What exactly is Paddlewheel Excursions?

Old Timer Tim may have to correct me some here.

The boats on the Western Cruise traveled in the opposite direction from what they do now. (Although I believe at one time, long, long, long ago, they traveled in the same direction. Old maps seam to bear this out--check out Walt's Virtual Midway page.)

Early scenes took you past the elk inviting the cougar to dinner (that's been moved, I believe); a few folks in what became Seville were "working on that same log for 7 years now," and Bucky the Beaver was chopping down the tree. ("Don't bother to turn around folks; that tree won't go back up until we turn the corner.")

As you made the turn by the first railroad trestle (Snake River Falls), Spot the Bear was standing on the right corner (he'd been in that same spot for 7 years). "Buckskin Sam," or whatever his name is, was on the _right_ side of the boat (opposite direction), and warned you of hostile Indians ahead. You passed the cabin with the skunk making the guy's knees wobble. (This cabin is directly across from where the old Frontier Lift ended in the Frontier Town station.)

The tableau of which Joe speaks in the previous post was at the "second" railroad trestle (Camp Snoopy), where the Mine Ride is. At that point, Indians were on both sides of the boat, shooting at you, with cannonballs "landing" in the water in a big splash. (Sometimes the Captain would get the boat close enough to the water jets that you'd get a little wet.) On the left side, by the Mine Ride, was the sunken Western Cruise boat on fire. Cool, cool. As the captain swiftly turned the boat 'round the corner (headed toward where the Paddlewheel Excursions dock is today), he warned you with the still-used joke that those were only wooden Indians shooting wooden bullets so they wooden' hurt.

I don't remember what was where the photographer's shed (now defunct) stands. I believe at about the point of the "dry dock" (Chaos) was a "peaceful" Indian village with a tepee and an Indian maiden hanging some laundry.

You went by one more "violent" tableu with some folks shooting at a straw cabin, which was on fire. The joke was about a "house warming" party. If you've been following, that cabin was on the left side of the boat, just behind the Nacho stand on the Gemini midway. In fact, I *believe* that the cabin is still there, although it's fallen in and hidden by the trees. Walk around between the Dippin Dots stand and the Nacho stand, and take a look--I think you'll see it.

Then, you came to the clearing where on your left is what is now the Power Tower midway, with the benches and hanging plants, and the joke was "Quick: look to your left folks, REAL PEOPLE!"

Straight ahead, by the corkscrew's loop over the lagoon, was the Cedar Point lighthouse. On the right, you saw a tableu of a Western fort, with an American flag being raised and an army officer promptly saluting it and sticking his finger in his eye. It marked the end of your cruise and your return to "civilization." (My apologies: political correctness wasn't in vogue back then.)

This was where the Cruise was the most fun--especially to watch. It was a _very_ sharp turn around the corner of the island back to the old dock (near the Iron Dragon station). Any boats that were not being used at that time were docked next to the Frontier Lift station. I don't remember a single captain who was able to take that sharp turn without having to throw it into reverse a couple of times. It was especially fun to watch on busy days, as the boats would "stack" to dock up, if the boat at the station hadn't filled to leave yet.

This is where you could sit at the Paddlewheel Cafe (Coasters) and watch those daring captains navigate that turn.

I'm sorry; I'm sure I've missed something or messed something up. This was a favorite ride in my childhood (born in 1970), and it's what I miss most about the "old" Cedar Point. There were so many trees and you could _never_ see "through" the island. I so wanted to work that ride when I grew up. But then--the Tin Lizard took it all away. You really did get away from the chaos of the Point, and it was peaceful. The only time you saw signs of civilization were when you passed the trestle and the Mine Ride.

Don't get me wrong--I'll take a ride on MF any day, but this is a very fond memory. Sorry for the length of my post and for any spelling/grammar errors I didn't catch.

Awesome report Western Cruiser! You brought back alot a great memories for me. I wonder how long paddlewheel excursions will last?

"Better turn back, my friend, if you want to keep your hair on. Them Injuns are on the warpath, and they're bad, bad medicine!" Now what was the old trader/trapper's name? Much better in the Western Cruise days than the current "The price of fur is real good..." of Buck Skinner.
-------------
Photographic philosophy:If it moves at CP-take 1 picture. Not moving-take 3-4 pics minimum!

I remember riding this in the 70's. Scared the crap out of me. I guess that's what happens when your six. I had forgotten about the sunken cruise boat. My parents liked to ride it a ton. It was alot louder then than it is now. I would try to get on the floor when the 'shots' where fired. I would beg not to ride it.

My kids think it's ok. The youngest thinks it cool and the oldest would rather be riding a coaster. It's still worth the ride.

-------------
Get with it or die in the process.....

OH WOW...Memories...light the corners of my mind...

To add to Western Cruiser's post...The boats did run in clockwise direction around the full island.
Additional "highlights" of your cruise...the Father Bear and baby bear(if you look really close at the baby bear you too can see his paw) (on the left side). Charlie the Cougar..(on loan from Lincoln Mercury...who did absolutely nothing)(on the right)...The Mother Deer and Fawn on the left across from Bucky....
Once you get past the "battle scene" you went past the three miners drinking kool aid, because everyone knows Minors can't drink in the state of Ohio....
And now the best...on the right across from the Indian village you past "Trapper Dan". Carousel Man has given a fair translation of his speech but it really sounded more like...JBETVPVSDVER TURN BAKCYST)T MYEW DFRIEND...If you are a fan of the movie "Blazin'Saddles" you would swear that Gabby Johnson was Trapper Dan..( a fine example of Frontier Jibberish)

Also, don't forget the wolf on the rock who howls...and could be heard howling through the night as you walked back from the rec center (located where Beakers East is today)

As Western Cruiser said once you hit the corkscrew midway you then saw the CP lighthouse, the flag raising and all and you new you were back to present day.

The turn discussed was "difficult" the first few times but as a captain you learned head left and then whip it around the corner..it was harder when the boats stacked up as you had no control over the boat floating left to right...this was when it was possible to prove to peolpe the boats were not on tracks.

I don't ever recall the boats going counter clockwise in the ealry days...I do remember the boats went all the way down down to the lighthouse and turned there with the lighthouse on the right side of the boat.

Wow, now I'll have to go write out the spiel that went with all of that...It really was a fun ride and a great way to spend a summer.

Thanks for the additional memories, Old Timer Tim. If you write out that spiel, I'd be interested. (If you were joking, that's fine, too.)

I can tell you one thing I distinctly remember about the lighthouse: for quite a while, it stood on the corner of the island as you turned back to the dock (it was on the right of the boat). Later on, they moved the lightouse to a "rocky outcropping" by the Corkscrew (where the Iron Dragon hugs the water today). I think that may have been to improve visibility around the tip of the island--or maybe even so they could shave a few feet off that tight turn. *** This post was edited by Western Cruiser on 11/14/2000. ***

Oh the memories, I really do miss the CP of the early 70's. Frontier town was almost like a seperate park with just the Frontier Trail, lift and Train connecting it to the main midway. I loved to ride the boat over and over with my grandma, then take grampa on the old water ride in Frontier town and we would sit in such a way to make sure that he would always get the wetest. he never figured that out.

Then corkscrew and Gemini changed it all, They were great memories but I would change it back.