Why do they keep lights on during the off season?

Why do they keep the lights on the midway on during the off season exactly? Kind of a waste of electricity.

Probably for the same reason that stores keep some lights on at night when they're closed... safety and security. Not to mention that there are still people at the park during this time of the year, and it gets dark early.

To keep the Boogie Man away!

Shhh... don't tell Al Gore.

Otherwise, we may be seeing a new 4D dark ride themed after "An Inconvenient Truth"... It would be solar and wind powered of course.

Maybe if we told Al Gore - We'd actually get wireless internet there throughout the park - after all he took credit for inventing the web! :0)

^Ha! That's great. I never get tired of Al Gore jokes. The greatest thing is that he used to be my neighbor. Everytime he opens his mouth its just an open invitation for someone to make fun of him! :)

Be Afraid.

*** Edited 11/14/2007 9:43:00 PM UTC by Josh M.***

Yikes... I may have nightmares about that picture haha. Though a solar-powered coaster would actually be pretty neat.....

Solar powered coaster?? NO!! How many times have we all complained about coasters shutting down in rain. Now they shut down for clouds too! ;)

The only thing you need power for is the lift, station, and solenoids that operate the breaks. And with all the sun the park gets, that could be easily achieved with enough solar panels, storage batteries, and/or back up power for the lines. The only thing is getting it converted, keeping it safe, and making sure they could switch back if need be.

Most solar systems act like backup generators do. They have a main, and backup system with an automatic transfer switch (ATS) so there's no interruption of power.

In the case of solar, the power comes from the batteries on a daily basis. If the batteries run out of power, the ATS automatically transfers the load to the electric company service.

The opposite happens with most backup systems. Main power comes from the electric company. When there's a power failure, the ATS switches power to the backup generator.

If done properly, there's no interruption in the actual power.

I asked the question why CP doesn't use any type of green power a while back and most people replied it would just be too expensive. That seems to be the reason why most things are a bad idea on here. If it costs any money, it's not worth doing - no matter what the benefits.

Not calling anyone out, because I have seen this numerous times on here, but just so everyone knows, there is a difference between "breaks" and "brakes."

Sorry to be asinine, but its a pet peeve.

^That list can go on and on. Example:

"Their our breaks on Millenium Force!!11!!"

If someone gets hurt walking around (even though it's illegal) they can sue Cedar Point.

they should have some windmills... being on the lake and all they can use the extra energy

Well looking at the cleveland cam,there are no lights on the main midway,i see lights on over by power tower midway,but just a few otherwise its completely black.
*** Edited 11/15/2007 1:58:37 AM UTC by brieeee***

All I say is so the "Small Planes" or the "Life Flights" won't hit the Coasters or the Thrill Rides during the night when it is dark or when the weather is bad.

^Are you serious?

ChrisC. said,

If someone gets hurt walking around (even though it's illegal) they can sue Cedar Point.

So, you are saying that someone would be stupid enough to sneak into Cedar Point during the offseason and at night, and then try to sue the park because they fell down because it was too dark to see? I know there are some frivolous lawsuits out there, but I doubt this has even crossed the minds of CP management.
*** Edited 11/19/2007 3:56:53 PM UTC by Tennessee_CP_Fan***

Actually, even though it feels windy to you and me, CP's actual wind is near, but not quite, up to the preferred avg. wind speed of at least 9.0 to justify the cost of a windmill.

See a wind map here:

http://www.ohiowind.org/pdfs/Ohio_wind_map_windpower4_1_2_100m1.pdf

That said, the Lake is certainly a great place for it, just further out. There's a lot of data that is showing much of Ohio could benefit from these.