Rides and attractions from the "old" Cedar Point.

Top Thrill Dragster- the Rotor is a bit different than a Starship 2000/3000/4000 (or whatever Wisdom is calling them these days). For starters, the ride was just one big cylinder with no individual spots for guests to stand. On busy days, they would cram 30 people or so into that small barrel and it would be kind of uncomfortable. The barrel would spin and plaster riders to the wall. When the ride hit top speed, instead of sliding up the wall like on Wisdom's ride, the floor of the Rotor fell away and riders just hung there. "Back in the day", it was quite a hit.

And if I'm not mistaken, there were two Rotors that called CP home. The first was one of those giant "Arena Rotor" deals, with three levels of observation decks. It was located next to the current Coliseum Arcade I believe. And the Chance Rides version sat on the site where Chaos now sits until the end of the 1984 season.

Ray P. (who actually got to operate a Chance Rotor!)

Wow... I can't believe that Scamper was really removed after 1969 (before I was born), because I can picture it so vividly. I suppose it's possible that my memory of it is actually a photograph somewhere, but I couldn't tell you where.

There is an ariel photo in Cedar Point: Queen of America's Watering Places that shows Scamper. That's really the only photo I've seen of it. Tiki Twirl operated from 1970-1984.

The past rides I remember riding were the Sky Slide and and Mill Race (Nestea Plunge). I really miss Mill Race, although they definitely replaced it with something better (Raptor). I also rode the original Wildcat while it was at Valleyfair under the name Wild Rails.

I would've liked to have ridden Scamper. Dip the Dips looks pretty fun also. It kind of looks like Blue Streak, only a lot longer. Also I would like to have ridden Switchback Railway, just because of the historical value of it.

Hey, don't worry, Jeff, I had to go back and make sure it wasn't still around when I lost my fear of coasters. I do remember it and believe it as being white painted wood, and near the area Corkscrew is now. I also recall seeing a picture of it that is burned into my head, but don't remember where I saw it.

Reading this thread has brought back so many memories. The sky slide!! Right in the middle of the midway. I loved that thing, although I recall getting a really nasty friction burn on it.

And the Frontier Lift was always a favorite at night, quietly floating above the trees. IIRC, the only way to get to Frontier Town was via the lift or the train...and I remember the train being attacked by robbers...until the Frontier Trail opened.

I got to ride the Monorail on my first trip, but the next trip I seem to recall the track, but it wasn't running.

I also remember when the midway stopped before the IMAX theatre, and large cement(?) posts at the end, and standing in the station for the Western Cruise at night when it was located where Coasters is now.

The Frontier Lift at night was great. The Jumbo Jet was a great ride. My Grandma lived in Huron and you could see the rotating radar tower in the evenings from the dock at the end of her street.

I miss the old caliopes (I think that's what they are) on the carosels. I don't care for the recorded music that they play now. And I miss the Hobo Bands that used to walk on the Main Midway. My Aunt was one of the first girls that played in the Bands.

I REALLY miss Berardi's French Fries. The ones that they serve now are pretty good and I eat them the whole time I'm at CP. But Berardis were the BEST. If you never had Berardi's then you won't know what I'm talking about.

There is just a certian feel to CP, the sites, sounds and smells. I have never felt it at any other park I have been to. When I worked at Geauga Lakein 83, they only had some of the old rides from CP.

I miss watching the peguins in the aquarium, I always seem to find them when there was no water in the tank. I also liked the pirate ride and being scared on the earthquake when the cheese props fell towards you. I use to love the sound effects in the little wishing pond in front of the pirate ride that made a splash like cannon balls where hitting the water. I also miss Fascination. Plus i loved Dodgem 1 back by the gemni but at least i get to ride it still at michigan adventure. I also use to love the Thunderbolt ride that use to be back by the gemni, love to see the lights and hear the music pound and also loved it going forward and in reverse. I also use to like paddlewheel ex. when it loaded where the Iron Dragon now stands. I also miss Silver Dollar pancakes at the Silver Dollar Cafe.
Well i need to get me a Barvaian Creme Fat Ball and eat Cheese on a Stick.

The Western Cruise, where you'd escape into peace and quiet for 11 minutes or more, and not even be aware that you were in the middle of an amusement park. The scene of the South Shore sunken and on fire, by the Mine Ride. The howl of the coyote, which you could also hear at night from the Frontier Trail, throughout Frontier Town, and by the Gemini. The old miner, almost opposite the "current" Paddlewheel dock, singing "Oh my darlin' Clementine" as he panned for gold. The thatched roof of the settlers' log cabin that burned near where TTD is now. And the "final turn" back into the dock at the Corckscrew end of the lagoons, where the Cedar Point lighthouse welcomed you back to reality. The boats themselves.

The old CP&LE, with its trip thru the woods before MF, and when the burning house in Boneville was _still_ in the woods.

The old CCMR, when it still ran 4 trains--safely--with manual operation.

The old Blue Streak, with its brake levers and strong-armed operators.

The "Million Dollar Midway" by the Western Cruise entrance, with the Monster, Schwabinchen , and the Bayern Kurve--especially at night, with the Giant Wheel and its lights as the crown jewel.

The trees--there used to be shade! ;-)

Shoot-the-Rapids, with its cool "double dip" on the downhill plunge. And, of course, the Frontier Lift. What peace. *** Edited 9/18/2005 12:45:42 AM UTC by Western Cruiser***

The CP&LE when it ran THREE trains on busy days. That was railroadin'!

And, if I may add, when it ran two trains -all day- on most days--and didn't close early for a laser show. (And for some strange reaon, I miss the siding that used to be next to the Funway Station, where they'd park the second set of coaches for the night. I'm not 100% convinced that they needed to remove it just to accomodate MF.) *** Edited 9/19/2005 1:13:12 AM UTC by Western Cruiser***

If I recall they converted the siding from a thru one to a stub end one. It was seldom used as a passing siding, we usually backed the second train into from the yard end at the end of the day. The third train (Albert's) was parked on a siding next to the enginehouse. Nothing, I mean NOTHING interfered with the operation of the CP&LE!

Western Cruiser said:

...The old Blue Streak, with its brake levers and strong-armed operators...

How did that used to work? Does it have something to do with that part of the station that nothing goes on in?

Yes. Blue Streak was originally a 2 stop station. The part that isn't used now was the loading platform and the queue, riders entered through the front of the station under the sign. The unload was where the station is now, the exit is the same. Sets of manual brake and release levers controlled the station functions as well as the long brake run.

On busy days the line for Blue Streak took up the whole station house and spilled onto the midway reaching as far back as the fountain. You took luck of the draw for seats on the train, waiting on the platform on one of 12 numbered blue dots (behind the yellow line!) until the train rumbled up from the unload area.

Two train operation seemed much more efficient and speedy back then. It was when the station was altered for flow-through loading and the trains were changed that Blue Streak lost it's ACE Classic Coaster designation, I believe.

Blue Streak would be a lot faster if they let the train into the station as soon as the first one has cleared the loading area. Don't they wait until it hits the lift now?

I think it releases the train from the ready brake once the exiting train reaches the proxy next to the control booth.

My first summer working at the ride the train wouldn't release until the train ahead of it hit the second light post on the lift. We were thrilled the next year when the plc was changed.