Category Archives: News and Updates

Events, News and Updates, News Stories

Cedar Fair Amusement Parks Nationwide Celebrate Historic Event on August 8

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Cedar Fair Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Happiness is…

Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the lovable PEANUTS characters have brought smiles and laughter to people of all ages for decades.  In fact, this summer the group will be celebrating their 60th anniversary.  In honor of that historic milestone, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company’s (NYSE: FUN) 11 amusement parks will host a variety of celebrations on Sunday, Aug. 8.

From family-friendly scavenger hunts and mask decorating to special events and giveaways, the Cedar Fair parks are preparing for a celebration like no other.  Additionally, several parks will offer guests a discount on their admission ticket when they bring in a donation for animal-friendly charities and organizations.

“The PEANUTS characters have been a wonderful addition to our parks because they’re loved by people of all ages,” said Dick Kinzel, Cedar Fair’s chairman, president and CEO.  “Children are just as excited to meet Snoopy as their parents are.  It really makes a trip to one of our parks extra special for families.”

Created in 1950 by Charles Schulz, PEANUTS has grown into one of the longest running and most popular comic strips of all time.  Since their inception, the PEANUTS characters have been featured in videos, on television, and in their own comic books.  PEANUTS-themed rides, shows, and even the characters themselves can be found at Cedar Fair parks across the country.

“Cedar Fair parks are a great destination for families to experience PEANUTS-themed entertainment,” said Joshua Kislevitz, Senior Vice President, Domestic Licensing at PEANUTS Worldwide. “We’re thrilled that all 11 amusement parks will join us in commemorating the 60th anniversary of Charles Schulz’s beloved and iconic comic strip.”

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: “FUN”) is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio.  The Company, which owns and operates 11 amusement parks, six outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels, is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world.  Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario.  Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, California under a management contract.  Cedar Fair’s flagship park, Cedar Point, has been consistently voted the “Best Amusement Park in the World” in a prestigious annual poll conducted by Amusement Today newspaper.

About PEANUTS Worldwide
Iconix Brand Group, in a joint venture with Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates has formed PEANUTS Worldwide, a new home to the global PEANUTS property and a wide range of other brands including Fancy Nancy, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Dilbert, Hallmark’s Rainbow Brite, hoops&yoyo and Maxine, Babymouse, Dirty Dancing, Deadliest Catch, Iron Chef America, Pet Project, Ed Emberley, Poptropica, and Goodnight Moon.  For more information, visit http://www.iconixbrand.com/PEANUTS_history.html

News and Updates, News Stories

Cedar Point fire remains mystery

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From the Sandusky Register…

SANDUSKY

Sandusky fire investigators are still trying to pinpoint the cause of Tuesday’s fire in a Cedar Point service building.

It appears the fire may have been nothing more than accidental, but investigators still want to determine the precise cause, Sandusky assistant fire Chief Paul Ricci said. Three firefighters were injured while fighting the blaze, but all three have been treated and released from the hospital.

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Firefighters examine cause of Cedar Point blaze

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From The Morning Journal…

SANDUSKY — Firefighters continue to investigate the cause of a blaze that damaged a maintenance building at Cedar Point on Tuesday night.

Two firefighters from Cedar Point and Margaretta Township suffered from heat exhaustion and Sandusky Firefighter Steve Rucker suffered a fall of about 10 feet from a ground ladder at the building, said SFD Assistant Chief Paul Ricci. The three were treated and released from Firelands Regional Medical Center.

Sandusky Fire Inspector Rudy Ruiz was back at the building this morning to examine a possible cause, Ricci said.

It appeared the fire may have started in a second floor storage area, but an exact cause and location were not known yet, he said.

The fire did not damage any Cedar Point rides, although the Corkscrew roller coaster, the Power Tower and the Super Himalaya spinning ride were closed because they were the rides closest to the fire, said park spokesman Bryan Edwards.

“Other than that, nothing happened inside the park,” Edwards said. “Guests were not in any danger and those rides were opened again this morning.”

The fire may have caused damage worth an estimated $500,000 to $750,000, Ricci said, but he cautioned that it’s a “very rough estimate” based on the building’s size. The structure, used as a plumbing shop, was a block and steel building about 50 feet wide by 100 feet long.

“There’s going to be considerable analysis as to the cost of this incident,” Ricci said.

The Cedar Point Fire Department called Sandusky firefighters at about 8:44 p.m. Friday for assistance in extinguishing a structure fire, Ricci said.

Sandusky firefighters arrived and entered the building, but got out fast, Ricci said.

“At some point into that operation there were significant indicators of a potential or partial collapse of the roof system,” he said. “All personnel were brought out.”

Firefighters from Huron and Margaretta Township responded to assist as Perkins Township firefighters also came into Sandusky to respond to other calls for fires or ambulances, Ricci said.

At Cedar Point, up to 40 firefighters were on scene and it took about 90 minutes to get the flames under control, Ricci said.

The fire was located in an area of the park not accessible to guests, Ricci said. Cedar Point maintenance workers had daily and nightly access to the building for park maintenance but it was unclear whether workers were inside the building when the fire broke out, he said.

The fire was the second multiple-alarm fire in two days for Sandusky and its neighboring fire departments.

On Monday, five firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion while battling a blaze in a six-unit condominium building at Marina Point Drive. That fire badly damaged two units and four others had smoke and water damage, Ricci said.

He credited the Sandusky firefighters and the surrounding departments for their work.

“Given the weather, it’s incredibly taxing on resources and personnel,” Ricci said. “They’re up to the task. They do a really admirable job.”

News and Updates, News Stories

Three firefighters injured in Cedar Point blaze

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From the Sandusky Register…

SANDUSKY

Three firefighters were hospitalized late Tuesday after battling a fire at a Cedar Point maintenance and storage facility.

Two firefighters — one from Cedar Point, one from Margaretta — suffered heat exhaustion, while a Sandusky firefighter suffered unknown injuries after falling from a ladder posted against the outside of the burning building.

All three men were taken by ambulance to Firelands Regional Medical Center for treatment. The Cedar Point firefighter who suffered heat exhaustion was treated and released by 11:30 p.m., while the other two remained hospitalized.

The blaze broke out on the second floor of the building shortly before 9 p.m. The building is located in an employees-only area behind the Corkscrew and Power Tower.

Inside the building was office supplies and furniture, as well as plumbing and electrical equipment.

The fire started near a stairwell between the plumbing and electrical shops, said Sandusky assistant fire Chief Paul Ricci.

Cedar Point firefighters were notified of the blaze at about 8:40 p.m., park spokesman Bryan Edwards said.

Park personnel then called in Sandusky firefighters, who were later assisted by crews from Perkins and  Margaretta townships and the city of Huron.

The building was engulfed in flames by the time Ricci arrived on scene at about 9 p.m.

Cedar Point firefighters were already fighting the blaze when other firefighters arrived, but it only grew in ferocity.

At the fire’s peak, upwards of 40 firefighters were on scene, Ricci said.

While crews trained multiple hoses on the structure, park visitors remained largely unaffected. Workers only shut down three rides — Power Tower, Corkscrew and Super Himalaya — because the rides were so close to the burning building.

Firefighters extinguished the brunt of the blaze within an hour and a half, Ricci said.

While investigators are still trying to figure out what sparked the fire, the building remains virtually a total loss, Ricci said.

Edwards and emergency crews did not immediately have a cost estimate on damages.

The building is a 5,000-square-foot, two-story structure made of block and steel.

“The fire department did a great job, especially with the temperature outside,” Edwards said. “Those guys absolutely need to be commended.”

When the fire broke out, temperatures were in the low 80s.

To his knowledge, employees were not in the building when the fire started, Edwards said.

“The positive news is no guests or employees were in any danger at any time,” he said. “Three rides were shut down as a precaution.”

All three rides will be open Wednesday and the park will continue to operate without disruption, Edwards said.

Park visitors seemed, for the most part, unaware of the fire. They continued to ride the Top Thrill Dragster, while many crowded into the midway to watch the evening’s fireworks show.

Scott Roush, 39, of Lexington, was one of a few visitors leaning by the fence near the Power Tower as fire crews worked behind the hedge line.

“We were fishing down at the pier when we saw the fire trucks coming by,” Roush said.

His family has season passes to Cedar Point, so they decided to enter the park to see what was happening.

Roush said the fire wouldn’t disrupt his visits to the park — he was just curious about the commotion.

Other visitors craned their necks to get a glimpse of the fire as they stepped over hoses snaking through the midway near Top Thrill Dragster.

Cedar Point staff hovered over the fire hose, making sure visitors didn’t trip over it in the darkness.

Early Wednesday, a handful of firefighters were still on scene. Crews also called in a Sandusky police detective.

Read the original breaking news posting here.

Cedar Fair, Events, News and Updates, News Stories, Rides, RollerCoasters

Cedar Fair is “Coasting For Kids”

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Cedar Fair Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio – The thrill of a roller coaster ride will have a whole lot more meaning on Thursday, July 29 when Cedar Fair Entertainment Company’s (NYSE: FUN) eleven amusement parks host “Coasting For Kids 2010” to raise money for Give Kids The World Village, the nonprofit organization that provides weeklong vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

The fun-filled event is a company-wide effort. Park fans and coaster enthusiasts alike will enjoy a day filled with riding the coolest roller coasters at their favorite park over and over again. Featured rides include Gemini at Cedar Point, Shivering Timbers at Michigan’s Adventure, Jaguar at Knott’s Berry Farm and the Racer at Kings Island, with rides at the other seven parks to be announced soon. All participants are encouraged to raise at least $50 for Give Kids The World to take part – with prizes going to the top three fundraisers at each park.

All participants will receive complimentary admission to the park of their choice, a “Coasting For Kids” t-shirt and unlimited rides on the event’s featured attraction. Each participating park will also offer additional event perks unique to their location.

“Cedar Fair has been proud to partner with Give Kids The World for many years,” said Lee Ann Alexakos, Vice President Marketing and Advertising, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. “’Coasting For Kids’ is the perfect way for our guests to enjoy our parks – and help children with life-threatening illnesses.”

“We are so excited to work with Cedar Fair,” echoed Give Kids The World President, Pamela Landwirth. “We had such fun at the inaugural event at Cedar Point last year, and are looking forward to this nationwide coaster marathon at all eleven locations this year. This tremendous support for Give Kids The World will help us continue to make dreams come true for children who need it most.”

“Coasting For Kids” will take place at Cedar Point, OH; Kings Island, OH; Canada’s Wonderland, Ontario, Canada; Dorney Park, PA; Valleyfair, MN; Michigan’s Adventure, MI; Kings Dominion, VA; Carowinds, NC; Worlds of Fun, MO; Knott’s Berry Farm CA; and California’s Great America, CA. Anyone who is interested in participating can go to www.firstgiving.com/gktw, click “register for an event” and pick the park they wish to attend and take part at. All participants must raise at least $50 by Wednesday, July 28 to take part in the event on July 29. Space at each park is limited. To learn more, interested participants can call Give Kids The World at 407.396.1114 ext. 4504 or email dream@gktw.org or log on to www.gktw.org.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: “FUN”) is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Company, which owns and operates 11 amusement parks, six outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels, is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world. Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Virginia / District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, California under a management contract. Cedar Fair’s flagship park, Cedar Point, has been consistently voted the “Best Amusement Park in the World” in a prestigious annual poll conducted by Amusement Today newspaper.

Give Kids The World

Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is a 70-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a weeklong, cost-free fantasy vacation. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 101,000 families from all 50 states and 72 countries.