Cedar Point Pier

Do you all see an Amusement Pier debuting (returning) at some point? My ideas would be a water coaster feature at Shores or perhaps a "Family attraction/ show combo near Gatekeeper.

No.
It would be awesome, but not gonna happen.
Thank government regulators.

Yeah, things would be much better if private companies could do whatever they wanted to the environment.

djDaemon said:

Yeah, things would be much better if private companies could do whatever they wanted to the environment.

You've done a comprehensive study on the environmental impact adding a pier would have?

It would probably be more plausible on the bay side than the lake side. A boardwalk flavour with traditional flatrides and family entertainments, perhaps as part of an overall upgrade of that area. Maybe a kiddy wild mouse to compensate the removal of a starter coaster elsewhere in the park.

Is fishing encouraged or even allowed in the area? A lower walkway encircling the end of a pier would be a draw for enthusiasts, assuming the fish are edible...

Well.... the area is know as "The Walleye Capital of the World" because of the prolific fishing. Both walleye and perch, along with some other species, are caught in the lake. Not only edible, but delicious.

From my knowledge and dealing with this in the past, adding anything in or over the water is not "impossible" but takes quite a bit of lobbying, permit approvals and $$$$$. Even dredging sediments out of the bay, you are not allowed to put them back in the water, they have to be removed and disposed of on land. The Corp of Engineers is just one of the authorities that provide the permits.

not that those in office can be paid off (-;..... how liquor license is example: $1000, then add Sunday sales, wine, beer,holiday sales, imported, ect. sold separately. Permit wise is it a Great Lake by Lake thing? There is Navy pier in the Chi. In the past the CP's big pier there was docking& ballrooms looking at the photos anyway.

^Your understanding of Ohio Liquor Licenses is completely erroneous, but I digress.

I think the other thing to consider here, is given the lack of control Cedar Fair would have with this project in terms of a CapEx approach, if they were to do this, what ROI would the parks expect to see? Just recently we've seen them leverage the beach / resorts to promote an ROI & add value to visits at the park. However, what would said pier that now may cost quite a bit give them in terms of revenue? This is a business after all. I can see having a pier as aesthetically pleasing, but I don't see the ability for the parks to get an ROI on this.

You can't ask about ROI in the abstract (i.e. what kind of return on investment would Cedar Point receive for making a pier?) One would need to know more about the concept and how that concept plays into the greater business strategy. If the pier was used as a way to free up room on land by moving many flat rides to the pier and creating a carnival like area and to allow the creation of additional e-ticket items, then I can imagine various models that could predict a significant ROI. Foir instance, it's possible to think of such an area as being conducive to provide corporate opportunities (i.e. using the pier for private parties and events) or to provide further incentive for people to stay at Cedar Point (i.e. creating a more interactive beach front) etc.

Ah so you view the pier as actually a place for amusement attractions, not the typical walking + fishing pier. This could deliver an ROI then in that case vs. just some structure for people to stand on. However lets consider the following...

If we're talking of adding amusement attractions, that means the Pier needs a connection in some way to the dry side of the park. This won't be too easy as you have perimeter road all the way around most of the park. Then add in hotels + resorts, and other items in their vicinity. Lets say we place it somewhere feasibly and reworked Perimeter Road. So now we have to redo fencing / park borders to expand to the shoreline to fit this as it's technically part of the park. Then we're talking building a structure which will already be extensive out along the water. Think, aside from people you now need to build it to support the weight + forces of amusement rides, and then from there supplying everything the pier needs (power for amusement rides, food / vending, etc.).

It's a cool idea, just in an economical and practical standpoint it seems to large of an investment and limited ROI. It adds a neat aesthetic, I'll give it that, but I don't think it's warranted or will happen. Plus the park is marketing it's beaches pretty heavily now, and given that I don't think CP has ever had a pier, I don't know if it's truly needed to add to the experience.

When I first read this thread I envisioned the pier on the Breakers side of the peninsula - as a natural extension of what they already started to do on the beach and as a nod to America's traditional beach boardwalk (and yes this would mean that they would have to reconfigure the park's boundaries which in my mind meant re-configuring the entrance near Windseeker):

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america...oardwalks/

I can see how a pier built into the lake by Windseeker that would feature a restaurant at the end of the pier would be pretty cool. Not a rides pier though, but something that would enhance the resort experience. Dining, fishing and sightseeing would be pretty cool. I would like to see them build a beach bar and grill on the beach though before any type of pier. Much cheaper and just as much fun.