Questions and thoughts of those in and around Sandusky

I live in lower Ohio very close to Pittsburgh Pa, so the close park for me is actually Kennywood. As such I am fascinated with parks history as around here rich historical value is considered better than the latest and greatest in alot of cases. Locally I will point out that Kennywood recently carefully removed a classic car ride and installed a new coaster. While the new coaster was well recieved and an overall success the call to return the old ride has been so strong with locals that Kennywoods owners have agreed to return the ride within the next few seasons.

So now to my question for you all. With all the recent improvements at CP and changes what do you all feel about losing some of your parks landmarks ( I personally would see the space spiral as a landmark ). Also while I am sure the park is probably being recieved well with its out of area guests what do locals feel about these changes and do you consider them good or bad? Do you feel that the parks losing perspective or historical significance or do you think the park is doing things correctly an that those aspects are less relevent for CP? I ask because I have noted that alot of people simply want things torn down with apparently little or no reguard to the impact on the parks history. Also I noticed in posts of mine from the past I seem to be more in tune with keeping older things while others seem to not mind things being torn down ( I am remembering some stuff I mentioned about Cedars awhile back ). I am just being curious

I think this is an issue with every park that has a loyal fan base. Look no futher than Disney removing Mr Toad's Wild Ride and the hysteria that ensued. Few people would argue that Mr. Toad's was a particularly "good" ride but it was certainly nostalgic for many. That said, even Walt himself eliminated rides to make way for progress and I suspect he might be somewhat disappointed to learn that the Tiki Birds were still flying along with the Country Bears and maybe even a significant classic like Small World.

It is a fine line, to be sure, but Cedar Point has held on to things that locals might deem as classic. Cedar Downs, Frontier Trail (even though it has been encroached on) and in some cases they have even restored things such as the lighthouse that was inaccessible for years. And, all indications are that Ouimet is interested in preserving some of the history of Knott's so perhaps that sentiment will prevail around the chain.

Disaster Transport was no great loss in my opinion and given the maintenance issues with Space Spiral I can understand it's demise even if I don't like it.

As for Cedars, I don't care about the historic nature of it. Kids shouldn't be living in it now and shouldn't have been living in it 20 years ago for that matter.

I have mixed feelings about the new and old right now. It feels like over the last few years the personality of the park has been changing. It's hard to describe it other than a bit generic. Things can't stay the same forever but the past shouldn't simply disappear because it's the past and not new. I feel bad about Disaster Transport going only because my kids liked it and we weren't able to go early enough in the season for them to have one last ride. Last year we never got to Wildcat and told them it's OK, we'll ride it next year. Then there's the needle and the boat so there's 4 things in one year they lost. I might feel better about the boats going if they had a good reason but animated dinosaurs just don't cut it with me. For the last few years there were animated dinos at the Cleveland Zoo. Why do we need them at Cedar Point? I still miss the Pirate Ride. Once again, it wasn't really making way for anything great. I'm glad they moved the old style dodgem cars to the front of the park when they closed the one in the back, those cars always went faster. I'm dissappointed they changed the soundtrack for Cedar Downs but I'm glad at least it's still there. My mom used to ride it when it was at Euclid Beach and we still like it. There are things they've added that I like. All the extra lighting in the past few years is neat and I have to admit I like Peanuts much better than Bearnstain Bears.

Both responses I have read an found them informative. Perhaps Cedar Point should consider donating some parts of the things they remove to local parks or historical societies.

On the point of the old Cedars hotel I understand its old an frankly in aweful condition but one would think a moderate budget could potentially restore this old hotel back into a resort ( I know from personal experience the resorts at the park have been filling up alot more). If nothing else what about a conversion into a more elaborate museum? This could even show a room restored to original configuration from when the cedars was built. Also ic could house everything the current museum has an much more while also opening up some real estate in the park. These are just some thoughts nothing more.

I personally am sad to see everything that has gone go but do understand why some of it did have to go. The space spiral though was once a major landmark in the park though and in its time even influenced the parks slogan, not to mention was a part of the parks symbolism even up into recent years. In truth I would like to see the ride dismantled transferred to sandusky or port clinton an rebuilt near the lake as something that tourist could pay a small admission to go an view the area. This way it lives on an still serves a purpose an could potential earn revenue to cover its own operation an maintenance. Again just a thought an not sure how you all would receive such an idea

As far as Cedars goes, I really don't think it's adding anything positive to the park, besides being a major eye-sore. I would like to see it torn down and if they really wanted to they could either add new (and improved) employee housing on-point, or they could build another resort in its place.

I would love to go on the smurf ride or King Cobra @ KI. Miss the pirate ride, Nestea Plunge,Demon Drop,Wildcat, and Avalanche Run. Some were taken down for new attractions, some for economical reasons. I still want to ride the smurf ride the most. Who agrees that was the best ride for an amusement park ever.

I still miss the pirate ride and earthquake. I am glad some of the older rides have hung around, particularly because I now take my six year old to the park and am able to ride some of the rides that were the in the seventies that I rode as a kid.

I spent a lot of time at the park in the eighties into the early nineties, then got too busy with other things to visit too often, now I am looking forward to riding coasters with my daughter when she adds a few more inches. The park does feel different now, but, I cannot tell you exactly how...and then again I am 15 years older now than I was then, how much is park and how much is me?

The park has donated Wildcat and DT cars to the national roller coaster museum or something, which at the moment is a warehouse and not a museum.

There are a lot of things at the park that won't be going anywhere. The Breakers rotunda and lobby I suspect will be around for a long time, and no one is anxious to lose the Coliseum building either, even if it is currently uninhabitable in the ballroom for various reasons. Some of the oldest flat rides have some historical value, but the only large rides that I'd consider truly older and interesting at this point are Blue Streak and Skyride. Those are pretty safe for now.

How old is Skyride?

The amount of money it would take to get Cedars up to any form of acceptable for guest use (let alone continued employee use) would be staggering.

Building another resort in the area Cedars now stands is an interesting idea I had not considered. It makes some sense to add some high end rooms on Point that could sell for a premium. Maybe a "small" resort, half the size of Sandcastle, that would cater to the big spenders. A "private gate" stretching over Perimeter Road. A large balcony area that would provide premium seating for whatever night time show would be going on at Luminosity Stage. A spa (lacking right now).

That would also provide another way to use that area closest to the marina without disrupting the marina guests like park expansion might do. And, certainly more revenue could be derived from that type of use.

They just spent some money not long ago on the Bon Air wing of Breakers (closest to Soak City) but I can't believe it will be standing for too much longer. It will hit 100 years old in less than 20 years and that real estate is too valuable for that structure in my opinion.

^^Sky Ride is 51 this year.

While I think it is important for CP to maintain the roller coaster image I also think it is important to maintain the family image. I started visiting the Point in the 1940's with my parents and grandparents. I now visit with my children and grandchildren. I don't do coasters ( but love watching them ) so having less intense rides is very important. When my daughter was young we went on the swan boats and had a wonderful time. My youngest grandson is under a year old. He would have loved that ride. There is little for him to do now. My daughter is now a coaster nut. Start them young with mild rides and you can have return guests for many generations. Tear down the mild rides and replace them with only thrill rides and you kill the future for the park.

^ What's up with the ballroom? Last time I checked they were still using it for events, though I knew the lack of AC and ADA compliance were big things.

Something a lot of people don't seem to realize... While a lot of stuff built in the past was certainly built to last a long time, a lot of stuff -wasn't-. We're seeing that now with the cycle of rides reaching the end of their useful lives a la Space Spiral, Wildcat, and Big Bad Wolf, and I get the sense you're going to see this a lot more with steel coasters. I know people will argue that you have hundred-year-old wooden coasters, but it's much easier to replace wood than it is to replace steel.

Aside from that, that applies to buildings, too. While I'd definitely love to see the Coliseum renovated to have a usable ballroom, I'm not sure how feasible it is with the age and layout of the building.

Last time I tried to go in the ballroom it was closed off with a sign that said "For Luminosity tech employees only."

The ballroom is "haunt central", our headquarters for HalloWeekends. It's supposed to be "off-limits" full year round, especially now that it's used for Luminosity.

What do they use it for Luminosity, to practice and choreograph the routines or such?

When I tried going up there it looked like it was all for sound and lighting equipment.

Captain Bob said:
I still miss the pirate ride and earthquake. I am glad some of the older rides have hung around, particularly because I now take my six year old to the park and am able to ride some of the rides that were the in the seventies that I rode as a kid.

I spent a lot of time at the park in the eighties into the early nineties, then got too busy with other things to visit too often, now I am looking forward to riding coasters with my daughter when she adds a few more inches. The park does feel different now, but, I cannot tell you exactly how...and then again I am 15 years older now than I was then, how much is park and how much is me?

Everytime I walk towards Blue Streak I think about the Pirate Ride

I've gone into the ballroom twice this summer. Multiple employees have told me it's open to the public, up until Halloweekends. And it's a gorgeous, historic space. I highly recommend the visit--though now you'll have to wait until 2013 to do so.

Yeah, you can generally wander up there if you like. If those walls could talk.