The end of Paddlewheel at Cedar Point

"In tonight's performance, the part of Capt. Joseph Hazelwood will be played by Dick Kinzel." ;)

Silly casting directors...

I'm with Vater. Someone needs to film this. It could be really interesting. I'd say my hijacking idea from a few pages page just went up a notch. ;)

I've filled out a comment form on CP's official site aswell as commenting on their Facebook. I hope EVERYONE complains about this now! Maybee, just maybee it's not too late...

Didn't SFGam save the Whizzer over a public outcry after the announcement of it's removal?

If only people would put this much effort into things that really matter in the world... :\

Not saying that this doesn't suck, but in the grand scheme of things, it really isn't life changing.

Not only is it not life changing, it is too late.

You're right. It absolutely is. It's sad, but it happens.

Cedar Point had a Paddlewheel? Huh.

People DO put effort into more important things, Josh. I mean, can't fans of a ride try to save it from destruction AND help to raise money for a big charity, for example? I sure can spread my passion for things out a little, and go for more than one cause in a particular year.

I am very interested in hearing why it's too late. What about the situation do I not know? Are scenes already being taken out?

I am very sad about this. You guys have no idea.

This could sound like I'm being combative (or toxic... ;) ) and I don't mean for it to, but... what is your expectation really? Do you think Paddlewheel should continue on forever? Isn't it reasonable that this ride will eventually need to be removed?

I just don't understand the extreme emotional attachment to a former job you've had. (And by extreme I am referring to the comparison of the ride removal to the loss of a loved one. That will always rub me the wrong way, I'm afraid.)

I appreciate the first job I had as a grocery store clerk. I even have some fond memories of it. But I didn't feel a lick of sadness when the key entry cash register was removed for a scanner. :)

You are not being "toxic" at all, Carrie. You just don't understand. :)

Working on that ride wasn't just a job. I mean it was, but, well...

It was a performance. I spent many hours perfecting my spiel, changing it all the time. I added many of my own jokes to the ride, some that can probably still be heard to this day (well, for a few more days, anyways).

I met many good friends on the ride, both fellow employees and riders, some of which I am still good friends with today. I even met Jeff and Josh in person on the ride (although Jeff will probably not remember or think I am now a stalker for mentioning it lol).

I can only think of one other job in my life that I have so many great memories about, and that I have made as many lifelong friends from. Driving the paddle boat was nothing like working a regular job.

I spend so much time there, the animatronic characters became like friends. Each boat has their own names and their own personalities, because of the way they run. Ask anyone else who worked on this ride; we called the boats "she" and not "it".

Paddlewheel Captains were the "rock stars" of the park (especially when we had the white uniforms.) Everyone knew that we had the coolest job in the park, and that they probably weren't talented enough to do it.

Maybe part of it is that it used to identify who I was for a short period of time (a Paddlewheel Captain). My nickname was Captain Travis for a very long time after I worked there, and some people who were there still call me that.

Maybe that will help you to understand why seeing this ride close forever is so painful for me. Maybe not. I do know that a lot of other people who worked on this ride feel exactly the same way that I do, so it doesn't really matter to me if you understand or not. :)

LostKause said: I do know that a lot of other people who worked on this ride feel exactly the same way that I do, so it doesn't really matter to me if you understand or not. :)

LOL!! Well I guess you told me.

I am relieved to hear, however, that you were able to glean so much fondness and positive identity from an employment experience where the company treated you so poorly and sucked your sense of self away, as you've indicated in the past.

I wasn't being toxic there Carrie. You know I like you.

And your observation is correct. I feel very fond of the ride, and very "unfond" of the company that I worked for.

Carrie: So you can't simultaneously be nostalgic for an amusement park you once worked at and despise the bosses and working conditions they enforced when you were at the place? Hmmm. Your logic, please?

Edit: Krause slipped in there between us. Damn you, Krause!

I squishing your head, Mike. I'm squishing your head. >

You're stronger than you think... ;)

I am very interested in hearing why it's too late.

Because it's coming out. It's demise has been announced. They are taking the bids for the last ride. The replacement has been announced, and they are going to need space occupied by the boats.

I mean, *technically* they haven't set the boats and props on fire yet, so in some sense "it's not too late." But, after Monday, it's gone. Poof. Kaput. C-Ya.

I'll miss it. It was fun. I also understand why Captains have a relationship with this ride that most operators simply do not have. But, it's already a sad shadow of the "real" Paddlewheel. It's lived a long and full life. It is now time to usher it on, "across the river" as it were, to the next phase of its Grand Journey. Let us celebrate its many accomplishments rather than mourn its passing! Pass the whiskey!

Pass the whiskey? I didn't know Paddlewheel was Irish.

I am. Irish enough, anyway. Plus, it's Friday.

Now I'm going to have to make a short post using the word "wake". ;)

Mike, I think you can totally be nostalgic for an amusement park you once worked at and at the same time despise the bosses and working conditions they enforced when you were there. I am just questioning Travis' expressive use of self-identity in both cases.

In the past he has expressed CP management's ability to squash his identity and sense of self via their policies and culture and yet here he explains that he identified himself positively in his work as a rock star doing his job as Captain. I reckon it was a very confusing time for him, identity-wise. That's all I'm saying. My attempt to be clever fell short.

But your overall point is well taken. People can feel whatever they want to feel. They need no explanation or justification.

The way I've been feeling lately around here, for example, has me thinking it's likely time to move on for good.