Cedar Point prepares latest thrill ride for debut season

Thursday, 24 March 2005

Cedar Point Press Release


Construction is currently underway on Cedar Point's latest thrill ride, maXair. Swinging guests up to 140 feet above the midway, maXair will be the famed amusement park/resort's 68th ride – a world record! Photo courtesy Cedar Point. ENLARGE

SANDUSKY, Ohio, March 22, 2005 – The days are getting longer, the temperature is slowly getting warmer and the snow is starting to melt.  That can only mean one thing – summer is right around the corner!  Workers at Cedar Point, voted the "Best Amusement Park in the World" for a record seven consecutive years by the readers of Amusement Today newspaper, are busy getting the historic amusement park/resort ready for its 136th season.  The latest addition to Cedar Point's world-class lineup of amazing thrill rides, maXair, is already taking shape.

Throughout the winter, construction crews have been busy installing the park's latest thrill ride.  Site clearing for maXair began almost immediately after the park closed for the 2004 season in October.  maXair is located just off Cedar Point's Main Midway near Kiddy Kingdom and Space Spiral.  During the winter months, a wide variety of contractors contributed to the construction process of maXair, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, concrete finishers, steel erectors, plastering contractors, demolition contractors and crane operators.  In January, the major components of the ride arrived at the park for erection.  Designed and manufactured by the prominent amusement ride firm, Huss of Bremen, Germany, maXair is a new concept in the amusement industry with only a handful of similar rides in operation around the world.  Building a thrill ride during the winter months does pose some challenges though.

"We did have some 'snow days' that slowed down the construction process," said Gary Gast, director of facilities, construction and special projects in the Maintenance Division at Cedar Point.  "You always have to factor in the weather to any construction schedule here in Ohio.  However, the crews have worked tirelessly to ensure that maXair will be ready for guests when the park opens."

With the addition of maXair, Cedar Point will once again be the home to the most rides (68), including roller coasters (16), on the planet.

Riders on maXair will sit in outward-facing suspended seats that form a giant circle of 50 passengers; their legs will dangle freely, and each seat will have an individual shoulder restraint and restraining belt.  maXair will swing riders back and forth in a seemingly out-of-control pendulum motion while rotating clockwise.  At the peak of the pendulum movement that reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph, riders will be upside down 140 feet above the ground and will experience "airtime" – that coveted feeling of weightlessness that is popular for thrill-seekers on roller coasters.  The dynamic return drop will generate a variety of sensations on riders depending on their specific position in the clockwise rotation, creating a different ride experience each time.  (Guests must be at least 52 inches tall to ride maXair.)


Photo courtesy Cedar Point. ENLARGE

"We were looking to add a different type of thrill ride for our guests this summer," said Lee Alexakos, director of marketing at Cedar Point.  "maXair utilizes the latest in amusement ride technology and will definitely provide a lot of fun and thrills for our guests."

maXair is part of a $10 million capital investment for Cedar Point's upcoming season.  A section of Cedar Point's games have been relocated to make room for maXair, creating a new plaza of games on the Main Midway.  In addition, the park's existing games area on the Main Midway will receive a major renovation with new pageantry and a significant marquee and lighting package.

Also new for 2005 will be a brand new ice-skating show, "Snoopy's Summer Vacation."  Presented in the Good Time Theatre, this high-energy extravaganza will feature world-class skaters, along with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and the other PEANUTS characters, as they enjoy a summer of fun visiting the beach, camping, and celebrating Independence Day!  "Snoopy's Summer Vacation" will debut on Saturday, June 25 and will be presented through Labor Day, Sept. 5. 

Cedar Point will open for the 2005 season on Saturday, May 7.  For more information about maXair or Cedar Point, guests can log on to cedarpoint.com or call the park's information line at 419.627.2350.