Big Dipper to Cedar Point?

I just got a press release / fax from Richard Munch, Historian, of ACE (I am an Assignment Editor with the CBS affiliate in Columbus). He says that an announcement coming today will announce that the Big Dipper will be relocated to Cedar Point. There was originally a press event scheduled for today, but now it will come as a simple press release. This sounds absolutely nuts. Anyone heard of him?

Heard of Richard Munch? Absolutely. He is a founding member of ACE and has been active in the enthusiast community for more than thirty years... even before there was an enthusiast community.

I guess we'll see what happens today ;)

Later in the release it mentions tomorrow... I thought the name sounded familiar!

This just seems too... strange... to believe. Now the question: Where the heck would they put it?

Duh, they bought GL and closed it so CP could have the Dipper all for themselves!

I thought it was because the Big Dipper stole all of CP's attention and competed with the Blue Streak. The couldn't stand something challenging their "Crown Jewel" ;)

This does seem pretty odd. Is it perhaps that the Dipper train(s) is/are heading to the Cedar Point museum?

I would think they'd see what the auction might bring, first, but what do I know?

Richard Munch.

*chuckle*

Ok, I'm a 12-year-old on the inside. :)

You know what would be pretty funny? What if someone like the Kalahari bought the Dipper at auction and assembled on their property?

Per Bryan Edwards, there is *no* truth to this statement.

^^That would be funny. But, dipper's sale is subject to "seller's approval."

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=86468 *** Edited 4/23/2008 2:50:40 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

Too bad Cedar Point ran out of room to build new coasters around 1998.

I'm sure this isn't a reality but it did get me dreaming for a minute. Like 'em or not ACE is probably going to be around forever. I know they have been interested in building a museum and what better place to have one than in Sandusky...or even at the Point?

Now, if they ARE concerned about the perception they have left in NE Ohio after closing Geauga Lake, saving the historical coaster might be one way to placate those folks...and pull them over to Sandusky as well.

To take it a step further...what if Cedar Point allowed ACE to build their museum on the vacant patch of land at the tip of the causeway (parking lot end)? Then, the coaster could start there...head down the edge of the marina, turn around and head back. Perhaps the museum could operate as a joint venture with CP staffing and running it in the summer and shoulder seasons (new place to process those Season Passes) and ACE running it during the winter on weekends...or something along those lines?

Yes, I know...it is all very far fetched. But, I'm an "outside the box" kind of thinker. *** Edited 4/23/2008 3:05:35 PM UTC by wahoo skipper***

I would be shocked if this were true, additionally if it were true I highly doubt we'd see Dipper run as it had at GL. Heck I would even venture to say that they'd grab the Gerstlauer trains sitting at KI to run on Big Dipper.

I'm sorry, I just don't see this happening, but I would be very very happy to be proven wrong on this one.

~Rob Willi

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wahoo skipper said:Now, if they ARE concerned about the perception they have left in NE Ohio after closing Geauga Lake, saving the historical coaster might be one way to placate those folks...and pull them over to Sandusky as well.

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That's twice today, wahoo. Are you auditioning to play me in the movie? ;)

Seriously, it's the unlikeliest of possibilities. I can see where it would go a long way in smoothing out alot of ruffled feathers in NE Ohio. Probably not enough of them to make it a viable business decision though... :(
*** Edited 4/23/2008 3:20:56 PM UTC by rollergator***

Not holding my breath on this one but I can't lie that I think it would be cool.

I think Wahoo grossly overestimates how much Cedar Fair cares about ACE. ;)

^LOL, that would be pretty hard to underestimate... ;)

How about this idea: line it up next to Blue Streak, race them, and change the names to Big Streak and Blue Dipper! :)

*** Edited 4/23/2008 3:29:51 PM UTC by rollergator***

I'm no big ACE supporter by any stretch. I think there are times when their actions are actually bad for the coaster loving community and the industry in general.

But, I can't think of anywhere else that makes sense to have a roller coaster museum than in the same town as the second oldest amusement park in the country and where there also happens to be located a Merry-Go-Round museum.

Again, I'm a dreamer. In fact, I would say the industry that we all enjoy needs MORE dreamers.

^More dreamers? Amen to that.

That being said, I think the chances of this actually happening are minuscule.