Cedar Point (CP) Discussion Thread

[gforce532]

^And is a good break from the sun.

 

I agree that next year's project should be a GCI or at least a woodie.

[deathbydinn]

Screamscapes latest rumor is that it will be an Intamin prototype coaster. Screamscape is also saying that Cedar Fair is looking to build more wood coasters now.

[Zingoman]

I didn't see this posted anywhere else, but there was a fire at CP last night. The main maintenance building burned. I can only wonder what this will do to operations. Isn't this the first significant fire in the park's history?

 

http://www.fox59.com/news/sns-ap-oh--cedarpoint-fire,0,7881699.story

[G$ Kurt]

I'm sure it was Intamins Fault

[alpengeist04]

Screamscapes latest rumor is that it will be an Intamin prototype coaster.

 

With all these rumors, Intamin is definitely going to busy this coming year. ...BGT, Hershey, and now Cedar Point. If all are true, I definitely won't be complaining.

[CPmaverick]

I didn't see this posted anywhere else, but there was a fire at CP last night. The main maintenance building burned. I can only wonder what this will do to operations. Isn't this the first significant fire in the park's history?

I posted it a page back.

 

 

Here's an update:

SANDUSKY

 

Three firefighters were hospitalized late Tuesday after battling a fire at a Cedar Point maintenance and storage facility.

 

Two firefighters — one from Cedar Point, one from Margaretta — suffered heat exhaustion, while a Sandusky firefighter suffered unknown injuries after falling from a ladder posted against the outside of the burning building.

 

All three men were taken by ambulance to Firelands Regional Medical Center for treatment. The Cedar Point firefighter who suffered heat exhaustion was treated and released by 11:30 p.m., while the other two remained hospitalized.

 

The blaze broke out on the second floor of the building shortly before 9 p.m. The building is located in an employees-only area behind the Corkscrew and Power Tower.

 

Inside the building was office supplies and furniture, as well as plumbing and electrical equipment.

 

The fire started near a stairwell between the plumbing and electrical shops, said Sandusky assistant fire Chief Paul Ricci.

 

Cedar Point firefighters were notified of the blaze at about 8:40 p.m., park spokesman Bryan Edwards said.

 

Park personnel then called in Sandusky firefighters, who were later assisted by crews from Perkins and Margaretta townships and the city of Huron.

 

The building was engulfed in flames by the time Ricci arrived on scene at about 9 p.m.

 

Cedar Point firefighters were already fighting the blaze when other firefighters arrived, but it only grew in ferocity.

 

At the fire’s peak, upwards of 40 firefighters were on scene, Ricci said.

 

While crews trained multiple hoses on the structure, park visitors remained largely unaffected. Workers only shut down three rides — Power Tower, Corkscrew and Super Himalaya — because the rides were so close to the burning building.

 

Firefighters extinguished the brunt of the blaze within an hour and a half, Ricci said.

 

While investigators are still trying to figure out what sparked the fire, the building remains virtually a total loss, Ricci said.

 

Edwards and emergency crews did not immediately have a cost estimate on damages.

 

The building is a 5,000-square-foot, two-story structure made of block and steel.

 

“The fire department did a great job, especially with the temperature outside,” Edwards said. “Those guys absolutely need to be commended.”

 

When the fire broke out, temperatures were in the low 80s.

 

To his knowledge, employees were not in the building when the fire started, Edwards said.

 

“The positive news is no guests or employees were in any danger at any time,” he said. “Three rides were shut down as a precaution.”

 

All three rides will be open Wednesday and the park will continue to operate without disruption, Edwards said.

 

Park visitors seemed, for the most part, unaware of the fire. They continued to ride the Top Thrill Dragster, while many crowded into the midway to watch the evening’s fireworks show.

 

Scott Roush, 39, of Lexington, was one of a few visitors leaning by the fence near the Power Tower as fire crews worked behind the hedge line.

 

“We were fishing down at the pier when we saw the fire trucks coming by,” Roush said.

 

His family has season passes to Cedar Point, so they decided to enter the park to see what was happening.

 

Roush said the fire wouldn’t disrupt his visits to the park — he was just curious about the commotion.

 

Other visitors craned their necks to get a glimpse of the fire as they stepped over hoses snaking through the midway near Top Thrill Dragster.

 

Cedar Point staff hovered over the fire hose, making sure visitors didn’t trip over it in the darkness.

 

Early Wednesday, a handful of firefighters were still on scene. Crews also called in a Sandusky police detective.

 

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/sandusky/2010/jul/07/three-firefighters-injured-cedar-point-blaze

[cprocks22]

Can someone please correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Kinzel say in the early press release that theres thrill rides other then roller coasters or something to that extent? I know he could easily be trying trying to throw everyone off (and I agree a mid august announcement does seem early) but still.

[CPmaverick]

^You are correct. He probably did that to get everyone talking about the new ride more, and it's working.

[braztaz]

Yikes about the fire, glad everyone's okay.

[OKSIRYDOC]

DragsterCam on the Fire anyone? Was it visible or?

[braztaz]

DragsterCam on the Fire anyone? Was it visible or?

 

I think it was posted a few pages back.

 

Oh yes, I would express how excited I am for my first ever trip to Cedar Point, but I don't want to come off as annoying...you'd see lots of caps and exclamation points

[chadster]

^^or replacing Mean Streak, actually, I would just like to see them retrack MS and put some decent trains on it.

 

Does mean streak even have that exciting of a layout compared to the newer wooden coasters?

 

If compared to El Toro or Prowler, no, but, I think it could hold it's own if it were just more enjoyable in the comfort department. Heck, thick padded seats would do wonders.

[griffonj2022]

Well, I just got around to the time to finally post a review of everything, seeing as I went out to the Point for the holiday weekend. We got three days at the park with very low crowds (except on the 4th!) and great weather, albeit some heat on the 5th. Since I'm only doing my Shoot the Rapids review now, later I will rate each coaster out of 10, state the wait time, and my opinions on the ride.

 

That fire is such a shame, seeing as that building was a main one for CP. I wonder if they'll rebuild it on the same site again or leave it for ride land and have it built off the CP peninsula? Hmm...just a thought.

 

Oh, and Mean Streak is a great ride, but while on my trip I just figured out where you have to ride it to not feel like your lungs are collapsing or your back is being crushed. It was very painful my 2nd and 3rd times on the ride but my 1st I was very happy! Seems like they're is a good spot to ride it on each train that not many people know about?

 

Shoot the Rapids - Walking into the Frontier Trail I always think back to what Cedar Point looked like before all of the mammoth coasters and extreme thrill rides. Passing by Fort Sandusky and all of the old buildings gives me that sense of history throughout the park compared to the inaugural 10th year of Millennium Force ( ) and the building of yet another ride.

 

Passing by Millennium Force's 310ft. tower and the huge arched turnaround, Thunder Rapids is hidden off to the left in the wooded area where no one really goes. Off to the far right, we see Snake River Falls sporting it's new, fresh coat of paint, making it look brand new this season. And in between, we find this open area of buildings and lockers, along with a new Trex decking area for viewing of riders plunging into the jets and rapids below. They seem to be soaked, and Shoot the Rapids looks like the perfect addition for the park, and the section that it's in.

 

Walking into the new area we pass by the on-ride photo and gift shop, along with a 'Famiily Dryer' and lockers for storage. All of these buildings and huts seem to seamlessly blend in with the Frontier Trail and the newly constructed ride. We continue on past all of this and dispose of our shoes outside the entrance with many other sneakers and sandals. Next, we enter under the misted entryway with the ride's name, "Shoot the Rapids", and slogan, "This river runs wild!", written on a paddle. I have to admit, this logo is one of the best I have ever seen, seeing as it's mounted onto a mini water tower, and how realistic it looks.

 

Walking through a 5 minute queue before crossing the train tracks, the wait was only a maximum 15 minutes. It went by fast, seeing as we all watched the boats slide down the final drop into the 'rapids' and shoot gallons of white water into the air. All 7 of us would easily fill a boat, along with another single rider who was one of the first riders on Diamondback at Kings Island, shown on his shirt (Missed the chance to talk to him ). The ride attendant at the front assigned us to our rows, with me being in the 4th row alongside my mom, who was terrified to ride. After the boat departed and a new one came in, we boarded the comfortable Intamin boats, pulled down on the comfy, but very tiny handlebar, and waited. After a quick seat check, we were off.

 

Floating underneath the final drop and slowly into the misty tunnel, we were just meandering our way along in a somewhat misted tunnel. After passing windows on our left, the tunnel becomes immediately misty, seeing as we couldn't see the seats in front of us. This disorients you, and after a few seconds you slowly come out into the sunlight. Passing by the rapids and rockwork on the right, we floated along up to the first lift, seeing old advertisements for companies and goods. This adds onto the story of the ride, seeing as we, the riders, are being given a tour of the rapids and nearby island while familes and people along Cedar Creek are fighting and feuding. The boat slowly comes upon the lift, and up we go.

 

The lift lasts about 20 seconds, and at the 85 ft. apex the boat flattens out, only to quickly drop down over 80 ft. plunge to Millennium Island. The drop keeps you comfortably in your seat, along with enough length to give you the perfect sense of "This is a big drop". The on-ride photo snaps your picture as you're falling down the plunge, and you soon level out onto Millennium Islands new water pool. After skidding along the water's surface, the boat drops into the water, sending white water into the air and onto all the riders. The front row gets a heavy dose of water as a wave rises and falls onto their laps, and everyone else gets a raining of water onto their heads.

 

Continuing on the route along the island, we pass my Millennium Force's overbanked turn, seeing signs stating "Turn back, ruf water ahead!" and "Turn back, keep out!" The boat floats along rickety fences and rock work, arriving to waterfalls the rain on the boat and all of the passengers. My mother next to me got a heavy sprinkling underneath one of the falls, and I got a light sprinkling under another. I expected the falls to be much more drenching, but they seemed perfect otherwise, seeing as we were already wet from Thunder Canyon before.

 

Leaving the rockwork behind we come up to the second and final lift, along with passing by a themed house and geysers. The geysers shoot off on our right, and we passed by yet another sign stating "No trespassin'! Violators will be shot! Survivors will be shot again!" I couldn't help but laugh at that as we ascended the final lift near Millennium Force's two airtime hills behind us. The lift lasts about 10-15 seconds, and at the top we level out again. A quick little slip down this smooth hill finds us sliding in between rockwork and 'rapids', soaking every row. Jets from the side shoot out at the boat, along with it immediatly hitting the water, surrounding us in the white water we have become so familiar with. The water rains down on all of the boat, and the front gets yet another familiar wave on their laps.

 

After meandering along in the river, the boat arrives back at the station. The passengers disembark, along with all the water that came with them draining out of the boat. We cross over a bridge over the ride, and cross the train tracks a final time, arriving at the on-ride photo shop. Seeing that the picture seemlessly fit our whole group, I couldn't resist buying it. Out of 7 of us, 6 had smiles and screams with hands up, and my mother was screaming for dear life with the death grip on both handlebars. After ordering it, the picture was done in under 30 seconds. Quite fast! We all went back and got our shoes, put them on, and headed back to the hotel for some much needed dry clothes.

 

Overall, the ride was the perfect addition to the park, seeing as Maverick replaced the old log flume, and the Frontier Trail was in need of a new ride to attract people to the area. I had no negative comments on the ride, but my only concern was the boats, seeing as the 5th row was unable for passengers to ride in. Over time, I think CP will have this issue sorted out, and Shoot the Rapids will be at it's full potential soon enought. Great ride!

 

I'll post my roller coaster reviews later when I get the chance...any comments feel free. Thanks!

[phantomfan93]

^^It may not have the exciting layouts of today's wooden coaster, but I really like the layout of MS. It think its a fun design even though its rough as heck.

[OKSIRYDOC]

Wow Griffon that was a pretty good review. I liked the context of it all, you seem to be a good writer, and you like the term "white water." You used it quite a few times.

[griffonj2022]

^Thanks. I do go back and read them and see how I basically state the same thing over and over sometimes. My coaster reviews will come later today or tomorrow when I can get a chance to write them all out.

[rckrazy06]

On the topic of Mean Streak, I also agree that the layout is very fun, but the ride is just painful and almost unbearable these days. Depending on the reviews of the Texas Giant rehab, CP definitely should jump on the opportunity to do the same if the get the option to do so. I just don't understand how they can let a ride be so miserable for so long and not even make any honest attempts to fix it. And honestly if the ride gets torn down I don't think many people will be to dissapointed as I doubt the ride itself has much sentimental or historic meaning at all. Just my two cents.

[braztaz]

On the topic of Mean Streak, I also agree that the layout is very fun, but the ride is just painful and almost unbearable these days. Depending on the reviews of the Texas Giant rehab, CP definitely should jump on the opportunity to do the same if the get the option to do so. I just don't understand how they can let a ride be so miserable for so long and not even make any honest attempts to fix it. And honestly if the ride gets torn down I don't think many people will be to dissapointed as I doubt the ride itself has much sentimental or historic meaning at all. Just my two cents.

 

Yeah, I agree with you.

 

What would be more expensive? Tearing the whole thing down or just tearing a little bit and redoing it?

[rcg19]

Deleted by user

Edited December 29, 2010 by rcg19

[Pingu1651]

^ Plus, Mean Streak is freaking huge. You could probably fit a coaster AND some flats in the space its footprint takes up. Still, I <3 MS.

 

Anyone else here have any good Mean Streak rides lately?

[rcg19]

Deleted by user

Edited December 29, 2010 by rcg19

[coasterfreak101]

I've never had a problem with Mean Streak...I think I'm just pretty immune to the roughness of woodies. Aside from Hurricane down at Myrtle Beach, I've never had a problem with the notoriously rough rides. Mean Streak really isn't that bad to me!

[Vffreak07]

On a semi-side note, does anyone know what each color means as far as spray paint markings? I feel like I saw a key where each color stood for something, but I cannot find it after searching for a heckofa long time now.

[atem122]

^Scroll down on this page, and you'll find it.

[dragonskeep]

I love the idea of Cedar Point building a new Cyclone. It really would be awesome to do a modern classsic type woodie and a boardwalk area. I am fairly positive at this point it will be a beachside woodie at least.