Tag Archives: RollerCoasters

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Interview with Cedar Point Director of Maintenance & New Construction Ed Dangler

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From WKZO.com…

Coaster buffs like myself will enjoy a full 30 minutes with Ed Dangler, Director of Maintenance and New Construction at Cedar Point. Topics include various coaster wheel assembly arrangements, launch and restraint systems, how coasters and maintained and repaired, the process through which Cedar Point decides what to build and how to build it and much more!

Interview Highlights

  • No wooden coaster in the near future for Cedar Point, maybe after two more years. 16:12
  • Part of the WindSeeker’s foundation will be on the beach [like suggested by the construction stakes earlier this season].  18:10
  • WindSeeker Challenges  18:15
    • Winter Weather
    • Water Table
  • Process of Adding a Ride  20:32
    • Executive Planning Board to decide ride based on the need to offer guests something new and excited.
    • Ride manufacturing is in charge of the design.
      • TUV overseeing WindSeeker Construction.
  • Dick Kinzel decides if they want to be the first at something, such as the tallest and fastest roller coasters. 25:35
  • Nostalgia is a delicate decision at Cedar Point.  A long and thought out process to remove a ride. 26:00
  • Guest input is important. Cedar Point is good friends with ACEers.  They read and encourage comments.  Social media gives them instant feedback.  28:00
News and Updates, News Stories, Rides, RollerCoasters

Fire ends Mean Streak’s season early

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From the Sandusky Register…

SANDUSKY

Cedar Point’s Mean Streak will return, feisty as ever, but fans will have to wait until next year to climb back on.

A small fire at the wooden roller coaster Tuesday night damaged a 5-foot section of the track. Firefighters kept the fire from causing major damage.

Cedar Point spokesman Robin Innes said Wednesday the ride won’t be open for the rest of HalloWeekends, but said the park had planned to shut it down by this weekend, anyway, for maintenance.

The park is open on weekends through the end of October, although not all of the rides are available on Friday night. Mean Streak is one of the rides that has been available only on Saturday and Sunday.

News and Updates, News Stories, Rides, RollerCoasters

Small blaze snuffed on Mean Streak

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From the Sandusky Register…

SANDUSKY

A portion of Cedar Point’s largest wooden roller coaster caught fire late Tuesday, but a quick response from Sandusky firefighters spared the ride from any major damage.

The city’s firefighters were called to the park at about 9:30 p.m. because the amusement park’s own firefighters were not there. The park is now closed during the week, open only on weekends for HalloWeekends.

Firefighters said a section of track near the Mean Streak’s second hill somehow caught fire. Workers at the park had been repairing the ride and replacing boards earlier on Tuesday, and part of that work required them to cut metal bolts.

Since there were no heating sources near the fire location, firefighters speculated one of those bolts heated up after being cut, then dropped near the wood. The hot wood may have smoldered for some time until the wind breathed life into the embers hours later and sparked a small blaze.

The fire was small, limited to a 5-foot section of track and boards near the Mean Streak’s second hill.

Crews using one ladder truck completely extinguished the flames by 10:30 p.m. Firefighters said park personnel already planned to replace the boards that burned, so the fire caused no lasting damage.

According to the park’s website, Mean Streak contains 1.7 million feet of Southern yellow pine.

This was the second fire at the park this year.

On July 6 a 5,000-square-foot service building at the park caught fire. Investigators never determined the cause, but suspected an electrical malfunction was to blame.

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

Cedar Point to Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Millennium Force

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Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio – In 2000, fears and concerns about Y2K were running rampant across the world.  Closer to home, then Vice President Al Gore and George W. Bush, the governor of Texas, were campaigning for the presidency of the United States.  How the Grinch Stole Christmas was the year’s top grossing movie, and Beverly Hills 90210 aired its final episode.

In May of that year, Cedar Point made history.  The Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort had just introduced the Millennium Force roller coaster.  Standing 310 feet tall and reaching speeds of 93 mph, it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world!

Now 10 years and more than 17 million rides later, Cedar Point will commemorate this legendary coaster by hosting the Millennium Force 10th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Aug. 21.  Some of the special festivities on that day will include a 10th anniversary ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. and contests for Millennium Force prizes.

One of these contests will be for guests who follow Cedar Point on Twitter and the park’s in-park mobile messaging program.  During the day, several messages will be posted instructing guests on how to win an awesome Cedar Point and Millennium Force prize package.

“From Day One, Millennium Force was an instant hit,” said John Hildebrandt, Cedar Point’s vice president and general manager.  “It is an international icon for Cedar Point and symbolizes the best in roller-coaster-riding.”

Designed and manufactured by Intamin AG of Wollerau, Switzerland, Millennium Force is one of the most popular roller coasters ever built and has repeatedly been selected as the best coaster in the world in polls throughout the decade.

This steel giant towering over Sandusky Bay on Lake Erie was the first roller coaster in history to surpass the 300-foot threshold and to exceed 90 mph.  With a track length of 6,595 feet, Millennium Force is still the longest steel roller coaster in North America.

At a cost of $25 million, Millennium Force is one of the most expensive ride projects in the history of Cedar Point.

To learn more about the Millennium Force 10th Anniversary Celebration or any of the other rides and attractions at Cedar Point, please visit cedarpoint.com or call the park’s General Information Line at 419.627.2350

News and Updates, News Stories, Rides, RollerCoasters

Wild Ride!: Thrill Seekers Stuck on Cedar Point Roller Coaster during Power Outage

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From the 19ActionNews.com…

SANDUSKY, OH (WOIO) – People on the Cedar Point roller coaster Millennium Force were stuck on the ride for about 40 minutes on Tuesday.

This, after power went out to a small portion of the park around 11:45AM.

The roller coaster car stopped on the hill. Around 12:25PM, the back-up diesel motor power kicked in and brought the riders back to the station.

As of 1:30PM, most of the power had been restored. Officials don’t know yet what caused the power outage.