Demolished coaster once at Cedar Point

The Wizard's Cavern in New Jersey was recently demolished and while that fact alone might not interest CP fans but as it turns out that the small indoor coaster was once the Broadway Trip at Cedar Point! Doing further reseach I found out that CP bought this ride from the Seattle World's Fair which ran in 1962. I think it operated at Cedar Point for only a couple of seasons but I know it was there in 1964. The ride then was moved to Palisades, the late great park that operated in Fort Lee, NJ. The ride started there as Broadway Trip and the picture that hangs in Town Hall was actually taken at Palisades which explains the Ferris Wheel next to it. I don't remember that type of wheel at CP but it does look like the large ferris wheel at Palisades. Later the ride became the famous Love Bugs.

After Palisades it went to Canada and operated as love Bugs at the CNE then headed to NJ and rethemed to Wizard's Cavern.

I have always been curious about this ride. Since it operated at Cedar Point a short time most people don't remember it. I am not quite sure where on the point in was located but I believe it was somewhere near where the main games complex the was built in 1965.

One time last season when I went to the Sandusky library I looked at a microfim of The Sandusky Register from May 1964. While the main reason was to read about the opening of the Blue Streak one picture had the broadway trip in the background.

BTW It is interesting to see coverage of the Blue Streak compared to opening of Millennium, Dragster etc.

This makes me wonder what happened to other rides that operated at CP such as the Sky Wheel, French frolics, Tike Twirl, Rotor and other sides from the 1960s and 1970s.

Very interesting story! I remember the skywheel and rotor being at CP and most people think I'm crazy because they don't remember those rides being there.

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Loyal Mean Streak fan 4ever:)

Interesting. The name doesn't even ring a bell, though I obviously don't remember much of anything prior to the 70's.

The one I really want information on is the Scamper, what I seem to recall was a wooden wild mouse-style ride. I think it was somewhere between Pagoda and Corkscrew, but I don't remember for sure.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Scamper sat right where the Matterhorn is now (and where Tiki Twirl was before). I've only seen a couple of fuzzy pictures, but I bet Tim or Pete can fill in some details.

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Walt Schmidt
Virtual Midway

Yeah.. Tim was probably there for opening day.. ;)

I'm gonna have to look through the boxes of photo's I have from my dad. I recall there being something in there.

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82

Yes, Scamper sat right where Matterhorn is now. It was a fairly standard wooden wild mouse. The ride was blue from what I remember, and the track had two metal strips in the middle that served as, I think, upstops. Seating was two per car in an inline arrangement. It was a popular, exciting ride.
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I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

Yes, it really was. I have pics lying around here someplace... I'll see if I can find them.

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"What's wrong with the offseason? It's when the fun stuff happens!" - Annonymous Cedar Point Employee

There is a picture of Broadway Trip here.

This picture is in Cedar Point's Town Hall Museum. but what isn't known is if this picture is taken at CP or at the park in NJ.

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DOG spelled backwards, is still mans' best friend!
*** This post was edited by Kel 1/3/2004 10:26:21 AM ***

Would those be employees walking with the white shirts? If so, if one could enlarge that picture enough to see what is on their shirts, you could tell if that were CP or not.

with imagination, I can imagine that spot being where the Aquatic Stadium is now...the roof in the backgound looks similar to the meeting hall.

The clothing appears to be from the late 50's early 60's though (dresses on the women).

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

*** This post was edited by OldCPer 1/5/2004 2:02:52 PM ***

That has to be at the park ar New Jersey because Cedar Point employes' have always have had the red and blue they have now

Not so Dan.. That pic is 30+ years ago..

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82

I think OldCP'er knows her pictures. She took them, right?

That IS CP, isn't it?

MrScott

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"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"

The ride would have been in that general area for the one or two seasons it was at Cedar Point.

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Walt Schmidt
Virtual Midway