They like roller coasters

Saturday, 14 October 2006

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Huron resident John Slaughter and his 9-year-old daughter Karagin are running out of time to work on their Cedar Point record.

So even if it's windy and cold this weekend, they'll likely be at the park and in line for their favorite ride, Millennium Force.

When Cedar Point closes for the season Oct. 29, the season passholders will have been to the park nearly 50 times this year -- their goal.

They've been on the Millennium almost every visit -- usually for more than one ride.

Karagin started out with the Blue Streak and then the Gemini, Corkscrew, Mean Streak, Magnum and then the Millennium Force. They usually went to the park in the evening.

"She was tall enough to ride them this year when before we wouldn't leave Kiddieland," said 41-year-old Slaughter, who is separated from his wife and spends time with his daughter in the evening.


John Slaughter and his daughter Karagin ride Millennium Force Sunday at Cedar Point. (Register photo/JASON WERLING)
"When we got to the Millennium Force, I have never been a high-ride kind of person, but just seeing her wanting to do this, made me want to.

"We would say to each other, 'We need that bigger hill,'" he said.

The Slaughters bought season passes this year -- the first time since Karagin was a toddler, her father said.

"We bought the passes so we don't have to spend a lot of money to do other things. We will always have Cedar Point," he said.

They've already decided they are getting passes again for next year. Discounted passes are on sale through Nov. 15.

"We want to keep this up as a tradition," Slaughter said. "I don't think my daughter would be very happy if I didn't get the season pass."

The new MAXX pass for $125 -- ages 3-61, 48 inches and taller -- will be valid for unlimited visits to Sandusky's Cedar Point and the 11 other Cedar Fair ride parks, including Paramount's Kings Island, Cincinnati, and Geauga Lake in Aurora, which Cedar Fair bought in 2004.

Last year, people who bought Cedar Point passes for $99.95 had unlimited admission into all Cedar Fair parks, excluding Geauga Lake unless they bought the two-park passes.

This year, a Cedar Point-only season pass is $94.95. Cedar Point no longer has a Cedar Point and Soak City combo pass because they would be so close in price to the new MAXX pass.

Park spokesman Bryan Edwards said Cedar Point doesn't release figures on season pass usage, but the Slaughters are "definitely getting their money out of them."

Edwards said there's been favorable comments about the new MAXX pass.

"I have heard a lot of good comments, especially from people here in Ohio who can go to Kings Island," Edwards said. "A lot of people in Columbus are excited."

Slaughter said the cool thing about spending so much time at Cedar Point is meeting people from all over the country.

"We met a father and daughter from Cedar Point and the 15-year-old daughter was scared to ride the Millennium Force," he said.

Karagin said the Millennium Force is the best.

"It's so tall and it goes so fast. He was kind of nervous the first time and he was trying to talk me out of it," she said of her dad.

FunCoast.com is your online guide to summer fun for Cedar Point, the LakeErie Islands and Sandusky area. Our site offers up-to-date information on area attractions, restaurants, hotels, gasoline prices, ferry schedules, swimming, birding and fishing, along with a complete listing of events happening in the Sandusky/Cedar Point area. To use our Webcam and zoom in on Cedar Point's rollercoasters, go to http://funcam.funcoast.com

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