Category Archives: News and Updates

Cedar Point Seeks A Very Important Family

Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio –- The search begins.

Cedar Point’s Opening Day may still be a few weeks away, but the historic amusement park/resort in Sandusky, Ohio, is currently looking for a Very Important Family (V.I.F.) to help it celebrate the opening of the 2011 season on Saturday, May 14.

Now through April 15, Cedar Point’s biggest and most loyal fans can log on to www.facebook.com/cedarpoint to enter the Very Important Family Contest.  Interested guests will have to tell park officials by video why they should be chosen as Cedar Point’s Very Important Family.

The winning family will be invited to help with the ribbon-cutting ceremony that will officially open Cedar Point for the summer on Saturday, May 14.  Also participating in the Opening Day Ceremony will be Dick Kinzel, President and CEO of the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Cedar Point’s General Manager John Hildebrandt and everyone’s favorite beagle — Snoopy.

Besides the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the winning family will also receive six complimentary tickets to the park on Opening Day, a commemorative photograph of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, preferred seating on the ride of their choice, a Cedar Point gift bag and a complimentary lunch at a Cedar Point restaurant.

To enter, contestants need to create a video explaining why they should be chosen as Cedar Point’s Very Important Family.  Participants are encouraged to supply a link to their video.  (Videos must be less than 90 seconds in length.)  Official rules and regulations can be found on the V.I.F. Facebook tab.

Deadline for entering the contest is Friday, April 15.
Cedar Point officials will select the top videos and post them on the park’s YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/CedarPointVideos where people will be able to vote for their favorite video.  The winner will be determined by the number of “likes” it receives on YouTube and a panel of Cedar Point judges.

Voting will take place from Thursday, April 28 through Sunday, May 1.  The winner will be announced on Monday, May 2.

Cedar Point will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 and will be open daily through Labor Day, Sept. 5, plus Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 9-11 through Oct. 28-30, 2011.

For more information about the V.I.F. contest, please visit Cedar Point’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cedarpoint).

The OnPoint Blog has Returned!

Yesterday afternoon Cedar Point placed someone out in front of the WindSeeker2Cam with a sign that said: “Favorite Fan Feature Returns 3.9.11” with an arrow to CedarPoint.com.

Fan Favorite To Return 3.9.11 -> CedarPoint.com

Well it turns out that the OnPoint! Blog has returned and the new blogger’s name is Becca.   She started working at Cedar Point seasonally in 2006 as a ride operator on Top Thrill Dragster.   She then returned the following summer as a public relations intern and V.I.P. tour guide.  Now she has one of the best jobs at the park!

Becca Blog Sign

She says that the old blogs will stay around and she plans to bring back the “PointCasts”.  She also has some other exciting things planned that we are just as excited to see!

From everyone at CP Guide, we wish Becca the best at her awesome new job!

Marathon Petroleum Company LP to Sponsor New Nighttime Show at Cedar Point

Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio –  Marathon Petroleum Company LP (Marathon) will add even more dazzle to Cedar Point when it sponsors a spectacular new nighttime music and light show this summer at the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park resort.

Called American Portrait, the new attraction will feature exciting music, high-def digitized video, advanced lighting system and an extensive display of colorful pyrotechnics that will illuminate the evening sky.

“American Portrait is dedicated to the Spirit of America,” said John Hildebrandt, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point.  “It will combine patriotic and contemporary music with unique images of American life.  The program will be fast-paced, uplifting and will be enjoyed by everyone in the family.”

The 15-minute program will be presented nightly beginning Friday, June 3 through Sunday, Aug. 21.  American Portrait will be shown on the park’s huge 3,600-square-foot projection screen located on the Iron Dragon Midway.  On most nights, American Portrait is scheduled to be shown at 10 p.m.

The park’s first nighttime sound and light show, The Summer Spectacular, began in 1995 as part of Cedar Point’s 125th anniversary celebration.

“We are proud to join Cedar Point in bringing this patriotic salute to the park,” said Tom Kelley, Marathon’s Senior Vice President Marketing.  “The brilliance and high energy of the new American Portrait nighttime show will be the perfect ending to a visit to Cedar Point.”

In addition to American Portrait, Cedar Point will also have a new show in the Jack Aldrich Theatre plus live music in two other theaters, an ice skating show featuring the PEANUTS characters, a thrilling stunt show with inline skaters and skateboarders and sing-a-longs with Snoopy and his friends.

Marathon is an integrated international energy company engaged in exploration and production; oil sands mining; integrated gas; and refining, marketing and transportation operations. Marathon, which is based in Houston, has principal operations in the United States, Angola, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Libya, Norway, Poland and the United Kingdom. Marathon is the fourth largest United States-based integrated oil company and the nation’s fifth largest refiner.

For more information, please visit http://www.marathon.com or cedarpoint.com.

Hollywood Landmark Pink’s To Open at Cedar Point This Summer

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Labeled as the “Hot Dog To The Stars,” Pink’s, a Hollywood legend for more than 71 years, will serve its special brand of hot dogs and chili dogs this summer at Cedar Point amusement park/resort in Sandusky, Ohio.

This will be the first Pink’s franchise east of Las Vegas.  Last summer, Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, Calif., was the first Cedar Fair Entertainment Company park to operate a Pink’s on its property.
World renown for its premium gourmet hot dogs, chili dogs, onion rings and fresh toppings, Pink’s has an impressive Who’s Who list of famous Hollywood stars and dignitaries who have frequented the original Pink’s in Hollywood.  Among its customers are Betty White, Ryan Seacrest, Adam Sandler, Bill Cosby, Martha Stewart, Jay Leno and Bobby Flay.

In 2010, the Obama girls:  First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and an entourage of 14 other people stopped in for lunch.

It has also been featured on The View, The Martha Stewart Show, The Throw Down with Bobby Flay, The Travel Channel, the Food Network and the Discovery Channel.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce Pink’s to a new area of the country,” said Richard Pink, son of Paul and Betty Pink, who first opened Pink’s in 1939.  “Our premium hot dogs and chili dogs prepared with fresh toppings will become an instant favorite of park guests.”

In addition to its world-famous hot dogs, chili dogs and onion rings, Pink’s at Cedar Point will also serve mild or spicy Polish dogs, Brooklyn Pastrami swiss cheese dogs, Coleslaw dogs, plus hamburgers, cheeseburgers and French fries.

“Pink’s will be a very popular addition to the food offerings at Cedar Point,” said Gary Gochenour, Cedar Point’s Director of Food Services.  “Its gourmet hot dogs, chili dogs and onion rings made fresh will have a huge appeal to all of our guests.”

Pink’s at Cedar Point will be located just off the main midway right next to Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor.  Guests will order inside and be able to watch as their food is prepared in front of them just the way they want it.  Seating will be available inside or on the outdoor patio.

The original Pink’s, opened 71 years ago at the corner of North La Brea and Melrose avenues in Los Angeles, was no more than a pushcart with a very long extension cord that was plugged into a hardware store a block away.  In 1946, the operation expanded into its current building at the same location.

For additional information about Pink’s, please visit pinkshollywood.com, Cedar Point’s web site at www.cedarpoint.com or call the park’s General Information Line at 419.627.2350.

Cedar Point to Open DQ Grill & Chill® Restaurant in Sandusky

Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Guests visiting Cedar Point will have even more taste-tempting options to choose from this summer. And you won’t even have to be in the park.

In May, the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort will open a DQ Grill & Chill restaurant near the entrance to the Cedar Point Causeway in Sandusky.

The seasonal franchise will replace the East of Chicago pizza chain that has been in operation at the corner of Fifth Street and Cedar Point Drive since 2001.

The new DQ Grill & Chill location will offer an expanded menu that will not only include burgers, fries, extensive kids’ menu and the Dairy Queen system’s extremely popular Blizzard® Flavor Treats and a variety of ice cream desserts, but also hot dogs, wraps and grilled sandwiches. It will also be open in the morning and will serve breakfast favorites such as egg sandwiches, hash browns, pancakes, coffee and juice to guests who want to get an early start on their day of rides and roller coasters.

Another popular menu item will be the Orange Julius® premium fruit smoothies and fruit drinks.

“We are extremely excited about bringing the DQ Grill and Chill restaurant to Cedar Point,” said Jack Highsmith, Cedar Point’s vice president of accommodations and franchise food. “The DQ Grill & Chill concept has national recognition and a broad appeal to our guests. Plus, it will be able to provide a variety of menu options and ice cream treats all day long.”

Before opening, the building will be completely renovated to give the facility a fresh, new appearance. When completed, all of the seating areas, furnishings, rest rooms and food equipment will be replaced producing an interior that will be warm, welcoming and stylish. Outside, there will be new signage, landscaping, expanded drive-thru service and patio seating with decorative fencing.

When completed, the renovation project will cost approximately $1.5 million. A May opening is planned, however, an exact opening day has not been determined. After opening, the restaurant will be open daily through Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3-5. It will also reopen for weekends through Oct. 29-30.

For additional information about the new DQ Grill & Chill location, please visit the park’s web site at www.cedarpoint.com or call Cedar Point’s General Information Line at 419.626.2350.