Cedar Point ready for season; Kings Island already open

Tuesday, 02 May 2006

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - When Cedar Point opens for the season Saturday, it will be a few weeks behind a southern Ohio competitor.

Paramount King Islands near Cincinnati opened April 14.

Spokeswoman Maureen Kaiser said Kings Island typically opens early to the mid-April because of the milder climate than those off the lake.

"We receive very solid attendance throughout the spring," Kaiser said.

With the earlier opening, Kings Island gets some of the early coaster enthusiasts, even those from northern Ohio who might normally go to Cedar Point.

"We see many familiar faces at both parks," she said.

Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards said opening the first week of May works well for the Sandusky-based park because of the weather.

Even waiting to May can be "iffy" weather-wise.

However, unlike Kings Island, Cedar Point is open more to the general public in the fall.

"The warm weather and the popular HalloWeekends have allowed us to extend that season," Edwards said.

Kaiser said Kings Island's main season runs through Labor Day with private functions in September. The park then opens for a Halloween festival. For the first time in many years, the park had a winter festival during December.

Edwards said even with Kings Island opening earlier, Cedar Point is attracting guests to the park with its new spinning ride, Skyhawk, as well as lower admission and food prices.

Kings Island had more than 3 million guests in 2005 -- and was ranked the No. 1 seasonal amusement park in the United States. Cedar Point had 3.1 million guests, down from 3.2 million in 2004.

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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