Front Gate Destruction/Construction

Well the panels holding the concrete walls of the front gate foundations are down. It looks as if they are leveling that area underneath for getting ready to do the detailed work. Can anyone tell how the other building around the front gate are progressing?

At a brisk pace. ;)

Has anyone seen the Gatekeeper hole cam today? Nothing big is happening, I just wanted to point out that they finally gave that small dinosaur up front a coat. :)

Pretty funny. I wonder what it is. Dino's coat of many colors.

Looks like the roof for the gate is starting to take shape. There's going to be a lot more done by the tour then I thought.

Just looking at the rendering for the main entrance and am a little disappointed at how sterile looking it is. I like the added trees and the layout of it all but it could really use some more personality. Probably the biggest disappointment is the sign in the center. Why did they go with a tombstone approach, which seems more appropriate for a corporate office then an amusement park. Giant letters in the center spelling out Cedar Point like California Adventure had or a elaborate fountain with a Cedar Point sign on it would seem more exciting. Maybe even a rotating globe like Universal only with roller coasters and other amusement park rides protruding out from it in exaggerated fashion like on the park maps or maybe even made out of a bunch of different roller coaster tracks with the Cedar Point sign wrapped around it. That center location seems perfect for pictures and they wasted it on a tombstone sign.

We've been through this many time before, renderings are not 100% accurate. :)

I agree that the sign could be more if that's what the end result is, but it's not gawd awful. I think it works fine with the new look and will make for fabulous photo opportunities. But that's my personal view. :P

I never knew you hailed from Boston, Adam.

:)

Skippy said:
...but it could really use some more personality.

You mean like a roller coaster with two barrel rolls over the gate? They totally should have done that.

More fountain talk *rolls eyes*. However, I like the idea of a rotating stand with all of the coasters and major flats/water rides protruding from it. That would be cool to see. I keep saying this, but I really can't wait for the end result.

Skippy said:
Just looking at the rendering for the main entrance and am a little disappointed at how sterile looking it is.

More cowbell!

They just started on it. I'm sure once they finish it, it might look similar to the rendering. The only thing I'm concerned about is that there is a bar in the framing that might be a little hard to walk under. I hope they don't keep that there. Everyone will be ducking on opening day.

If you're talking about that beam on the back of the roof, then you have no need to worry. That beam is probably around 10ft from the ground. :)

Yes that was the one I was referring to. Your right I shouldn't worry because I have never met a person in my life to be that tall...lol. I guess from the angle of the webcam, it looks like someone would walk right into the beam.

Take away the roller coaster and you have the plaza at the office complex where people sit outside on nice days and have lunch. I know renderings can be incomplete, but I have a feeling this is close.
As much as I love Cedar Point, a major complaint I have is how generic they've become with park design. They have the perfect opportunity as an amusement park (as opposed to a theme park) to really delve into the world of amusement park architecture and fairground art and give us a showplace of really cool and kooky looking structures. Occasionally they hit the mark- the Dodgem re-do was spot on, Dragster station has great form that is accentuated at night by lighting. Unfortunate misses include the games building, where spectacular back-lit 3D art and neon was replaced by flat panels and spotlights. And their attempt to brighten up the midway by stringing tiny, sagging Christmas lights everywhere is just plain amateurish. Here in Columbus our Easton mall does a better job lining buildings with lights.
I think visitors to the world's greatest amusement park deserve a more energized and decorative introduction to their day, and a fun brightly lit farewell at the end. While modern and costly, these sleek buildings pictured and large flashing LED billboards (that are sure to come) just don't make it IMO.

Sometimes, the simplest/cleanest design makes more sense than an over the top extravaganza. When you think about it, this new entrance design is the best way to show that they can be modern without having to go over the top in order to appeal to the general public. The target with Cedar Point is it's rides and that first glimpse you get on the causeway does it sooooooo well.

^^The best way to look at it is in reference to the concrete columns and that man lift. Those are 20ft tall.......and look where that beam lies. Also, that JLG man lift is 8ft tall and looks like it has plenty of room under that beam.

Take away the roller coaster and you have the plaza at the office complex where people sit outside on nice days and have lunch. I know renderings can be incomplete, but I have a feeling this is close.

Let's say a running back runs for 300 yards in a game, including two 75 yard runs.

This is like saying..."but take away those two 75 yard runs, and this running back only had a so-so day".

Gatekeeper is the front gate. They called it Gatekeeper.

For Christ's sake.

Is it too early for wine?

Your post reminds me how awful the football off season is.

Perhaps they could move the Dino to the middle area infront of the gates. I think that would look pretty nice. How about 2 of them, or a Rail and a rollercoaster.

i am sure they will have something nice around there. I know 100% that the renderings is just a concept. I am sure that they will add some flair. There is the big flag, so thats something to look at!

in due time, May 11th I will know if I like it or not!

I know why they called it Gatekeeper, Kevinj, but thank you. I think the fact that the coaster flies over the front gate is cool as can be, but are you saying because the coaster is there that it's the only thing a guest should and will pay attention to as they enter the park? If so, I disagree, and I hope that isnt the park's intention. I'm only saying, from looking at the rendering, that they've missed an opportunity to get a little artistic and make the front entrance experience even better. But that's just my opinion.
Truthfully, it should matter little to me what they do up there. I go to Cedar Point all the time, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've used the front gate in the last fifteen years! Oh well,... sorry for the whine.