Valleyfair Metal Detectors

When I got the park on the 15th they had tables and people with metal detectors checking people going in to the park. Are they doing this at CP and the rest of CF chain of park?

Must be new, I don't remember them when I was there in July.

Perhaps it's in response to issues they had a couple of years ago in the fall.

I might be wrong about this, but didn't Kings Dominion REMOVE their metal detectors not too long ago? Seems odd that they are installing them in another park after just removing some in another park. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think it is a bad idea in any park. The checking of bags and the metal detectors really probably wouldn't prevent MUCH from happening, but if it prevents one less incident a day or even a week, it is not a bad thing...although it is a pain in the arse.

Seems like the parks are empowered to make decisions that work for them. If Valleyfair has security concerns and other parks don't, I don't see why they would all have to have the same procedures.

Oh, I don't know...I see your point, but I would think a blanket security policy across all Cedar Fair parks would make sense.

Why?

I'm ok with the bag checks as it prevents someone from just stuffing a gun in their bag and walking in but the metal detectors don't do anything. When I go to Kings Island (I think they've since removed them) it doesn't even look like they're on.

At Dorney for the first few years of Haunt they were using metal detectors after Haunt started which seemed stupid to me because if someone entered the park before 5:00 and stayed all day for Haunt, they wouldn't have been checked with the metal detectors. They were the handheld type which took forever compared to Great Adventure where it just takes a few seconds to walk through them. The last year or two they stopped using them all together.

Kings Island had a few random days where they did metal detectors and bag searches.

I can confirm that Valleyfair will be using metal detectors for the rest of the season as a response to what has happened in the recent months in Colorado and other areas around the country as well as from past years at Valleyfair during Haunt. The new policy just started on the 15th. It was the first day. I work at Steel Venom and we didn't find out they started doing it until after park close we were talking to other staff that were getting asked about it.

Odd that it would be at Valleyfair! of all places...

And here I thought there was some clause in the Minnesota CCW law that actually prohibited the use of this kind of search. But then that was some years ago...and/or my "source" was incorrect about that...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

RideMan said:

Odd that it would be at Valleyfair! of all places...

And here I thought there was some clause in the Minnesota CCW law that actually prohibited the use of this kind of search. But then that was some years ago...and/or my "source" was incorrect about that...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

That would be incorrect since they have done this at Vikings games at Mall of America Field for years and at Target Field for Twins games they do bag searches but no metal detectors. From what I heard we are the first park to start doing the metal detectors this year but at our sister parks they will also deploy this when Haunt starts officially. We did it this weekend as more of a "dress rehearsal" for the staff.

At least the detectors will deter the criminals and not only those who have their PTC(permit to carry, in MN there is no concealed law, with a PTC you can carry open or concealed.). I laugh when I see the "This premises bans guns..." signs at VF and other places here in MN. I'm sure criminals obey them.

Alan J said:
our sister parks they will also deploy this when Haunt starts officially.

Halloweekends started this past weekend at Cedar Point. I was there yesterday and saw nothing. Also, there is no word on PointBuzz. Which I'm sure would be talking about it extensively if it were going on.

I do not believe Cedar Point would install metal detectors based on the number of entrances to the park alone not to mention the many ungated areas (lighthouse point, challenge park, etc) make it hard to justify.

They are not installing metal detectors they are using hand held metal detectors which can be deployed very easily. All we were told is that the sister parks will be doing it like we are. If they are not then they obviously have not started yet or decided that they will not participate in the measure.

If there is anything we've learned in 2012 about Cedar Fair, it's that this season the GMs have a lot more authority to operate their parks as they see fit. Accordingly, I think you will see the GMs make the decision independently for each park, as appropriate for each market.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Which is exactly how you would want to run a business. If a different park in a different region of the country does not feel the need for additional security measures, then there is no reason to do it.

I agree. The general managers should be able to manager their own parks and not get micromanaged by corporate for everything in the park. Valleyfair has changed a lot this year thanks to our new GM. I love the changes. Plus he isn't afraid to spend money to improve the park and its operations. So far with he metal detecting we have not received many complains about it. People are pretty happy we have stepped up security and have not let the teenagers run the park.