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The sky's the limit

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Cedar Point's addition to Frontiertown will be running by the end of February.

But what's going near the new Skyhawk, in the area left vacant by the removal of White Water Landing, park officials aren't saying.

Cedar Point's new ride, Skyhawk, is well on its way to completion in the park's Frontiertown. Skyhawk is a 103-foot swing ride next to Snake River Falls. Register photo/JASON WERLING

"We are in the final stages of removing the White Water Landing ride and hope to have the site cleaned up in the upcoming months," said park spokesman Bryan Edwards.

For now, the focus is on the $6 million giant swing scheduled to debut at the park May 6.

Near Snake River Falls, the 103-foot Skyhawk is the tallest ride of its kind in the world.

To view live streaming video of Skyhawk and Cedar Point's skyline on the Funcoast.com webcam click here.

"It is basically ready to run now, but Ohio Edison sent equipment we need down to the hurricane," said Gary Gast, Cedar Point's Construction, Facilities & Special Projects Director.

Everything will be done -- the landscaping, vending sheds and operation booths -- by early April, a few weeks ahead of schedule because of the unseasonably warm winter, he said.

"It's just like a puzzle putting it together, we now have a lot of touch up to do to the paint," Gast said.

"It's not a big labor intensive ride to put up," Edwards said. Also, "the lack of snow and ice has kept construction going."

The winters weren't as kind during the construction of Top Thrill Dragster and Wicked Twister, although both still opened on time, Gast said.

In addition to Skyhawk, it looks as though the Demon Drop will be running as well when the park opens to the public in May.

"The ride has been up for sale, however, a buyer has not been found," Edwards said.

A similar ride with a different name at sister park Geauga Lake was for sale, but is being taken down, he said.

Some of the parts from Mr. Hyde's Nasty Fall are being given to Cedar Point.

White Water Landing is being destroyed. It is not for sale.

Edwards said after the successful introduction of maXair, people are looking forward to Skyhawk.

Although Edwards said the ride is similar to maXair, which debuted at Cedar Point in May, the rides are different.

Skyhawk goes back and forth like a child would on a swing, while maXair swings in a pendulum-like motion.

"From what I heard, people are excited about Skyhawk," Edwards said. "They were skeptical of maXair, but now love it, and are excited about this."

Skyhawk should also bring more people to the back of the park.

"It's like a ghost town in the morning," Edwards said. "The major thrill rides are in the front of the park."

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