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How America's largest theme park vanished in less than a decade
It may have started as a public beach in the 19th century, but Cedar Point has grown into one of the top destinations for thrills in the nation.
The Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park boasts some of the world's tallest and fastest roller coasters, including two of its most recent additions — Siren's Curse and Top Thrill 2.
But in 1870, Cedar Point debuted as a beach and bathhouse — and one that people reached by steamer instead of traversing the park's long, narrow peninsula, according to Cedar Point's history. From there, Cedar Point has grown into the huge resort and destination for roller coaster enthusiasts that it is today.
Here's a look back at its history, from the park's official timeline and previous Akron Beacon Journal reporting.
Cedar Point opened as a public beach; first roller coaster opened in 1892
Here's a brief look at Cedar Point's history:
1870: Cedar Point opens as a public bathing beach. The first passengers arrive on the steamer "Young Reindeer."
1882: A dock is built at Biemiller's Cove area, along with a new dance hall and eight bathhouses.
1892: The park’s first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, opens. It stood 25 feet tall and reached a top speed of 10 mph.
1905: Hotel Breakers welcomes its first guests. It continues to operate today.
1911: Cedar Point announced that a roadway would be built, connecting it with the main roads coming into Sandusky.
1914: On July 19, the roadway (Cedar Point Chausee) was opened.
1929: The Cedar Point Cyclone roller coaster opens. It closed in 1951.
1946: The Midway Carousel debuts at Cedar Point.
1962: Sky Wheel opens.
1964: The Blue Streak opens. It is the oldest roller coaster still operating at Cedar Point today.
1969: The Cedar Creek Mine Ride, one of the first roller coasters to utilize steel tubular track, opens.
Cedar Point celebrates centennial with several new rides
1970: This was Cedar Point's Centennial year. New rides like WildCat, Bayern Kurve, Dodgem #2, Monster, Schwabinchen, Calypso and Super Himalaya open, as well as Centennial Theatre (now the Jack Aldrich Theatre). Kiddieland (Kiddy Kingdom) was opened at its present site with 14 rides and a Lost Children's area. Sealand, a large walk-through marine exhibit, opened on the beach.
1975: The Cedar Point Cinema with IMAX projection system opened in June. "Man Belongs to the Earth" was shown.
1976: The red, white and blue Corkscrew roller coaster debuts.
1977: Witches' Wheel opens.
1978: The Gemini racing roller coaster opens.
1983: Demon Drop opens.
1987: Iron Dragon suspended coaster opens.
1988: Soak City waterpark opens. The original complex consisted of 10 slides.
Cedar Point roller coasters set height, speed, length records
1989: Magnum XL-200, the world’s first coaster to top the 200-foot-tall threshold, opens.
1991: Mean Streak opens as the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world.
1994: Cedar Point unleashes Raptor as the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in the world.
1996: The $12 million Mantis opens as the tallest and fastest stand-up roller coaster.
2000: Millennium Force, then the tallest (310 feet) and fastest (93 mph) "giga-coaster," debuts.
2003: The 420-foot-tall, 120-mph Top Thrill Dragster opens.
2007: Cedar Point opens the Maverick roller coaster.
2015: Rougarou debuted as the first floorless roller coaster at Cedar Point. Hotel Breakers reopens after a 2-year renovation.
2016: Valravn, the tallest, fastest and longest dive roller coaster in the world, opens.
2018: Steel Vengeance, a reimagined wood-steel hybrid in the image of the closed Mean Streak, opens.
2020: Cedar Point’s 150th anniversary season. The park opens for the season in July due to the coronavirus pandemic.
2024: Top Thrill 2, the world's tallest and fastest triple-launch strata coaster, debuts. It is a reimagining of the Top Thrill Dragster. Six Flags and Cedar Fair, Cedar Point's owner, merge to create Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.
2025: Siren's Curse, billed as the tallest, fastest and longest “tilt” roller coaster in America, opens.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: See photos of 150 years of Cedar Point history, roller coasters, rides
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