Cedar Point


Cedar Point is a amusement park located on a Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky, Ohio. Opened in the late-1800s, it is reported to be the second-oldest operating amusement park in the United States behind Lake Compounce. Cedar Point is owned and operated by Cedar Fair and is considered the flagship of the amusement park chain. Known as "America's Roller Coast", the park features a world-record 71 rides, including 17 roller coasters – the second-most in the world behind Six Flags Magic Mountain. Its newest roller coaster, Steel Vengeance, opened to the public on May 5, 2018.
Cedar Point's normal operating season runs from early May until Labor Day in September. The park then reopens only on weekends until the end of October or early November for a Halloween-themed event known as HalloWeekends. Other attractions near the park include a white-sand beach, an outdoor water park called Cedar Point Shores, an indoor water park called Castaway Bay, two marinas, an outdoor sports complex called Cedar Point Sports Center, and several nearby resorts.
The park has reached several milestones. It is the only amusement park in the world with six roller coasters that are at least in height – Magnum XL-200, Millennium Force, Wicked Twister, Top Thrill Dragster, Valravn, and Steel Vengeance – as well as the only one with roller coasters in all four height classifications. Cedar Point also received the Golden Ticket Award for "Best Amusement Park in the World" from Amusement Today for 16 consecutive years from 1997 to 2013. The park is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the United States with an estimated 3.6 million visitors in 2017. The park also has several buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

In the late-19th century, the south shore region of Lake Erie became a popular vacation destination for the emerging middle-class in the United States. The Lake's islands, such as Kelleys Island and South Bass Island, were gaining a reputation for their freshwater bathing resorts. The Cedar Point peninsula, named for its abundance of cedar trees, was originally known for its fishing. Local fishermen leased land and built living quarters there. Sandusky, which featured an important shipping harbor and two railroads, transformed into a major economic center over the next three decades. Railroad and steamship travel supported an emerging tourism industry, and rapid development of the area began.
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. It was used to defend a prison for Confederate soldiers on nearby Johnson's Island. Louis Zistel, a German immigrant, built two boats to transport the prisoners. According to some sources, in 1870 Zistel began to ferry locals to the Cedar Point peninsula. He charged 25 cents per person to ride from Sandusky to Cedar Point on his boat, Young Reindeer. This marked the beginning of commercial tourism on the Cedar Point peninsula. However, the present amusement-park technically had its official beginning in 1888. Benjamin F. Dwelle and Captain William Slackford leased land on the peninsula in 1882 and built eight new bathhouses, a dance hall and wooden walkways on the beach. The steamboats R.B. Hayes and Lutts provided transport to Biemiller's Cove and Cedar Point Light. Building on early success, Dwelle and Slackford continued to expand the offerings for their visitors each year and added picnic tables, cleared acres of brush, and built a baseball diamond. In 1888, after Slackford became ill, Dwelle entered a more lucrative partnership with Adam Stoll and Louis Adolph, who owned land at Cedar Point, and investors Charles Baetz and Jacob Kuebeler. The partnership's first venture was constructing a Grand Pavilion, which opened in 1888. It was a two-story theater and concert hall with a bowling alley and photographer's studio. The building was recognized for its unusual architecture and still stands in the park. The first amusement ride at Cedar Point, a water toboggan ride consisting of a ramp that launched riders into Lake Erie, opened in 1890. Electricity was installed at Cedar Point in 1891. The first roller coaster, Switchback Railway, opened the following year. It stood high and had a top speed of. The Switchback Railway was designed as two identical tracks side-by-side – one for the ride down and the other for the train to be hauled back to the top by the ride attendant.

Boeckling era

Representatives of the Lake Erie and Western Railroad purchased the peninsula for in 1897 and formed the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company. The company appointed George A. Boeckling, a businessman from Indiana, as the park's new manager. Under his tenure, the peninsula was transformed from a picnic ground into a nationally recognized amusement park and resort destination.
The second roller coaster at Cedar Point, the Figure-Eight Roller Toboggan, debuted in 1902. It was moved several years later and renamed The Racer. A pony track was built near the beach the same year. Mosquitos were an issue, so in 1904, the park hired the Detroit Dredging Company to drain swampy areas on the peninsula. Detroit Dredging connected a series of lagoons to form a water passageway that quickly became one of the park's signature attractions. Aside from sightseeing passenger boats, the passageway was used to transport coal to power plants near the center of the peninsula. The historic Hotel Breakers opened in 1905 as one of the largest hotels in the Midwest; it had 600 guest rooms and a cafe that could seat 400 guests. A new area of the park called "Amusement Circle" was designed in 1906 to link the pier to the beach. It was located southeast of the Coliseum, a large arena built the same year that featured a grand ballroom and other attractions.
The Dip the Dips Scenic Railway roller coaster opened in 1908, but it was soon overshadowed by the larger Leap the Dips ride that opened in 1912. In 1917, Dip the Dips was razed and replaced by the Leap Frog Scenic Railway. With a growing assortment of rides including three roller coasters, Cedar Point was beginning to grow as an amusement park. However, that wasn't a priority for Boeckling. He marketed the peninsula primarily as a bathing resort complete with shows, exhibits, motion pictures and other forms of entertainment, but did not place emphasis on the park's rides.
A substantial number of hotels and restaurants were constructed in the remaining years of Boeckling's tenure, including Hotel Cedars, White House Hotel, Crystal Rock Castle and Crystal Gardens Ballroom. Cedar Point continued to update its ride attractions, replacing the Racer, the Circle Swing, and other rides to make way for a Shoot-the-Chutes water ride, a Tilt-A-Whirl, and fun houses such as Noah's Ark and Bluebeard's Palace. The Cyclone, a rickety and rough coaster, opened in 1929. Boeckling's health began to deteriorate in the late 1920s, and by 1931, he became confined to a wheelchair. He continued to oversee park operations, but as his condition worsened, he eventually had to remain indoors. Boeckling died from uremia on July 24, 1931. 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: the George A. Roose era

Edward Smith took over Cedar Point's management after Boeckling's death. As a result of the Great Depression, little expansion happened through the 1930s. One of the few rides built in during this time was the Tumble Bug. The decaying Leap the Dips coaster was demolished in the mid-1930s. In the late 1930s, the resort was on the brink of being sold to the state of Ohio for. After the 1938 season, the directors had the second floor of the Coliseum modernized in the art deco style with a new stage. In the middle, the giant dance floor remained. Some of the top bands of the time played in the ballroom. As a result, it kept Cedar Point operating through the rest of the Depression. Momma Berardi's Home Made French Fries came to Cedar Point, Momma Berardi's family played an important role in the food industry at Cedar Point. Momma Berardi's fries were sold there from 1942 until 1978, winning four Reader's Choice Awards.
By the end of World War II, Cedar Point was in need of financial help. The wood of the Cyclone roller 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, leaving the resort without a roller coaster. As the Cyclone was being removed, the Laff-in-the-Dark, Rocket Ships, and Loop-A-Plane attractions were installed. Cedar Point Causeway was built in 1957 and is still in use. The president of Cedar Point, Bernie Zeiher, was replaced by George Roose around 1958, and Emile Legros was elected chairman that same year.
In the 1950s, the Pagoda Gift Shop was a post-office and the Crystal Rock Castle was turned into a maintenance shop in the late-1950s. In 1959, the hotels were repainted, new admission gates were installed, and over was spent to refresh Cedar Point. The park's first roller coaster since the Cyclone, the Wild Mouse, was built. The resort also got a new kind of ride, a monorail, that was the most popular ride in 1959. Breakers Hotel was restored and the neglected cottages were demolished. The Coliseum and Grand Pavilion were both painted and remodeled. The Crystal Rock Castle Maintenance Shop, bathhouses, and the old powerhouse were demolished, and 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 became common. On March 28, 1960, Cedar Point announced plans to transform the park into a "Disneyland" amusement center. Those plans fell through, however. Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad opened in 1963, transporting passengers from the middle of the park to the back. In 1964, Cedar Point built its oldest surviving roller coaster, the Blue Streak. It was named after the local high school's sports teams, the Sandusky Blue Streaks. Jungle Larry's Safari Island was a well-known attraction that operated from 1965 until 1994 despite the death of Jungle Larry in 1984. The Cedar Creek Mine Ride opened in 1969; it is currently the second oldest roller coaster at Cedar Point.
In 1970, the Centennial Theatre, named in honor of Cedar Point's 100th anniversary, was built. 1972 brought Giant Wheel and the now-defunct Jumbo Jet coaster, which was noted for being the fastest coaster at that time. In 1975, Robert L. Munger Jr. took over as president of Cedar Point after Roose retired. The record-breaking Corkscrew roller coaster was built in 1976; it was the first roller coaster to span a midway and have three inversions. Gemini opened in 1978 and was advertised as the tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster in the world. A kiddie coaster, named Jr. Gemini, opened the following year across from the Gemini. White Water Landing opened in 1982, replacing the original Shoot the Rapids log flume. In 1983, Demon Drop was built at the front of the park. Avalanche Run opened in 1985 close to the beach and would later be re-themed as Disaster Transport. That same year, the San Francisco Earthquake Ride was transformed into the Berenstain Bear Country.

Dick Kinzel era

In 1986, Robert L. Munger Jr, the president and chief executive officer of Cedar Fair, stepped down due to health issues and was replaced by Richard "Dick" Kinzel. Thunder Canyon, a river rafting ride manufactured by Intamin, also opened in 1986. In 1987, Iron Dragon, a suspended roller coaster, debuted on the Million Dollar Midway near the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad station. In 1988, Soak City, Cedar Point's outdoor water park, was constructed near Hotel Breakers. It featured speed slides, more than 10 body and tube slides, a family raft ride, a water playhouse and two lazy rivers.
Several new rides and roller coasters opened at Cedar Point from 1989 to 2011 that were record-breakers. Magnum XL-200 debuted in 1989, breaking the world height and speed records. It was the first roller coaster to exceed a height of and speeds over and was the first hypercoaster in the world. For the 1990 season, Avalanche Run was transformed into Disaster Transport; the ride was fully enclosed and special effects were added. In subsequent years, the special effects and theming were removed, leaving the ride almost completely dark. 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 and a height of. Challenge Park was built between Hotel Breakers and Soak City in 1992. Challenge Park included RipCord, Skyscraper, and two eighteen-hole mini-golf courses.
Snake River Falls was constructed in 1993 because of the popularity of Soak City. The -tall structure sends riders plunging down at a 50-degree angle. At the bottom of the hill, the ride ends with a splash landing in which the boat creates a large wave, splashing spectators on an overlooking bridge. When it 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 to make room for Raptor, the first inverted roller coaster to feature a cobra roll. In December 1994, the park held its only Christmas in the Park. The Midway Carousel was open, a horse-drawn carriage gave behind-the-scenes tours of the park and the midway held many Christmas festivals, including a Christmas tree. In 1996, Cedar Point opened Mantis, then the tallest, steepest, and fastest stand-up roller coaster in the world. Originally, the ride was to be called "Banshee", but it was later changed after negative public reaction. The discarded name would later be reused for Banshee at Kings Island in 2014. In 1997, the park added HalloWeekends, a Halloween event with haunted houses and mazes that typically operates from September through late October. Camp Snoopy debuted in 1999; it features eight Snoopy-themed attractions, with the exception of a Tilt-A-Whirl. The area also features a junior roller coaster built by Vekoma, Woodstock Express.
Cedar Point built the first giga coaster, Millennium Force, in 2000. When it debuted, it was the tallest and fastest complete-circuit roller coaster in the world, climbing and reaching a maximum speed of. In 2002, Wicked Twister opened as the tallest, fastest, and longest inverted impulse roller coaster of its kind. In the midst of a highly-competitive industry with other parks, Cedar Point again set new records the following year with the debut of Top Thrill Dragster, which opened as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world in 2003. It reached a height of and a maximum speed of. Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure broke both records two years later. maXair debuted in 2005 as only the second HUSS Giant Frisbee ride in the United States. Dan Keller also retired in 2005 as vice president and general manager. He was replaced by John Hildebrandt, who had been the vice president and general manager of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom since May 2004. In 2006, Skyhawk was built next to Snake River Falls; it is currently the tallest Screamin' Swing in the world. In the 2007 season, Cedar Point built Maverick, which features a drop at a 95-degree angle and includes a linear synchronous motor launch in the middle of the ride reaching speeds of. In 2008, Cedar Point introduced Planet Snoopy, a kids' area constructed on the site of Peanuts Playground; it consists of family and children's rides relocated from Cedar Point's sister park Geauga Lake after it closed. The area also consisted of a "Kids Only" restaurant called Joe Cool Cafe, which had a small menu for adults. Starlight Experience, a night-time LED light extravaganza with floats themed to the four seasons, debuted in 2009. The $1,000,000 attraction took place on the Frontier Trail nightly beginning at twilight. In 2010, Cedar Point added a new flume ride on the park's Frontier Trail named Shoot the Rapids, which included two drops and a three-minute journey through a rustic, western-themed environment. It was removed in February 2016 following a history of low ridership and a serious incident in 2013 injuring seven riders. WindSeeker, a tall tower that spins riders along the shoreline of Lake Erie, was introduced in 2011. 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 Matt Ouimet would become the CEO of the company. Ouimet was employed by The Walt Disney Company for 17 years, including tenures as president of Disney Cruise Line and the Disneyland Resort.
In 2012, Cedar Point added Dinosaurs Alive!, a walk-through exhibit featuring approximately 50 life-size animatronic dinosaurs. It was located on Adventure Island and replaced the Paddlewheel Excursions boat cruise ride. Dinosaurs Alive! was replaced with Forbidden Frontier after the 2018 season. A six-lane mat racer slide complex called Dragster H2O was added to Soak City. The slides around Dragster H2O were repainted and the Speed Slides were dismantled to make room for Dragster H2O. Cedar Point also introduced Fast Lane, their version of a fast-pass system, and a new nighttime show, Luminosity – Ignite the Night!. Cedar Point also removed WildCat for the 2012 season to make room for Luminosity. This was the first time since 1978 that a roller coaster was removed from Cedar Point.
On July 13, 2012, Cedar Point announced the removal of Disaster Transport and Space Spiral. Exactly a month later, Cedar Point announced GateKeeper, the longest wing coaster in the world, which opened on May 11, 2013. Along with GateKeeper, a new main entrance plaza was constructed, replacing the entrance that was built in the 1960s. It features two -tall support columns that the GateKeeper trains go through. Cedar Point invested $60 million in its resort hotels over the next three years, starting in the 2013–2014 offseason. At the end of the 2013 season, John Hildebrandt retired as the park's general manager and was replaced by Jason McClure, the former vice president and general manager of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.
Two new family attractions called Pipe Scream and Lake Erie Eagles were added in 2014, along with a pay-per-ride thrill ride named SlingShot. Camp Snoopy and the Gemini Midway underwent renovations the same year, and some rides within those areas were relocated and given new themes. In 2015, the stand-up coaster Mantis was transformed into a floorless roller coaster called Rougarou, receiving new trains and a new green and orange paint scheme in the process. Also in 2015, Hotel Breakers received a $25-million renovation. A new roller coaster called Valravn debuted in 2016 as the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in the world. The ride replaced the 40-year-old Good Time Theater along with an antique car ride known as Turnpike Cars. Calypso was also moved in the process to the beach area near Wicked Twister, where it was renamed Tiki Twirl. Raptor and Top Thrill Dragster were repainted as well.
As the 2016 season came to close, Cedar Point announced that Mean Streak would close permanently on September 16, 2016, although park officials declined to confirm that it was being torn down. The park teased subtle hints over the following year that the roller coaster was in fact being refurbished. In August 2017, Cedar Point officially confirmed that Mean Streak would reemerge as Steel Vengeance in 2018.
The park was set to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2020, introducing a new family boat ride attraction called Snake River Expedition. However, both the celebration and the new ride's debut were postponed until 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Park timeline

introduced in 1997
Sources:

List of attractions

Thrill level

Roller coasters

, Cedar Point features 17 roller coasters. It is tied with Canada's Wonderland for second-most in the world behind Six Flags Magic Mountain, which has 19.
CoasterPictureOpenedManufacturerDescriptionThrill
level
Blue Streak 1964Philadelphia Toboggan CoastersA wooden roller coaster. It is the oldest operating roller coaster at Cedar Point.'
Cedar Creek Mine Ride 1969Arrow DynamicsA steel mine train Hybrid roller coaster.'
Corkscrew 1976Arrow DynamicsA steel roller coaster that spans the midway. It was the first coaster with 3 inversions and the first coaster to span a midway when it opened.'
GateKeeper 2013Bolliger & MabillardA steel wing coaster that opened as the tallest and longest Wing Coaster in the world in addition to having the highest inversion.'
Gemini 1978Arrow DynamicsA steel racing Hybrid roller coaster. It was marketed as the tallest, fastest and longest when it opened.'
Iron Dragon 1987Arrow DynamicsA steel suspended roller coaster. Supports were painted yellow for the 2004 season.'
Magnum XL-200 1989Arrow DynamicsA steel hyper roller coaster. It was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when it opened.'
Maverick 2007IntaminA steel launched roller coaster. With its 95-degree drop, it is the steepest roller coaster in the park.'
Millennium Force 2000IntaminA steel giga roller coaster. It set several records when it opened such as the tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster in the world.'
Raptor 1994Bolliger & MabillardA 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.'
Rougarou 1996Bolliger & MabillardA steel floorless coaster previously known as Mantis, which was the tallest, fastest and steepest stand-up roller coaster in the world when it opened in 1996. Rougarou opened in 2015 as a renovated version of Mantis featuring new trains, new colors, and a new theme.'
Steel Vengeance 2018Rocky Mountain ConstructionA steel hybrid coaster that opened as the tallest, longest, and fastest of its kind in the world.'
Top Thrill Dragster 2003IntaminA steel strata accelerator roller coaster. It was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when it opened.'
Valravn 2016Bolliger & MabillardA steel Dive Coaster that opened as the tallest, fastest, and longest of its kind in the world.'
Wicked Twister 2002IntaminA steel inverted impulse roller coaster. It is currently the tallest and fastest inverted coaster in the world.'
Wilderness Run 1979IntaminA steel children's roller coaster, previously known as Jr. Gemini until 2014. It was the first roller coaster manufactured by Intamin. Entrance was moved to Camp Snoopy and renamed Wilderness Run in 2014.'
Woodstock Express 1999VekomaA steel junior roller coaster. It is located within Camp Snoopy.

Thrill rides

Cedar Point has 17 thrill rides. The newest is SlingShot, which was introduced in 2014.
RideYear openedManufacturerDescriptionThrill level
Cedar Downs Racing Derby1967Prior and ChurchA high-speed, circular ride resembling a carousel themed to horse racing. It is one of only two remaining installations of its kind still operating in the United States. Manufactured in 1920 by Prior and Church, the ride was sold to Cedar Point in 1965. It was originally located at the defunct Euclid Beach Park in east Cleveland, where it was called "Great American Racing Derby", and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.'
Dodgem1970Soli of ItalyA classic bumper cars attraction.'
Matterhorn1972Mack RidesA matterhorn circular ride that swings riders as it moves in a clockwise motion while traveling up and down.'
maXair2005HUSS Park AttractionsA Giant Frisbee ride, it is one of only two Giant Frisbees made by HUSS in the world.'
Monster1970Eyerly Aircraft CompanyA standard monster ride.'
Ocean Motion1981HUSS Park AttractionsA swinging pirate ship ride that reaches a height of.'
Pipe Scream2014ZamperlaA Disk'O ride where a single car travels along a long, U-shaped track, reaching a height of.'
Power Tower1998S&S WorldwideA 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.'
Professor Delbert's Frontier Fling1996Ride Entertainment GroupA dual arch Skycoaster model. Operated as Ripcord in Challenge Park from 1996 to 2016. This is an upcharge attraction.'
Scrambler1960Eli Bridge CompanyA twist ride that is one of the oldest rides operating at Cedar Point.'
Skyhawk2006S&S WorldwideA Screamin' Swing ride, which is currently the world's largest swinging ride.'
SlingShot2014FuntimeA tall Reverse bungee ride that launches riders up at speeds up to. SlingShot is an additional charge attraction.'
Super Himalaya1970Mack RidesA circular Music Express ride that travels in a clockwise motion on a track of various elevations.'
Tiki Twirl1970Mack RidesA spinning ride that spins riders in two degrees of motion. Previously known as Calypso prior to its relocation in 2015.'
Troika1976HUSS Park AttractionsA Troika ride in which riders reach a height of.'
Wave Swinger1979ZiererA wave swinger ride featuring hand painted murals. Riders reach a height of.'
WindSeeker2011MondialA WindSeeker tower swinger ride. It was one of the first of its kind.

Family rides

Cedar Point has 9 family rides.
RideYear openedManufacturerDescriptionThrill level
Antique Cars1969Arrow DynamicsAn automobile track ride with cars that resemble an early Cadillac car. It is one of two track rides in the park.'
Cadillac Cars1958Arrow DynamicsA second track ride with cars designed to look like a 1910 Cadillac.'
Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad1963Engines:
A 15-minute, western-themed train excursion encompasses a trip. The narrow gauge train features two stations: one near Iron Dragon and the other near Steel Vengeance.'
Giant Wheel1972Anton SchwarzkopfA tall, observation wheel.'
Kiddy Kingdom Carousel1968Dentzel Carousel CompanyA classic carousel ride originally built in 1925. It is located in the Kiddy Kingdom section of the park and is listed on the NRHP. A Wurlitzer #103 Band Organ that once provided the carousel's music is now in storage.'
Lake Erie Eagles2014Larson InternationalA flying eagles ride with eight carriages that each have a paddle, enabling guests to change the movement of their carriage.'
Midway Carousel1946Daniel MullerA 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 and is listed on the NRHP. A non operational Wurlitzer #153 Band Organ can be seen on the ride.'
Sky Ride1962Von RollA standard gondola lift ride. It transports passengers from the front of the park to a station near Celebration Plaza. The cars used are from the defunct Frontier Lift.'
Linus' Beetle Bugs1999SellnerA standard Tilt-A-Whirl ride. It was re-themed for the 2019 season to fit in with the Camp Snoopy theme.

Water rides

Cedar Point has two water rides, excluding attractions located in Cedar Point Shores.
RideOpenedManufacturerDescriptionThrill level
Snake River Falls1993Arrow DynamicsA Shoot-the-Chute ride. It opened as the tallest and fastest water ride in the world with a drop of.'
Thunder Canyon1986IntaminA river rafting ride. Thunder Canyon normally closes in late August and is transformed into a HalloWeekends attraction called CornStalkers.'

Children rides

Kiddy Kingdom opened in 1970 as Kiddieland but was renamed in 1993. It is located near the first aid station and maXair. It contains 10 rides.
NameThrill level
4x4's'
Dune Buggies'
Helicopters'
Motorcycles'
Mustangs'
Police Cars'
Rock Spin & Turn'
Roto Whip'
Sky Fighters'
Space Age'

Opened in 2008, Planet Snoopy is Cedar Point's newest children's area. All of its rides come from the defunct Geauga Lake park. It is located near WindSeeker and contains eight rides.
NameThrill level
Flying Ace Balloon Race'
Joe Cool's Dodgem School'
Kite Eating Tree'
Peanuts Road Rally'
Snoopy's Deep Sea Divers'
Snoopy's Space Race'
Snoopy's Express Railroad'
Woodstock's Whirlybirds'

Camp Snoopy opened in 1999 and is located near the entrance to Dinosaurs Alive!. It contains six rides and two kiddie coasters.
NameThrill level
Balloon Race'
Camp Bus'
Charlie Brown's Wind Up'
Peanuts 500'
Red Baron'
Snoopy Bounce'
Wilderness Run'
Woodstock Express'
Woodstock's Airmail

Cedar Point Shores

Cedar Point's water park opened in 1988 as Soak City and was renamed Cedar Point Shores following an announcement on August 18, 2016. It is adjacent to Cedar Point and requires separate admission. Guests must get their hands stamped to re-enter Cedar Point.

Live entertainment

Venues

Source:

Fast Lane

, introduced at Cedar Point in 2012, is a secondary queue system that offers shorter wait times on the park's most popular rides. In addition to the standard admission charge, visitors can bypass the standard wait line by purchasing a wristband that grants access to the Fast Lane queue. A limited number of wristbands are sold each day. The two options available for purchase are "Fast Lane" and "Fast Lane Plus". The standard Fast Lane offers access to 20 attractions, while Fast Lane Plus covers the same rides and adds Top Thrill Dragster, Maverick, Millennium Force, and Steel Vengeance.
Beginning in the 2014 season, Cedar Point offers a Halloween-themed version of Fast Lane called Fright Lane with Skeleton Key, available during HalloWeekends. In addition to Fast Lane access, this version provides priority access to haunted attractions within the park. It also includes a key that provides access to a secret room in each haunted attraction.

Awards/rankings

Awards

Cedar Point won the Golden Ticket Award from Amusement Today for "Best Amusement Park in the World" for 16 consecutive years from 1997 to 2013. The park has also placed in categories for "Friendliest Park Staff", "Cleanest Park", "Best Capacity", "Best Kid's Area", "Best Outdoor Night Production", "Best Shows", "Best Games Area", "Best Souvenirs", and "Best Halloween Event". The park also won the Golden Ticket Award for "Best New Ride of 2007" with the roller coaster Maverick. Cedar Point has also won several IAAPA awards, including the Applause Award in 1996.

Rankings

Cedar Point's roller coasters have consistently ranked high in the Golden Ticket Awards. In the 2013 rankings, GateKeeper debuted at 28th, making it the first time ever that the park had six steel roller coasters in the top 50; it currently has five, all in the top 25. The following steel and wooden coasters were ranked by Amusement Today in 2019:

Steel

In 1960, the park's attendance reached 1 million for the first time. Just five years later, the attendance reached 2 million. In 1975, attendance reached 3 million for the first time. Cedar Point's attendance peaked in 1994 with 3.6 million visitors, a feat not matched again until 2016. In 2017, the park was ranked fourteenth overall in North America for attendance and first in the United States among seasonal amusement parks, with an estimated 3.6 million visitors.
20032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016
3.303.203.103.073.123.202.943.053.143.223.383.253.513.60

Resorts

Cedar Point owns and operates six resorts, several of which are located on park grounds. Guests staying at the resorts are given early access to the park before it opens to the general public, during which time a select number of rides are available such as Steel Vengeance and Millennium Force. Cedar Point invested $60 million over the course of three years renovating many of the resorts, beginning in 2013.

On-site resorts, marina, and campgrounds

, built in 1905, is the oldest resort at Cedar Point and the closest one to the park. It has undergone numerous renovations over the years, with the most recent occurring in 2015 that cost Cedar Fair an estimated $50 million. The resort features over 650 rooms and suites, as well as a variety of outdoor amenities including live entertainment and beach activities.
Lighthouse Point, located along the west bank of the peninsula, contains 64 cottages and 40 cabins. The centerpiece of Lighthouse Point is the Cedar Point Light, which was built in 1862 and is the oldest existing structure on the peninsula.
Camper Village is the only overnight location that provides accommodations for recreational vehicles. Deluxe sites offer electricity, water, sewer and cable. Amenities include the Camper Village Store, an outdoor pool, a shuffleboard court, and a game room.
The Cedar Point Marina is located on the Sandusky Bay side of the peninsula, directly adjacent to the amusement park. It offers amenities geared toward boaters such as fuel docks and a floating pier. Other amenities include on-site restaurants and stores.

Off-site Cedar Point-owned resorts

is an indoor waterpark resort opened by Cedar Fair in November 2004. It houses over of water attractions, shops, and restaurants, in addition to more than 200 guest rooms and a marina.
Cedar Point's Express Hotel, formerly Breakers Express, is a hotel located from Cedar Point. Opened in 2000, it is the closest off-site hotel to the peninsula and includes over 400 guest rooms.
Sawmill Creek by Cedar Point Resorts, located in nearby Huron, Ohio, is a nearby resort purchased by Cedar Fair for $13.5 million in 2019. Amenities include restaurants, shopping, a conference center, and an 18-hole golf course.

National Register of Historic Places

Cedar Point features several historic buildings on the peninsula. Many of the buildings and structures on the peninsula are from the late 1800s or early 1900s. The oldest structure on the peninsula is the Cedar Point Light. It is a restored lighthouse that was built in 1862 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 19, 1984. Located along the main midway is the Coliseum. The Coliseum was built in 1906 with the newly expanded Midway. It has a ballroom known for holding several dances that helped Cedar Point out of The Depression. It was added to the NRHP on October 2, 1982. Another building that is listed on the NRHP is the U.S. Coast Guard Building located along Perimeter Road that stretches around the peninsula.
All three of Cedar Point's carousels are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Midway Carousel, otherwise known as the Daniel C. Muller Carousel, is located at the front of the park. It opened in 1912 and was brought to Cedar Point in 1946. A Sandusky family purchased the ride and operated it at the park. It became property of Cedar Point in 1963. It is Cedar Point's oldest operating ride and was added to the NRHP on October 20, 1982. The second carousel at the park is the Cedar Downs Racing Derby, also known as the Great American Racing Derby. It originally opened at Euclid Beach Park in 1921 and was transported to Cedar Point for the 1967 season. It is only one of two racing carousels still operating in the United States, and was added to the NRHP on November 8, 1990. The third carousel is the Kiddy Kingdom Carousel, located in Kiddy Kingdom. It is also known as William H. Dentzel 1924 Carousel and opened at Cedar Point in 1968. It was added to the NRHP on November 8, 1990.
Cedar Point used to have a fourth carousel located in Frontiertown, next to the Wave Swinger. It was known as the Frontier Carousel or William H. Dentzel 1921 Carousel. It opened at Cedar Point in 1972 when it was bought from a family in Lansing, Michigan. It was listed on the NRHP on November 8, 1990. After the 1994 season, the carousel closed and was moved to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, where it now operates under the name Antique Carousel. Its building is currently used for the HalloWeekends attraction, Eternity Infirmary.

Former

Cedar Point's oldest hotel is the Hotel Breakers. It opened in 1905 during the "golden age" of resort hotels. It was added to the NRHP on March 9, 1987. After several major alterations, most notably the Breakers Tower in 1998, the National Park Service removed the Hotel Breakers from the NRHP on August 7, 2001.

In popular culture

Cedar Point has had a cultural influence on American society as evidenced in many forms of media such as books, television, and film. In the 1940 biographical film Knute Rockne, All American documenting the life of famous Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne, Cedar Point is featured at a pivotal point in the story. In 1913, Knute works as a lifeguard on a beach at Cedar Point, where he and his college roommate Gus Dorais worked on the forward pass. The concept, which was first used in a scrimmage game at Cedar Point, would revolutionize the sport and the film would later be preserved in the Library of Congress National Film Registry. In 2004, an independently produced film, Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind: Infestation From Mars, was shot at several historic locations around Sandusky including Cedar Point. Dick Kinzel, CEO of Cedar Fair at the time, had a brief speaking role in the film.
In the 2006 book The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima, the main characters take a field trip to Cedar Point with their high school class. In a 2010 episode of Bert the Conqueror on the Travel Channel, Bert takes the "Foursome Fearsome" roller-coaster challenge in which he rides the four fastest and tallest coasters in the park in under an hour. A 2012 episode of Travel Channel's Off Limits takes a look at off-season maintenance at the park and features the host, Don Wildman, working with the maintenance crew on Mean Streak and Millennium Force. In 2012, the "Extreme Heights" and "Speed Demons" episodes of Insane Coaster Wars on the Travel Channel feature Cedar Point coasters Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster, respectively. Commentary for the series was primarily filmed at Cedar Point.