Mill Race

The Mill Race was a nice log flume that served the park for 30 years. It was just the second flume built. The hill wasn't that big and you didn't get soaked but it was a great family ride. I worked at CP its last season and while the Raptor was exciting it was sad to see the Mill Race close. I remember the ride closed on Labor Day and I had time to ride it before my shift but it was a cold rainy day so I passed. I do remember at closing time seeing several silver tags heading towards the ride to get the last rides in. On Thursday we had to be back for work crew and all that was left standing was the mill and a ltlle of the track. It was sad sight to see. No ride's dismantling it a pleasant sight to see no matter the ride being razed. Probably for a lot of people Mill Race was their first water ride. It was my second behind the Gold Rush/Pepsi Plunge at GL. Now both rides are gone.

Yes, Mill Race was my first water ride. The hill may not have been high, but it packed a punch and the flume water moved at a nice clip.

It would be nice if the Mill Race was still in operation, I thought it fit perfectly on the Main Midway.

At one time wan't the end of that ride called the "Nestea Plunge" as if it were sponsored by Nestea? (Like if they had a "Cingluar Wireless Stengel Dive" on Maverick : )

Out of curiosity, did they announce the ride would close before hand? Or did they instead announce it after the season was over, and destroy a lot of happy memories without giving people one last chance to ride even though they acted like the ride would be around for a while and even denied the rumors that the ride would close and make it clear to everyone that they had decided to close the ride before it closed for the season, and the only reason they didn't say it would is because they were hoping for a nice quiet exit for the ride, even thought that could never happen because what CF didn't understand was that people liked the ride and were sure to be disappointed about it after they announced that the ride would be leaving along with the staff that had run the ride for so long?

I could be wrong, but I think it was still summer of 93 when Raptor was announced, which would mean people would have known it was coming. Not totally sure on that though.

I remember Mill Race was always the very first ride my family rode when we went there when I was a kid (followed by the Pirate Ride). My dad and brother have never done coasters, so those two were two of the few rides we could all do together.

There was a little bit of a heads up. Raptor was announced on September 1. I believe Mill Race was open until Labor Day of that year, September 6. When the park opened for its first Bonus Weekend, Mill Race was gone. I have video of that early construction somewhere.

If you're wondering how long the "running out of room" theory has been around, the answer is, at least 13 years. :) This rec.roller-coaster poster had his doubts back in 1994, when the park was at 11 roller coasters and 55 rides.

^That's funny.

I loved Mill Race/ Nestea Plunge - For me the removal of this ride was the moment that the CP from my childhood was gone - The new CP was born.

I love both versions of the park, but as I get older, I miss the old CP more and more.

Some old photos (circa 1976) for those who may have forgotten

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee76/spitnsunshine/img447.jpg

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee76/spitnsunshine/img497-1.jpg
*** Edited 10/17/2007 1:44:39 AM UTC by Spit***
*** Edited 10/17/2007 1:45:18 AM UTC by Spit***

Nice pic! (the second link is broken).

The Roller Coasters of Cedar Point DVD that the park sells shows a time lapse sort of aerial view of the Mill Race and Carousel being removed and then Raptor being constructed.

Man. Those pictures made me sad. I LOVED Mill Race as a kid. I was bummed when it was removed.

^^sorry - link fixed

The first few times I went to Cedar Point, Mill Race was my favorite ride in the park. At the time I was a bit disappointed to see it gone, as it took me 2 or 3 years before I rode Raptor.

What's that I see? Trees?

Yeah the Mill Race holds especially fond memories for me, too. My first summer working at Cedar Point I met a guy named Greg Jones who worked at the Chicken Patio. He and I became best friends, and were roomates our 2nd year at the Point and all the way thru college at Miami University. That second year he became a ride op and worked on the Mill Race. Every night, over beers, he had stories about the people that came through his ride that day. The ops on that ride stayed wet a lot, one of the positions was to sit on the divider before the station split to make sure the gate operated and the boats went the right direction each time. Water splashed on that guy the whole time he sat there. Greg really looked forward to the nights when they would clean the flume, it was the only time they were allowed to swim in the flume and it was a big party for the guys.

Greg's third year was spent on Shoot the Rapids and his fourth year (yes, he was a "career seasonal") he worked for Live Shows as a costumed character that roamed the park. A large yellow rabbit. He always said he loved his time on Mill Race the best.

As much as Greg loved Cedar Point he was sad to realize that none of his jobs there existed anymore. I took him for his last Cedar Point visit closing day of 1993. We were hoping to get a last ride on Mill Race but it was already gone. He never saw Raptor, as we lost him to illness that November.

He left me his extensive Cedar Point postcard collection and a lot of great memories.

Just like WWL, its replacement was worth the loss.

Agreed. Even though I was sad to see WWL go as well.

For those of you too young to remember the Mill Race I quickly made this video for ya.

Perfect? NO

But it gives you an idea. Hope you enjoy.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OAtpQw0hrv8

Cool!

HalloWeekends! said:
At one time wan't the end of that ride called the "Nestea Plunge" as if it were sponsored by Nestea? (Like if they had a "Cingluar Wireless Stengel Dive" on Maverick : )

Isn't Snake River Falls still "sponsored" by Pepsi (or still have the Pepsi logo by the sign on SRF bridge)? I know they were advertising that with Pepsi when it first opened. And if I remember right, Nestea was/is a Pepsi product.

I never rode Mill Race or WWL, but both remind me of a ride at Opryland USA in Nashville called the Flume Zoom that I grew up riding. Its sad to see rides like this disappearing, even though I love the replacements....except for Opryland because the whole park closed. :(

I remember Mill Race very well. It wasnt one of my personal favorites at the time, but a great ride that fit the main midway very well. I am lucky that I did decide to ride it in 93, which I had no way of knowing it was its final year. It was a great family ride no doubt, but overall I wouldnt trade Raptor to have it back.