coaster. 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 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.

Blue Streak, built in 1964, is Cedar Point's oldest operating roller coaster

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 were repainted, concrete was poured for the new admission gates, and over $1,200,000 was spent to refresh Cedar Point. Cedar Point's first roller coaster since the Cyclone, the Wild Mouse, was built. The resort also got a new kind of ride, a monorail. It was the most ridden ride in 1959. Breakers Hotel was restored, and the neglected cottages were razed. The Coliseum and Grand Pavilion were both also painted and remodeled. The Crystal Rock Castle Maintenance Shop, bathhouses, and the old powerhouse were razed. A new $50,000 bathhouse, boiler house, and maintenance shop were built in their place.

In the 1960s, the idea of "pay one price" season passes was spread. In 1964, Cedar Point opened its oldest existing roller coaster, the Blue Streak. 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. Jungle Larry's Safari Island was a well known attraction that operated from 1965 through 1994 despite the death of Jungle Larry in 1984. The Cedar Creek Mine Ride opened in 1969, it is currently the second oldest coaster at Cedar Point.

1970 brought the Centennial Theatre, called such because of Cedar Point's 100th anniversary. 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 roller coaster to span a midway and have three inversions. The Gemini opens in 1978 as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. A junior coaster named Jr. Gemini opens the following year across from Gemini. 1982 saw the addition of White Water Landing, replacing the original Shoot the Rapids log flume. In 1983, Demon Drop opened at the front of the park. Avalanche Run opens in 1985 close to the beach. It would later be re-themed as Disastor Transport. That same year, the San Francisco Earthquake Ride was transformed into the Berenstain Bear Country.

Dick Kinzel era

View of Cedar Point from the Giant Wheel (2006)

In 1986, Robert L. Munger Jr, the President and CEO of Cedar Fair stepped down due to health issues. He was replaced by Richard Kinzel who would shape the park for decades to come. 1986 also saw the addition of Thunder Canyon, a river rafting ride manufactured by Intamin. In 1987 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, more than 10 body and tube slides, a family raft ride, a water playhouse and two lazy rivers.

The Magnum XL-200 opened in 1989, breaking world height and speed records again. The ride was the first to exceed heights of 200 feet (61 m) and speeds over 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). For the 1990 season, Avalanche Run was transformed into Disaster Transport, the ride was fully enclosed and added special effects. In recent years the special effects and theming of disappeared to almost a completely dark coaster. Mean Streak opened in 1991 as the northernmost attraction in the park. It broke records for the fastest and tallest wooden roller coaster in the world, reaching speeds of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) and a height of 161 feet (49 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 includes a go kart car race track and two eighteen hole mini-golf courses. The Berenstain 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 82-foot (25 m)-tall structure sends riders plunging down at 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) . At the bottom of the hill, a splash landing tops off the ride. When landing in the water, the boat creates a large wave, splashing spectators on an overlooking bridge. When opened, it was the tallest and fastest water ride in the world. In 1994, Cedar Point installed 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. Raptor was the first inverted roller coaster to feature a Cobra Roll. In 1996, Cedar Point opened Mantis, the tallest and fastest stand-up roller coaster in the world when it opened. 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 & Wildwater Kingdom, another Cedar Fair park. Camp Snoopy opened in 1999, it 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.

Wicked Twister, added in 2002

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 (150 km/h) and heights of 310 ft (94 m). In 2002, Wicked Twister debuted as the first second-generation Intamin inverted impulse coaster. Today, Wicked Twister is the tallest (215 ft) and fastest 72 miles per hour (116 km/h) inverted roller coaster in the world. In 2003, Top Thrill Dragster debuted as the tallest 420 ft (130 m) and fastest 120 miles per hour (190 km/h) roller coaster in the world and is currently second tallest in the world. Top Thrill Dragster was the first strata coaster in the world. maXair debuted in 2005 as only the second HUSS Giant Frisbee ride in the world. In 2006, Skyhawk was built next to Snake River Falls. It is currently the tallest Screamin' Swing in the world. For 2007, Cedar Point debuted Maverick. The coaster 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 (110 km/h). In 2008, Cedar Point introduced Planet Snoopy, a kiddie area 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). 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. In 2010, Cedar Point added a new flume ride located on the park's Frontier Trail named Shoot the Rapids. It includes two drops and a three minute journey through a rustic western environment. 2011 saw the addition of WindSeeker, a 301-foot (92 m) tall tower that spins riders along the shoreline of Lake Erie. WindSeeker did not open on time due to construction delays and opened to the public on June 14, 2011.

Matt Ouimet era

On June 20, 2011 Cedar Fair announced that Dick Kinzel would retire on January 3, 2012 and that Matt Ouimet will take his spot as the CEO of Cedar Fair. Ouimet was employed by The Walt Disney Company for 17 years. He served as president of Disney Cruise Line and president of the Disneyland Resort. He officially became CEO on January 3rd.

In 2012, Cedar Point will add Dinosaurs Alive!, a walk-through exhibit featuring approximately 50 life-size animatronic dinosaurs. It will be located on Adventure Island and will replace the Paddlewheel Excursions boat cruise ride. A 10-lane mat racer slide complex will also be added to Soak City. The slides around the new complex were also repainted. Cedar Point will also introduce the new Fast Lane virtual queue system and a new nighttime show, Luminosity: Ignite the Night!.

Current attractions

Ride Rating System
Rating	Thrill	Description
1	Low	Rides that are generally calm and gentle in nature
2	Mild	Rides that generally have low speeds with gentle motion and braking. Rides have smooth transitions with some changes in elevation and speed.
3	Moderate	Rides that generally have low to medium speeds and/or heights with moderate motion and braking. Riders may encounter unexpected changes in direction and/or speed during portions of the ride.
4	High	Rides that generally have medium to high speeds and/or heights with moderate to rapid braking. Riders may encounter unexpected changes in speed, direction and/or elevation.
5	Aggressive	Rides that generally have one or more of the following: high speeds and/or heights, aggressive and unexpected forces, and rapid directional or elevation change. Riders will encounter many unexpected rapid changes in speed, direction and/or elevation.

Roller coasters

Cedar Point has a total of 17 roller coasters, tied with Six Flags Magic Mountain for the most in the world.

Coaster	Year Opened	Manufacturer	Description	Thrill Rating
Blue Streak	1964	Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters	A wooden roller coaster. It is the oldest operating roller coaster at Cedar Point.	4
Cedar Creek Mine Ride	1969	Arrow Dynamics	A steel mine train roller coaster with a wooden structure.	4
Corkscrew	1976	Arrow Dynamics	A steel roller coaster that spans over the midway. It was the first coaster with 3 inversions and the first coaster to span a midway when it first opened.	5
Disaster Transport	1985	Intamin	An enclosed bobsled roller coaster. It is only one of four still operating in the world. Formerly known as Avalanche Run (1985-1990).	4
Gemini	1978	Arrow Dynamics	A steel racing roller coaster with a wooden structure. It was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when it opened.	5
Iron Dragon	1987	Arrow Dynamics	A steel suspended roller coaster.	4
Jr. Gemini	1979	Intamin	A steel childrens roller coaster. It was the first roller coaster manufactured by Intamin.	2
Magnum XL-200	1989	Arrow Dynamics	A steel hyper roller coaster. It was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when it opened.	5
Mantis	1996	Bolliger & Mabillard	A steel stand-up roller coaster. It was the tallest, fastest and steepest stand up roller coaster in the world when it opened.	5
Maverick	2007	Intamin	A steel launched roller coaster. With its 95 degree drop, it is the steepest roller coaster in the park.	5
Mean Streak	1991	Dinn Corporation	A wooden roller coaster. It was the tallest, fastest and longest wooden roller coaster in the world when it opened.	5
Millennium Force	2000	Intamin	A steel giga roller coaster. It set several records when it opened such as tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster in the world.	5
Raptor	1994	Bolliger & Mabillard	A steel inverted roller coaster. It was the tallest, fastest and longest inverted roller coaster in the world when it opened. It was also the first inverted roller coaster with a cobra roll.	5
Top Thrill Dragster	2003	Intamin	A steel strata accelerator roller coaster. It was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when it opened.	5
Wicked Twister	2002	Intamin	A steel launched roller coaster. It is currently the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in the world.	5
WildCat	1970	Anton Schwarzkopf	A steel wild mouse roller coaster. It has operated in two other locations in the park before standing where it is now.	4
Woodstock Express	1999	Vekoma	A steel junior roller coaster.	4

Thrill rides

Ride	Year Opened	Manufacturer	Description	Thrill Rating
Calypso	1970	Mack Rides	A spinning ride that spins riders in two degrees of motion.	3
Cedar Downs Racing Derby	1967	Prior and Church	A racing horses carousel type ride. It is one of three still operating today. The other two are located at Playland, in Rye, New York; and Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, in Blackpool, UK. Originally from Euclid Beach Park on the east side of Cleveland and called the "Great American Racing Derby". Cedar Downs was manufactured in 1920 by Prior and Church and sold to Cedar Point in 1965.	3
Dodgem	1970		A classic bumper cars attraction.	4
Matterhorn	1972	Mack Rides	A matterhorn circular ride that swings riders as it moves in a clockwise motion while traveling up and down.	3
maXair	2005	HUSS	A Giant Frisbee ride that holds 50 riders, which swings back and forth at an arc of up to 120 degrees and reaches a height of 140 feet (43 m).	5
Monster	1970	Eyerly Aircraft Corporation	A standard Monster ride.	3
Ocean Motion	1982	HUSS	A giant swinging pirate ship ride that reaches a height of 65 feet (20 m).	3
Power Tower	1998	S&S Worldwide	A combo drop tower ride featuring both a Space Shot and a 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.	5
Scrambler	1960	Eli Bridge Company	An Eli Bridge scrambler ride. One of the oldest rides operating at Cedar Point.	3
Skyhawk	2006	S&S Worldwide	A S&S Screamin' Swing, which is currently the world's largest swinging ride. It reaches a height of 125 feet (38 m).	5
Super Himalaya	1970	Mack Rides	A circular Musik Express ride that travels in a clockwise motion on a track of various elevations.	3
Troika	1976	HUSS	A common Troika ride. Riders reach a height of 25 feet (7.6 m).	3
Wave Swinger	1979	Zierer	A Wave swinger ride featuring hand painted murals. Riders reach a height of 16 feet (4.9 m).	3
WindSeeker	2011	Mondial	A WindSeeker tower swinger ride. Riders reach a height of 301 feet (92 m).	4
Witches' Wheel	1977	HUSS	A Enterprise ride. A thrilling variation of the Ferris wheel, the Witches' Wheel turns riders upside down more than a dozen times 60 feet (18 m) above the ground.	4

Family rides

Ride	Year Opened	Manufacturer	Description	Thrill Rating
Antique Cars	1969	Arrow Dynamics	An automobile track ride with cars that resemble an old Model T car. It is one of three track rides in the park.	3
Cadillac Cars	1960	Arrow Dynamics	A second track ride with cars designed to look like a 1914 Cadillac.	3
Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad	1963		A 15-minute train excursion encompasses a two-mile (3 km) trip along Lake Erie and through a western themed "Bone Town". There is one station located near WildCat and Iron Dragon and another station located near Mean Streak and Maverick.	1
Dinosaurs Alive!	2012	Dinosaurs Unearthed	A walk through prehistoric-themed attraction featuring nearly 50 life-size animatronic dinosaurs on Adventure Island. The attraction will have an extra cost of $5 per person. The entrance is located in Camp Snoopy.
Giant Wheel	1972	Anton Schwarzkopf	A giant Ferris wheel. At 136 feet (41 m) tall, Giant Wheel is one of the tallest Ferris wheels in North America.	2
Kiddy Kingdom Carousel	1968	William H. Dentzel firm	A classic carousel ride. It is located in the Kiddie Kingdom section of the park.	1
Midway Carousel	1946	Daniel Muller	A classic carousel ride. 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.	1
Sky Ride	1961	Von Roll	A standard aerial lift ride. It transports passengers from the front of the park to near the Scrambler. The cars used are from the defunct Frontier Lift.	3
Space Spiral	1965	Von Roll	A 330-foot (100 m) tall Gyro 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). Space Spiral is unique because it features a two-level cabin. However, the second level hasn't been used for years.	2
Tilt-a-Whirl	1999	Sellner	A standard Tilt-A-Whirl ride. It is the only ride located in Camp Snoopy that is not themed to Snoopy.	3
Turnpike Cars	1965	Mack Rides	The park's third car track ride, it features cars themed to mini hot rods from the 50's.	3

Water rides

Ride	Year Opened	Manufacturer	Description	Thrill Rating
Shoot the Rapids	2010	Intamin	A log flume ride. It features two drops, one is 85 feet (26 m) and the other is 49 feet (15 m), and two splashdowns. The ride also features waterfalls, rock work, and water bombs.	5
Snake River Falls	1993	Arrow Dynamics	A shoot-the-chutes ride. It opened as the tallest, fastest and steepest water ride in the world with a drop of 80 feet (24 m).	5
Thunder Canyon	1986	Intamin	A river rafting ride. Thunder Canyon normally closes in early September in order to transform into a Halloween attraction called CornStalkers.	4

Childrens areas

Kiddy Kingdom

A splash area located in front of Kiddy Kingdom

Kiddy Kingdom opened in 1970 and is located near the first aid station and maXair. It contains 13 rides:

Name	Height Requirement	Thrill
4x4's	None	2
Dune Buggies	Under 54"	1
Frog Hopper	Between 36" and 54"	2
Helicopters	Under 54"	2
Hot Rods	Under 54"	1
Krazy Kars	Between 35" and 53"	2
Motorcycles	Between 39" and 54"	1
Mustangs	Under 54"	1
Old Timers	Under 54"	1
Police Cars	Under 54"	1
Roto Whip	Under 54"	2
Sky Fighters	Under 54"	2
Sir Rub-a-Dub's Tubs	Over 42", between 42" and 54" must be with adult	2

Planet Snoopy

Snoopy's Space Race in the Planet Snoopy section of the park

Planet Snoopy is Cedar Point's newest childrens area that opened in 2008. It is located near WindSeeker and contains 7 rides:

Name	Height Requirement	Thrill
Flying Ace Balloon Race	Over 42" or with adult	2
Kite Eating Tree	Between 36" and 54"	2
Peanuts Road Rally	Over 42" or with adult	1
Snoopy's Deep Sea Divers	Over 42"	2
Snoopy's Space Race	Between 36" and 54"	2
Snoopy's Express Railroad	Over 36" or with adult	1
Woodstock's Whirlybirds	Over 42"	2

Gemini Midway

Snoopy Bounce located between Camp Snoopy and the Gemini Midway

The Gemini Midway is located near Gemini and contains 5 rides and one kiddie coaster:

Name	Height Requirement	Thrill
Bumper Boats	Between 36" and 54"	2
Frog Hopper	Between 36" and 54"	2
Jr. Gemini	Over 36", under 54" with adult	2
Rock, Spin, and Turn	Under 54"	2
Snoopy Bounce	Between 36" and 54"	2
Space Age	Under 54"	1

Camp Snoopy

Peanuts 500 in the Camp Snoopy section of the park

Camp Snoopy opened in 1999 and is located near the entrance to Dinosaurs Alive!. It contains 5 rides and one kiddie coaster:

Name	Height Requirement	Thrill
Balloon Race	Over 42" or with adult	2
Camp Bus	Over 42"	2
Lolli Swings	Over 42" or with adult	2
Peanuts 500	Over 42" or with adult	2
Red Baron	Between 36" and 54"	2
Woodstock Express	Over 48" or with adult	4

Challenge Park

Challenge Park is an area of the park located between Cedar Point and Soak City. It features Cedar Point's upcharge attractions. Challenge Park first opened in 1992 and includes several attractions. Only one incident has occured at Challenge Park. One of the three towers for VertiGo, which opened only four months before, collapsed on January 14, 2002. No one was in the park and only minimal damage was reported. The ride was demolished later that year.

Attractions

Overview of Challenge Park with RipCord on the left, SkyScraper on the right and Soak City in the background.

All the rids and attractions require an extra fee.

Attraction	Year Opened	Description
Challenge Golf	1992	Two miniature golf courses
Challenge Racing	1992	Two go kart tracks. On the Sprint track you’ll encounter tight turns and quick straight-aways. The Grand Prix track is built for speed, with longer straightaways and faster turns. Guests must be at least 48" tall to drive on the Sprint track and at least 16 years old to drive on the Grand Prix track.
RipCord	1996	A Skycoaster ride with a height of 150 feet (46 m) and a speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). Riders must be 48" to ride.
SkyScraper	2008	You and one other rider on one arm of the propeller. Two other riders on the other arm. The arm will then begin to rotate at 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) at a max height of 160 feet (49 m). The ride was previously located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom and Valleyfair.

Defunct attractions

Main article: List of former Cedar Point attractions

Fast Lane

Further information: List of Fast Lane attractions#Cedar Point

Fast Lane is Cedar Point's virtual queue system. For $50, visitors get a wrist band that enables them to get to the front of the line on 18 of the most popular attractions without queueing. Unlike previous virtual queue systems, Fast Lane will not be a up the exit ramp feature.

Awards/rankings

Awards

Cedar Point received the Golden Ticket Award by Amusement Today for "Best Amusement Park in the World" in 2011, winning for the fourteenth consecutive year. The park has also placed in categories for "Friendliest Staff", "Best Outdoor Night Production" and "Best Halloween Event". Cedar Point won "Best New Ride of 2007" with the new roller coaster Maverick.

Rankings

Raptor from the Midway during HalloWeekends

The following steel and wooden coasters were ranked by Amusement Today in 2011:

Steel

• Millennium Force: 1st
• Top Thrill Dragster: 9th
• Magnum XL-200: 10th
• Raptor: 18th
• Maverick: 21st

Wooden

• Blue Streak: 49th

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

Timeline

2010s 

• 2012: Dinosaurs Alive! opens; 10-lane mat racer added to Soak City; Fast Lane; Several improvements to the park: New lights on Giant Wheel, Millennium Force, and Power Tower; New paint on Blue Streak, Giant Wheel; Iron Dragon midway renamed Celebration Plaza with new show, Luminosity: Ignite the Night!; More additions can be found here
• 2011: WindSeeker opens; Ocean Motion is relocated to the former Demon Drop site to make room for WindSeeker; Paddlewheel Excursions closes; Millennium Force repaint
• 2010: Shoot the Rapids opens; Chaos closes

2000s 

• 2009: Starlight Experience; Demon Drop closes
• 2008: Planet Snoopy and SkyScraper open; All Wheels Extreme stunt show
• 2007: Maverick opens; Peanuts Playground closes
• 2006: Skyhawk opens; Hot Summer Lights nighttime show
• 2005: maXair opens; White Water Landing closes; Magnum XL-200 repaint
• 2004: $10 million in capital improvements with expansions at Lighthouse Point luxury camping complex; Splash City added to Soak City
• 2003: Top Thrill Dragster opens; Swan Boats close; Troika and Chaos are relocated to make room for Top Thrill Dragster
• 2002: Wicked Twister opens; "Snoopy Rocks! On Ice" ice skating show. The Cedar Point Cinema is converted to the Good Time Theatre; Schwabinchen closes
• 2001: Lighthouse Point opens; The aqauriam closes; VertiGo is open 4 months before being demolished
• 2000: Millennium Force and Breakers Express open; Giant Wheel is relocated to make room for Millennium Force

1990s 

Snake River Falls, added in 1993

• 1999: Camp Snoopy and the Aquatic Stadium open; Breakers Tower is added to Hotel Breakers; Super Himalaya is relocated to make room for Camp Snoopy
• 1998: Power Tower opens
• 1997: Chaos opens
• 1996: Mantis and Ripcord open; Pirate Ride closes
• 1995: Zoom Flume, Renegade River and Choo-Choo Lagoon added to Soak City; Breakers East is added to Hotel Breakers; Laser Light Show
• 1994: Raptor opens; Jungle Larry's African Safari closes; Calypso is relocated to make room for Raptor
• 1993: Snake River Falls opens; Mill Race closes
• 1992: Challenge Park opens; Outdoor complex added to Bernstain Bear Country
• 1991: Mean Streak opens; Sky Slide closes
• 1990: Sandcastle Suites, Main Stram and Tadpole Town added to Soak City; Trabant closes; Avalanche Run is transformed into Disaster Transport

1980s 

Demon Drop

• 1989: Magnum XL-200 opens
• 1988: Soak City waterpark opens
• 1987: Iron Dragon opens; Monster is relocated to make room for Iron Dragon; Western Cruise station is moved and renamed Paddlehweel Excursions to make room for Iron Dragon
• 1986: Thunder Canyon opens; Sir Rub-A-Dub's Tubs added to Kiddy Kingdom;
• 1985: Avalanche Run and Berenstain Bear Country indoor complex, Frontier Lift closes; WildCat is relocated to make room for Avalanche Run
• 1984: Tiki Twirl, Rotor, Bayern Curve and Earthquake close
• 1983: Demon Drop opens
• 1982: White Water Landing and Kid Arthur's Court open
• 1981: Ocean Motion opens; Sky Wheel, Funhouse and Shoot-the-Rapids close
• 1980: Oceana Dolphin stadium opens; Sky Wheel closes; WildCat is relocated to make room for the Oceana Stadium

1970s 

• 1979: Jr. Gemini and Wave Swinger open
• 1978: Gemini opens; Jumbo Jet closes
• 1977: Witches' Wheel opens
• 1976: Corkscrew and Troika open
• 1975: The Cedar Point Cinema opens
• 1972: Frontiertown Carousel, Jumbo Jet, Giant Wheel and Matterhorn open; Zugspitze closes
• 1971: Trabant, Frontier Trail, Camper Village RV Campground open
• 1970: WildCat, Bayern Kurve, Dodgem #2, Monster, Schwabinchen, Calypso, Super Himilaya Centennial Theatre, Kiddy Kingdom, Sealand marine exibit open

1960s 

• 1969: Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Antique Cars, and the Town Hall Museum open
• 1968: Frontier Lift, Kiddieland Carousel and Sky Slide open
• 1967: Cedar Downs Racing Derby, Rotor, Shoot-the-Rapids, and Frontiertown open
• 1966: Pirate Ride opens
• 1965: Earthquake, Space Spiral, Turnpike Cars, Jungle Larry's African Safari open
• 1964: Blue Streak, and Paddlewheel Excursions (formerly called Western Cruise) open
• 1963: Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad and Mill Race open
• 1962: Sky Wheel opens
• 1961: Sky Ride, and Star Voyager (formerly called Super Jets) open
• 1960: Cadillac Cars, Scrambler and Tiki Twirl open

Pre 1960s 

Midway Carousel, added in 1946, is currently located at the front of the park

• 1959: Construction is completed on the Cedar Point Marina.
• 1957: The Cedar Point Causeway opened on June 12
• 1951: Cyclone closes
• 1946: Midway Carousel
• 1940: High Frolics closes
• 1935: Leap the Dips closes
• 1929: Cyclone opens
• 1928: Racer closes
• 1918: High Frolics opens
• 1917: Dip the Dips Scenic Railway closes
• 1912: Leap the Dips opens
• 1910: Racer opens
• 1908: Dip the Dips Scenic Railway opens
• 1907: Switchback Railway closes
• 1905: Hotel Breakers opens
• 1902: Figure-Eight Roller Toboggan opens
• 1899: Bay Shore Hotel opens
• 1892: Switchback Railway opens

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, WindSeeker and Planet Snoopy Children's Area.

On-site resorts and campgrounds

Lighthouse Point at Cedar Point.

Hotel Breakers is the oldest resort at Cedar Point being built in 1905. The hotel consists of 650 rooms and suites and is also the closest resort to Cedar Point and Soak City. In 1997, Hotel Breakers was renovated and received a new addition doubling the room size. Hotel Breakers has standard hotel rooms, suites with view of Lake Erie, and Snoopy-themed rooms. Some of the amenities that are found at the Hotel Breakers include three different pools, complimentary Wi-Fi, beach access, a 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 northernmost part of the peninsula. Some of the amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi available in the lobby and guest suites, an 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, a shuffleboard court, a 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, a shuffleboard court, a game room, complimentary Cedar Point parking, courtesy shuttle service on Cedar Point Peninsula, a dump station, and laundry facilities.

Off-site Cedar Point owned resorts

Castaway Bay indoor waterpark resort was introduced by Cedar Fair in 2005 to provide guests with an indoor water park experience. The indoor waterpark has over 38,000 feet (12,000 m) of water slides, along with shops, and a wave pool. The resort consists of 237 guest rooms and luxury suites. Castaway Bay features five restaurants including T.G.I. Friday's and Bay Harbor.

Breakers Express is a resort located one mile (1.6 km) away from Cedar Point and is the closest hotel to the peninsula. It 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.

Slogans

Maverick, added in 2007, Cedar Point's newest roller coaster

• Early 20th century: "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, so new 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"
• 1979-1985: "The Amazement Park," while ads featured "Cedar Point is the cure for the 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: "I call it the Sandusky!", "Get to the Point!"
• 1995: "Real Thrills"
• 2000-03: "Hold On!"
• 2003-04: "Are You Ready?"
• 2004-05: "Absolutely Amazing"
• 2010–present: "The Fun and Only", "Ride On!"

HalloWeekends

HalloWeekends is a special event that only takes place during the Halloween season, first introduced in 1996. It usually runs from the second Friday after Labor Day until the Sunday before Halloween. However, it is only open Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday. Its attractions are usually Halloween related indoors and outdoors during the day and night. One instance is that part of the building that houses Disaster Transport is turned into "Happy Jack's Toy Factory", a haunted toy factory that has Toys come alive and scare the visitors. The attraction has a fogged Hall of Mirrors that the visitors go through before entering the store/factory itself. Upon entering, the visitors come across haunted and Possessed toys, stuffed animals, dolls, and when the visitors reach the exit, they go through a hallway of endlessly urinating baby dolls, getting soaked and wet in the process. The outside attractions are run by "Screamsters" who are commanded to scare the visitors by the Overlord when night falls. The outside attractions are CarnEvil, The Fright Zone, CornStalkers, Fear Faire, Blood On The Bayou, Maniacal, Mechanical Screamworks, and Terror Island. Other indoor attractions are G.A. Boeckling's Eerie Estate, Club Blood, and Eternity Infimary. HalloWeekend's yearly slogan is "ALL YOU FEAR IS HERE!"

For the 2011 HalloWeekends, Cedar Point had to rename two attractions due to protests. "Dr. D Mented's Asylum" was renamed the "Eternity Infirmary," while "The Edge of Madness" was changed to "The Edge of Madness -- Six Feet Under".

In 2012, Terror Island will be re-located somewhere in Frontier Town.

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.
• 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 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 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. Also employees of that year and guests that were there during certain days of filming were filmed, if they wished, in scenes involving larger crowds throughout the park.
• In Cinda Williams Chima's book "The Warrior Heir," the main characters take a field trip to Cedar Point with their high school class.
• In an episode of the television show Glee, which is set in Lima, Ohio, cheerleader Quinn (Diana Agron) tells her coach, Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) that she and the other cheerleaders sold their season tickets to Cedar Point on Ebay.
• In an episode of the show 8 simple rules, Bridget (Kaley Cuoco) and Kerry (Amy Davison) talk about going to Cedar Point to their dad Paul (John Ritter).
• In Travel Channel's Bert the Conqueror on episode two of season one, Bert takes the Foursome Fearsome Challenge in which he rides the four fastest and tallest coasters in the park in under an hour.

See also

• List of former Cedar Point attractions

Further reading

• Francis, David W.; Diane DeMali Francis (2004). Cleveland Amusement Park Memories. Gray & Company, Publishers. ISBN 978-1-886228-89-4. 
• 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!
• What's Up! Web TV: Cedar Point Roller Coaster Profile
• Cedar Point at the Open Directory Project