2008: Tear down the Blue Streak

OK... it is time. I have been to Cedar Point nearly every year of my life, and I have loved this ride for many years. I hate it when old rides (sniffle, Frontier Lift) are removed to make room for new ones.

But Blue Streak is already gone.

Clearly, it will never be the great wooden classic it once was. It is no longer a unique ride into history; the only thing unique about this coaster is the overwhelming systematic destruction of its character.

The confusing backwards station, the computer controls, the "twinning" of the seats, the lapbars, the head rests, and now the retractable belts that allow for, what, 3 rows of each train to be open?

It is both an embarrassment to the park and an embarrassment to me... for many years I have defended Blue Streak to anyone with whom I could convice to ride.

"It USED to be great. It is a classic."

But the only thing great about it is in distant memory.

I know it is an icon to many--as it has been to me for many years... but... it can go.

Even though I ride it every time I am at the park, I believe the REAL "last ride" was more than 10 years ago.

RIP Blue Streak. 1964 - 199?

I would rather CP keep Demon Drop since it is truly unique. For a great woodie, I will have to go elsewhere.

I would have to disagree. While the ride isn't what it used to be as far as the trains go, and the controls/braking systems. The coaster itself is running as good as ever. I had a wonderful ride on opening weekend, and preferred it heads and toes above the Mean Streak. It gives nice airtime throughout the whole ride, and I love the laterals on the turn around. As much as I would like to see no seat dividers, no headrests, and buzz bars, given the current safety paranoia, I am fairly certain that we won't see this. However, I still think the ride is a lot of fun, and a great starter coaster for younger children. There are several coasters at Cedar Point that I would pass up anyday to ride the Blue Streak (Corkscrew, ID, Wildcat, DT, MS, CCMR).

Do people forget that there are younger people out there that need good
starter rides? There are also older people out there that don't get into the bigger rides as much. Also the ride is in great condition and I am sure they will work out the seatbelt problem and that wont be an issue for long. Why
do we have to tear out everything old and small to put in something new and
bigger? It doesn't even take up that much room. Blue Streak is fine right where it is.

I just want to note that Demon Drop isn't unique, it's just becoming so as they continue to tear down Intamin 1st gen freefalls, and it's nearly half as old as Blue Streak. A ride doesn't cease to be a classic when you stop liking it. The new trains suck, if the old trains never killed or maimed anyone there's no reason to replace them besides paranoia, I'll give you that, but it's still a good ride. I'm not sure Kennywood's ever replaced the trains on Jackrabbit.

I don't mind the "starter rides" at all. I like Iron Dragon, Avalanche Run (especially running in the "blacked out" building now) and Wildcat. So put in a small ride that is fun and designed to be fun while meeting safety standards in Blue Streak's place. I would miss the Blue Streak on the sky line, but I've already been missing the ride.

I don't have much "natural padding", so I would rather hit a soft seatbelt than a hard lapbar.

Gemini--while depressing--can stay It might as well be called Mercury or Red Mercury if they are going to try to limit operation to one side.

jam said:
Clearly, it will never be the great wooden classic it once was. It is no longer a unique ride into history; the only thing unique about this coaster is the overwhelming systematic destruction of its character.

"Clearly," I think you're full of crap and probably not much fun visiting the park. I love Blue Streak and it has been running very well ever since the Canucks gave it some rehab.

^ aww... I love the park and always have fun. Blue Streak is the only thing I could find serious faults with. I accept the maint. problems as early season gremlins, but what has happened to Blue Streak is just too much for my threshold. Sorry.

Some people just like to hear themselves talk......BTW, Bluestreak kicks butt!

Blue Streak, despite the blinders and bit on the old mare, is still a marvelous workhorse. I only wish she were accompanied in 2009 or -10 by another wonderful old mare from somewhat to the east . . .

Why would Cedar Point put in the Coney Island Cyclone? ;)

Or heres a thought, lets tear down the other blue roller coaster that cost 25 million dollars and is half as fun as the Blue Streak...leave the Blue Streak alone. No the Jr. Gemini did not cost 25 million dollars.

This thread is amazing because it has the words "tear down" in the title, but not any of the words "mean streak", "disaster transport", or "kiddy kingdom".

If I had to rank which coasters CP might consider replacing, Blue Streak would be among the last ones on the list.

Explain to me why the new retractable seat belts are a bad thing?

Jugga, ha ha ha. As vague as I was, I could just as easily have been describing Conneaut Lake's Blue Streak. Hey! We could have two Blue Streaks in the same park. That would really mess with the GP's heads.

If there's a ride that's an embarrassment to the park it's Mean Streak, not Blue Streak. The Blue Streak is perfect for what it is, a classic wooden coaster. The Mean Streak, on the other hand, is the most boring and uncomfortable "Top Ten" wooden coaster I have ever been on.

Taking this from another angle (not that I dont agree with everyone that has come before mentioning how its still a great ride, and Im miffed I wasnt able to ride it Opening Day) why would CP ever take it down?

It occupies a narrow bit of land sandwiched between the Pirate Ride/Raptor queue and the road. The ride that could use that space is already there (ie a out and back woodie.)

Touchdown gets a star for the most rational post in this thread.

SoakCity2006 said:
Or heres a thought, lets tear down the other blue roller coaster that cost 25 million dollars and is half as fun as the Blue Streak...leave the Blue Streak alone. No the Jr. Gemini did not cost 25 million dollars.

Please indicate your sarcasm?

Long live Blue Streak

I'm officially on the tear down mean streak bandwagon. Almost 50% of the trains were roped off because of the new seat belt earlier. The ride is rougher and sucks more than ever.

Previous to this year I liked it. now I will probably just skip it.

^ - weird. When I rode Saturday it was the smoothest that it has been in a long time. And I was riding in the back.

I still can't figure out why they are having problems with the seatbelts. Retractable belts have been in cars for 40 years, and its not like these are the first coasters to get retractable belts.