Frightfully tasty

Saturday, 24 September 2005

New this year at Cedar Point's HalloWeekends: A buffet and salad bar.

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - The newest attraction at Cedar Point's HalloWeekends is designed to be more tasty than scary.

But that doesn't make the Creepy, Kooky, Castle Cafe go down any easier.

Macaroni's restaurant, near the entrance to CarnEvil, off the Main Midway, has been transformed into an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet and salad bar.


A spooky candelabra adorns the Creepy, Kooky Castle Cafe, which has temporarily taken over Macaroni's restaurant for the duration of HalloWeekends this year at Cedar Point. HalloWeekends started Friday and will continue every weekend through Oct. 30. (Register photo/ABIGAIL BOBROW)

The aroma of pepperoni and cheese may not mix with the foreboding clowns on the wall and the skeletons in the waiting area, but the talking deer will remind diners to mind their manners.

"The deer can mess with kids' minds and tell them to eat more pizza," said park graphic services manager John Taylor.

Cedar Point decided to incorporate Macaroni's into the ninth annual HalloWeekends because it was near CarnEvil, a circus with sideshow freaks, clowns and carnival workers.

Park spokesman Bryan Edwards said the bright look of the Italian restaurant didn't fit with the darkness of CarnEvil.

The temporary transformation, which includes a castle facade, will be removed after HalloWeekends. Normally, Macaroni's serves pasta and salads.

But for now, the seven different types of pizza being served are stretched over hospital gurneys, while the salad bar with gelatin shaped like brains and hearts, is in the makeshift library. Beverages and dessert are included.

"It's a little different, something to bring guests in," said Gary Gochenour, manager of catering, restaurants and special events.

The pizza buffet costs $10.95 for adults and $5.95 for children 10 and younger. Hours are 6-11 p.m. Fridays, noon-11 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays.

Also new for HalloWeekends this year is a haunted drive-in. Friday and Saturday nights, classic horror movies will be shown on the park's giant laser screen, between the Iron Dragon and WildCat roller coasters.

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