Colosseum

When I was up at the point for CoasterMania a few weeks ago, I couldn't help noticing that the Colosseum needs some TLC. In addition to the general underutilization of the building (the second floor at least... and yes, I know they use it for Halloweekends costuming) it was in dire need of touchup paint and general maintenance. It is such a grand space and key piece of history on the point I would hate to see it slip into a state of neglect (or worse).

On Saturday and Sunday after CoasterMania, we went to Kings Island for the first time and I found it to be a wonderful experience. But the thing that sparked an idea in my mind was the Festhaus. I know there was just a major investment across the boardwalk from the Colosseum to build the Grand Pavilion, but Cedar Point still lacks an indoor, air conditioned, multiuse public space with the sheer size of Festhaus. I think converting the second floor of the Colosseum to a similar space (with ramp, stair and elevator access) would be a great way to preserve a piece of history and make better use of the space. To preserve as much of the existing space as possible, the food service portions (Kitchens, service counters, etc.) could be on the upper floor of an addition to the building built on part of the footprint of Kiddy Kingdom (or on the site of Peanuts at the Point - extending back to the Kite Eating Tree in Planet Snoopy) . That food service area would connect to the ballroom where the stairs/side entry are now.

The addition of live entertainment in the ballroom would add a draw to bring people upstairs (that being the key challenge) but unique and well marketed dining options would help as well. I could see character meet and greets (Snoopy/Peanuts or whatever replaces them if the licensing agreement isn't renewed) and themed dining "experiences" with the characters being a draw too... especially for the families with young children who would be spending a significant portion of their day in the adjacent Planet Snoopy and Kiddy Kingdom areas. It isn't Mickey, but if Cedar Fair licenses a property that really connects with kids, it could be big.

The first floor of that addition could be a new games row (if on the Kiddy Kingdom side) and offices/warehouse space... making it possible to use all or part of the space taken by the existing games row and warehouse/support area near Maxair/Gatekeeper/the former Mac Shack for a new major attraction and relocation of the impacted Kiddy Kingdom rides - OR a reimagined Kiddy Kingdom with updated age-appropriate rides.

This is nothing but speculation, but I think it would fit in well with the stated intention of building something for everyone while also preserving a major piece of Cedar Point's history.

I’m not mad at that idea. (What actually makes me mad are the calls to remove the building.)

I love seeing old pictures of the Coliseum and how it’s changed over the decades. Pictures from the 50’s show a very decrepit looking building, which served mainly as a bar. The ballroom scene of the 1940’s was waning. I remember various exterior color schemes over the years, from beige and brown to pastel colors. It seemed to change frequently but I may be wrong about that.
As you point out, there would be some much needed infrastructure changes to accomplish accessibility, hospitality, and entertainment. I think the amount of square feet you call for in terms of kitchen prep area is well overestimated. What they have for places like Pavilion and Farmhouse would be sufficient and less room than you think. Kitchens are usually fairly small. There’s already a stage/backstage area. Restrooms need help.
My wish list would not include a gut remodel, however. It is one of the loveliest examples of living art deco design and that should be preserved as much as possible.

I definitely agree with you on preserving the interior (and exterior) as much as possible. That's why I was thinking the kitchens/service areas, restrooms and vertical access (stairs, ramps, elevators and maybe even escalators) be in an addition rather than trying to squeeze them into the existing building. Part of the driver for the size of my "proposal" is the thought that they may want to include a full kitchen as well, in anticipation of special events/sit down dining.

In my perfect world, the original ballroom would remain largely unchanged... other than life and safety upgrades, HVAC/Electrical upgrades and changes intended to bring it back to its historical look when needed.

Edit to add: As far as size, I know I mentioned the addition being potentially in the footprint of the current Peanuts at the Point store.... but I wouldn't anticipate it taking the full width of the storefront. It would need to extend back to the current stairs / Kite Eating Tree ride though, to utilize that 2nd floor entrance as the pass through between the addition and the ballroom.

If you've spent any amount of time in the ballroom, it's not that nice. The original decor is much better in photographs than real life, and that is not from aging or lack of maintenance.

It's just not that nice and the rose colored glasses reviews don't do it any favors as it most likely can never be used in the manner it was in it hey day.

No, it isn’t that nice. For decades its main use has been to serve as a Live E work space, general backstage use or employee events and otherwise it hasn’t been touched. Which is why this conversation revolves around it’s possible renovation and restoration. Nobody is suggesting that it should return to the era of big band concerts and dancing or serve again as the site of the annual Miss Ohio America pageant. The OP sees the potential in developing it as a Festhaus type of facility and I hold out hope that the art deco design could be restored as much as possible. It would certainly make the space unique in a world of Bavarian halls and Gay 90’s dining rooms.

I remember before the Hollywood Wax Museum was converted into the Centennial Theater the original Live E productions of America Sings were staged in the ballroom. Nowadays audiences expect accessibility and air conditioning, but back in the 60’s and early 70’s it didn’t matter. So it’s true- a lot of changes would have to be made before it could be sent back to public use.

The whole company has largely committed to large volume food venues, and they just opened one behind that building. Farmhouse, Backbeat and such are also doing that. They're not going to do one in that building.

I remember at one of the winter Chill out Q&A it was brought up about upgrading and utilizing the 2nd Floor area. It would be cheaper for them to build a new colosseum than to bring it to compliance and add other upgrades.

Since when does Cedar Point care about preserving history?

Since Midway Carousel, Kiddieland Carousel, and Cedar Downs.
Since CP&LERR.
Since Hotel Breakers.
Since beautiful urns and flower beds along the midway.
Since Sky Ride.
Since Cedar Point Beach.
Since Blue Streak.
Since Frontier Trail.
What are you mad about? Pirate Ride?

I am! I was riding Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom just last week and kept thinking, "man this is crap compared to the old Pirate Ride at CP!" /joke

Is any of the upstairs area accessible to the public? I’d sure like to see the ballroom even if it’s not that nice.

Sure. Just walk up the stairs. The doors up there are usually unlocked. I’ve never been stopped or questioned.

...and Earthquake, Space Spiral. I don't have a list ready like you but there may be more.

Oh, I don’t have lists like that ready. I thought about it, though, in order to come up with examples, but there may be more.
Your short list in no way indicates Cedar Point doesn’t care about its history. Just that a couple of old rides needed removed after they had fallen out of favor or were beyond renovation.
I may be wrong, but you strike me as a younger person. Did you ever ride Earthquake? Hard to believe, but it’s been gone 39 years now. It was a pretty bad ride, especially by todays standards. I get feeling nostalgic for rides that no longer exist, but it’s unfair to make a blanket statement like that without more of a discussion.

It's funny, my dad and I were reminiscing about the Good Time Theatre as we were getting in line for Valravn last week. He remembered that as a kid it was a huge deal because it was so rare across the country at that point.

However, it served its purpose and its time passed, much like the Oceania Stadium. Now both areas are beautified and serve a different purpose where people will make memories.

The Cedar Point Cinema WAS a truly BIG deal. At 66x88 feet it was one of the biggest IMAX cinemas built (back when IMAX actually meant something). Now in the era of lIeMAX digital cinemas that are actually not as impressive as some of the higher resolution digital laser projections it's easy to forget just how impressive that theater was.

That said, it was getting harder and harder to find good material for that theater, to the point that I believe one of the last films shown there was actually partly underwritten by Cedar Fair.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I think Cedar Point does a great job of respecting its history while constantly evolving at the same time. The "graveyard" that appears for weeks during Halloweekends is an obvious example of this. Rides and attractions come and go; that's the industry.

Kiddie Kingdom is quite literally a working kiddie-ride museum. I just had this conversation with RCMAC when we were at the park together; I can easily point to rides that I rode 4 decades ago, and so can he. My kids were a little astounded at that.

One of the things I have loved about taking our kids to the park is that they allowed us to slow down and really explore the park, because that's a lot of what they wanted to do before graduating into coaster nuts themselves, and its still something they enjoy doing, and now so do we. There is history everywhere.

I will say, the lack of attention to Town Hall is more than mildly annoying; it's downright disappointing. If the park can convert Johnny Rockets into a little arcade in a matter of weeks, the park could at the very least open the place up to the public as a place to sit in some AC and relax...not to mention give Ken a respectable "office" to work out of instead of keeping him outside in a booth.

And yes, I realize I am playing couch-GM here, but it strikes me as very odd. Where did all the cool stuff that was in there go?

Wasn't a good chunk auctioned off?

“Half the size of a football field!”
or, “The size of half a football field!”
or something like that.
We loved the IMAX Theatre- I remember some of the good ones were travel or space related, but the best was the one about the circus. Riding along with the trapeze artists and the tightrope walkers and the human cannonball was especially disorienting when in impossibly large scale. We also loved the pre-shows. When I worked there I made friends with the Live E kids that worked there. I remember a couple of beautiful twins who entertained audiences with their twin marimba act. I kid you not.
And by the way, if the Meyer family ever slows down to explore the park you can’t prove it by me. They tear from one ride to the next, lol. And I guess to be fair it was their last day, and there was a storm a-brewin’ but I was exhausted just trying to keep up! Good times, I’d do it again!

The kids were 100% on a mission to ride that day, lol.

And pet all the things at the petting zoo.

The storm is the only thing that slowed them down.