10 years ago today Millennium Force was announced.

Hard to believe it but Millenium Force was announced e decade ago. I remember heading to the first computer I could find to read about the announcement. It was an exciting time. I remember going on the Giant Wheel that fall and seeing the construction from the air. Of course the Giant Wheel had to be moved as part of the construction and it semed so weird that the wheel would be at a different spot. It was such an icon right behind the train station.

I am sure Cedar Point will celebrate the milestone as part of their 2010 marketing. Hard to believe that 2000 is almost a decade ago. For most of my life the year 2000 seemed like a far off year and now its history.

Daniel Smith's avatar

I remembered it was announced in July but didin't remember what date, but yeah I hope there is a big event next year for The Force turning 10 years!


Quote from a Corkscrew ride op, "And Dragster is down again"

So apparently, I have only accepted the fact that the internet may be important, 10 years ago.

I remember finding - Guide to the Point - because of Millenium Force being built. - Yell at me cuz I really don't remember the name of the other site that merged with Guide to the Point, to become PointBuzz.

The company I worked for at the time, and still do now, was trying to convince me having a website on this internet thing would be great for business. - I didn't trust the WEB. Too many weirdos trying to get to you on there.

Millenium Force being built is what really got me into reading about Cedar Point on the internet, and wanting to know as much as I could find out about Cedar Point.

I used to only go to Cedar Point once every two years, that was enough.... then. :) - WOW - 10 years.

I remember now - Virtual Midway - right? :)

Last edited by PB-Reader,

GATEKEEPER-I came, I rode, I was mildly disappointed; until a second ride (rear left) put GateKeeper back on the...it's a nice ride list.

Jeff's avatar

It was Virtual Midway, and I'm sure Walt isn't offended. :)

I learned about it in detail the day before, and scrambled to get stuff up as soon as I got home since the press kits went out the day before (yeah, there were no dedicated Web sites for new rides back then). Of course, weeks before that, we spotted blue Intamin track in the old bone yard (now Lighthouse Point), visible from atop Mean Streak.

Working for a logistics and supply chain trade rag at the time, I used some of the contacts there to find out that the track had been coming in through customs via Detroit (intermodal through Canada) as early as December, 1998.

Good times.


Jeff - Advocate of Great Great Tunnels™ - Co-Publisher - PointBuzz - CoasterBuzz - Blog - Music

I remember it well. It was July 1999 when Millennium Force was announced. I was so excited about it, that I watched and read every blog, watched the webcam, and looked at the construction gallery every day. Millennium Force was the first coaster construction project that I kept up with everyday. And to this day, it's still my #1 favorite rollercoaster. :)

Last edited by Shawn Meyer,
Josh M.'s avatar

I remember going to the computer lab at my high school, and checking updates on the construction every morning. We had dial-up at home, so it was a pain to check updates there. I would sit and browse the forums, and ask stupid questions (I'm sure) while the other students around me were playing multiplayer GTA2.


Ripcord Crew 2002 / MF Crew 2004

I was thinking about that yesterday. I remember getting on my in-laws' computer that evening--I don't think I had my own at the time--to check out Cedar Point's website just for general info. I had no idea what they were up to. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when I saw the announcement. The first thing I did was call my coworker with whom I made a trip to the Point every May. He had told me all about Son Of Beast before I even had a clue, and it was payback time! Will we ever recapture that excitement again?

CedarPointGeek's avatar

wow i just found my year 2000 map of cedar point. On the front "New for 2000.... Millennium Force" Brings back memories. Also the maps were colored different back then.


-Marty

#1 Millennium Force #2 Maverick #3 Top Thrill Dragster

I don't remember what i was doing when it was announced, but i do remember seeing a news reporter live at CP and he was riding MF. He was so scared he swore, but the TV blooped it out as he was going up the hill. That's all i remember. Then we went to Sandusky to staye at the hotel and we drove out to Battery park to look at MF across the bay. It was half built and they had the hill completed, but the track going up to the over-banked turn was not done yet...:)

Yup remember when it was announced also. As I still have the Toledo Blade section of when it was announced.

Dial-up internet boy that did suck as it did take forever to load everything. As I checked the site everyday for any updates and was counting down the days to the opening.

I was there on opening day. Went with a group of 6, one person was like nope nope nope right away, 2 others when they saw said @#$? no, so it was down to 3. Got into the park as soon as the gates opened and entered the line near the Cadillac Cars at the front of the park, needless to say the two others that wanted to ride didn't want to wait in the line so it was just me. My first long line alone which introduced to me that going to the park alone can be more fun then with a group. Waited for 3.5 hours, was totally blown away by it, first coaster that I ever experienced going down the hill that when that part in your mind computes the drop down actually came back to life and still realized that I was still going down the hill. Screamed my head off and lost 2/3 of my voice, and by the end of the night had no voice left as it took a week to get back all the way.

Also it was the first wait that I was able to get out of line to take a bathroom break legally. One other memory was it was the first time I ever heard of them closing the line down a hour before the park closed. As CP was opened till 12:00 but the line closed at 11:00, which it did seem like all the other ride announcements were reminding guest that Millie was closing an hour early.

This day brought back memories of when Magnum first opened up and the crazy line that was formed. As i remember the temporary lines setup for the entrance to Magnum and another one for Corkscrew.

Jesz's avatar

I remember not hearing of Millenium Force until my class trip. In fact I hadn't even heard of Cedar Point before that trip.

I remember looking at MF from the causeway in amazement. It took me 3 years to get the courage up to ride it. I always imagined what it would be like. In fact I actually dreamt about it several times.

My first attempt I chickened out. My second attempt we waited in line for an hour, and then MF went down for the rest of the night. My third try was a success.

I was so nervous I was shaking. If it wern't for my boyfriend being there, who would not let me chicken out, I probably would have again. It honestly was a life changing experience, in the fact that I definately conquered my fear of heights by riding Millenium Force.

I cannot cannot believe it has been 10 years.


"You wanna, you gotta, you hafta hold on, Cedar Point...HOLD ON!"

Daniel Smith's avatar

Like many of you, I had a life changing experience on The Force. My first trip to CP was back in June of 2001, our plans was heading to the point right after our school got out that day, the spending two full days there, but it wasn't meant to be, we had trouble getting to our rental car. So the next day we left early so we got to Breakers Express at around 2pm, Thursday was less crowed, we got a lot in, but I keep making excuses because I didn't want to ride MF.

So the next day and our final day I decided to ride it, so that was the first thing we were going to ride, think we got there when the park opened but the line for MF was already up to an hour. The main thing that made me nervous was the 45 degree lift, and crasting the top and feeling your butt come off the seat going over. After that I loved it, I as amazed at how smooth it was. That day it became my favorite steel coaster!! And that is way MF is my most ridden coaster at CP.

Last edited by Daniel Smith,

Quote from a Corkscrew ride op, "And Dragster is down again"

Jax R.'s avatar

I remember reading the announcement of MF and thinking "Not a cold chance in hell...WAY too high". When I saw it completed, I admired it but the height spooked me. I have my friend Christine to thank for helping me over my fear of hypercoasters 3 or 4 years ago because if not for her dragging my butt on Nitro at SFGreat Adventure, I would never have ridden Millie.

My first trip to CP was last summer and when we approached the causeway and I looked to the left & saw MF for the first time, It was very humbling LOL! I was a bit apprehensive walking up to it the first time but as soon as those air gates opened and we buckled in, I knew this was something too cool for words and I was relaxed.

MF won my heart last summer and I don't see it being displaced as my number 1 steel coaster for a long time to come. It's just an amazing ride and the one that helps me through the long off-season. It also displaced B&M as my fave coaster desingers and made me a huge Intamin fan.

I remember I left my vacation home in Myrtle Beach, SC and drove 14 hours with my friend just to ride MF when it first opened!!! We were 16 at the time and for some reason our parents let us go. We went for 2 days and slept in the sketchiest rest stop on the side of the highway... It was the dumbest most irresposible thing we could have done, but well worth it to be able to ride it 8 times/ almost 9, but the cable lift was malfunctioning!!! Still my favorite coaster in the world until Maverick came along... Now we have a new contender at my home park Kings Dominion!!! This new giga looks like something very special.

Wow talk about nostalgia. Takes me back to being a teen with all this talk.

Daniel Smith's avatar

That's funny, I was 15 when I first rode The Force back in 2001. ;)


Quote from a Corkscrew ride op, "And Dragster is down again"

I remember when the Gemini was brand new, I was 10 at the time. Never imagined there could or would ever be anything more exciting. When I heard about the Millennium being built it was like a dream come true!! What's even more exciting is sharing my love of coasters with my kids!! When my daughter got tall enough to ride MF she begged to ride in the front seat. (I think I've set a good example) My kids are teens now & love them all! Can't wait to see what's next. My kids laugh when I talk about the Blue Streak or the Gemini being 'the big ones' of my days. Makes you wonder what their kids will think of the MF and TTD. They are all classics!

Bobb-z's avatar

MForce said:

Will we ever recapture that excitement again?

For sure, the '17 - '18 off season has captured that excitement again. I remember someone in 2017 saying "it's been a long time since I've been this excited for a new coaster", and they're so right.

Steel Vengeance is so very near. But we'll still love you, Millennium.

I don't think a nine year old thread needed to be brought back from the dead, but I do agree. I have not been this excited for anything coaster related since the one-two punch of Millennium Force and Six Flags Ohio 18 years ago this May. 18 years. Wow.

I wasn't too excited for SV. I'd never ridden an RMC and didn't know how good they were. Then I went to ride Twisted Timbers on spring break. Holy cow. If they can make a 109ft tall coaster that good I'm beyond excited to see how SV is.

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