Monday, March 30, 2020

Cedar Point 100th Anniversary Article – March 1970

Despite the disruption of life as we know it by the Coronavirus, Cedar Point is still hoping to open in May for its big 150th Anniversary season. I’m hoping they’re right. (Here’s the story as covered in the Sandusky Register.)

Back in March 1970, Cedar Point was getting ready to open for its – what else? – 100th Anniversary season. That’s the subject of the article above, which appeared in the Journal on March 13th.

 As part of the celebration that year, Cedar Point unveiled ten new amusement rides, including the original Wildcat, which was a pretty nifty little steel roller coaster. It made for a memorable ride because each car only accommodated four riders.

The original Wildcat
(Courtesy www.cpamericasrollercoast.com)
Click here to read about the two Cedar Point rides with the Wildcat name on the great www.cpamericasrollercoast.com website. The page includes some great vintage photos, such as the one above.
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3 comments:

  1. JayMarch 30, 2020 at 5:46 PM

    I miss the old Cedar Point growing up in the 80s. It was more family friendly. Mill Race, White Water Landing, Chicken Patio, and places to go when it was hot to cool off like Pirate Ride, Earthquake, and the theater as well as Disaster Transport. Bigger is not always better.

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  2. AnonymousApril 4, 2020 at 5:24 AM

    Very much agree with Jay. Don't forget the aquarium/stadium with dolphins! Space Spiral with the great views (any good amusement park had one of these...or an Eiffel Tower like at Kings Island). Of course, Jungle Larry. It really was "the Amazement Park" back-in-the-day. Now I call it "the Disappointment Park."

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  3. AnonymousAugust 26, 2020 at 8:35 AM

    February 1, 1952 — Sandusky Register from Sandusky, Ohio —- Page 8:
    "NORWALK, Feb. 1 — Kiwanians at their weekly meeting were given some of the 70-year history of Cedar Point by W. H. Evans, public relations director of the resort."
    (also, the Norwalk Reflector, same date (Feb.1), twice mentions that 1952 is Cedar Point's "70th season", as per W.H.Evans.) {Thanks goes to an anonymous Wikipedia contributor, for posting that newspaper info.}
    [And, incidentally, notice that W.H. (“Bill”) Evans continued to be the CP p.r. guy even during the time that CP instead decided to go with "1870" as their opening-year—circa-1970. (However, prior to W.H.Evans tenure — '1898' was consistently promoted as their "first season".) ]

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