Why is Cedar Point such an amazing place?

^dashing through the snow in Hades eh? ;)

Moosh - no TTD? I know it's a long trip for you, but it made such a sensation at the time. I still think it's a great ride- a lot of times i think I'll pass it by, but when I don't I'm always glad- it "gets" me every time.

Anyway, here's why I think CP is an amazing place. Please bear in mind that I have an automatic soft spot for CP, having been born in Sandusky and lived and worked there when i was in college. And say what you want about their awesome rides/ lack of awesome rides, beautiful scenery/lack of trees, etc. Cedar Point has endured, over a century, through good and bad times. Over those years they have thrilled, delighted and entertained countless numbers of visitors. As a yearly (at least) visitor since the 60's I can attest to their phenomenal growth, through re-invention and innovation.

I have traveled to many parks in my life, and I'm hard pressed to come up with a match for Cedar Point's history, and all-encompassing experience.

Maybe better rides and experiences exist elsewhere, but I will always, always love it there.

This is one of the things where the total experience is better than the sum of its parts.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, and a trip to CP was always a two day excursion -- exciting for three kids! Night in a hotel, two trips over the causeway, immense sadness on the last return trip always ensued.

Sure, it's changed to meet changing markets. I miss the upside house, the earthquake ride, the cheesy midway flume, the insanely wooded Frontier section, the skyride back there, etc., etc.

But, I love Raptor, MF, Magnum, and I'm sure I'd love the last three that I haven't been back east for. I love the classic arcarde, quirky food places, wacky shows, the CP Railroad, etc. I can't wait to take my kids back to experience what might be the best old school kiddieland anywhere.

For a place that has not one ride in my top 20 lists, the fun that I have there and the feeling of sadness when I leave has been a constant for 35 years in visiting, even with all of the crazy, stupid, wonderful, and curious changes. I can't say that about any other park other than Disneyland.

/m

I wouldn't call Cedar Point amazing.

I give it a 8/10.

Alexatucla said:
"Because it's so popular! And it's always on TV! And know, everyone knows about 'Sandusky'!"

There was a cool coming of age gay movie set at CP and Sendusky years ago called "Edge of seventeen"

"We'll NEVER get outta Sandusky!"

I remember seeing that on tv or something and perked up when they said Sandusky. Funny thing is, I think Cedar Point is a coming of age place for gay people too. Was for me.

I really like this thread! Why you ask?

Well to answer the question, I believe Cedar Point is such an amazing place because of the people. The appreciation that can come from customers can be astounding. No exemption for the staff, their contribution plays a huge role also.

The best rides in the world, beautiful colours and warmth and love for the park.

@CoasterDiscern, whatever happy pills you are taking, might I try one?

CoasterDiscern, the only "beautiful colours" that I think of when I think of Cedar Point is the popular orange's and yellow's from the 1960's.

Cedar Point is an amazing place, I will agree. The skyline as you drive to it on the causeway is like a dream. Once inside the gates, one can get overwhelmed with everything being on such a large scale. There is enough to do all day to prevent boredom. The location is interesting and unique for an amusement park, and is especially noticeable when one is on a coaster, climbing a lift hill. The screams of riders and roar of the coasters around every corner create excitement to those walking around the midways.

Because of the park's size. scale, and location, there really isn't another park like it in the U.S. First timers will be surprised.

The park does have some problems, but the potential is there to be as nice as a park as it used to be.

Cedar Point is like an old friend to me. Being 3 hours away, I've been visiting at least occasionally since the early 70's. We started making annual trips in the early 90's and have been going 3 times a year since 2000, staying at The Breakers mainly because we can afford it now. It's been a place that we enjoy going to; a few days during the summer that we forget about everything else, have some rides on what are still some of the best coasters out there and some time with the people I care for most.

It remains my favorite park. I've never had a bad time there. Is it perfect? Nope. Are there better parks out there? Sure. But what is "better"? There isn't a park I've been to that has a better location. I too love the people at Holiday World, but since we don't do water parks, there isn't enough to do there to keep use occupied for more then an afternoon.

The way some people here make it sound if you've had a crappy over-priced hamburger at the the park your whole day is ruined. Or if the run into a grumpy ride op, the whole staff sucks. I think there are some that are looking way too hard for problems. We visit at least 20 different parks a year. I like to go to parks to have a good time. It's not a mission to seek out the faults.

EDIT: typo

CoasterDemon said:
Funny thing is, I think Cedar Point is a coming of age place for gay people too. Was for me.

That's kinda funny, because in a roundabout way it was for me, too. My best friend and his wife convinced me to get a season pass one time when we were at the park, because my friend wanted to go more often than his wife but didn't always have someone to go with. So, that became me.

Now, my friend is decidedly straight, but with all the time spent in lines at CP we forged a stronger friendship. Since I was attracted to him, it was obviously a little different for ME than it was for him, but we still credit our season passes with our mutual awesomeness.

The kicker is, I still didn't really "figure things out" until two years later. But my relationship with my friend was part of the journey that eventually woke me up.

Aside from that, CP is also home to 4 of my top 10 steel and 1 of my top 10 wood coasters. Having a season pass has given me a different perspective and attitude about attending the park, e.g. I almost never go on a Saturday, and am willing to ride flats if there's more than an hour wait for coasters, because I know I will be back later on a less-busy day. Back when I only went once a year, I tried to cram as many coasters as I could into a single day and was exhausted on the drive home.

And in general it's turned me into a coaster enthusiast. Now whenever I hear about someone's vacation plans, my first thought is what parks and coasters are near there. :D I have a feeling that if it weren't for Cedar Point's awesomeness, that would not have happened.

The best part of CP is that, it's about 8 hours away from Philly, and in a direction that I typically don't need to travel. These 2 Points turn the mecca of all amusement park, into a 5 year park for me. Works out pretty well if I must say.

In all honesty, I still really adore Cedar Point. I may have my qualms with some aspects of the park, but I still get excited whenever I make the drive up the chausee, even after all these hundreds of visits. Despite the problems with operations and the reductions in value or quality in amenities, it still is a magical, and let me intentionally say it -- charming -- place.

It's just that I remember how the park used to be. And now after having visited many other parks, I can see ways that it could be significantly improved to make for a better experience for the many people who pass through its turnstiles.

About the gay, coming-of-age thing, I have seen Cedar Point become the place that a lot of gay guys explore or discover their sexuality, but not for me. I came-of-age long before my firs season as an employee at the park. I've known about my gayness all of my life, but probably really discovered what that really meant when I was a teen.

And let me sat that Cedar Point is not just a place where a lot of gay people discover themselves, but it's a place where a lot of straight and bisexual people discover their sexuality also. I think that it has a lot to do with the average age of the employees who live in housing, and the freedom of living away from home.

To bring this post full circle, another thing that makes Cedar Point amazing is being employed there. There are many, many problems about that too, but it really can be a magical time in ones life. I bet part of the reason that some people return to work there another season is the sex alone.

LostKause said:
To bring this post full circle, another thing that makes Cedar Point amazing is being employed there. There are many, many problems about that too, but it really can be a magical time in ones life.

Agreed. I met and worked with some cool people from around the world (worked with about a half-dozen Hungarian guys, including one of my blue tags, along with a fun Turkish kid) & the USA.

One of the friends I made was from Baton Rouge, LA, and this was in '05 when Katrina hit. She was grateful that a "damn yankee" ;) cared so much about what was going on in her home. She and I spent many nights talking about it. Thankfully, none of her friends or family were hurt, just houses destoryed.

The only thing is Alexatucla, if I give you a happy pill you must take it with a bottle of grey goose. No exceptions!

LostKause said:
...but it's a place where a lot of straight and bisexual people discover their sexuality also. I think that it has a lot to do with the average age of the employees who live in housing, and the freedom of living away from home.

Duh, what else is there to do? It's college without the books, stuck in Sandusky and a plenty of beer money.

^What else is there to do?

For a coaster geek, alot! We spent most of our time going in the park and riding rides! The Blue Streak was our favorite, even after we worked on it all day ;)

If me and my good coaster buddy Chris (RIP) could get the same day off, we'd hike over to Kennywood, Geauga or Kings Island (or Great America, even Americana). I really miss those summers...

I didn't have sex and I hadn't started drinking yet, so my coaster geek was at full bloom!

Duh, what else is there to do?

Actually, there's quite a bit if you look harder. Downtown, there's the Carousel Museam, wineries out the wazoo (espeaclly Firelands) travel down to Milan and you have Thomas Edison birth place, Norwalk Dragway, Marblehead, bowling (I actualyy got half-decent over the summer) and that's just what I come up with off the yop of my head.

Working at the 'Point in '05 gave me some time to explor on my days off. I find US 6 to be a relaxing drive one you get out of Sandusky.

For the record I did not discover my gayness at Cedar Point.

It was in the first M:TR thread.

You discovered your gayness talking about Mooshie?

There are lots that discover their gayness (or come out) at that age. To say that the age of discovery and time of coming out has anything to do with Cedar Point is absurd. It is just that age. It happens in college dormitories all around the world at that age as well.