Former lifers, how did your CP "career" finally end?

I worked at Cedar Point for 10 full seasons. All but one were from opening to closing day and sometimes beyond. I worked in foods fro the first six seasons {all at Burger Patio} and the last four in rides. They were not consectutive seasons as I did not come back in 1999 due to my father's passing in March of that year but came back in June of 2002 and worked in rides mostly on the Giant Wheel. I had a lot of fun. Free rides off the clock is a heck of a job benefit. But my mom's health slowly deteriated and I really need to be home more plus I am too old. Housing became more and more of a ploblem as well. I can work well with 19-20 years but living with them is another matter entirely. Plus the need for a year around job. At times I miss it other times I am glad its over. But it is an experience I will never forget.

Well, I am not quite considered a lifer, as I only actually worked two seasons in 00+01, but I did work five years in rides (97-99 at Martin's Fantasy Island in NY). I had every intention on returning in 2002, and then I got a great job here in NY, and when Matt Oz from Park op called me to offer me ATL on Raptor, I graciously turned it down. It certainly was not the way I expected it all to end, but sometimes life is funny that way. I struggled with my decision for a while, but I know now that ultimately I made the right decision.

Of the two of us, my wife was probably considered more the "lifer" as she worked at CP for about 10 years or so. I was there for 4 and thought I might be a 'lifer'. But, a couple of things came into play.

First, we realized pretty quickly that if we intended to have children, both of us working at CP would complicate matters. Plenty of full time employees have children but it is more challenging these days as they keep extending the season. And, even the off-season isn't really an off season any more.

I might have overlooked the time issue if I was in a position I really loved. But, what I was doing wasn't really my passion and I saw very limited opportunities to change my career path. That also added to the equation.

So, we left for greener (or at least warmer) pasteurs but our hearts are still at the park with our friends.

I came to Cp right out of high school , and kept comming back for 4seasons in all. I hit lifer status , and was a ATL by the end of it. I owe CP a lot , i meet my husband there..:) I had the best season ; my last season..I left CP on a good note. I left with life long friends and a nick name...if u dont know its Momma Payne..

I graduated high school June 6, 1997. Junes 8 I was inprocessing in at CP. It was always my favorite place as a kid, and my mom used to tease me that I would work there someday.

I seem to remember having a good time K-12. Then I went through 9 years of college, got 2 degrees. I've lived in various places, had dozens of girlfriends, jobs, vacations and everything else that people do between 18-30. None of it, in retrospect was as important to me as CP. June 8, 1997 was really the day that I met the world.

I worked at CP for 7 out of my 9 years of college (Boathouse 97, 98) Sivler Dollar (99, 00) Boathouse (03) Gameday (04, 05). I stilll regret those 2 summers in the middle when I didn't work there. The 2005-06 school year was my last year of grad school. I had been on and off for almost a decade, and knew that it was time to go get that "real" job and use my degree. (POLS)

I worked through Labor Day weekend of 2005, left and came back to work 1 bonus weekend in October. I worked open to close, bartending at gameday. I clocked out around 10pm. I went out the marina gate and walked to my car by pet check. I'm 250lbs and covered in tattoos, and during school I worked as a bouncer for about 8 years. And that night, as I was leaving the parking lot, before I pulled out onto the causeway, that big guy stopped the car and cried like a baby for about 10 minutes, because I knew the fun part of life was over.