Grand Pavilion

With the new Planet Snoopy in the area and changing Macaronis into a kid friendly restaurant. How about renovating the oldest building on the peninsula, the Grand Pavilion.

Any thoughts?

What do you propose doing to it?

Yeah, sure, all that acoustic tile on the interior and aluminum siding on the exterior has renovated the place into unrecognizable oblivion already..not to mention the cinder-block additions on three sides...

But certainly you've realized that part of the reason for all that acoustic tile on the inside is to cover up the ductwork that was installed when the building was air-conditioned...?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Are you talking about the Coliseum? What do you want them to do with it? Most of it is never seen by the public.

Although I still think there's a missed opportunity there for weddings, corporate meetings or whatever.

The Grand Pavilion is the building that has the Coral Dinning Room (is it still called that?) and the convention center in it. It could be that Macaroni's is also part of the same building. It's been many years since they renovated it, but I think I remember the cafeteria before it was Swiss Chalet, and it seemed to fit with the same architecture.

I thought there was a time, a long time ago that the ballroom on the second floor of the Coliseum was used during the time of big bands...I could be wrong, and I know that we're in a different time now, but it would be so great to bring back the nostalgia of that building, since CP is hellbent on destroying every other piece of history in the park..

mk522 said:
I thought there was a time, a long time ago that the ballroom on the second floor of the Coliseum was used during the time of big bands...

This is true...

Very true indeed. I spent probably over an hour one evening reading through the list of big bands that played in the ballroom during the 30s, 40s, and 50s as well as looking as the picture of the interior of the ballroom during its grand days. I would love to see the place used for a Live E show again...Doug, did I ever tell you about the idea I had? Probably not. Anyway...the ballroom is actually still in decent condition, other than the ugly logos they have on the main dance floor (personal opinion, they're not needed and don't enhance the visual appeal), and another renovation that adds A/C to the building could really turn it back into the grand entertainment venue it used to be. Of course, that's all a pipe dream. So, I'll go back to my dreams of what could and should be.

In the 60's, the ballroom was used from time to time as the venue for the annual shareholder's meeting. I remember the room would be packed with people wearing shorts waiting for the meeting to be over so they would get their free park tickets for the day.

In the late 70's, when I worked at CP, it was used once a week for an employee dance. It was a great place to hold it, and we looked forward to it each week. The room had very little of the stylish art deco furnishings of its prime era, but was still grand in other ways.

There may be some structural issues that would need attention, but I would love to see this historical space be brought back to life.

The Miss. Ohio Pageant used to be held in the ballroom. I remember they used to televised it in the 60's. They held it in mid-July.

I would guess that part of the reason the 2nd floor is not used is that it is not accessible for wheelchair users. I would guess further that the cost to retrofit it with an elevator is more than the company would like to spend.

Wouldn't it be a possible historical exemption to ADA? I wonder how that would work if Cedar Fair did a "restoration" rather than a "renovation".

Not sure what could be done with the Grand Pavilion, it's not that large of a space. But it would be nice to see it restored to it's former glory.

As far as the second floor of the Coliseum, I think it would make a great place for a dinner show. At lunch the show could be Peanuts and the gang, featuring a character meal for Families. In the evenings it would make a great dinner/dancing area for Adults. An elevator could be installed on the outside of the building for a reasonable cost.

Just a thought.

Also, if any CP management is reading this, please spruce up the Town Hall museum while your at it. The same static displays have been in there for years!

I believe the ADA stipulates that if you do any significant restoration (not sure how they define "significant") then the place must be made accessible.

My guess is that lawyers would argue that the place has been closed for X years so if they decided to refurbish it and reopen it after all this time than it is reasonable to expect that they would make it accessible as well.

If they put a unique show in there (can't be seen anywhere else on property) then I think they would be at risk for an ADA lawsuit. If they put in a duplicate show (say another showing of the Red Garter show) in that ballroom then they could make the defense that the show is availalble in an accessible venue as well. Of course, why would they do that?

I have some limited experience with this in the public sector. We are now making all of our playground surfaces accessible (poured in place rubber surfacing) but we are applying for an exemption for one playground that sits on an archeaological site. There is no way to know if the exemption will be accepted.

Well, that's where my question comes from. What's the separation between restoration of an historical site, and renovation/modernization of a building?

^^ - how much do you want added to Town Hall? I guess an old fascination machine would be cool, but its about the history of Cedar Point before it became the Super Park.

Plus, they painted that awesome mural on the side last year.

Jeff said:
Although I still think there's a missed opportunity there for weddings, corporate meetings or whatever.

My understanding is that anyone can rent the Ballroom for an event, provided your event needs that large of a space. I have seen it used before by companies and organizations. This past October there was a large event held by the Model United Nations.

I really think it might not be used as much because anyone that wants space for an event goes with the Convention Center (above the Coral Dinning Room) because it is more of the size they need. They hold all kinds of events there including local proms, weddings, family reunions, etc. The Ball Room is a huge venue for most. Added that there is no air-conditioning, heat, and that it’s in the middle of the park, I think most people opt for the Convention Center.

But that could be part of the issue. Who wants to get married in an updated-25-years-ago hall? But if it was restored to its look and feel of the 1930's then I could see it becoming an place people would want to use for their wedding/reception.

Is the brick building in the midway by ocean motion with the tall pillars the old grand pavilion? I know that's in front of the coral dining room, kinda, but I was just wondering.

JuggaLotus said:
But that could be part of the issue. Who wants to get married in an updated-25-years-ago hall? But if it was restored to its look and feel of the 1930's then I could see it becoming an place people would want to use for their wedding/reception.

Exactly.

I'm only 22 (waiting for the surprised looks as to why someone so young wants to see the ballroom return to the 30s) but, reading the history of the "Amazement Park" and such stories as: The Great Gatsby, I would love for that area of the park to be restored to its true historical glory, but like I said before, the park seems satisifed enough with a small museum and destroying all other sings of what "used to be."

^^ - how much do you want added to Town Hall? .

Cedar Point must have more historical things to display than the things that have been in the Town Hall since 1978! Other photos, maps, old ride vehicles, something! Anyone who has been in there since 1978 has no reason to return. And who wants to look at a mock up of an old pharmacy? What does that have to do with Cedar Point? There is virtually nothing to do with the Pirate Ride, Earthquake Ride, or little to do with anything of Cedar Point of the 1960's or 1970's.......

Ya that's true. I love to read about historic Cedar Point and see memorabilia but it seems that there isn't anything to mention about Cedar Point in the 80s or 90s. The Town Hall museum has plenty to tell about the 50s and 60s, but the past 2-3 decades seem non-existent. Promotional items or signs from White Water Landing or Thunder Canyon. Tell us something about the Frontier Lift or Mill Race, both of those rides spent about 20 years in the park but yet people visiting Town Hall won't know they existed. That's the point of it right, to show guests in the park history of the park.