CP Rd.

So, I realize over the years Cedar Point Rd. (The Chausee) has been discussed in various topics. I just had an observation based on traversing that road yesterday.

Whenever we come from the east I prefer that route of entrance. No big time difference, in fact most days a minute or three slower all depending. I just prefer driving slower along the Lake. A few years ago they re-paved it and it is very nice. They also have done extensive work on the break wall, although I don't know if that's property owners responsibility or was a Corp. of Engineers thing, or what.

However, I think for many visitors to CP there is an excitement as one approaches the park whether from the main entrance or this one. I try to imagine a first-time visitor using the main entrance and all of a sudden the tall coasters come into view. Well, part of the Chausee route has incredible ambiance as well, wonderful homes & such. But I really love the first section off Rt. 6 that heads north. When the Weeping willow trees are fully leafed they present a beautiful canopy with the bay waters on each side. I have no idea how many trees there are, perhaps 200 or so.

What I noticed is this; A couple years ago they removed a large quantity of them. A few weeks later I noticed fresh saplings had been planted & staked. Well, yesterday I noticed another large quantity have been removed & replaced. The oldest, most mature ones are the northernmost 50 or so.

My comment is just I'm happy to see the care and investment into something that may be trivial to some, but pretty neat to others.

I know exactly what you are referring to. The canopy of willows is beautiful. The first time that many of them were removed was following a very strong thunderstorm that caused many of the mature willows to snap or become uprooted. The entire chausee was flooded during that storm and closed for several days. The damaged trees were removed and replaced. It took many years for them to grow to the height as the ones removed but eventually they did and that part of the drive looked beautiful again. I don’t know the reason for the recent removal of trees.

Part of the excitement when approaching using "the back way" was when Space Spiral would come into view.

As a kid growing up going to Geauga Lake (and approaching via Rt. 43 from the Aurora side) the first thing you'd see would be the Skyscraper (their version of Space Spiral) poking above the trees about a mile out. (Then in the Six Flags years you'd also see the top of the spikes of Superman/Steel Venom)

The first time we went to CP and I saw the skyline as we crossed the causeway, I was absolutely dumbfounded. Mantis was the newest coaster, so there was no MF or Dragster. And it still blew my mind.

My tradition is the causeway into the park and the chausse/CP Drive out of the park. After hundreds of visits, it still doesn't feel the same if I don't see the skyline come into view on the causeway. But for all the same reasons listed above, I also love a trip down CP Drive.

When I was young I envisioned a return to my roots and retiring in Sandusky in a house on the Chausee. A summer on the beach, evenings at the park- what could be better? And back then, up through the 80’s, really, a lot of those places were small-ish lakeside cottages with crank out jalousie windows. But over time the high-value properties were bought up, one or sometimes two at a time, and the small summer homes were replaced by mansions with lookouts. So no Chausee for me.
Also no turning all Karen-like at you looky-loo tourists blocking my way to Lowe’s on a Saturday morning, lol.

Cartwright:

As a kid growing up going to Geauga Lake (and approaching via Rt. 43 from the Aurora side) the first thing you'd see would be the Skyscraper

This is one of my core memories as a child. We only went once per year. The drive was only about 45 minutes or so but felt like an eternity and when we finally saw that tower it was the best feeling in the world. Thank you for bringing this up and I’m happy to hear you also experienced that.

In my younger days, I often thought about what it'd be like to have a house there. There's currently a vacant lot listed for $349k, and a part of me wishes I could liquidate the cash and buy it. Two things concern me though.

First, the weather on the Erie coast can be brutal. Granted, you can mitigate power issues in particular with solar/battery installs, so if you get snowed in you can tough it out for a week or two. But it's still that flat gray sky for months in the winter. That's the thing that ultimately drove me out of Ohio. I couldn't do it another year.

Second, I'll be honest, I'm deeply concerned about the park's future. Cedar Flags has not been a bastion of corporate winning. The property will be valuable no matter what, but nostalgia for the park would be the selling point.

^^ I echo that last sentiment for sure. I'm not worried about it becoming the next Geauga Lake or Astroworld. But I worry in a few more years it will carry the same reputation some of the Legacy Six parks have for the past several decades. Great rides with a guest experience so terrible it's just not worth it.

GL2CP:

This is one of my core memories as a child. We only went once per year. The drive was only about 45 minutes or so but felt like an eternity and when we finally saw that tower it was the best feeling in the world. Thank you for bringing this up and I’m happy to hear you also experienced that.

I can still envision sitting in my mom's car on Rt. 43 and right around where Bertram Inn is now you could see the top of that tower start poking out. It was as if I won the lottery feeling that rush of excitement. The few times I've driven past the property after the park closed have been so jarring without it.

That anticipation and excitement... I wish I could bottle that and experience it again. The closest I got in recent years was my first trips on the Disney Wish, Treasure and Destiny. Also, emerging from the tube in London.