Cedar Point Park Serves Up Thrills and More

Rated among the best of the traditional amusement parks, Cedar Point opened in 1870 and has not stopped growing since. Located in Sandusky, Ohio, on a peninsula along Lake Erie that has long beckoned beachgoers, the coasters at Cedar Point are as much of a draw. Cedar Point is one of the theme parks with the most roller coasters in the world. It also boasts some of the best thrill machines.

In addition to the amusement park, Cedar Point offers the Cedar Shores water park, a marina, a beach, and multiple accommodations. With the Castaway Bay Indoor Water Park Resort, year-round fun is now available. Be aware that the park is huge—1.5 miles from the front entrance to the back of the park—so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and plan out your day so you're not constantly crisscrossing the park.

The Roller Coaster Capital of the World

Cedar Point offers 17 roller coasters, which include a variety of styles and thrill levels. Among the highlights:

• Top Thrill Dragster is the 420-foot-high rocket coaster that dominates the park's skyline. During the short 17-second ride, riders are launched from zero to white knuckles at 120 mph. When it debuted, it was the world’s fastest and tallest coaster.
• Millennium Force is a 300-foot "Giga-coaster" and one of the park’s most popular coasters. In just two minutes, at speeds up to 95 mph, riders shoot over hills, past lagoons, and through tunnels.
• Steel Vengeance debuted in 2018 as the world’s tallest and fastest wooden-steel hybrid coaster. Many fans consider this to be the park’s best coaster (and we agree).
• In terms of height and speed, the comparatively small Maverick is not in the same league as some of the behemoth thrill machines lining the midway at Cedar Point. But the highly acclaimed launch coaster proves the adage that size doesn’t matter. It is one of the park’s best coasters.
• With a height of 223 feet, a top speed of 75 mph and two 90-degree drops, Valravn was the world's tallest dive coaster when it opened.
• Magnum XL-200 is the first hypercoaster to break the 200-foot threshold. Riders are treated to fabulous views while accelerating over hills, through tunnels, and the signature pretzel turnaround.
• Gatekeeper, a wing coaster that features cars with seats on either side of the track, greets visitors at the front of the park

Plenty of Other Rides

In addition to its crazy collection of coasters, Cedar Point also offers an astonishing array of other rides, such as carousels, kiddie rides, spinning rides, and water rides. In fact, the park claims to have more rides than any other place in the world.

Other thrill rides include the 240-foot-tall Power Tower, the 70 mph pendulum rde, maXair, and the 301-foot-tall swing ride, WindSeeker. The whole family can travel aboard Snoopy's Express Railroad or have fun on Peanuts Road Rally. The littlest ones can be mini-aviators flying through the sky on the Red Baron, a fleet of WW1 biplanes.

Other Things to Do

Cedar Point Shores Waterpark, which offers a huge collection of water slides and other attractions, requires a separate admission from the amusement park. In addition to swimming and lounging on Cedar Point Beach, visitors can go parasailing, rent a Jet-Ski-like personal watercraft, and take a cruise aboard The Jet Express. There are also kayaks and paddle boards to rent.

Cedar Point also operates an indoor water park, Castaway Bay, which is open year-round. Although it is relatively small (compared to mega-parks, such as Kalahari Sandusky), it includes a surprising number of attractions including an uphill water coaster. Castaway Bay requires a separate admission from Cedar Point.

What’s New at Cedar Point?

Cedar Point had planned to mark its 150th anniversary in 2020, but it postponed the celebration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the events and new attractions now set to launch in 2021 are:

• Celebrate 150 Spectacular– A nighttime parade with floats, lights, music, and more commemorating Cedar Point’s storied history.
• Town Hall– A pop-up museum with exhibits tracing the park’s long history.
• Snake River Expedition– A new, narrated boat ride will recruit passengers for a clandestine mission to smuggle cargo.

What’s to Eat?

The huge park has a wide variety of dining options. Among the table-service restaurants are Bay Harbor, which specializes in seafood, and Famous Dave’s, a BBQ joint. Both are located in the Cedar Point Marina. Other eateries include Hugo’s Italian Kitchen and and the smokehouse, BackbeatQue.

Where to Stay?

There are a number of hotels and motels in Sandusky, including a few that Cedar Point operates. The most upscale is the historic Hotel Breakers, which is located adjacent to the park and overlooks Lake Erie. Other options include the budget-level Express Hotel, cabins, cottages, and RV sites at Lighthouse Point, and the indoor water park resort, Castaway Bay.

Tickets and Admission Info

Cedar Point offers substantially discounted tickets for seniors, 62 and older, and juniors under 48 inches tall. Children under 3 are admitted free. Various season pass tickets are available online and at the park. The Platinum Pass includes unlimited entry to all parks in the Cedar Fair chain, which includes Kings Island in Ohio and Knott's Berry Farm in California.

The park also offers VIP tours and Fast Lane, a program that allows guests to bypass the lines.