Seeking Millennium Force Info

Hi folks,

I am working on editing an article one of my writers submitted for the May issue of our quarterly GOCC magazine, The Streak.

The May issue focuses on a lot of coasters celebrating anniversaries/birthdays/etc. this year and he wrote a great article about the lead-up to the construction and the ride itself, including the ride experience.

As I was editing it however, I realized that most people that read our magazine clearly will know about the ride experience and the history, so what I'm looking for is interesting information, anecdotes, little-known facts or other history that some of you might know about it that I could add to the article.

Any sources, old construction photos, etc. would also be welcome.

Some people on here helped me greatly last year to add to the Magnum article he put together, so hoping you guys might know some other stuff most people don't.

Thanks ahead of time for any help you can provide - if you'd rather email me stuff, you can do so at editor@greatohiocc.org.

Thanks!

One of the biggest things I remember about Millennium Force was that it was one of the first rides out there to be completely covered on the internet via CedarPoint.com.

Monty Jasper had a construction diary and would write almost weekly on what was happening to the ride. The park did an excellent job documenting the ride during the construction phase with pictures and I believe this was the first time a park did that.

You will get laughed at if you put in that one of Millennium Force's trains was a green train that got lost into Lake Erie during testing.

I remember noticing something was up back in '99 when the CP&LE Railroad had been rerouted to run along perimeter road in the prior offseason. You could see the old rail path go into the trees where the ride's station and queue ended up going when the ride opened.

The big wheel was also relocated to make room. I believe it used to be located where Millennium Force’s last turn is today.

Photo credit: CP's Twitter

Millennium Force was the first rollercoaster to climb the lift hill via a elevator cable system instead of the traditional chain lift system.

Memories of 2000 season.

Media preview day, I believe it was on the Thursday before the season's opening day, Janice Liftke, she handled the preview days and coastermanias back then, coming to the podium and announcing 'the wait is over'.

2000 summer busy season and with the 4 hour line wait for it, you'd get a time-stamped ticket at the ride entrance when to come back to get in line.

The 'extreme coaster enthusiasts' playing their 'games' on the platform to maneuver to be able to be on the last train of the evening, with many times security had to be called to make things orderly by making the waiting riders start obeying the ride operators.

The late October 30 degree evenings shivering on the platform, with the cold wind blowing in from the west, waiting for a ride.

One of the most annoying rituals of "extreme coaster enthusiasts" is their need to be on the last train of the night, and the stupid antics they pull to get their way. The fact that it is still happening on rides that are close to 20 years old is even more absurd. The last thing employees need at the end of a long day is some overgrown child throwing a fit because they NEED to be on the last train of the night, like they give you some sort of special prize afterwards.

^Agreed. I've been to multiple CoasterMania events where MF was about a one-train wait at the end of the night, and the "super fans" were piling up in the station waiting for the last train. And while they were standing waiting for their chance, my friends and I would walk around and get 2 or 3 more rides.

^^^ Yep. I'm one of those coaster enthusiasts but not in the 'extreme' catergory. If it happens that I get the last train by chance, great, if not, 2nd last/3rd last is fine. Sometimes it's entertaining to watch those 'crazies' interact with security called. Most of the time it's 'if you don't get in the empty seat/seats, you will entirely lose your right to ride'.

There is a notch in the support framework of the first overbanked turn because it was possible to smack your hand on it. That would hurt at such high speeds!

https://images.app.goo.gl/1dy6biaqq8z61AvV8

https://images.app.goo.gl/LZv7ME8z3v1VvxqaA

Yes.. yes it did.

Dennis Urban said:

Memories of 2000 season.

Media preview day, I believe it was on the Thursday before the season's opening day, Janice Liftke, she handled the preview days and coastermanias back then, coming to the podium and announcing 'the wait is over'.

2000 summer busy season and with the 4 hour line wait for it, you'd get a time-stamped ticket at the ride entrance when to come back to get in line.

The 'extreme coaster enthusiasts' playing their 'games' on the platform to maneuver to be able to be on the last train of the evening, with many times security had to be called to make things orderly by making the waiting riders start obeying the ride operators.

The late October 30 degree evenings shivering on the platform, with the cold wind blowing in from the west, waiting for a ride.

One of my stepkids could draw the stamp using a marker that I brought with us. Multiple rides in an hour....

I went to the park late in 1999. Riding the train, I spotted main lift hill footer pads and lost it in excitement because I knew it was for a new coaster. My co-workers said it was just dirt. I said no, those are coaster footers. A short time after that, I received a jewelry box sized gift box (like for a ring). Inside it was dirt. It was a fun gift and got a laugh. I thought it was nice of them to think about me. Ride On!

Dennis Urban said:
^^^ Yep. I'm one of those coaster enthusiasts but not in the 'extreme' catergory. If it happens that I get the last train by chance, great, if not, 2nd last/3rd last is fine. Sometimes it's entertaining to watch those 'crazies' interact with security called. Most of the time it's 'if you don't get in the empty seat/seats, you will entirely lose your right to ride'.

This. I'm a long time coaster enthusiast and a long time ACE member, but if I get on the last train of the day, it's a pleasant surprise but not worth the effort to ensure I'm on it.

Then again, I often ride in the middle of the train rather than wait for the first or last cars. I'm more interested in riding than scoring "prime" seats.

I remember the announcement was made during mid july of 1999. I was going into 5th grade and would go on the computer everyday during the construction period to see if anything new happened each day and trying to make the ride during the really early Roller Coaster Tycoon days lol!

I remember checking for an update from Monty everyday on the blog during computer lab in middle school, just waiting for a new update on what was happening with Millennium Force!

I went in early May after it opened (not opening weekend, too crazy for me!) It was 100% assigned seating, no waiting for any specific row. My second ride that day I lucked out and got the front row I was SOOOO pumped it was absolutely awesome!!

Remember going again in June when they had instituted the time stamps for when you could ride, unfortunately I never got to ride that day because all of the times were gone and while it was open seating starting again at like 8PM, when I went back then the line was like all the way down the midway to Frontier town!