pki winterfest

Do they even issue snow emergencies anymore? I haven't heard of a level 1, 2 or 3 in a very long time, at least not in the Akron/Canton area and we've had some pretty nasty snowstorms.

I remember years ago driving down I-90 by Erie PA after a ski trip to western New York. Lots and lots of snow on that trip. On the way home, flying down I-90 I wondered why there was no traffic. It was cool as the snow plows pushed snow over the guard rail on the bridges crossing the highway to I-90 below. Puuf, huge cloud of snow passing under the overpass. Then I heard on the radio I-90 was closed. Oh well, made great time without other traffic on the road!

Have any of you stepped out on the peninsula during December?

It's super breezy and cold! Even on 'warm' days.

Yes, several times and I’ll be out at the park tomorrow.

I don't think snow would ever be a problem if the park were to host a winter event. The cold wind however would be more of a problem in terms of attracting people to the park. I spent 11 years at Cedar Point, a lot of those working outside in November and December and it was miserable every minute. The wind is what made it so horrible as it would suck the life out of you. Yes there are days when the weather isn't that bad but I don't think the park would bank on having a lot of those days for the event to happen. The weather is just downright crappy compared to even in Sandusky.

That being said I am in the boat that thinks it won't ever happen because of staffing. The park already has problems during the fall so I doubt staffing would be any different for the two months that follow. Some on here have talked about how cool it would be to stay at Breakers in the winter. Even if only part of the hotel was used that would require a lot of staff. Where is this staff going to come from? Sandusky? Do you think people are going to drive from Cleveland and Toledo for a couple (maybe 8 hour) shifts? If the park would require out of town staffing, then they will need even more staff to operate the dorms, Linen Services, and Employee Transportation.

Pete said:
I remember years ago driving down I-90 by Erie PA after a ski trip to western New York. Lots and lots of snow on that trip. On the way home, flying down I-90 I wondered why there was no traffic. It was cool as the snow plows pushed snow over the guard rail on the bridges crossing the highway to I-90 below. Puuf, huge cloud of snow passing under the overpass. Then I heard on the radio I-90 was closed. Oh well, made great time without other traffic on the road!

Changing gears... Where did you go skiing in WNY? We aren’t exactly known for our ski resorts! Bristol Mountain & Greek Peak are probably the 2 Best areas around and Swain isn’t half bad. Anything worthwhile in Ohio?

Yes, snow is not really the issue more so the winds for Sandusky, I can vouch living right by the lake, even if the day is mild the winds off the lake can make it still feel quite cold (forget going in the Gatekeeper area of the park I'd say). I don't know what Canda's Wonderland winds would be like, I know they are more likely to be cold and have snow, but the wind chill i would guess might be as much an issue. But in both December and November there will be bound to be days where you would be in the park and just hear quite the loud intense howl of winds with the massive waves.The sound of winter living by the lake.

And I agree biggest of all really is the staffing.

Staaber said:
Cedar Point should give it a try ine year and see how things turn out.

They did. Once. And saw no reason to repeat it.

It's worth bearing in mind that most Cedar Fair parks are close to metroplitan areas; Cedar Point is not.

Thabto said:

Do they even issue snow emergencies anymore? I haven't heard of a level 1, 2 or 3 in a very long time, at least not in the Akron/Canton area and we've had some pretty nasty snowstorms.

Feb 21, 2015, and Jan 2, 2014, were the two most recent times I found that a snow emergency was issued for Summit County.

^ Wasn't that winter chill out back then?

Shane Denmark said:
Changing gears... Where did you go skiing in WNY? We aren’t exactly known for our ski resorts! Bristol Mountain & Greek Peak are probably the 2 Best areas around and Swain isn’t half bad. Anything worthwhile in Ohio?

Holiday Valley is by far the best resort close to Cleveland. Very high quality resort. Only 750' vertical but the quality of the lodges, hotels, lifts and staff are as good as you will find anywhere.

I used to participate in a race circuit back in the day that was mainly in Western N.Y. We raced at Bristol Mountain, Kissing Bridge, Swain, Cockaigne (closed), Wing Hollow (closed), Holiday Valley and once or twice at Peak 'N Peak. Never went to Greak Peak. Also had one race a season at Boston Mills by Cleveland.

The three Cleveland resorts (Boston Mills, Brandywine and Alpine Valley) are all vertically challenged with about 250' of vertical but are good for running gates and just doing lots of laps when it is not crowded to get snow time. Obviously, the more time you have on the snow, the better your skiing will be. When the school kids arrive in the busses, forget it, time to head to the bar.

noggin said:

Staaber said:
Cedar Point should give it a try ine year and see how things turn out.

They did. Once. And saw no reason to repeat it.

It's worth bearing in mind that most Cedar Fair parks are close to metroplitan areas; Cedar Point is not.

No, they havent done Winterfest before. That feeble attempt of an event was Christmas in the Park. Having a souvenir shop and the carousel open isnt remotely the same as what Winterfest is.

Yes, Cedar Point would have some challenges that other parks dont have. Population being a big one.

Shawn Meyer said:

^ Wasn't that winter chill out back then?

The 2015 one was a winter chill out. That was one scary drive down from Michigan. If I recall, that was the year Tony tweeted that they weren't holding people to the scheduled time on their ticket, that they would be welcomed when they showed up safely in one piece.

Toledo had a bad snow storm last December.

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2016/12/12/Snow-slaps-Toledo-area-...roads.html

Oh well, I suggest if you can make Kong’s Islands Winterfest you should. It’s great.

Ride on!!!!

The way people around here talk about populations and staffing issues you'd think Sandusky was a vacation town like Ocean City, MD.

Because they're similar. Typically, employees work within a half hour (so we'll go 50km/30mi) of their job site. Those locations are isolated, as part of their draw as a "vacation" town.

Sandusky ~ 390k
Ocean City ~ 220k

...

Compared to places like:

Kings Mills ~ 2340k
Carowinds ~ 1480k
Canada's Wonderlans ~ 5230k
Kings Dominion ~ 900k

Pete said:
Holiday Valley is by far the best resort close to Cleveland. Very high quality resort. Only 750' vertical but the quality of the lodges, hotels, lifts and staff are as good as you will find anywhere.

I used to participate in a race circuit back in the day that was mainly in Western N.Y. We raced at Bristol Mountain, Kissing Bridge, Swain, Cockaigne (closed), Wing Hollow (closed), Holiday Valley and once or twice at Peak 'N Peak. Never went to Greak Peak. Also had one race a season at Boston Mills by Cleveland.

The three Cleveland resorts (Boston Mills, Brandywine and Alpine Valley) are all vertically challenged with about 250' of vertical but are good for running gates and just doing lots of laps when it is not crowded to get snow time. Obviously, the more time you have on the snow, the better your skiing will be. When the school kids arrive in the busses, forget it, time to head to the bar.

I always forget about Holiday Valley... Been there once and it was VERY nice. Ellicottville as a whole is like the picturesque ski town you’d see in the Rockies, like Aspen or Vail, but on a much smaller (and affordable!) scale.

There’s also a private skiing country club called Hunt Hollow on the opposite side of the hill from Bristol Mountain. My uncle used to be a member. It’s small but it was consistently the best snow in the area.

Staaber said:
Oh well, I suggest if you can make Kong’s Islands Winterfest you should. It’s great.

Ride on!!!!

Glad to see I’m not the only one who has the Kong’s Island auto-correct issue...

DSShives said:

No, they havent done Winterfest before. That feeble attempt of an event was Christmas in the Park. Having a souvenir shop and the carousel open isnt remotely the same as what Winterfest is.

Yes, Cedar Point would have some challenges that other parks dont have. Population being a big one.

To be fair, Christmas In The Park was (gulp) almost 15 years ago. Still, I'd argue that a winter event with limited attractions that didn't make a sufficient return on the investment would reasonably dissuade the park from trying it again.

These days, Christmas events are a yoooogue* business. Here in Chicago, you can take in events at Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, the Magnificent Mile, the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Museum of Science and Industry ... I could go on.

My point, and I do have one, to quote Ellen DeGeneres, is that there are plenty of holiday events in and near Cleveland and Toledo making it a harder sell for CP to promote a winter event.

Cedar Point Christmas in the park was more like 24 years ago.... 1994. My college was on quarters and I worked the carousel for the entire event. It was brutal cold, we had to stop using the real carousel organ that was in it at the time and go with speakers because of the cold, and i remember the food stands and bathrooms were not heated so they had to bring in something for heat to keep the pipes from freezing.

While I understand many of the arguments, I'd say that using the event in 1994, "Christmas in the Park" is not a good example. It sounds like (and even looking at the video) that the event was thrown together and had no live entertainment, they didn't even have the train going. They threw lights on some trees and called it a day.

When Cedar Fair first took over the Paramount Parks they cancelled the event at Kings Island citing poor attendance. Obviously the new management thought it was a great opportunity and from early trip reports- attendance has been huge.

In a recent article Zimmerman is quoted as saying a future Winterfest at Cedar Point..... "is the big debate right now"

So its obviously not set it stone as never happening. I'm sure the conversations sound similar to what is being said here.