I really miss the excursion boats

I would very much like to see them brought back. Was there a reason other than the Dinosaurs that they killed that ride? I thought that attraction was pretty lame. You see it once, and that was enough.

I miss it it as well. I probably miss Western Cruise even more than Paddlewheel Excursions. Relic from a different era of the park. I've never liked when that kind of stuff is removed. I've said till I'm blue in the face on here that I wish the park would start getting new themed rides, but I'm starting to lose hope on that. Still, there's much to enjoy and that's why I keep going back.

I remember riding Western Cruise the year Corkscrew opened (the boats sailed along the midway before rounding the bend back to the dock) and wishing they hadn't 'intruded' on the ride; it was one of the rides I had to ride during each visit. Paddlewheel, not so much.

During the ACE Spring Con a few years back, the park couldn't provide us with complimentary access to Dinosaurs, but did give us a walking tour of Millenium Force on the island...and if we just happened to see the dinosaurs while we were there...who would know?

So I've seen the dinos. Interesting. Not worth paying to see, for me. I get the appeal for families with dino-mad kids, or kids in ggeneral.

^ Somehow I feel like most of the ACE'rs were more into Millennium than the dinos anyway. ;)

I never even made it through DA this year with the free pass-holder admission. Hmm, if it's still offered next year, I might have to grab the DSLR in May. Even if only to get shots of Millennium Force.

As for Paddlewheel, it was a nice ride. I do kinda miss it but not as nostalgically as some on here.

Western Cruise was a far better experience than the Paddlewheel Excursion, hands down, end of discussion.....

Dutchman said:
Western Cruise was a far better experience than the Paddlewheel Excursion, hands down, end of discussion.....

I would not know. I never experienced them. When was it closed down?

Actually, there were a fair number of folks checking out the dinosaurs, a lot of the families with kids wandering the paths.

Judging by the number of people doing Paddlewheel on its last few days (read: very few), I don't think it was widely heralded as an essential ride.

Allan Birmantas sr said:
I would not know. I never experienced them. When was it closed down?

Western Cruise was refurbished into Paddlewheel Excursions. I think they shortened the ride, put (mostly) new scenes/props up and used smaller boats. The entrance used to be were Iron Dragon is now. I always wondered perhaps Western Cruise might of been thought as offensive due to some of the ways it portrayed Native Americans. That's only a theory on my part.

So you don't remember when it closed down? My first visit to CP was in 69, and I think at that time Paddle Wheel Excursion was already there. I am not positive, but my home movies look like it's PWE.

The ride was named Western Cruise until the dock was moved to make way for Iron Dragon.

OK, It was Western Cruise when it docked where Iron Dragon's station is now. It ran clockwise toward Frontier Town and back along the Corkscrew midway. It was shortened for the 1987 season, for the installation of Iron Dragon. After the 1985 season they removed the old Frontier Lift cable cars. Then between '86 and '87 they dug the new channel, moved the station for Western Cruise to Gemini Midway, ran the boats counterclockwise, and shortened the ride by about 4 minutes. From a 12 minute ride to about 8 minutes. They continued to run the old boats for a while. Some time in the 90s or early 2000s they switched to the new, smaller boats.

I am aware of the new cheaper boats, but in my memory the ride was the same in 69 as it was later. I do remember the Indians shooting over the boats, and maybe a couple of the themes were changed, but to me it was basically the same ride.I didn't even notice that they had changed it's name.We never missed it whenever we came to CP, which is a lot since the late 80s. In the middle nineties we bought season passes and that is how it's been ever since. Long trip, but it is our beloved place.

It wasn't the same in 69 as it was in the 90s. Similar, but not the same.

darkrider68 said:
It wasn't the same in 69 as it was in the 90s. Similar, but not the same.

Nothing stays the same and I know that every time I look in the mirror, but it's close enough. I would recognize it for sure. I will have to look at that 8mm recording I made in 1969.

Allan, I'm sure you will find youtube videos of both versions. Your 8mm will show the Western Cruise. I don't think there were any Native Americans in Paddlewheel Excursions.

Aside from the probable controversy of Western Cruise's theme, it was not an immersive ride when they shortened it and built Iron Dragon, and later Top Thrill Dragster. The old theme wouldn't have worked.

I have early memories of being afraid of the cruise, mainly the startling and loud gun shots. It didn't seem so loud as I got older. I remember the ride already becoming kind of a joke before the re-theming and re-channeling. Spot the bear? Was Spot a bear or a cougar?

Noggin, I felt the same way when they built Mantis, with it intruding on Boneville and the train. I was actually kind of hoping that if they were going to close down Mantis, they would rethink the placement of the future ride. As we know, that isn't the case.

I don't remember the name, just the ride itself. I didn't realize that the name was changed since we went to CP only twice in 69-70 and then not at all again until 1988. After that, we became pretty much regulars.
I just thought it was a nice ride and a chance to get away from the long coaster lines, the crowd and be cooler by the water. It was a true family ride.

Yes, it sure would be a nice ride to have around. I miss it, too, and one the tots and grandparents could ride, too.

They brought out one of the Paddlewheel Excursions characters for Halloweekends on the Frontier Trail, the guy on the winged bike.

It was nice to see The Professor out and back to his old self, trying to get that winged~bike to fly!

Was always remembered at my house as "The Paddle Wheel Execution'!
....as my young daughter got it wrong once + the name just stuck.

One of our fav's was always the dog...what kind of dog is he?...He's a Cedar Pointer, of course!!

Jeff said:
Judging by the number of people doing Paddlewheel on its last few days (read: very few), I don't think it was widely heralded as an essential ride.

I would say this is because the demographic that enjoy these types of rides has stopped going to the park in the last 10-15 years. The 1980's had so much more for older folks to enjoy. I think the park is heading back in this direction, but it will take awhile for word to spread that Cedar Point isn't just about Coasters.