Paddlewheel Boats
Forgive me if this topic has already been beaten to death but. . .
What is the deal with the boats on Paddlewheel? I was at CP this past summer after a several year absence and was surprised to find different (and much less attractive) boats. I used to like this ride but it has really taken a beating. The shortening of the course, other rides encroaching upon its tranquility, the removal of the sinking burning boat, etc.
What is the deal with the boats on Paddlewheel? I was at CP this past summer after a several year absence and was surprised to find different (and much less attractive) boats. I used to like this ride but it has really taken a beating. The shortening of the course, other rides encroaching upon its tranquility, the removal of the sinking burning boat, etc.
Remember where Chaos sits? There used to be a great big crane there for pulling the boats out of the water in the fall. Right across from Chaos there is a big double-wide gate that leads straight to the Hotel Breakers parking lot. The old boats would go in and out through that gate.
When Chaos was installed, the weir where the hoist was located was filled in. The boats now go in and out by means of a ramp located beneath Mantis:TCFKAB. The new boats are not as tall, and so can fit under Mantis to go in and out. They are not as wide, so they can fit through the space on the midway. And I don't think they are as long, so they can make the turns to get from the midway extension back to the parking lot gate.
Look for more negative impact on Paddlewheel this year with Millennium Force's second turnaround taking the place of Delbert and the Village of Seville.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
When Chaos was installed, the weir where the hoist was located was filled in. The boats now go in and out by means of a ramp located beneath Mantis:TCFKAB. The new boats are not as tall, and so can fit under Mantis to go in and out. They are not as wide, so they can fit through the space on the midway. And I don't think they are as long, so they can make the turns to get from the midway extension back to the parking lot gate.
Look for more negative impact on Paddlewheel this year with Millennium Force's second turnaround taking the place of Delbert and the Village of Seville.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Thanks for filling me in. What happened to the old boats? Were they scrapped? I was poking around on Ebay and noticed somebody's got a paddlewheel for sale!
The lagoons were always such a neat feature of CP it is disturbing to see how they are being treated.
The lagoons were always such a neat feature of CP it is disturbing to see how they are being treated.
The old boats now run on the Cuyahoga River as Holy Moses Water Taxis: TBFKAPWE.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
If I am not mistaken, when PWE used to be the Western Cruise, there were actually five of those "big" boats. I remember some of the names: The Winnebago, The Ogontz, The South Shore (?), ... memory fades.
I also distinctly remember seeing one of the former Western Cruise boats down at the lake next to the Columbus (OH) Zoo...is that Wyandot Lake? In any case, that would have been around 1994-1995, at which time I knew that they had sold off at least one of the boats, since that many were not needed for the shorter PWE.
I remember as a child that the Western Cruise was often so busy they ran at least 4 boats at a time, and it was not infrequent for one to either have to "tread water" behind the one still loading at the dock, or actually dock immediately behind it. (The "mooring" docks for boats not in use were behind/next to the Paddlewheel Cafe.) *** This post was edited by Western Cruiser on 2/2/00. ***
I also distinctly remember seeing one of the former Western Cruise boats down at the lake next to the Columbus (OH) Zoo...is that Wyandot Lake? In any case, that would have been around 1994-1995, at which time I knew that they had sold off at least one of the boats, since that many were not needed for the shorter PWE.
I remember as a child that the Western Cruise was often so busy they ran at least 4 boats at a time, and it was not infrequent for one to either have to "tread water" behind the one still loading at the dock, or actually dock immediately behind it. (The "mooring" docks for boats not in use were behind/next to the Paddlewheel Cafe.) *** This post was edited by Western Cruiser on 2/2/00. ***
Western Cruiser, you are making me think to hard today.(check my info button) In 1982, The Western Cruise regularly ran 5 boats on Saturdays in July & August, and those boats where full. (hard to believe but true)
The names of the boats, Ogontz, South Shores, Winnebago, Catawba -- this was the BIG Wooden one--, and unfortunately I can't name the other two. The boats had NO reverse steering, you had to line the boat up and then head in reverse. The gas docks where located by the Frontier Lift station, and this is where the boats where docked for the night.
If I had more time, and if I wanted to bore all of you, I would type out the speil, yes I can still do the whole fifteen minute speil. Hey when you spend a summer doing something hundreds of times you don't forget easily.
The names of the boats, Ogontz, South Shores, Winnebago, Catawba -- this was the BIG Wooden one--, and unfortunately I can't name the other two. The boats had NO reverse steering, you had to line the boat up and then head in reverse. The gas docks where located by the Frontier Lift station, and this is where the boats where docked for the night.
If I had more time, and if I wanted to bore all of you, I would type out the speil, yes I can still do the whole fifteen minute speil. Hey when you spend a summer doing something hundreds of times you don't forget easily.
Hey Tim, great picture, you haven't changed a bit (LOL) anyway about TRFKAWC now PWE is going to be extremely different from now on with the addition of MF. I can only imagine what those footers and supports look like from Camp Snoopy. Then the "magnum hill" and the 100ft hill going over the water are just totally going to change the feeling of the ride. After MF was announced I knew that it would changed PWE forever in a negative way so I brought the Sony 8mm on the ride and took an entire ride POV. Its going to be interesting to ride it this Summer and shoot another POV to note all of the differences!
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Daniel J. Haverlock
'99 Magnum Count: 801
Is it May yet?
www.popworld.com/dan
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Daniel J. Haverlock
'99 Magnum Count: 801
Is it May yet?
www.popworld.com/dan
Interesting idea Dan. It would be nice to have a video pre-Iron Dragon too.
Anybody know why the name changed from Western Cruise to Paddlewheel Excursions and when it happened?
Anybody know why the name changed from Western Cruise to Paddlewheel Excursions and when it happened?
A quick note...
The paddlewheel boat on the Scioto River here in Columbus belongs to the Columbus Zoo. I don't believe it ever had any connection whatsoever with Cedar Point. I could be wrong about that, but still...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
The paddlewheel boat on the Scioto River here in Columbus belongs to the Columbus Zoo. I don't believe it ever had any connection whatsoever with Cedar Point. I could be wrong about that, but still...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
When The Iron Dragon was built, CP moved the Western Cruise and renamed it Paddlewheel Excursion. It is also interesting to note, the boats now go the OPPOSITE way around the island. The WC went clockwise, PWE goes counterclockwise.
WOW, here it is 2/2/2000 and we are discussing the nuances of the Western Cruise vs Paddlewheel Excursion. I bet we have spent more time on this topic today than most of us spent on Paddlewheel Excursion last summer.
IS IT MAY YET????
WOW, here it is 2/2/2000 and we are discussing the nuances of the Western Cruise vs Paddlewheel Excursion. I bet we have spent more time on this topic today than most of us spent on Paddlewheel Excursion last summer.
IS IT MAY YET????
Maybe more time than we spent ON PWE last summer...but no where near as much time as we spent IN LINE FOR PWE last summer. Really awful to have those itty bitty boats.....
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Actually Tim I know that I got atleast 25+ laps on PWE this past summer. Its close to Magnum and its a nice little sit down break in the middle of a long day of riding Magnum :)
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Daniel J. Haverlock
'99 Magnum Count: 801
Is it May yet?
www.popworld.com/dan
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Daniel J. Haverlock
'99 Magnum Count: 801
Is it May yet?
www.popworld.com/dan
Hey Old Timer Tim...great picture. I remember some of the spiel, but I was a child at the time. I do remember Charlie the Cougar was the first "item" you saw as you drifted back in time, and the "fort" with the guy saluting himself in the eye at the end of the ride, and the -very- sharp turn to the dock.
Also, who can forget the "water jets" as the bullets hit the water, the sternwheeler on fire by the Mine Ride, and the grass hut housewarming party given for the settlers. The remnants of that hut were there the first year or two after Iron Dragon had been built.
Sorry for the long rant...getting misty-eyed...
Also, who can forget the "water jets" as the bullets hit the water, the sternwheeler on fire by the Mine Ride, and the grass hut housewarming party given for the settlers. The remnants of that hut were there the first year or two after Iron Dragon had been built.
Sorry for the long rant...getting misty-eyed...
gee Tim....even I remember you as looking a bit older -- but love the picture!!! The trash cans even brought back fond memories....
Hey Old Timer Tim,
I just looked at your info file and, you're not gonna believe this, but I think I might have a picture of you somewhere buried in my archives! I remember one year in the early 80's I had borrowed a Minolta camera with a power-winder and was shooting 72 exposure rolls of Ilford Black & White HP5 film. I took hundreds of pictures that day. I swear one of the pix I took that day was of you. It was rainy, and you were in a poncho.
I must have attracted your attention for the picture, because you are waving at me. I remember it because I enlarged it to a 5x7. If I recall, I was taking pix for a magazine at the time (which never got off the ground). This is gonna keep me up nights until I find the picture!
No promises, but if I can find it, I'll get it scanned. :)
Tim Bretz
tabretz@compuserve.com
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tabretz
"Remember to pillage before you burn"
I just looked at your info file and, you're not gonna believe this, but I think I might have a picture of you somewhere buried in my archives! I remember one year in the early 80's I had borrowed a Minolta camera with a power-winder and was shooting 72 exposure rolls of Ilford Black & White HP5 film. I took hundreds of pictures that day. I swear one of the pix I took that day was of you. It was rainy, and you were in a poncho.
I must have attracted your attention for the picture, because you are waving at me. I remember it because I enlarged it to a 5x7. If I recall, I was taking pix for a magazine at the time (which never got off the ground). This is gonna keep me up nights until I find the picture!
No promises, but if I can find it, I'll get it scanned. :)
Tim Bretz
tabretz@compuserve.com
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tabretz
"Remember to pillage before you burn"
Hey Tim,
It would be cool if you can find the picture. I worked seasonally from 1980-84. Dino... I'm not that young in the picture!!
Western Cruiser, you're close but no cigar this time... The first "animated scene" you passed was "Nature's First Law of Surival"... the two cougars inviting the Elk to dinner...
Oh the memories... And yes the new boats are WAY TOO SMALL.
It would be cool if you can find the picture. I worked seasonally from 1980-84. Dino... I'm not that young in the picture!!
Western Cruiser, you're close but no cigar this time... The first "animated scene" you passed was "Nature's First Law of Surival"... the two cougars inviting the Elk to dinner...
Oh the memories... And yes the new boats are WAY TOO SMALL.
Thanks for the "memory jog," Old Timer Tim.
One of the things Tim's picture shows is the "class" that the Western Cruise used to have. The uniforms--ruffled shirts, garters, and long pants added something. (Although I can only imagine how horrible they were for the crew in 90 degree days. But don't forget that whenever they took a boat out, they actually had trees and shade around them--back then, that is.) *** This post was edited by Western Cruiser on 2/3/00. ***
One of the things Tim's picture shows is the "class" that the Western Cruise used to have. The uniforms--ruffled shirts, garters, and long pants added something. (Although I can only imagine how horrible they were for the crew in 90 degree days. But don't forget that whenever they took a boat out, they actually had trees and shade around them--back then, that is.) *** This post was edited by Western Cruiser on 2/3/00. ***
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