Answer Me This...

I worked at the park for a few seasons back when I was in college (which, regardless of my choice of words, was not all that long ago). I have always wondered and still wonder what the facination is with Cedar Point. It's not that I'm knocking anyone who goes a lot (goodness knows I would love to go more often than I do) but I have always wondered what the attraction was to different people.

It's different for everyone. For me, it began as a place with cool roller coasters, but from that it expanded to a place with an amazing atmosphere, where everyone is happy all the time. But from there is grew to learning how the park is run and just a general fascination with the amusement industry. I guess once you are knowledgeable about the industry, that's when you realize that Cedar Point is tops as far as parks go.

That's really how it happened with me. In fact, it hit so hard that I plan to major in theme park management and work for Cedar Point for the rest of my life.

Of course, that's just me. Everyone has a different story of what connected them with Cedar Point. You asked a pretty good question, because it really is something that would seem very strange.

I always have a good time there and it's a quick way to get away for awhile. I guess I just love it because of all the memories I have attached to the place. Every ride reminds me of a certain day or time or certain people. So I guess I love the park because I feel like it's "mine" in a sense.

My first visit to CP was when I was 9 and I wouldn't ride anything bigger than CCMR (I tried ID but that was to scary). I was always in aww of the giant coasters and the way they worked, Discovery Channel did some special that grabbed my attention, and then it happened, I logged onto CP.com to find out about WT being built. I've always been interested in the construction of things and a roller coaster is really cool. That was the beginning, for the rest, Josh and I have the same story.

Josh, you have some competition for the upper management job. ;)

I myself have been going since the year I was born, and my family has been going since way back when it was still a small park known more for the beach. I guess I really became fascinated back when I was in 6th or 7th grade, but I didn't realize it until I moved to where I am now 3 years ago. I can't wait till I'm 18 because I hope to work at CP as a ride-op. And lately I've been getting into economics and such along with my musical talents, so I 've got plenty of options, though I'd love to have a career in the amusement industry.

Alot of people grow up on stuff like this. My cousin was a manager for years at Darien Lake (before it was sadely sold to six flags) and i would go camping there every weekend with my family. We literally spent every summer weekend there. Im sure alot of people have the same experience with Cedar Point, and traditions like that stick with people for life and they pass it down to their kids and their grand kids etc...

BlueStreak64 said:
I myself have been going since the year I was born, and my family has been going since way back when it was still a small park known more for the beach. I guess I really became fascinated back when I was in 6th or 7th grade, but I didn't realize it until I moved to where I am now 3 years ago. I can't wait till I'm 18 because I hope to work at CP as a ride-op. And lately I've been getting into economics and such along with my musical talents, so I 've got plenty of options, though I'd love to have a career in the amusement industry.

That's awesome. I hope you get in. I was a ride op for two years. It was fun :) I have mainly good memories. But if I may give some unasked for advice, it's hard to get a career in this industry. Not impossible, just hard. Especially at Cedar Point because it's kinda like a big pyramid. The higher you go, the less positions their are to fill. It gets pretty competitve. But since this is what you want then I hope you go for it. :)

Here's another one(forgive me if this is already a topic). What's your most treasured memories? For me it was meeting my boyfriend while waiting for our drug tests. Little did I know at the time he was my intended :) Ok I'm done!

Its just the feeling. I'm in heaven just walking down the midway, for no reason I can really explain. Then theres the roller coasters...

I think the biggest thing with me is that I've been going since I was a small child and have many fond memories associated with the park. I love that I just go and go for a few days without stopping it seems. It makes me feel like a kid again. When I am planning a trip, I even do that cheesy thing of counting down the days until we leave.

For me its the one place where I forget about everything and have a great time. Cedar Point gives me that much needed break.

So many memories to choose from. So many reasons why I still get excited to go to Cedar Point.

There is something about the twisted steel and general design of rollercoasters that only CP has. I love to stand inbetween Power Tower and Dragsters station just surrounded by the rides. I want to design/create Rollercoasters someday. I am a CAD operator in the automotive industry and one day hope to move the skills I am learning into the ride field.

As far as memories. The best one would be the fountain on the main midway. I have kissed so many girls there (not gloating just remembering) sat with my family there (been going since I was born with them) and had so many other fun things happen right at that spot. I plan on getting engaged there as well.

I have many memories of there. But what I like about it is the skyline. I have an interest in tall structures like roller coasters, or other rides. I dont know why. Last week when I was there, after the park was closed at 10, I just sat on the bleachers by TTD at night and watched it for about 40 minutes. But also, definitely riding on the coasters and being high up.

I just turned 40 and I have been going my whole life. It is such a thrill to share it with my kids. If you keep some of that "little kid" in you, CP is a magical place.

I was born in Sandusky in October of 1954. The summer my Mom was pregnant she craved sno-kones and just about every night she would make my Dad take her to Cedar Point so she could have one. (grape) Of course the place was a lot different then, you could drive the car and park just about anywhere and walk the beach, boardwalk, or midway.

I've always wondered if my infatuation with Cedar Point was a result of all those early visits I made, perhaps some sort of osmosis took place that gave me the carnival blood. They told me that when I was a toddler they might put me on some kiddie ride somewhere and everything was fine till the ride stopped. Then there was a big crying baby till they came up with the money or another ticket. Once the ride started again the tears turned to laughter.

My first real visit to C.P was the summer of '63 after second grade. I was already a fan of amusement parks, with visits to Camden and LeSourdesville to my credit, but I somehow felt like I was home again when I got to the Point. I've loved it ever since, not missing a season in 42 years. I loved every minute of working there, too, especially the season I sold the sno-kones. Grape was always my favorite.

The natural beauty of the park--as a peninsula into Lake Erie--as well as the towering trees along Frontier Trail, plus the amazing ride structures, all add up to a landscape unlike any other, anywhere. We are closest to Six Flags Great America, but it just doesn't match the atmosphere of Cedar Point. Our family visited CP first in 1989, when Magnum was new and our son was just barely big enough to ride it. He wrote many school papers about rollercoasters, and in the process discovered that John Miller ("The Thomas Edison of Rollercoasters," who patented the under-track wheel, and the lift chain dog, among other things--and designed Big Dipper at GL, & Jack Rabbit & Racer at Kennywood) was a native of our town in Illinois! And I echo those who have said it just unstresses you to be there, not a small thing for most people, plus it is a good "age span" that pleases everyone for a vacation.

mzcoaster - John Allen also designed Blue Streak.

TTD- I believe Frank Hoover did the majority of design work for Blue Streak. John Allen did the preliminary footers. mzcoaster mentioned John Miller as being from his hometown, not John Allen.

Just a brief correction, not to go off topic here.

I have got to agree on the beauty of the location. And the park being as old as it is exudes history. And it's not just in the summer. One of my favorite memories was going down there in Feb. of 2002 for a class assignment (I had to interview someone about how much writing and communication affects their job or some such nonsense). After I got the interview out of the way, my boss got me in the park op truck and we went driving all over the place. Even in the middle of winter, there was a peaceful beauty about it.

Heaven on earth. The sound of the rides, the smells of the park, the views, and the pure rush I get from the speed of the coasters. Walking down each of the midways has its own feeling. The Main Midway is awesome because of the Sky Ride above, the newly renovated games look amazing, and of course the flower beds are the best. The Wicked Twister Midway is awesome now with the new feeling that maXair gives it. The TTD Midway is great because of the sound of Dragster and the classic coaster Gemini. Frontier Town is my favourite. The peacefulness of it all, the atmosphere of the old west, and my favourite, Mean Streak. I also love the Frontier Streak. The most peaceful place in the park because it connects the centre of the park with the back and has no rides, just cool shops. Cedar Point is my home park but I also go to Canada's Wonderland... no comparison.