Tag Archives: News

2011 Shows, Halloweekends, Haunted Houses, News and Updates, News Stories, Shows

Cedar Point haunted attractions getting new names after complaints

Leave a comment

From the Chronicle Online…

Dr. D. Mented's Asylum for the Criminally Insane

SANDUSKY — An Ohio amusement park says it will have new names this year for two Halloween attractions that drew complaints from mental health advocates.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, said Cedar Point promoted false stereotypes last Halloween by calling a haunted house “Dr. D. Menteds Asylum for the Criminally Insane” and a musical show “The Edge of Madness: Still Crazy.”

The Sandusky Register quotes CEO Dick Kinzel of parent company Cedar Fair as saying the haunted house will keep the hospital theme but be renamed. He says Cedar Point doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

A park spokesman says the show will change to “The Edge of Madness: Six Feet Under.”

NAMI Ohio chapter executive director Terry Russell says Cedar Point is moving in the right direction.

Events, News and Updates

Wheels of Thunder IV returns to Cedar Point

Leave a comment

Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio, Aug. 12, 2011 – Trucks, cars, interactive displays and special appearances by drivers await race fans as Wheels of Thunder returns to Cedar Point for the fourth consecutive year from Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 16-18 at the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort.

Different drivers will be visiting the park every day with public appearances planned for each day of the three-day event. Guests may also be able to win a special ride with their favorite driver. There will also be vehicles and exhibits on display all three days near the Dodgem bumper cars on the park’s main midway.

The event opens with ThorSport Racing Day on Tuesday, Aug. 16 when drivers from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be at the park. Visiting the park that day will be Johnny Sauter, who is in second place in Driver Championship Points, two-time winner Matt Crafton and another recent winner, Dakoda Armstrong, who won the Winchester 200 in Winchester, Va., earlier this summer.

In addition to the driver appearances, there will also be three ThorSport trucks and the Michigan International Speedway’s (MIS) interactive racing-themed trailer that features simulators, race video, helmets and driver suits.

On Wednesday, Aug. 17, NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya will be at the park to meet fans and sign autographs. Afterward, 34 lucky contest-winners will be able to take a ride on the Millennium Force roller coaster with him. Currently, he ranks 17th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings and finished sixth in the Daytona 500. Besides the MIS trailer, a Jeff Gordon Pepsi Show Car, a Pepsi transport truck, racing simulator and interactive tire changer will be on display.

That morning the park will also host a scavenger hunt with winners earning a seat for a 30-minute ride on the Goodyear Blimp later that afternoon. The Goodyear Blimp will cruise nearly 1,000 feet above the ground and will offer picturesque views of Cedar Point and Sandusky Bay. Just “Like” Cedar Point and the Goodyear Blimp on Facebook to watch for clues in the days before the event.

Other prizes include front-of-the-line access to the ride of your choice, an opportunity to meet Montoya and other great prizes from Goodyear. Wheels of Thunder will conclude on Thursday, Aug. 18 when Matt Kenseth will make two special appearances at the park to meet fans and sign autographs. Afterward, 20 contest-winners will be able to ride the Dodgems with him. Kenseth has already notched two wins this summer and is in sixth place in the points standings. The Jeff Gordon Pepsi Show Car, Pepsi transport truck, racing simulator and interactive tire changer will also be on display.

For more information about Wheels of Thunder, please visit cedarpoint.com or call the park’s general information line at 419-627-2350.

News and Updates, News Stories

Cedar Point game warehouse, restaurant building catch fire

Leave a comment

From the Sandusky Register…

Cedar Point Johnny Rocket's Fire

SANDUSKY

(UPDATED) A Cedar Point building that houses a restaurant and game storage area caught fire early Friday morning, prompting Sandusky firefighters to call in additional manpower to handle the blaze.

A Cedar Point security officer noticed the blaze at about 12:30 a.m.

Cedar Point’s firefighters went to the scene, but the park’s dispatcher quickly asked Sandusky fire to help fight the blaze.

The building, which houses Johnny Rockets restaurant and a game warehouse, is located on the east side of the midway near the park’s entrance.

Sandusky firefighters arrived and immediately called in additional crews from other shifts, a Sandusky fire dispatcher said. All told, about 15 Sandusky firefighters fought the fire.

At about 1:20 a.m. police scanner traffic indicated firefighters had knocked down the brunt of the blaze, but some flames and smoke still lingered.

At least three fire trucks and one ladder truck responded, as well as one ambulance. Sandusky fire didn’t call any other fire departments to provide mututal aid.

Cedar Point spokesman Robin Innes, who arrived at the park at about 1:30 a.m., said no one was injured and the building was empty when the fire started.

The park had also cleared of guests by 11 p.m., so the fire had no impact on visitors.

The fire itself wasn’t large, Innes said, and the flames were limited mostly to the warehouse area. Johnny Rockets sustained some water and smoke damage.

“Everybody’s safe, no injuries,” Innes said. “Tomorrow it’ll be business as usual.”

The park still plans to open at 9 a.m. Friday for early-entry guests and 10 a.m. for the general public.

***(UPDATE)***

Sandusky fire officials say the fire was likely ignighted by a fluorescent sign in a hallway of the building. The blaze is currently being considered accidental.

Cedar Point Johnny Rocket's Fire

 

Admission, Apps, Media, News and Updates, Rides

Cedar Point launches new mobile website and app

Leave a comment

Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio – A trip to Cedar Point just got a whole lot easier as the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort has two new ways to help guests with a need to know. Cedar Point has recently launched a new and improved mobile website and an iPhone and Android app.

The Cedar Point MyPark™ App, available as a free download on iPhone- and Android-powered mobile phones, is the ideal tool to plan a trip and save time during a visit to the park. Users will be able to immediately find live shows and food outlets, plus restrooms, ATMs and lockers. The app will feature a map of the park and will designate the user’s location. As the guest moves, their location will change on the park map, taking advantage of the smartphones’ GPS location technology.

Mobile App Homescreen Mobile App Millennium Force

The new mobile website, found at mypark.cedarpoint.com, streamlines information on the full version of the website and caters to guests’ information needs whether they are inside or outside the park. Guests can easily find directions to the park, pricing information or check the day’s special activities and more.

“As mobile technologies have improved, more and more of our guests are using their phones to access information about the park. It was important to make sure they had a convenient and effective way to find the information they need, said Rebecca Baker, Cedar Point’s interactive marketing coordinator. “With the new mobile website and smartphone app, we have made it easier to find information, save time and make their visit to the park more enjoyable.”

Other features of the new app include a “Friend Finder” that will help guests locate other members of their party. There is also a listing of food menus and live show schedules. Users will also be able to purchase tickets and/or season passes or make reservations for overnight accommodations at a Cedar Point Resort Property.

The app will be useful to guests even after the park closes for the night. They can use the app to mark their car when they arrive and then can easily locate it at the end of the day.

Both the app and the new mobile website will also allow users to interact with Cedar Point through social media. They can connect to the user’s Facebook and/or Twitter accounts to send instant posts or photos and “like” Cedar Point rides. Guests can also instantly read Cedar Point’s posts tweets and blogs directly.

Information and photographs of the park’s rides are also available on both the app and mobile website.

For more information about the Cedar Point MyPark App, please visit cedarpoint.com or www.facebook.com/cedarpoint.

Admission, Deals, Events, News and Updates, Season Passes

Buy now and save big on a visit to Cedar Point

Leave a comment

Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio – With the start of the school year rapidly approaching, now is the best time to buy and save big on your next visit to Cedar Point.

There are several opportunities to save at least $12 on a one-day visit to the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort. But you must act quickly!

For a limited time, Cedar Point is now offering Pick-A-Date tickets on its website (cedarpoint.com). Select a specific date to visit the park and save $12 per ticket. Tickets can be used on a different date with an upgrade.

Now through Sunday, Aug. 14, Discount Drug Mart stores in Cleveland, Columbus and Youngstown are now offering tickets for only $37.99. These tickets will be valid on any operating day through Sunday, Oct. 30.

Participating AAA offices in the Cleveland area are now offering online tickets for a one-day ticket to the park for only $35, a savings of nearly $15 per ticket. To purchase these tickets, Cleveland-area AAA members should visit www.aaaohio.com. Tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, Aug. 31 and will be valid on any operating day through Sunday, Oct. 30.

Platinum Pass and Season Passholders at Cedar Point can also take advantage of Bring-A-Friend Sundays and save $30 on a ticket. Tickets must be purchased at the park on Sundays through Sept. 4.

Please visit cedarpoint.com for more details. Tickets for juniors, age 3 and older, under 48 inches tall, and Seniors, age 62 and older, are only $24.99. Children, age 2 and under, are free.

With 75 rides, including 17 roller coasters, Cedar Point has more rides than any park in the world.

New this summer is WindSeeker, a 301-foot-tall swing ride that spins riders nearly 30-stories above the Cedar Point Beach. Near the front of the park, Pink’s, a Hollywood legend for more than 72 years, serves gourmet hot dogs, chili dogs, onion rings with fresh toppings. It is its first franchise east of Las Vegas.

In addition to its thrilling roller coasters, Cedar Point also has a huge assortment of family rides such as the 136-foot-tall Giant Wheel Ferris wheel, the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad and three antique carrousels, plus a variety of entertaining live shows.

Cedar Point will be open daily through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5. The park will reopen for a Bonus Weekend and HalloWeekends, Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 9-11 through Oct. 28-30.

For more information about these big savings opportunities at Cedar Point, please visit Admission (Online Deals) under Plan A Visit at cedarpoint.com or call the park’s General Information Line at 419.627.2350.