What Happened to the

Cedar point of my youth?

After reading through a little bit of history and seeing how many things have been taken out or changed since I last went to the park I am curoius where the Cedar point of my youth went.

I'm not saying that the dolphin show or the Theater were top of my list for stops during the day but they were a nice break to relax and watch the Dolphins or The Films where it felt like you were flying right off a cliff. The Dodgem1 was a great place to stop when you just wanted to be silly. Man there are so many things that are gone or changed it makes me feel kinda old. I am kinda surprised how getting older makes you nostolgic for the things you never really appriciated.

It is kinda hard to imagine going into the Goom Times Theater to see a show with a bunch of people in costumes and not think about the magic shows and the like right before you went into that Cinema.

Further proof that you can't please everyone ...

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"As soon as you design something that's idiot-proof, the world will go and design a better idiot."
--Brett

I'm sure all the changes are great it just seems so different from when I was younger.

That's generally what happens over the years. I'm only 21 and the changes to Kennywood are drastic from what I remember when I was 6. That's the way the world works man. You sound like you'd fit right in as a Pittsburgher ;)

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"As soon as you design something that's idiot-proof, the world will go and design a better idiot."
--Brett

well my dadas entire family is from PA( WayneBoro and Johnstown Mostly) and I'm a Steelers Fan so it would makes sense. I still think having a stadium named after Ketchup is silly. Seriously though I'm 33 and I didn't get a chance to appriciate the things that are now missing. Living in Fl there are a lot of great places to go down here but no place will ever be as good as The Point for me.

Just look at the way I address Cedar point it's from an old advertising campaign where it Said Get to The Point. It was a great campaign as many Ohioans can tell you because they do the same thing.

Imagine those of us who have been going to CP since the 1960's

Except for a few of the smaller coasters (Scamper, Jumbo Jet), CP has not removed any coasters, but has added many that were initial record breakers. What has suffered most appears to be their flat and dark rides, the rides that were predominant in the late 60's and were likely becoming maintenance nightmares.

But these days, kids want the thrills. Some of those old, corny rides just aren't as popular anymore.
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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

That's true I was completely shocked to see that Earthquake and Pirate ride were both gone. I remeber the Rotor and many other rides that are on the list of rides now gone. Of course I also remember when the Characters for The Point were nothing more than littleguys that held the "You Must Be This Tall" polls outside of the Coasters. I can't remember a Summer that I didn't go to The point until after I left for the Navy in 1988. Man sometimes I forget just how long it's been one time in 15 years is not nearly enough.

Just remember I'm comin home so everybody watch out if you see a really happy guy looking completely confused and trying to figure out where he is come August 10th or so It's just me point me to the Next coaster and I'll be on my way.

CP has went in the direction of sensationalism (biggest, fastest, most) and became a coaster park. Its very successful in doing this. But it's went away from the direction of being a family park. While they do have little kids sections, they don't have a lot of milder rides that everyone can enjoy together anymore. Its the result of a decision to target the extreme audience instead of the family audience.

If you want to get sad, you should have seen the Paramount Parks back in the early 80's. They had a lot of magic then. But at all of the parks, the great theming of each area and way too many flat rides have been removed. They have decided to promote their non-timeless movies and the nickelodeon characters instead. What they have ended up being is a huge hodge-podge of everything jumbled together instead of the distinct theme parks they started out to be.

Although they do target less of an extreme audience that CP, they still are not totally family oriented as there are very few things thrill seekers and non-thrill seekers can do together (1 dark ride at each park, the trains and monorails have been removed at all parks but KI, limited shows). Although they are starting to reverse all the damage that was done by the massive flat ride removal of the last 10 years.

I remember when KI had a lot of Hanna Barbarra stuff and it was A nice park they also had the BAT at the time which was a great ride for it's day but then when we went down when the Vortex opened it was already a very different place.

Even though I miss the rides of my childhood at both CP and PKI, I have to admit that I'm pretty impressed with what's been added.

At CP, I loved the Cinema, but let's face it, it was looking a little worse for wear, and Snoopy Rocks on Ice is a great show. What I miss most at CP is the Frontier Lift (and to lose it for Iron Dragon) and the old, non-PC, Western Cruise. The Frontier Lift was amazing to me, in that as soon as you got over the island, the noise of the park just faded away. It was like a balloon ride over the park. I must have ridden it about a dozen times on it's final day, and even finished off the night on it (instead of a coaster).

I also remember when CP was the "two of each" flat ride. Zugspitz & Super Himalaya. Calypso & Tiki Twirl. Trabant & Schwabinchen. Plus, I miss the Double Ferris Wheel, Funouse, and Jumbo Jet (Cedar Point '72, it's so new, it's like you've never been there before).

I suppose I don't miss as much at PKI, only because I didn't get there as much. 1974 was my first time there, and they had the skyride that went right past the Eifel Tower. I remember enjoying the Bavarian Beetle, and as much fun as Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle is, and Phantom Theater before that, I really liked Fantastic Voyage (sorry, was never a fan of the Smurfs, so I don't think I rode that incarnation).

As long as we're talking about memories, I haven't felt the same about Conneaut Lake Park since they fenced it in, which I originally thought would be a good idea. Something about a park you can drive through was so unique (of course the fact that they demolished half the park when they gated it in didn't help). I also miss their Flying Scooters, and their Cuddle Up (which ran better than any Cuddle Up I've been on since).

Oh well, enough reminiscing.

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Goccvp1

Scooby Doo and The Haunted Castle...MUCH more fun when you have ride partners!!!

The trains at PKI are still in the park.

Funny thing to come here and see this thread as I was just thinking about some of the old rides of my youth in the 80s.

I remember the days of the Earthquake ride, Pirate Ride, Sky Slide, and those flying jets. And of course the Forntier lift, which was far better than the Sky Ride. Flats and Dark Rides really have been the victim of time.

However, having said that, I certainly am glad to see the emphasis put on coasters in the 90s and now 00s. It's just kind of interesting to think of how much it's changed, just in the past 25 years.

Take care and God bless!

What happened to the....title of this topic?

You may want to rename it so people know what this topic is about.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

What happened to the....title of this topic?

You may want to rename it so people know what this topic is about.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

Oh, you've brought back many memories. I've gone to CP every year since my youth (except for 1995).

I loved the Earthquake ride more than the Pirate ride and was sad to see it be replaced with Berenstain Bear Country.

Shoot the Rapids (where White Water Landing is now). Nothing fancy but a pretty cool ride when you are a kid.

What about the old Satellite Jets that used to fly next to Blue Streak?

And at PKI, I remember the Wheel of Fortune (Trabant) in Rivertown and I miss the ivy covered tunnel that was between Rivertown and Hanna Barbera Land (though a small part of it is used as a canopy with tables under it).

I also remember the Zodiac, which was an Intamin double ferris wheel, the Tumble Bug, Flying Dutchman, Screamin' Demon (and the list goes on).

X Factor
*** This post was edited by X Factor 6/19/2003 7:17:14 PM ***

Wow there are a lot more people than I thought that remember this stuff.

Rotor
1967-1985Opened in 1967, the Rotor and was installed near the Coliseum. Riders would enter a circular room, lean against the wall and the room would spin. The riders would ‘stick’ to the wall due to centripetal force and the floor would drop giving them the illusion of floating. The ride disoriented guests until 1985, when it was removed.

San Francisco Earthquake Ride
1966-1985Built between the Pagoda Gift Shop and the Coliseum, the San Francisco Earthquake Ride opened at Cedar Point in 1966 when the park purchased it from Freedomland, an amusement park in New York. Prior to boarding the ride, radio earthquake news flashes from San Francisco were played in the ride's station. During the dark ride, buildings and walls were simulated to look as if they were falling down while on the ride. The ride lasted until 1985 when it was replaced with Berenstain Bear Country.

Satellite Jets
1960'sThe Satellite Jets opened in the center of the midway, near the Coliseum, in the early 1960’s. The ride featured twelve ‘jets’ that could be controlled to go either up or down while the ride was in motion.

Sea Swing
1902Operating on the beach, the Sea Swing swung bathers from 1902 into the late 1930’s. While riding, it wasn’t unusual to have your bathing suit rip.

Shoot-the-Chutes
1927The Shoot-the-Chutes water ride opened in 1927 along with other attractions such as the Tilt-A-Whirl. The ride format was similar to today's Snake River Falls with boats that travels up and ramp and then descends down a shoot on to water.

Shoot-the-Rapids
1968-1981Built in Frontiertown, the Shoot-the-Rapids opened for the 1968 season. The mild water ride was razed in 1981 for the new White Water Landing that would open in 1982.

Sky Slide
1968-1991The fifteen slides on the Sky Slide hurled riders down three dips. Riders would ascend a flight of stairs and sail down swiftly on a potato sack. While riding, it wasn't uncommon to have a "friction burn" if a part of the body rubbed against the fiberglass slide, while going down. This attraction was added near the Coliseum in 1968 and closed when the outdoor Berenstain Bear Country was added in its spot in 1992.

Sky Wheel
1962-1981Standing an amazing eighty-five feet above the midway, the Sky Wheel opened in 1962 along with the Scamper roller coaster. This double Ferris wheel opened in the center of the midway until the park added the Sky Ride. The ride was then moved to the area near the main gate where a flower garden is today and the ride itself remained until 1981.

Tumble Bug
1934The Tumble Bug opened on the Amusement Circle for the 1934 season. When in operation, the train would glide on a circular, hilly track.

Upside-Down Funhouse
1966-1981The Upside-Down Funhouse opened near the Space Spiral in 1966. The attraction included rooms such as an upside-down room, a tilted room, and a rotating barrel. At the end of the attraction, three spiral slides were used to exit the funhouse. The Upside-Down Funhouse greeted guests until 1981, when the attraction was closed.

Yankee Bullet
1940'sOperating during the 1940’s, the Yankee Bullet sat next to the Penny Arcade and was patriotically named due to the war years. The ride featured bullet shaped cars that spun horizontally in a circle when the ride was in operation. Sorry about the length but thought I would post this from a site I found it has a few flats that are now gone.

The rotor was great. People would buy their tickets (that was before the single admission price) just to stand on the observation deck and look down on the fun. Some people spent several years trying to pull their feet up under them and stand up, leaning out toward the center of the ride. I never saw anyone succeed, and I saw quite a few fall back against the wall. Some people also kept bringing beach balls onto the ride and tossing them back and forth in the hope they could eventually get one to balance perfectly in the middle and hang there, defying gravity.
Of course, both these fantasies were based on totally false ideas about physics. When all of us got to college and took a solid physics class we learned how impossible it all was.
But the Rotor was still fun.