History of Cedar Point in Timeline

Cedar Point is a 364-acre amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, situated on a Lake Erie peninsula. Established in 1870, it's the second-oldest operating amusement park in the U.S. Known as "America's Roller Coast," it boasts 18 roller coasters, making it second in North America for the most coasters. Formerly the flagship park and corporate headquarters of Cedar Fair, it is now owned and operated by Six Flags following a merger in 2024.

1902: Figure-Eight Roller Toboggan Debuts

In 1902, Cedar Point's second roller coaster, the Figure-Eight Roller Toboggan, debuted. A pony track was also built near the beach that year.

1904: Lagoon Construction

In 1904, to combat mosquito issues, Cedar Point hired the Detroit Dredging Company to drain swampy areas on the peninsula, creating a series of lagoons that became a signature attraction.

1905: Hotel Breakers Opens

In 1905, Cedar Point's oldest hotel, the Hotel Breakers, opened during the "golden age" of resort hotels.

1906: "Amusement Circle" Designed and Coliseum Built

In 1906, a new area of Cedar Point called "Amusement Circle" was designed to link the pier to the beach. It was located southeast of the Coliseum, a large arena built the same year that featured a grand ballroom and other attractions.

1906: The Coliseum Built

In 1906, the Coliseum was built with the newly expanded Midway. It is known for having a ballroom where several dances were held.

1908: Dip the Dips Scenic Railway Opens

In 1908, the Dip the Dips Scenic Railway roller coaster opened at Cedar Point.

1912: Midway Carousel Opens

In 1912, the Midway Carousel, also known as the Daniel C. Muller Carousel, opened.

1912: Leap the Dips Ride Opens

In 1912, the larger Leap the Dips ride opened, overshadowing the Dip the Dips Scenic Railway.

1913: Knute Rockne Works at Cedar Point

In 1913, Knute Rockne worked as a lifeguard on a beach at Cedar Point, where he and Gus Dorais worked on the forward pass that would revolutionize football.

1917: Leap Frog Scenic Railway Replaces Dip the Dips

In 1917, Dip the Dips was razed and replaced by the Leap Frog Scenic Railway.

1921: Cedar Downs Racing Derby Opens at Euclid Beach Park

In 1921, the Cedar Downs Racing Derby, also known as the Great American Racing Derby, originally opened at Euclid Beach Park.

1924: William H. Dentzel Carousel Built

In 1924, the William H. Dentzel Carousel was built.

1929: Cyclone Roller Coaster Opens

In 1929, the Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster, opened at Cedar Point.

July 24, 1931: Death of George A. Boeckling

On July 24, 1931, George A. Boeckling, who had been attempting to expand the park, died from uremia.

1938: Coliseum Modernization

After the 1938 season, the second floor of the Coliseum was modernized in the art deco style with a new stage, while the giant dance floor remained.

1940: Cedar Point Featured in "Knute Rockne, All American"

In the 1940 biographical film "Knute Rockne, All American", Cedar Point is featured at a pivotal point in the story.

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1942: Momma Berardi's Home Made French Fries Debut

In 1942, Momma Berardi's Home Made French Fries came to Cedar Point. Momma Berardi's family played an important role in the food industry at Cedar Point.

1946: Midway Carousel Installed

In 1946, Cedar Point's oldest still-existing ride, the Midway Carousel, was installed.

1946: Midway Carousel Brought to Cedar Point

In 1946, the Midway Carousel was brought to Cedar Point.

1951: Cyclone Coaster Razed

In 1951, the Cyclone coaster was razed because of its poor condition, leaving the resort without a roller coaster. The Laff-in-the-Dark, Rocket Ships, and Loop-A-Plane attractions were installed the same year.

1957: Cedar Point Causeway Built

The Cedar Point Causeway was built in 1957 and is still in use.

1958: Management Change

Around 1958, Bernie Zeiher was replaced by George Roose as the president of Cedar Point, and Emile Legros was elected chairman.

1959: Cedar Point Refresh

In 1959, Cedar Point was refreshed with over US$1,200,000 spent. The hotels were repainted, new admission gates were installed, the Wild Mouse roller coaster was built, and a monorail was added. The Breakers Hotel was restored, cottages were demolished, and the Coliseum and Grand Pavilion were remodeled. The Crystal Rock Castle Maintenance Shop, bathhouses, and old powerhouse were demolished and replaced with a new bathhouse, boiler house, and maintenance shop.

March 28, 1960: Disneyland Transformation Plans Announced

On March 28, 1960, Cedar Point announced plans to transform the park into a "Disneyland" amusement center, but those plans fell through.

1963: Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad Opens

In 1963, the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad opened, transporting passengers from the middle of the park to the back.

1963: Cedar Point Acquires Midway Carousel

In 1963, the Midway Carousel became the property of Cedar Point.

1964: Blue Streak Roller Coaster Built

In 1964, Cedar Point built its oldest surviving roller coaster, the Blue Streak. It was named after the local high school's sports teams, the Sandusky Blue Streaks.

1965: Jungle Larry's Safari Island Opens

Jungle Larry's Safari Island, a well-known attraction, opened in 1965.

1967: Cedar Downs Racing Derby Moved to Cedar Point

For the 1967 season, the Cedar Downs Racing Derby was moved to Cedar Point.

1968: Kiddy Kingdom Carousel Opens at Cedar Point

In 1968, the Kiddy Kingdom Carousel, also known as William H. Dentzel 1924 Carousel, opened at Cedar Point.

1969: Cedar Creek Mine Ride Opens

In 1969, the Cedar Creek Mine Ride opened; it is currently the second oldest roller coaster at Cedar Point.

1970: Centennial Theatre Built

In 1970, the Centennial Theatre, named in honor of Cedar Point's 100th anniversary, was built.

1972: Frontier Carousel Opens

In 1972, the Frontier Carousel opened at Cedar Point after being bought from a family in Lansing, Michigan.

1972: Giant Wheel and Jumbo Jet Coaster Open

In 1972, the Giant Wheel and the now-defunct Jumbo Jet coaster opened at Cedar Point.

1974: Marriott Acquisition Agreement and Cancellation

During the summer of 1974, Cedar Point reached an agreement with Marriott Corporation to be acquired, but the deal was called off by Labor Day of that year. Around the same time, Cedar Point acquired property in the Irish Hills of Michigan to build a second amusement park, but the project was cancelled due to local opposition.

1975: Robert L. Munger Jr. Takes Over as President

In 1975, Robert L. Munger Jr. took over as president of Cedar Point after George Roose retired.

1976: Corkscrew Roller Coaster Built

In 1976, the record-breaking Corkscrew roller coaster was built; it was the first roller coaster to span a midway and have three inversions.

1978: Momma Berardi's Home Made French Fries Last Season

1978 was the last year Momma Berardi's Home Made French Fries were sold at Cedar Point. They won four Reader's Choice Awards during their tenure.

1978: Gemini Opens

Gemini opened in 1978 and was advertised as the tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster in the world.

1978: Valleyfair Acquisition

In 1978, Robert L. Munger Jr. expanded Cedar Point by acquiring Valleyfair amusement park in Minnesota.

October 2, 1982: Coliseum Added to NRHP

On October 2, 1982, the Coliseum, built in 1906 and known for its ballroom dances, was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

October 20, 1982: Midway Carousel Added to NRHP

On October 20, 1982, the Midway Carousel, otherwise known as the Daniel C. Muller Carousel, was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

1982: White Water Landing Opens

In 1982, White Water Landing opened, replacing the original Shoot the Rapids log flume.

1983: Demon Drop Built

In 1983, Demon Drop was built at the front of the park.

1983: Cedar Fair Limited Partnership Formed

In 1983, parent company Cedar Fair Limited Partnership, commonly known as Cedar Fair, was formed. Its name was derived from Cedar Point and Valleyfair.

July 19, 1984: Cedar Point Light Added to NRHP

On July 19, 1984, the Cedar Point Light, a restored lighthouse built in 1862, was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

1984: Death of Jungle Larry

In 1984, Jungle Larry, of Jungle Larry's Safari Island, died. The safari continued to operate until 1994.

1985: Avalanche Run Opens and San Francisco Earthquake Ride Re-themed

In 1985, Avalanche Run opened close to the beach and would later be re-themed as Disaster Transport. That same year, the San Francisco Earthquake Ride was transformed into the Berenstain Bear Country.

1986: Management Change and Thunder Canyon Opens

In 1986, Robert L. Munger Jr. stepped down due to health issues and was replaced by Richard "Dick" Kinzel as president and CEO of Cedar Fair. Thunder Canyon, a river rafting ride manufactured by Intamin, also opened.

March 9, 1987: Hotel Breakers Added to NRHP

On March 9, 1987, Hotel Breakers was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

April 29, 1987: Cedar Fair Goes Public

On April 29, 1987, Cedar Fair went public.

1987: Iron Dragon Debuts

In 1987, Iron Dragon, a suspended roller coaster, debuted on the Million Dollar Midway near the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad station.

1988: Soak City Constructed

In 1988, Soak City (now known as Cedar Point Shores), Cedar Point's outdoor water park, was constructed near Hotel Breakers.

1989: Magnum XL-200 Debuts

Magnum XL-200 debuted in 1989 as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. It was the first coaster to exceed the 200-foot barrier, coining the term hypercoaster, and the first to reach speeds greater than 70 mph.

November 8, 1990: Cedar Downs Racing Derby and Kiddy Kingdom Carousel Added to NRHP

On November 8, 1990, the Cedar Downs Racing Derby, also known as the Great American Racing Derby, and the Kiddy Kingdom Carousel, also known as William H. Dentzel 1924 Carousel, were added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

1990: Avalanche Run Transformed

For the 1990 season, Avalanche Run was transformed into Disaster Transport, adding special effects and fully enclosing the ride.

1991: Mean Streak Opens

Mean Streak opened in 1991 as the northernmost attraction in the park. It broke records for the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, reaching a maximum speed of 65 mph and a height of 161 feet.

1992: Challenge Park Built

Challenge Park was built between Hotel Breakers and Soak City in 1992. Challenge Park included RipCord, Skyscraper, and two eighteen-hole mini-golf courses.

1993: Snake River Falls Constructed

Snake River Falls was constructed in 1993 as a result of Soak City's popularity. It opened as the tallest and fastest water ride in the world.

December 1994: Christmas in the Park

In December 1994, Cedar Point held its only Christmas in the Park. The Midway Carousel was open, a horse-drawn carriage gave behind-the-scenes tours of the park and the midway held many Christmas festivals, including a Christmas tree.

1994: Frontier Carousel Closes

After the 1994 season, the Frontier Carousel closed and was moved to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, where it now operates under the name Antique Carousel.

1994: Jungle Larry's Safari Island Closes

In 1994, Jungle Larry's Safari Island closed after operating since 1965.

1997: Golden Ticket Award

In 1997, Cedar Point received the Golden Ticket Award for "Best Amusement Park in the World" from Amusement Today, beginning a sixteen-year streak.

1998: Breakers Tower Addition

In 1998, Breakers Tower was added to Hotel Breakers.

2000: Cedar Point's Express Hotel Opens

In 2000, Cedar Point's Express Hotel (formerly Breakers Express) opened one mile from Cedar Point.

August 7, 2001: Hotel Breakers Removed from NRHP

On August 7, 2001, after several major alterations, the National Park Service removed the Hotel Breakers from the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

November 2004: Castaway Bay Opening

In November 2004, Cedar Fair opened Castaway Bay, an indoor waterpark resort.

2004: "Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind: Infestation From Mars" Filmed at Cedar Point

In 2004, the independently produced film, "Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind: Infestation From Mars", was shot at Cedar Point.

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2006: Cedar Point Featured in "The Warrior Heir"

In the 2006 book "The Warrior Heir" by Cinda Williams Chima, the main characters take a field trip to Cedar Point.

The Warrior Heir (The Heir Chronicles, 1)

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2010: Cedar Point on "Bert the Conqueror"

In a 2010 episode of "Bert the Conqueror" on the Travel Channel, Bert takes the "Foursome Fearsome" roller-coaster challenge at Cedar Point.

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2011: End of Cedar Point's Management Under Dick Kinzel

Cedar Point added several record-breaking rides from 1989 to 2011 under Dick Kinzel's management.

2012: Cedar Point on "Off Limits" and "Insane Coaster Wars"

In 2012, Cedar Point was featured on "Off Limits" on the Travel Channel, taking a look at off-season maintenance. Cedar Point was also featured in "Extreme Heights" and "Speed Demons" episodes of "Insane Coaster Wars" on the Travel Channel.

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2013: Golden Ticket Award Streak Ends

In 2013, Cedar Point's sixteen-year streak of receiving the Golden Ticket Award for "Best Amusement Park in the World" from Amusement Today came to an end.

2015: Hotel Breakers Renovation

In 2015, Hotel Breakers underwent a major renovation costing Cedar Fair an estimated $50 million.

2016: Jet Express Ferry Service Launch

Starting in 2016, the Jet Express initiated high-speed ferry service from downtown Sandusky to downtown Kelleys Island and downtown Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island.

2019: Sawmill Creek Resort Purchased

In 2019, Cedar Fair purchased Sawmill Creek by Cedar Point Resorts, located in Huron, Ohio, for $13.5 million.

2021: Cedar Point's 150th Anniversary on "Dinner: Impossible"

In 2021, an episode of "Dinner: Impossible" aired featuring Robert Irvine preparing a meal celebrating Cedar Point's 150th anniversary.

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2022: Second-Most Visited Amusement Park

In 2022, Cedar Point ranked as the second-most visited seasonal amusement park in North America behind only Canada's Wonderland, with an estimated 3.44 million visitors.

2024: Equivalent Purchase Value

In 1897, the Lake Erie and Western Railroad purchased the peninsula for US$256,000, which is equivalent to about $9,675,800 in 2024.

2024: Merger with Six Flags

In 2024, Cedar Point merged with Six Flags, prior to which it was the "flagship park" of the Cedar Fair amusement park chain and hosted the corporate headquarters.