Could they really retire the Paddlewheel Excursions?

They would have to 'replace' the wetlands displaced by filling in the lagoon. They can't do that as Magnum is sinking enough already. ;)

~Rob

mk522 said:
Pete,

Though I am not saying PEW should go or stay, you need to remember that just because an attraction has new canvas, wood, bolts, screws, or even a new paint job, does not mean its staying. WWL is a perfect example, when there was new wood throughout the structure, only for it to be torn down.

I hear what you are saying, my point is that the old canvas was not that bad, and to move the boats to Venetian and have them worked on means they care enough about the ride to spend some money on making it look new. This is more than just replacing wood on something to make it safe.

JuggaLotus said:

... Despite the fact that the lagoons were largely man-made 100 years ago, they are now protected wetlands and would not be easily filled in. ...

Protected wetlands? Excuse me... what's protected there? Fat ugly carp, Canadian geese that crap all over everything and a bunch of muck water ?

They already have removed most of the woods around the lagoon on one side (and on the island now too). Also they filled in (and cemented over) the section where SRF splash down is when they built it. Before SRF the lagoon used to connect through there under the bridge into Frontier Town to the lagoon where Maverick does it's flyover the water today.

I could see the water in the lagoon being used for some really cool flyovers for whatever ride they put there.

You have much to learn about bureaucracy and how government works.

Indeed. They had to create new wetlands somewhere when they built Dragster.

Where are these new wetlands being created...do you mean off site? CP has taken out quite a bit of the lagoon over the years, but I can not think of one area where they added wetlands in the park???? The one exception would be when a new trench was cut in when Iron Dragon was added (in order for PWE to continue it's circuit).

The new wetlands - 2 new acres for every 1 acre removed - are created off peninsula. I believe the wetlands created as the result of the Mantis construction were in Ottawa County.

Interesting. Thanks for the info Walt.

If I remember this right, I read somewhere (I think it was AB magazine) that CP had to get some sort of a permit to be allowed to rework the lagoon so they could build Mantis. I believe it was for 10 years at the time.

The Captain said:
You see those Indians over there? They got wooden guns and wooden bullets and if they did hit you it wouldn't hurt

My first trip to CP was back in 1974... CP was a completely different park, gone is "Earthquake", "The Pirate Ride", "Shoot the Rapids" these rides like "Paddlewheel Excursions" are to mild for the park that CP has turned into "America's Rock and Roller Coast". At this point it would make sense to CP to have the PWE removed to make room for one more "Thrill Ride". Perhaps they will bring back the Jumbo Jet...

I don't understand that reasoning. Why would all the rides at a park have to be equally "thrilling"? What is the logic that says CP can't have a variety of attractions that run the gamut from sedate to adrenalin-inducing?

This has always been an issue for the park. They have never really intermixed rides of different levels for families with different tastes. Families have to split up to ride the kiddie rides, an meet back later. Designatged kiddie areas does not cut it for me.I would rather walk around and ride the rides as they come at desired thrill levels in the same area.

That is the main difference for a family oreinted park rather than a thrilled focused park. I feel Hershey does the family thing better than anyone. At any location in that park, I can let me kids of different riding levels and heights each go the ride they without walking a mile, or waiting for the other. Now that is family focus.

A CP spokesperson once told our group that CP replaces wetlands at 1.5 times the rate. So if they alter an acre, they create 1.5 acres elsewhere. That nature preserve along 2 between Sandusky and Toledo has been the happy recipient of CP's wetland makeovers. Walt states above the rate is 2 times, so I guess it's been increased.

I guess I don't care if Cedar Point removes the Paddlewheel Excurson ride - I rode it last year and thought it was pretty bad, and I echo the sentiment here that it certainly pales by comparison to the Western Cruise.

But they better not touch the lagoon, I dont care if they replace it at 10 times the amount. The lagoon was one of Cedar Point's original attractions, and it still adds scenery to a park that already has enough pavement with steel sticking out of it.

I worked that ride in 98-99, it was the best. I was not at all happy when they started to tare up the island for the new costers. There will be alot of unhappy people if they take Paddle Wheel away. It's a shame they don't have the old boats still. I went back awhile ago, and they did away with the uniforms, and they barley spke thru the whole ride, the point of the ride was to entertain the guests, and give them a relaxing ride so they could rest, shoot, the next thing that could go would be the trains, have you seen how crapy they are starting to look. They use to be cleaned everyday they always had three trains ready to go, Myron H, Judy K, and George. George is now broken down and does not work, I bet you anything the train is on the "list" next to go. And just like most of the rides they want to get rid of, they have there ride op people mark lower numbers, or they do it when it goes into the computers, to make it look like the ride is failing.

Welcome to PointBuzz, Ed. I'm calling BS, though. :)

If CP is indeed, as you claim, fudging the ridership numbers for the RR, then they're doing a terrible job:

2008 - 1,817,550
2007 - 1,676,661
2006 - 1,453,133
2005 - 1,487,965

These may not match the 1996 numbers, where the RR gave 2,630,728 rides, but there were significantly fewer rides competing for customers' attention 13 years ago.

And sure, PWE is a shell of its former self, but given the recent improvements done to the boats that Pete mentioned (look here and here), I find it difficult to believe your conspiracy theory.

First of all, the reason the numbers on the railroad are down is due to the number of trains they run. While it is true at one point they ran 3 trains at once (back in the 70s and early 80s), the railroad can only operate 2 trains max at this time. The third set of coaches are now gone. And as far as the appearance of the engines, they look the best they ever have. I worked on the railroad back in '82 and '83 and I can attest to the overall appearance and upkeep of the engines. They are in great shape. George is available to operate everyday. The only reason George is not run frequently is due to its weight. George is much heavier than Myron H. and Judy K. George is ran occasionally on two train days when either Myron or Judy is down for maintenance. There are two engines that are at Cedar Point that are not operated: Jennie K. (which sits in the Engine House waiting on refurbishment) and Albert (sitting on the trail, also waiting on refurbishment. Hopefully both will see service again on the Point depending on operating budgets.

It's not all about ride numbers. Often the adults who are past thrill seeking age are paying the bills. About twice a year my parents take the whole family kids and grand kids up for a trip to cp, and pay most the bills and enjoy things like the train and paddleboat ex while the kids are running off riding the coasters and kiddy rides, take away what few things there is for them to enjoy in this era of everything has to be a thrill ride or a baby ride and they may stop, and there are probably others who feel the same, does it get as many rides, no, but if you want to claim you have something for everyone these kind of attractions are neccessary.
We live near Cincinnat, why are these trips not to kings island, there is nothing for them to do there, it's all thrill rides and kiddy rides, except a dilapidated train ride that is now nothing more than a transport to the water park.

As a former captain ('88-'89), I am almost ashamed of what Paddlewheel has become, which I blame on the hatchet job that they've done to the ride. Sure it's not the most thrilling ride, but given the right captain, it can still be alot of fun. I always thought that the ride should fall under "Live E" instead of park ops and the captains be paid accordingly. I remember as a captain taking great pride in my spiel and spending a great deal of time working on it to make the ride more enjoyable for the guests. I don't think they'll get rid of PWE (there are so few family options in the park), but the ride needs to be "reimagined" if it is to continue.

I like the Paddleboats! Its is a nice break from the coasters! I hope they keep them because there are many people who come to the park and don't or can't ride the coasters!

Do you shout a lot in real life?