A look at CP's Overnight Accommodations

Here is a link to The Cleveland Plain Dealer story looking at CP as an overnight destination.

Having grown up just as the writer stated,.."getting to the park first thing in the morning and staying till close". It was interesting for me to start working at CP and see the Park from a whole different angle. It is the same with the Overnight stay.

If you have NEVER stayed On-Point, I strongly encourage you to save your pennies, nickles and dollars and then spend a few nights. Even living"close" we plan one three night trip a year with the munchkins...Now if CP just had little more "Nite-Life" for the adults...

Old Timer:

I couldn't agree more with your desire for adult "Nite-Life." I was really hoping they would include some sort of club in their construction of the Breakers Tower. There are plenty of popular local perfomers that play the Buffet like vacation tunes on Lake Erie.

Of course, the company would like you to stay in the park until 10:00 and keep spending your money in there but as the Resort continues to grow, this is something that shouldn't be overlooked.

This is my "great idea for the park": They should develop the south basin by the marina into a night life entertainment complex. Put in two or three themed bars/restaurants along the shore, in what is now a bus parking lot. Do it right so that it is a fun place to party at, keep it "adult", not "family". It would not only attract CP Resorts guests, but with the built in boat docking, it would draw from the huge local boating population. If it is really done right, it may even draw some people who would have gone to Put-In-Bay. Sandusky could use some high quality night life, especially on the waterfront.

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It's very hard to drink all day...
Unless you start first thing in the morning.
*** This post was edited by Pete 6/10/2002 9:59:22 AM ***

The problem with something of that magnitude is that it would have to close in the off season. There is no way they would keep it busy enough to justify operation year round. With that then, you have the staffing difficulties and so forth.

It isn't that I don't like that idea. It is a good one. I am just not real sure how practical it would be in Sandusky during January.

Well, Put-In-Bay has plenty of drinking establishments that, put together, are of a bigger magnitude than what I've suggested. They more or less close down during the winter and make a ton of money during the summer. No reason a CP "Party Zone" couldn't do the same thing.

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It's very hard to drink all day...
Unless you start first thing in the morning.

Mind you though, CP is a family resort... I doubt that they'd want the same reputation that Put-In-Bay has. I'd never be allowed to go to Cedar Point again!

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Tommy Penner - Variable X
"Last night, I laid in my bed, looked to the sky, and thought, Where is my ceiling?"

That is why Pete is suggesting an AREA away from CP the AMUSEMENT PARK(CPTAP)...something along the lines of Pleasure Island at Disney. It would be nice to be able to go "somewhere" and have an adult beverage without rugrats running around. Like the old Surf Lounge minus the chessy entertainment;)

When Ohio was discussing gambling Cedar Fair chimed in and wanted to be sure to be included IF gambling ever was legaized in Ohio. If it is ever legalized I would guess Cedar Fair would keep it away from CPTAP and have another area (the old fery boat station in downtown Sandusky?) where they owned a casino.

Actually, the Disney setup is nice. Pleasure Island is part of Downtown Disney. So while there is an area just for the adults, it is surrounded by an area that can be enjoyed by adults and families.

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Man, if gambling were approved in Ohio and CP got in on it, rather than begging the husband to go to CP, he'd be begging ME!

I agree it would be nice to see some more night life at CP considering Sandusky virtually closes down after 11 pm. After being pumped up riding coasters all day, it would be nice to have somewhere to go to relax afterwards.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

Usually, Friday's next to Radisson has entertainment but it might just be Friday's and Saturday's. Has anyone ever seen Lee & Joel?

If CP had gambling, I'd probably have to send my daughter home with Grandma on the last day of our trip.

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Duane Cahill

I love blackjack. But I'm not addicted to gambling. I'm addicted to sitting in a semi-circle.

The take on gambling. I don't think CP really WANTS gambling. I do think the DON'T WANT anyone else to get gambling if it becomes legal if they DON'T get it. They would prefer the visitors not go elsewhere.

There is some merit in CP running a casino. They are an established entertainment company (live shows could be done year-round with the casts from the park), they have the infrastructure, etc.

When it was being discussed five or six years ago, the intention was not to put a casino on the peninsula. It would likely have been built over near where Breakers Express sits.

The best location, in my opinion, would be the land where Sandcastle Suites sits. A casino/hotel would look great there on the tip of the peninsula. You'd have to overcome some traffic issues, parking, etc but I think it could be made to work.

Chief Wahoo you are mostly correct:) I think CP spoke up to "protect thier turf" in case casino gambling ever does become legal in Ohio. However, I think CP would look for a spot AWAY from the park...maybe even out on route 250...

I would hate to see Cedar Point turn into what Atlantic City is today (with hotels and casinos on the beach) While the casino would be nice, ( I am a big gambler) it would take away from what CP is. Casino Windsor is close enough for those who would like to win a extra couple bucks, and the exchange rate is right around 50% ($1.00 US=$1.50 Canadian, going back from Canadian to US is the part that stinks)

What would be nice for CP to have would be what they have in Cleveland, something like the flats and a Nautica stage. PKI has Timberwolf, where concerts are held, and it usually goes over pretty big with the park guests. As mentioned before, Disney is the place to go for a family with smaller children (Magic Kingdom is dry), but Paradise Island is a huge hit with all the adult guests.

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...I will be more than happy to give you a cigarette...

Casino Windsor trashed Windsor, as far as I'm concerned. I used to visit Windsor all the time during my 19 to 20-year old days (to drink) and I can tell you that post-casino, the town sucked. Too many damn people, and the trendy/freaky Canadians were driven out. Such a shame.

Sure, a casino in Sandusky would be fine, but keep it the hell off of the peninsula. I enjoy the peace out there at night, and don't want that trashed.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I agree with all of you, I personally wouldn't be interested in a casino. If it WERE to happen, my thinking for the Sandcastle land is this:

That spot would keep the City of Sandusky happy b/c it is out of their hair. I see a lot of operational reasons why that spot is better. It would be easier to keep it secure since there is literally only one way in. Though it is on the peninsula, it would be off the path of the park guests. (I am assuming that the Camper Village area would go to make room for parking. The amount of money a casino would generate would more than justify the end of Camper Village.)

There are a couple of casinos near where I live and other than the big signs, you wouldn't know they are there. Everyone stays inside and loses their money.

What better way for a state to make money than to legalize gambling and tax it? Heck, you've already got the lottery and paramutuals in Ohio and your own citizens going up to Windsor. It isn't my cup of tea but I don't see a huge problem if done with some foresight to address the issues mentioned other posts.
*** This post was edited by Chief Wahoo 6/11/2002 2:24:34 PM ***

How about a riverboat casino? Build a George B. III and offer food and gambling while for a few hours the boat circles the point. I think that would be nice to get on the boat at night after a day at the point, relax, consume a few, look at CP's awesome lighting display from the bay (which is breathtaking), and maybe win a few hands at blackjack :). You could even have the dock off point.

I'm all for casino gambling, but I agree it shouldn't be on the penninsula. The land next to Breakers Express is ready made for a casino, and it would allow CP to tie everything together in one close by package, while at the same time preserving the atmosphere of the amusement park. There is a lot of tourist money leaving the state when people go to out of state casinos. Imagine the draw a CP casino would have. Everyone would have something to do, from the smallest child to the most addicted gambler. Plus, put in my "great idea for the park", and you would take care of the drunks also (boaters are just a bunch of drunks). It would sure give the Detroit casino a run for its money.

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It's very hard to drink all day...
Unless you start first thing in the morning.

I wonder if they could get away with what goes on in Florida. There is a company called Sun Cruz that operates small "ships" out of ports all over the state. They load up and head out 3 miles or so (whatever the legal definition is) and start up the gambling. When it is time to come back in, they shut down the games on the way back.

Could CP, or any company for that matter, do that out of Sandusky/Cleveland and head up to Canadian waters?

I'm sure Canada would not mind, as long as they get a piece of the pie. There are no "international waters" on any of the great lakes.

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...I will be more than happy to give you a cigarette...