Point hopes Paramount buzz draws people in

Friday, 26 May 2006

And even better: Millennium Force should be running for unofficial opening weekend.

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - The timing of Cedar Fair's largest-ever acquisition fits nicely into the unofficial kickoff of summer this weekend.

Cedar Fair parks and the newly-added Paramount chain, as well as their respective cities, stand to benefit from the national attention being paid to the $1.24 billion acquisition.

"We are looking forward to a great Memorial Day weekend," said Scott Anderson, spokesman for Carowinds, near Charlotte, N.C., in an e-mail Thursday. "It's the second weekend for operation of our new Boomerang Bay waterpark and we have a gospel concert, Joyfest, in our amphitheater on Saturday."

Cedar Fair announced Monday it had acquired Carowinds as part of the five-park acquisition, which also includes Kings Island, near Cincinnati. The purchase doubles the size of Cedar Fair, putting it only behind Disney and Six Flags.

Sixty-five parties approached CBS about the parks it owned -- with a significant number of them making bids, said CBS spokesman Dana McClintock on Thursday.

Amusement parks are Cedar Fair's core business, it made sense for them, McClintock said of their selection, declining to specify who bid on the parks.

Cedar Fair's flagship, Cedar Point in Sandusky, opened for the season May 6. This weekend is considered the kickoff for the season.

Lee Alexakos, director of the Cedar Point Marketing Division, said the good news surrounding the acquisition might bring more people to Cedar Point.

"We sure hope it would," Alexakos said. "Stories have run nationally. It's good for all our parks. Cedar Point won't be the only park to benefit."

Cedar Point's Soak City opens for the season Saturday. The 18-acre waterpark features Splash Zone, a multi-story play area with more than 100 different gadgets.

The weather forecast is supposed to be warm and sunny, which should add to the weekend's success as well.

Alexakos said people are responding favorably to the lower junior and senior prices at Cedar Point as well.

Spokesman Bryan Edwards said the park hopes to have the Millennium Force running for this weekend. The roller coaster has been down since Saturday because of a mechanical problem. A part is being replaced.

Joan Van Offeren, executive director of the Erie County Visitors & Convention Bureau was in Columbus on Thursday with tourism colleagues. She said everyone is excited about the acquisition, in particular those from Cincinnati.

Van Offeren said the acquisition probably won't have a dramatic impact on the tourism industry this year, but "it's great buzz," she said.

"The city is always excited about the idea of bringing more people into our beautiful waterfront community," said City Information Officer Kelly Kresser in an e-mail. "We have a lot to offer here and sometimes seeing is believing."

Sandusky has a 3 percent bed and admission tax. Carowinds, near North Carolina, which is being looked at for a possible new corporate headquarters for Sandusky-based Cedar Fair, pays admission taxes to two states, Anderson said.

Carowinds is located on the state line. The tax is 5 percent in North Carolina and 3 percent in South Carolina.

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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