Farewell, Wildcat.

Just updated on CP's Facebook status, Celebration Plaza expanding which means the removal of Wildcat.

Just came here to post the same. Here's the link to the Cedar Point webpage announcing WildCat's removal :(

http://www.cedarpoint.com/celebration-plaza-expansion

I'm a bit suprised as they had already been testing it this year. It must have been a last minute decision. Perhaps the testing wasn't going well and they decided to cut their losses.

It's been a long time since I've posted on these boards, but I just felt the need to come back and comment on this. I find it quite odd that they just now are announcing this. Apparently Wildcat was just testing/running a few days ago. Also, they state the reason is the "expansion of Celebration Plaza". It seems to me that as construction is continuing on the new plaza area, they realized that they needed more space for guests with the stage/plaza and decided that Wildcat had to go.

I really wish they could have relocated it again, but I'm sure that the cost of that is far too much given the age of the ride and the amount they can get for scrapping it. I always enjoyed riding Wildcat and will be sad to see it go.

Thanks, ktee, I was just about to edit to add the link.

It does seem really last minute...seems like it would have been removed first if it was indeed part of the plan from the get-go. I wonder if this was one of the "off-the-record" topics for Mr. Ouimet and Jeff during the interview???

I'm sad too....not a huge Wildcat fan, but I skipped a ride on my vistit last June...kinda regret that now....

Good Riddance! Even more excited to see "Celebration Plaza"

Wish they could have operated it one more season, just to get the last ride in.

Can't wait for all the complaining!

I don't think moving it would have been expensive. It is after all a carnival ride without a permanent foundation that is designed to be taken apart and put back together quickly.

Wildcat was running a few days ago. Could be that something major broke that would be too expensive to fix, or that they realized more space for the show would be better considering that it will probably get massive crowds.

Having worked WildCat for the last two years I am very saddened to see it end this way. Especially after the year it had last year churning out riders I really thought it would be a little longer before it met its end.

Spending the last two summers day in and day out working this ride trying to make it the best ride possible for the employees and the guests. I have an emotional connection to this beautiful old school piece of machinery and will definitely miss seeing it on the midway this year when I return as a guest.

You will be missed WildCat
1970-2011

You make a valid point Pete, I just figured there would still be some cost in the dismantling and reconstruction. I agree that it's totally possible there was an issue discovered during testing that caused the quick nature of this decision. It sounds like this was a planned removal, perhaps for next season, but something accelerated the decision.

WildCat was a good ride in my opinion. Haven't ridden it in years and now I definitely regret not riding it the last time I was there.

While we all knew this was going to come eventually, I am upset that the announcement was so sudden. We know stuff like this can happen with rides, but "The Crypt" was removed at KI without prior warning, "Falling Star" was removed at Michigan's Adventure without prior warning and now "WildCat" is announced to be removed. I really hope this isn't a thing of new management...

In good news though, I am very excited to see how Celebration Plaza turns out this year.

(P.S. If something went wrong with the ride during testing, then this makes more sense. If it was planned on being removed at a later date and fixing it wasn't worth it, then this makes sense)

With the amount of money they are spending in that area, besides it being old, they probably figured it just wouldn't fit the area well. If it was made in 1979, I can't imagine it being worth what it would cost to maintain it. While they may have needed it to draw some guests in the past, I can't remember the last time I heard anyone list that as a must ride when planning to go there. There are many local fairs and festivals where you can ride similar coasters.
If the show is as good as it looks like it could be, I think it will be worth the trade off.

This makes me very sad to hear! WildCat was one of my favorite coasters at Cedar Point. Sounds silly I know, but I met a great friend this past season that was working there. So I do have some emotional ties to it as well.

However, I'm excited for Celebration Plaza and what all will be going on!

I would say it was the discovery of how little space was left with the new stage. I'd say this was last minute. Too bad they didn't know ahead of time as luminosity's stage would have looked better in Wildcat's location as opposed to in front of Iron Dragon.

Although this now can open up the area for future expansion where the "Cedars Dorms" are which is rumored to be on it's way out soon.

This is surprising news and last minute but it won't be terribly missed. That midway is certainly changing by the day!

Regardless of the actual reason (mechanical or sudden need of the extra space), I'm going to miss this ride. The original Wildcat and the Jumbo Jet were my two favorite coasters before I finally got up the nerve to ride Blue Streak.

The older I get, the more "old favorites" are removed.

Be prepared for sudden stops!

I am sick to my stomach, does my son still have a job he was scheduled to be ATL of wildcat this year.. what's he gonna do now?