Are you old enough to remember when....

I remember the dolphins, the aquarium, the fruit shaped drinks. Don't remember ever seeing Jungle Larry as a kid, but remember walking past it. I remember both sets of Dodge'ems, Mill Race, the Pirate Ride, Berenstain bear country, the year Magnum arrived, staying at Breakers Raptor's first year and sitting in the Silver Dollar cafe' during ERT the last morning of our stay listening to it run overhead. I remember the 12 ounce plastic souveneir handle-cups that they would refill for free all day anywhere in the park, and when the line for Blue Streak went straight into the front and the ride had the manual brakes. I remember, being a 5 or 6 year old kid, riding Avalanche Run for the first time its inaugural year after waiting hours in the sun on bare concrete and still being disappointed.

I remember my little brother got lost one time, we looked all over and finally found him after a Jungle Larry show. He'd decided to wander off and go watch the show by himself.

We loved the giant slide, and made lots of trips up those stairs.

I also remember a small booth on the beach that rented swimsuits. One hot day I asked my mom if we could go swim in the lake, she said we didn't bring our swimsuits and I told her there was a sign that said we could rent them. She was horrified and explained to me that it was a really bad idea to rent a swimsuit.

Nice stroll down memory lane. Some of my other favorites as a young boy were the electric go-kart ride where the aquatic stadium is now, being deputised on the train and "shooting" the train robbers, char-burgers near the Space Spiral, and the Cadillac cars without the metal guide rail (only guard rails along the road).

Does anyone have a photo or actually possess one of the old ride coupon books? I used to treat these like gold when my parents gave me one so as not to lose a single one.

There is a lot of CP memorabilia on ebay, you might find one of the old ride coupon books there.

The women's restroom back by Space Spiral were pay stalls, you had to put a dime in to open the door.

I remember the year the Giant Wheel was the new ride, the line was all the way through the maze and then wrapped around it. The line moved soooooo slowly we thought we would never get on.

Speaking of the Cadillac Cars, I remember when they actually let you drive the car into the station yourself.

I vaguely remember there being some sort of airplane/rocket ship ride that used to be next to the Blue Streak. Anyone remember the name of it, if it even existed?

Yes, the ride was Satellite Jets.

Remember going over the island while on the Frontier Lift and looking at all the caccoons in the trees below. Coming down as a CCMR train mounted the lift hill and pulling in the station aglow in yellow lights and workers in the old Frontier Town uniforms.

I remember the fort across from Gemini with it animatronic soldiers peeking over the walls firing at the Western Cruise going clockwise around the island. The fort also had a cannon that would make your chest thump when it went off. The host on the Western Cruise making jokes about the people walking when the boat was at the last turn by the corkscrew element.

I remember those fruit drink things with their extra cost crazy straws floating in bodies of water, probably the most at the pond at WWL between the queue and the loading house.

Christopher R. Sautter

Tucson, AZ

I don't think I'm nearly as old as some of you ;) , but the memories of the "early" Cedar Point for me are still good memories.

I remember Kid Arthur's Court and spending way too much time playing in the ball pit, and then going to the aquarium.

I remember getting forced to ride Disaster Transport with my aunt, back when it actually had all its theming (it was like 94 or 95). I was actually scared to death of the ride, but it was because it was dark inside and not out in the open. Speaking of which, does anyone else remember a big C3P-O looking robot face somewhere during the course of the ride? The one time I opened my eyes on the ride I remember seeing lots of stars and this huge robot head.

I remember always being scared of Pirate Ride, but I was constantly asking to go on it anyway. All the fun I had playing on the ship when I could convince my mom and aunt to let me for a few minutes. I still remember the two pirates at the beginning that were chasing each other off to the right, and the pirate that was inside that tall glass case. I think my favorite scene was when you would go between two battling ships, and then I think the next room was a ship being taken down by a Kraken or giant octopus. I miss the Pirate Ride.

Those cool RC Boats that they had at the Pirate Ride pool (little pirate ships) and over underneath Iron Dragon's pretzel (speed boats). That was almost always a losing battle with my mom and aunt to give me money to drive those.

I remember waiting for my aunt on a bench over towards the Soak City/Challenge Park sign while she would go ride Magnum, watching the trains come out of the station and go up that impossibly tall lift hill. And then I would hear the screams of people and think everyone was dying. Oh to be young again. lol

I remember waiting a few hours back by Mean Streak the first few years it was open while my aunt would ride. Back when the line was actually completely full on a regular basis.

Within a year or two after Raptor opened my aunt tried to force me on that as well, so we waited for about an hour outside of the actual line. Once we got to the line entrance the ride op there asked to measure me. I was praying that I would be too short, and thankfully for me he said I was just a little short. Of course my aunt wasn't very happy.

I remember Mantis opening and the insane lines for it.

I remember going on Giant Wheel back before MF was put in with my mom, aunt, and uncle. How we got my mom on I still don't know, because she is absolutely terrified of heights (she still has trouble when she rides coasters she's never been on before) and didn't want to go on. Of course we got stopped at the top, and my uncle and I started gently moving the car ever so slightly and she started freaking out. Three out of the four of us were laughing, and I sure you can guess who wasn't. :)

I think I spent the majority of my time in the park when I was young in Bearenstein Bear Land where Snoopy Boutique is now. I also remember when the tree slide seemed like a nightmare to me, and I was also scared of the dark corner of the inside play area. I would spend a lot of time in the outdoor part on those dirt scoopers, used to think those were amazing.

I remember the cool movies in the IMAX theater, specifically the one there you would fly through the old mine. I still think it beats the ice show.

I remember Power Tower opening, and getting the Power Tower calender (unfortunately I didn't realize it was one of those special calenders until a few years ago) with a reply to a letter and drawing I sent, that was actually from Mr. Keller. I used to think I was such a good ride designer back then. :)

Growing up with and at the park is something I'll never forget. Even though seeing new things happen at the park will be fun, there will always be a part of me that wants to go back to the way things were.

The old Wildcat by the beach, San Francisco Earthquake ride, being too scared to ride Blue Streak because the hill was too steep(!), the two kids popping up and down in the tower inside Bayern Kurve, flying the helicopters at Kiddie Land (still there), the lack of seat belts, Shoot the Rapids, Jumbo Jet, Tiki Twirl, the splashes made by the whistling pirate ride "cannonballs", and lots of attractive Sweeperettes in yellow jumpers to clean up the scads of cigarette butts.

ladyjerrico said:
What I remember about Cedar Point as a kid are those old juice drinks that were shaped like the fruit they tasted like.

Does anyone know when they stopped selling those? I think I remember that as a little kid, but I might be mistaking that for a sippy-cup filled with juice my mom might have brought to the park for me.

41 now. The only time I ever threw up at an amusement park was probably when I was 9 or 10. It happened several hours after riding the Rotor. Hurled behind one of the Frontier Town buildings. That was pretty much the beginning of the end of my "spinny-pukey ride" riding days.

Walt said:
Yes, the ride was Satellite Jets.

If I'm not mistaken, when the Satellite Jets were taken out, they were moved to Canobie Lake park in NH. But looking over their website, it seems they are no longer there.

^And I can remember when those jets where a major ride located near the front of the park right in the middle of the main midway.

Anyone remember the one and only CP monorail? Ran below the rail instead of on top of it and used a gas engine as its drive train. Was one of my brothers favorite rides.

I remember our first CP trip after Oceana closed. I was waiting to meet someone outside the stadium, and I overheard the employee that was stationed there to explain to people that Oceana was closed. Guests were asking why, and she kept telling everyone it was because all the dolphins died. The people who had been there year after year were shocked when they heard that, and many asked what happened to the dolphins, and she just kept saying, "I don't know, but they are all dead." Some of the guests were asking if Skippy and Zoe (the sea lions) were all right, and she just kept basically saying she didn't have a clue, in a very bored manner.

I thought at the time they could have had an employee there that had a little more caring attitude.

I can remember when the food was made whyle you waite and how good it was. I do enjoy Game Day Grille though.

I remember spending a LOT of money on something that was fun, easy, ....and fascinating!

Rapids 77-78 said:

Does anyone have a photo or actually possess one of the old ride coupon books? I used to treat these like gold when my parents gave me one so as not to lose a single one.

Actually there is one of the old ride coupon books listed on ebay today....only $3.50 and $1.50 shipping.

I remeber when Millennium was announced. They grow up so fast! :'(

^ Yeah, at this rate Millie will be 600 feet by her 18th birthday :)

I remember riding the Stage Coach... Also remember when Frontier Town OPENED!!! Shoot the Rapids, IMAX Theater, when the lights on the Giant Wheel were curved and made flower shapes. I remember riding The Cedar Point Ferry - it was always the last ride of the day. And I do remember when it was 50 cents just to drive on the Causeway. I remember when you could wear the String with the little clip on it and ride all day long!!!!!

Does anyone else remember the little hand crank trains in Kiddie Land....?

I remember going over to CP with my Grandpa - we parked next to The Blue Streak and walked in to the park UNDER the Blue Streak. You came in between the Merry Go Round and The Mill Race.....