HOW TO GO
What: Cedar Point
Where: One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky
More info: (419) 627-2350 or cedarpoint.com
Season Pass: $117, $111 for renewals
Adult admission: $44.99 (online) $54.99 (gate). Note: Does not include admission to get into Soak City at Cedar Point
Child admission: $29.99
Parking: $12
Opens: May 11
Closes: Oct. 27
Hours of operation: Varies. Check website for details
Number of roller coasters: 18
Total number of rides: 76
New this year: GateKeeper — a wing-coaster record 4,164 feet of track with the longest drop (165 feet), tallest inversion (170 feet), the most inversions (six) and fastest speed (67 miles per hour) of any wing coaster.
New last year: Dinosaurs Alive! on Adventure Island, a prehistoric themed attraction that is located on the wooded island that sits on the lagoons in the middle of the park. Like Kings Island, this attraction is an additional $5 per person.
Food: Cedar Point features quick service locations, full-service restaurants and specialty carts and wagons inside the amusement park. Food locations can also be found in the Hotel Breakers; Sandcastle Suites; Castaway Bay; at the Cedar Point Marina; Challenge Park and Soak City.
Best deal: Planning a trip to Cedar Point or Kings Island this year? Like most things, you want to purchase online for the best savings. The best value on tickets is the Pay Once, Visit Twice ticket option on each respective parks website. For single day admission price guests can visit the park twice. Visits do not need to be on consecutive dates. This ticket option is available online through or at the park. If you have plans to visit both Cedar Point and Kings Island this summer a Platinum Pass is worth considering. It offers unlimited visits, free parking and early entry to all Cedar Fair parks. For more information, go online to cedarpoint.com or visitkingsisland.com.
Cedar Point has had 143 years to refine their business, becoming one of the premiere amusement parks in the country.
The park will open on May 11 for its 144th season with more than $30 million in upgrades and accolades from visitors, industry insiders and trade publications including being voted the Best Amusement Park in the World for 15 consecutive years by the readers of Amusement Today.
The latest addition to the park is GateKeeper, a wing-coaster sporting a record 4,164 feet of track with the longest drop (165 feet), tallest inversion (170 feet), the most inversions (six) and fastest speed (up to 67 mph) of any wing coaster.
Designed by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, Monthey, the 16th roller coaster to greet visitors at the park will provide 2 minutes and 40 seconds of thrills with each ride. GateKeeper will take guests on six inversions and roll through the two keyholes, flying directly over an estimated 3 million guests who are expected to enter the park this year.
“GateKeeper’s world-record-breaking statistics, incredible flying maneuvers and special elements make it a unique coaster experience,” stated Cedar Point General Manager John Hildebrandt. “GateKeeper is a roller coaster only Cedar Point can build and we are proud to add it to our incredible lineup of world-class attractions.”
GateKeeper represents yet another major milestone for the park. Here are some other roller coaster facts about the second oldest park in the country:
• More than 12 million pounds of concrete were used in the construction of GateKeeper.
• Each piece of GateKeeper track weighs approximately 7,500 pounds.
• Each of the four pieces that make up GateKeeper’s keyhole towers weighs about 65,000 pounds.
• GateKeeper will feature three 32-passenger trains and will be able to accommodate approximately 1,710 riders per hour.
• Cedar Point now has 50,425 feet of roller coaster track — that’s more than 10 miles.
• Riders travel at 176 feet per second (120 mph) on the Top Thrill Dragster—the fastest coaster in the park.
• The Mean Streak is made of 1.7 million board feet of treated southern yellow pine.
• More than 100 tons of nuts and 568 tons of steel were used to build Magnum XL-200.
• Cedar Point features more than 150 rides, shows and attractions across the 364 acre park.
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