2022: The Cedar Point of the Future

I was at RCDB and was looking at all the coasters built since then. The so-called "coaster war" was kicked off back in 1989 with the construction of the venerable Magnum XL200, and since then CP (and many other parks) have added many new exciting and envelope-pushing coasters.

Coasters that CP has added since 1989:

• 1989: Magnum XL200
• 1991: Mean Streak
• 1994: Raptor
• 1996: Mantis
• 2000: Millenium Force
• 2002: Wicked Twister
• 2003: Top Thrill Dragster

My question is, where do you see CP in the year 2022? Will they add as many coasters between now and then as they have since 1989? Where will they put newer attractions as space becomes more limited? Will all the existing coasters survive?

There are a lot of potential questions and outcomes for a scenario like this... any thoughts?

Sure there will be more big coasters, but I think there will also be coasters that will be gone. I don't see DT, CCMR, Wildcat, and possibly Corkscrew and MS around in 2022. This has always been a subject of controversy, but I just don't see CP having 20-25 coasters. A day will come when some will be on their way out. Not saying it's going to happen next year, but nothing lasts forever. Heck, with the luck of TTD, who knows if they'll get fed up with it one year.

I really hope the next plan is to go in more of a family/intermediate direction to satisfy all age levels, and drop in an extreme coaster every now and then, rather than every two years. For example, a five year plan could be:
Year 1: Medium height spinning coaster or wooden coaster
Year 2: Innovative flat ride and a couple of new kiddie rides
Year 3: Massive coaster with length
Year 4: Several Soak City additions
Year 5: Premium dark ride

Year 6: File for Bankruptcy

j/k

There have been years where they don't add rides. There are other aspects to the park that they take care of too. I wouldn't be suprised if by 2022 that the Breakers Hotel would be demolished and rebuilt. Maybe the new hotel would even have a casino. (assuming by then gambling would be legal in Ohio)

Jumping off of Jason's comment about gambling, it would be interesting to see what would happen if gambling were legalized in Ohio. Seeing that roughly $12 Billion left the state of Ohio due to gambling in 2002 ALONE**, that seems like something that any company would want to jump in on since it looks to be a huge moneymaker.

As for the Cedar Point of the future? I would love to see this park thrive on its history. While its been said that "nostalgia is not a business plan" (I stole Jeff's quote) Cedar Point is chock full of historical aspects that would make it a draw for all family members no matter what thrillrides are in place. The problem I see is that they are removing rides and attractions for the older generations and replacing them with rides or attractions geared towards the younger crowd.

I'm not saying removing the Mill Race for Raptor was a bad idea (as attendance showed), but removing a starter ride like Mine Ride in favor of a higher speed thrill ride will be a turn off to people who simply can't handle the more intense rides. We've seen a surge of roller coasters being built at Cedar Point from the early 90's until now, but at what expense? We've lost a lot of flat rides and other unique non-coaster attractions at that same time.

I would like to see Cedar Point to go back to square one in satisfying its customers. We've seen other parks prove that it doesn't have to be the tallest, fastest, steepest, whatever to be a fun ride.

**Source of my crazy statistic:

http://www.ohioroundtable.org/library/articles/casino/Gamings_take_on.html

~Rob Willi

I think a casino-resort would be a financial boon for CP. Building a grand hotel/casino would give people who aren't very interested in thrill rides a reason to come there. And while the parents are off gambling, the kids can be at the park. Beats Vegas (for a family anyway) anyday...

I am just scared to think how old I will be.

I would be more concerend on weather the world will be around by then.

I think the weather will be the same in 17 years.

Maybe a couple of degrees warmer on average.

I am sad to say this but I really don't see that many of the current coasters sticking around that long. I think it is safe to say that we will still have Millennium Force and possibly Magnum and we will probally still have Top Thrill Dragster, Raptor, Wicked Twister and Mantis. All the others seem to be on the chopping block in my opinion. I mean think how old some of them will be by then

Disaster Transport:37

Blue Streak:58

Mine Ride:53

Gemini:44

And that is just some of them. Generally coasters don't seem to last that long. I would hate too see any of them go but hey to get new stuff I guess we have to get rid of the old stuff. I really don't think Mean Streak will survive that long and we may be getting a little close to the line with Magnum. :(

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Cory Marshall

POST 100!
*** Edited 9/15/2005 3:02:30 AM UTC by TTD420atCp***

The weather will most likely be about the same. More storms on average also

TTD420atCp, you have a good point - not every coaster will stand the test of time. Popularity will likely be the predominant factor in determining which coasters will be around in the future.

I'd think that Blue Streak will survive in one form or another, likely having been refurbished to a great degree. It has a 'pound-for-pound' popularity that is (IMO) unmatched over the long-term, and will probably stick around for quite some time.

Disaster Transport? I'd be surprised if that one survives another 5 years. Low popularity, considerable maintenance and the fact that it currently resides on some valuable real estate will all be factors that contribute to its demise.

The Mine Ride will (hopefully) stick around for quite a while, since its a staple for a park to have a runaway mine car ride, and its a great family coaster. Sure, its not too 'thrilling', but its smooth, fun and fits in very well in FT.

Now, as for Gemini... Thats actually a tough one. On one hand, the sight and sounds of Gemini are pretty synonymous with CP itself. Its still a great ride, and I can't imagine what the park would look like without it. Not to mention that CP would have to build a new racer in its place. On the other hand,... wait - nevermind! There is no other hand! It would seem that it would be better to simply keep it going as long as humanly possible, which could (hopefully) be a very long time.

And Magnum is the Corkscrew of the 'new' CP. It has a place both in the skyline and history of CP, and has garnered a lot of (well deserved) praise from coaster enthusiasts everywhere. Even after it has long been outdated by the hyper, strata and tropo (?) coasters of the future, I feel it will still be putting smiles on the faces of thrill seekers well into the future.

Iron Dragon? Buuuuuuh-bye!

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*** Edited 9/15/2005 10:28:32 AM UTC by djDaemon***

$15 for Pepsi

$45 for parking

I like Top Thrill Dragster's answer about 2022; it's true the weather won't change because it's Ohio, and we all are aware of "Ohio Weather".

Well, actually the weather will change. Everywhere. It has been changing... in fact, the mean global temp is up 1.9-deg since it has been recorded, and that is HUGE.

So, even in Ohio, the weather will be warmer in the summer, and more harsh in the winter.

We assume that's huge. We only have about 100, maybe 150 years of ACCURATE data. The earth is 4 some BILLION years old. For all we know temperature may fluctuate by as much as 20 degrees in 1000 years. So the Earth may be going through a cycle. Does this mean man hasn't affected it? No, but I would be much more worried if over the last 200 years, the mean global temperature had remained constant.

Not to stray too far off topic, but (and you'll have to do some research into specifics, because I am far too lazy) using geological techniques and gizmos, we have been able to determine the temp change that is believed to have killed off the dinosaurs back in the day. If I remember correctly, it was a small (MUCH smaller than 20) change. And I'm fairly certain that the Earth hasn't seen anything even close to a 20-degree change that hasn't resulted in complete devastation.

Here's a good link for discussion on that:

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/climate/GCclimate1.html

.
*** Edited 9/15/2005 1:52:35 PM UTC by djDaemon***

Must ... resist ... urge ... to ... join ... global ... warming ... discussion.

Let's quickly bring this back to Cedar Point, please.

These are also "best-guesses". I understand (at least as best a non-geologist can) how they measure varying levels of whatever in rock samples to determine geological and ecological change over the centuries. But since noone who was around 65 million years ago is around today to confirm their findings, we assume they are correct, but even a scientist will tell you its "To the best of their knowledge".

I would be interested to know what the mean temp was during the final millenia of the Dinosaurs and what it was during the series of Ice Ages that followed. It seems to me the earth went from being mostly balmy and humid, to being mostly cold and barren. That to me would seem to indicate a significant change.

So, yeah... assuming no asteroids, comets or devastating climate shifts occur in the next 17 years...

What will CP look like?

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