How is it a peninsula?

It may seem like a technicality, but I'm currently wrapping up research for a documentary I'm producing involving Cedar Point and I want to make sure I get all of my facts straight.

I was looking at aerial shots of the land mass the park and adjacent neighborhood occupies, and although it appears to be a peninsula at first glance, the two land masses that appear to connect it to the mainland actually break once or more, allowing water through. The Cedar Point Causeway crosses three small bridges, and Cedar Point Rd crosses one, meaning that by all definitions, Cedar Point occupies an island.

Does anyone know why all marketing material in all instances refers to Cedar Point as sitting on a peninsula if this isn't in fact the case? Is what appears to be a small bridge on Cedar Point Rd in fact not a bridge at all? Am I missing something?

Thanks to anyone who can help clear this up!

Well the causeway was man-made, so you can rule that one out.

Most likely it is called a peninsula because unless you look really really closely, it is one. That small 100 foot bridge on Cedar Point Rd is all that is preventing it from technically being a peninsula. My guess is that if Cedar Point called it an island, many people would argue that it's a peninsula, which they are almost right.

And perhaps at one time in history that bridge was not necessary...making it a penninsuland.

Interesting... So perhaps it used to be a peninsula, and everyone knew it as one, so the park decided to keep describing it as one despite the fact that it's barely but definitely an island by definition now.

Two interesting points that come to mind:

- If 100 feet of water doesn't make Cedar Point an island, 100 feet of water doesn't make Millennium Island an island either
- If the two strips of land "connecting" Cedar Point to mainland Sandusky are seen as continuous, then Castaway Bay sits on a lake, not a bay

It's not the fact that it's just 100 feet of water. That expanse of 100 feet is the closest thing that makes it to being a peninsula. With that, water is surrounding on all four sides, which technically makes it an island. In the past that 100 foot expanse could have been man made to allow boats in, so it's possible that it was connected at one point.

Like this

The causeway isn't connected. The other side however is. Follow Cedar point road all the way down until it curves where the "dockominimums" are. At THAT point we need to stop following the road and follow the land instead.follow along the beach and it connects to the mainland.

At that distance, it appears to connect. However, zooming in a little closer, you can see that it would be impossible to walk from Cedar Point to the mainland without crossing a bridge:

http://devinolson.com/cp/aerial1.jpg

I think the nature of the chaussee is what makes it a peninsula. It was most likely, at one point, still all one land mass back before the chaussee was populated and before those bridges were built. And let's not forget that the very first road to Cedar Point (further down Cleveland rd from the chaussee entrance) ran along the bank, all the way to the main peninsula. Of course, over the years, they built those condos/houses as well as the new road to the chaussee. And I'm betting they dredged the land around those condos to allow access to the bay and lake. All of that eventually eliminating the visual aspect of the peninsula even though it's still connected to the mainland beneath the water.

At least that's my guess. :)

I know that strip was dredged so boat owners didn't have to circle the peninsula, but I can't tell you when. My grandfather could, he put in in Sandusky and told me about it before, but he passed away awhile back and I can't remember the details.

In Formation of Sandusky Bay and Cedar Point, Volume 4, Part 5 of Proceedings of the Ohio State Academy of Science: Thirteenth Annual report, Edwin L. Moseley described Cedar Point as an island composed of bedrock with clay and sand/gravel on top connected to the mainland by a sand spit that formed a peninsula. This is prior to all the human impacts to this peninsula. Periodic storms would temporarily break through the barrier beach. If it were not for all the houses and shoreline protection along Cedar Point Road, this section of sand spit may have disappeared or migrated inland just as the barrier beach that forms Sheldon’s Marsh east of Point Retreat Condominiums. The two sand spits were further separated when Point Retreat dredged a boat channel and it has been maintained since. The original Cedar Point road was located at the nature preserve where the sand spit met the mainland. Storms took it out in the early 1900’s and this section of road is still in the lake, but the sand spit migrated quite a bit inland during the period to follow. Later, the current entrance to Cedar Point Chausee opened (1920's??).

Catawba Island was a similar situation prior to rerouting the mouth of the Portage River among other human disturbances (development).

I take CP road to the park, I've noticed that also. I'm not sure it's an island or peninsula

I just refer to it as a peninsula, because it looks like and feels like one when I drive over to the park. I have driven the chaussee and causeway many times. Even though there are those tiny bridges connecting the land, it is barely noticeable. Hence, feeling like a peninsula. I it can I guess be referred to as an island. Being on Put in bay, for example, really has that island feel, because it is noticeably surrounded by water :)

OK, I follow all this logic. Now what I don't understand is why Cedar Fair continues to call it Kings Island. No water, no 100', not even close to being a peninsula.

And then there is that whole topic of "are there really six flags", or is one just a hanky on a stick?

Now if there are no Berry fields out at Knott's, we have more than a conspiracy going on here!

You need to look at the origin of these parks. There you will find your answer. You know why its called Cedar Point? The peninsula was covered in cedar trees way back before it was even an amusement park. Just because the name doesn't make sense now, that doesn't mean it didn't at some point.

I have a funny feeling Steve was being sarcastic.

Ah yes, but where was the location of the park within Pangea?

I think it's a hybrid between a peninsula and an island...better known as a penisland.

The original connection to the mainland (long before the causeway and the Chasuee addition that is lined with trees) was washed out in 1911 or 1914.

I can't remember.It can be found at Sheldon Marsh on Cleveland Road if you head towards Huron.

I know Walt has a pic of the plaque somewhere if I remember.

Bigmal said:
better known as a penisland.

Ummmmm.....