Guide to Cedar Point

Cedar Point is a 364-acre park in Sandusky, Ohio. It’s self-dubbed the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World.” Dating back to 1870, it is the second-oldest amusement park in the United States (Lake Compounce opened in 1846). It has a world record of 72 rides, including 17 roller coasters.

Cedar Point is a seasonal park, operating from May through October. The property includes Hotel Breakers, a 669-room beachfront resort, and the Cedar Point Shores water park. The Castaway Bay indoor water park and resort is a short drive from Cedar Point. Sawmill Creek is a resort in nearby Huron, Ohio, acquired by Cedar Point in 2019 – the resort features restaurants, shopping, a conference center, and an 18-hole golf course.

Travel Tips

• The closest major airport is Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), about a one-hour car ride to Cedar Point.

• Coaster enthusiasts may consider flying into Columbus (John Glenn Columbus International Airport) because you could ride the two coasters at the Columbus Zoo before driving north to Cedar Point.

Must-Do Attractions

• Blue Steak opened on May 23, 1964, and it’s the oldest operating coaster at Cedar Point. The wooden coaster was manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) and designed by Frank H. Hoover and John C. Allen.

• The Cedar Creek Mine Ride is a mine train coaster that opened on May 24, 1969. The coaster was manufactured by Arrow Development, which was in high demand following the invention of the tubular steel track first used on the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland.

• Corkscrew is a custom looping steel coaster manufactured by Arrow Development. It was the first coaster in the world to feature three inversions.

• The Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad is a 15-minute, western-themed train ride that opened in 1963. The park uses five steam locomotives, four of which are in operating condition.

• The Cedar Downs Racing Derby is a high-speed, circular ride resembling a carousel. It was manufactured in 1920 by Prior and Church and was sold to Cedar Point in 1965. The ride is one of two installations still operating and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP).

• GateKeeper is a steel wing coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard. The coaster opened on May 11, 2013.

• Iron Dragon is a suspended steel coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics. It’s one of five remaining suspended coasters built by Arrow.

• Magnum XL-200 was the first hypercoaster ever built, meaning it was the first coaster to exceed 200 feet. Magnum was manufactured by Arrow Dynamics and designed by Ron Toomer. It opened on May 6, 1989.

• Maverick is a steel launched coaster manufactured by Intamin. It opened on May 26, 2007.

• Millennium Force was the world’s first giga coaster, the first coaster built to exceed 300 feet. It was manufactured by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel and opened on May 13, 2000.

• The Midway Carousel is one of two known remaining Daniel Muller Carousels. It was built in 1912 and moved to Cedar Point in 1946. The ride is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP).

• Snake River Expedition is a lagoon riverboat tour with live actors and animatronics. It opened on May 29, 2021.

• Steel Vengeance is a steel coaster that opened on May 5, 2018. Rocky Mountain Construction converted the wooden coaster Mean Streak, which operated from 1991 to 2016.

• Top Thrill 2, formerly Top Thrill Dragster, is a steel-launched coaster built by Intamin that opened in 2003. Zamperla refurbished the coaster for the 2024 season.

• Valravn is a steel diver coaster that opened on May 7, 2016. It was the 100th coaster built by manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard.

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