The Cedar Point Phenomenon

After being a Cedar Point fan for many years, I've often pondered the question of why Cedar Point has such a following among it's fans. One only has too look at the Project 2007 message board to see no matter what CP does, everyone seams to care. It's fans immediately take a sense of ownership to the park much like Disney fans do. I've discovered that the main reason we all want to see Cedar Point succeed is becuase it is a success story in itself. A traditional amusement park is going strong in a world of mega theme-parks with corporate sponsors. (of couse, that may change now that CP has acquired Paramont Parks.) Cedar Point can be seen as somewhat of an underdog in it's evolution, always being different, taking risks, and it always comes out on top of the big guys. Ok, enough rambling...Your thoughts? Why is Cedar Point so special to you?

For me it's a combination of history, thrills, and good guest service.

Cedar Point is rich in history, and they embrace that. While some of the older rides are gone, there are plenty of older rides, buildings, gardens and such to provide plenty of great memories for someone of my age.

Cedar Point also keeps up on the thrills! They add new rides almost every year, keep up on the roller coaster count, and are always improving their ride selection.

Cedar Point is also a clean, well run, friendly park. Over all a great package all around.

If you look at Project 2007 you will see that most of us look at it as a new addition to the family. We all try to guess what it will be like and take pictures as it grows. So that when it is finished we can look back on it.

Many people think we are crazy and need to get a life. But at least we care about something.

More to the topic of you thread. I really don't know what makes CP so great. I look at US:IOA and I think it is a much better park, but I still love CP the most. All I know is that when I am at CP I feel like I am home, and maybe that's why we love CP so much. It's home for so many of us. Even for those who only get to go a few times a year.

And when the off season comes it's like we all get homesick and grumpy. (Some would say we are that all the time).

So simply put CP is home.

I was taken there when I was younger and it is the second closet park from where I live. You stick with what you know.

Doesn't hurt that the park has grown so much with so many world record breaking coasters.

In my case Cedar Point made me a coaster fan, not the other way around.

So I have gone to other parks in the last few years and they are enjoyable, but when you started with the best they always are viewed a little different.
(Although I went to Boblo when 8, that wasn't really much of a amusement park. :) )

Ive went my whole life with my family until the last few years were I went with my friends, but my parents are the ones that got me hooked on it.

Also the cedarpoints not that far of a drive from michigan, and they always have something new each year.

Cedar Point is special to me because of the memories I have there plus the fact it's the best amusement park in the world. I've been going since I was 4, the family memories have a lot to do with it. A lot of the old rides I remember are gone but the park is better than ever. (There are a few things I would change but I'm sure everyone has their ideas)

Cedar Point to me is like a home town hero! In a world were L.a. and orlando are suppose to rule the amusement park industry, a park in Sandusky Ohio is tops. I love to go on vacation to olrando and las vegas and to L.a. and talk to the locals and when i mention im from cleveland 9 out of every 10 people r like "oh man you live near cedar point". It just puts a smile on my face.

That's great that they're jealous. Another great thing about Cedar Point is how it evolved over the years, instead of being planned out and built from the ground up. There's a lot of history.

For me its as if they set the INDUSTRY STANDARD. For building the big coasters.

I wouldn't say Cedar Point's following is a "phenomenon" per say. Rather, the internet is the phenomenon that has brought communities of those with like interests together.

Nearly everything in the world has a "cult-following" of some type from Amusement Parks to Celebrities to Viral Videos (Numa Numa). The internet has done volumes to make these followings more well known. Those of us who are old enough to remember when the internet was not everywhere were certainly Cedar Point fans at that time as well, but we didn't have an easily accessible "meeting place" like we have here at PointBuzz.

If you look at other parks, especially those of Cedar Point's size, you will find other fan sites like PointBuzz (ex: PKICentral). The internet, among other things, has given an outlet to those of us who find our interests to be unique a place to talk and discuss those interests with thousands of others.

It's a blessing (PointBuzz / CoasterBuzz) and a curse (P2007 Thread) all at the same time...

Im curious to see what the internet will be like in another 30 years...

I treat cedar point like it's my park when i'm at home. When ever i hear people talking about Dragster, Millennium or anything else about the park I just butt in at any moment I can. Once I heard this guy at the store talking to someone else about Millennium force being the tallest coaster at the park. I started bombing him with stats of Dragster compared to MF. They did not belive me until I started breaking the coasters down to the square inch. :)

I guess I am kind of over protective about Cedar Points accomplishments.......................... oh well. ;)

Amusement parks are by definition special places. They are the only places in the universe that are completely dedicated to one pursuit: the total happiness of their guests. And since Cedar Point truly is the best amusement park (believe me, I've been to quite a few), that makes it the most special of special places.

Every time I walk through those gates and see the carousel dead ahead and the colorful cabins of the sky ride, I feel about 20 years younger. And every time I leave I am accompanied by a pang of regret. It's like leaving heaven.

There are a lot of amazing parks out there. I think people forget to support the little, out of the way places like Conneaut Lake and Idlewild. Personally I just visited Erieview this weekend, and I'm sorry that it was only because of its imminent closure that I only went now for the first time. But each of these places has something magical to offer.

Cedar Point is where I have grown up. Its the one place I can go and forget about everything else in life thats dragging me down and just have fun.

Headrush said:
(Although I went to Boblo when 8, that wasn't really much of a amusement park. :) )

Hey man, don't dis Boblo! That was my first amusement park!

One thing I've noticed is that the longer I've been going to CP (since 2003), the more I learn to love it. My first few times going all I did was run to every coaster to fit in as many rides as I could. I would make a schedule and follow it strictly. Now I go and often just wander. I ride what ever the other people I with want to and just relax and enjoy. I enjoy the shops, the environment, and especially the atmosphere. My absolute favourite part of the park is the Frontier Trail and Town. Ahh good times.

CPcyclone said:
It's fans immediately take a sense of ownership to the park much like Disney fans do.

That's a great statement. The park has become a tradition with so many different families around the Midwest, because of its history. If CP decided to not do a single advertisement for 2007, they would most likely have no problem getting at least 1.5 million people through the gate (just an estimate), because there are so many families, schools, and church groups who make an annual trip no matter what they build or not build.

ejh1701 said:
Cedar Point is where I have grown up. Its the one place I can go and forget about everything else in life thats dragging me down and just have fun.

ejh1701,

You hit the nail on the head! Yes I have lots of memories as a child and beyond at CP and many good times were had. The location, atmosphere, rides, and everyone is there with the same goal, fun! For me CP is just what you said. No matter how bad things get at work or life's usual ups and downs, when I'm at CP, I'm in my "happy place" and everyone with me is happy too. I can't remember ever stressing about something going on in my life while I'm there. I hope heaven is an amusement park! :)

My parents started taking me and my siblings to CP from the time we could walk. My folks never had a lot of money for more ambitious vacations, and we lived an hour and a half away, so CP was always the preeminent destination. We'd usually spend two or three nights and go two or three times a year. I guess I got programmed to associate CP with fun and escapism.

My first memories are of Kiddyland and the Junior Gemini. As I grew, there was always new and exciting things to discover. The first time you work up the courage for the Gemini. Asking everyone you know ad nauseum what it's like to go upside down before you finally suck it up and ride the Corkscrew. Hitting that magic 48" height. Being old enough to get plastered at Friday's. :)

And it's always evolving. I have fond memories of Kid Arthur's Court, Jungle Larry's, the Pirate Ride, Oceana dolphins, etc. It's sad to see things go, but at the same time new stuff takes its place. Soak City, big coasters, Lighthouse Point, etc. Keeps things new and different, makes memories of what's now gone more special. I've seen CP come a long way since my earliest memories in the early-80's, and I feel like I've been a part of the evolution. You grow up with it, get to know it inside and out, and it feels like a second home. Just more fun. :)

I've had a season pass since maybe 1993 and still go several times a year. Every time I go is unique, depending on who I'm with, time of year, weather, what I ride or do, where I stay, etc. It's hard to get bored.

I still get excited when I first see the skyline on the horizon, and I still sigh when I leave and head back to the real world.

I haven't been able to get my wife to understand me since she didn't grow up with it. I usually just give up trying to explain, throw up my arms, and emphatically tell her "it's the happiest place on earth!"
*** Edited 9/4/2006 3:23:47 AM UTC by Jeremy Sell*** *** Edited 9/4/2006 3:27:39 AM UTC by Jeremy Sell***

CP is definitely a place to go and forget about all the problems you leave at the gate when you go in. Plus I'm usually there when it's open from 10 am to 10 pm, it's amazing how fast 12 hours can go. Like a previous post said I hope heaven is Cedar Point.

What is there about CP that I dont like? Nothing at all.. food could be cheaper, but hey, its an amusement park, not the value menu at a fast food joint!

Im sort of an adrenaline junkie.. the bigger, faster, steeper, crazier, you name it-er.. I love it, and CP always seems to deliver!

The only part that sucks is how much my feet hurt at the end of the day when i have to leave..

There's /plenty/ of stuff about Cedar Point that I don't like. I'm not saying it's a horrible place, but there's a lot of stuff I'd love to see changed.

I think you'll find that some of the park's biggest fans are also its harshest critics.