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oward the end of the 1940's, Cedar Point's future as a resort looked discouraging. In 1949, the G. A. Boeckling Company neared bankruptcy and Ed Smith, who had run the park since George Boeckling's death, retired as president of the company. After nearly being sold, Torrence Melrose leased the peninsula for the 1950 and 1951 season. Gaudy bright orange and white painted buildings gleamed on the midway, in 1950, to catch visitor's attention, and to show that the park was being improved. Also that season a road was built to the Hotel Breakers so guests wouldn't have to carry their luggage to the parking lot or docks.
At the end of the 1950 season, Dan Schneider took control of the lease of Cedar Point and became president. At about this time, the decaying Cyclone roller coaster was torn down. The amount of money to refurbish the roller coaster was unavailable at the time. Also at the end of the 1951 season, the steamer G. A. Boeckling made its last trip to Cedar Point and was sent to Wisconsin to be used as a floating warehouse. The public dreaded having their old ship gone, but Cedar Point introduced three new all-steel vessels over the next few years. The new sixty-five foot boats were named G. A. Boeckling II, Cedar Point & Cedar Point II. Also around this time, a series of jetties were built to protect the precious white sand beach from erosion. Made from sandstone, these jetties remain today near the Sandcastle Suites Hotel on the tip of the peninsula.
The classic Fascination game, that countless guests enjoyed until 2001, was added in 1955. The point of this 'game of chance' is to roll a series of balls into holes that connect to make straight or diagonal lines, much like BINGO. The first player to make a straight line is the winner of a Fascination coupon that can be redeemed for a prize.
New housing plans plagued Cedar Point's future when residential businessman George Roose and his partner Emile Legros acquired the property in 1956. Their intentions to turn the resort into a housing development seemed to be coming to pass until public outcry arose. The state government got involved in the controversy and stated if they tried to turn the land into a residential community, that the state would purchase the land. The housing plans came to an end when they saw that Dan Schneider's lease of the land wasn't over until 1959.
The Chaussee, which was the only road that connected Cedar Point to the mainland, was crowded on busy days and disturbed the residents that lived on the peninsula. The remedy to this problem was the addition of the Cedar Point Causeway, which opened in 1957. Built on part of the peninsula that jetted out, the Cedar Point Causeway cost $600,000 to build and remains today where most guests enter the park.
Built under large shady trees with attractive landscaping, the Cadillac Cars first pleased guests with miniature antique cars in 1958. Drivers of these replica automobiles drove on a guide track and traveled through and under a beautiful covered bridge.
For the 1959 season, improvements were seen throughout the resort. A beautiful new marina opened on the site of the old pier area containing 250 dock spaces. Also that year, the Wild Mouse was added where the Raptor roller coaster now stands. This compact roller coaster used two passenger cars. The most popular ride to open that year was the Monorail. Located on the area of today's Blue Streak roller coaster, the Monorail was purchased from Akron's Summit Beach Park. Trains were suspended nine feet from the ground and traveled a three-quarter mile of track with gasoline motors.
In 1961, Cedar Point, Inc. was formed in place of the old G. A. Boeckling Company and offered stock to investors. The dirt midway was paved this year and it was about this time when the park began to transform from the old Cedar Point to the Cedar Point most know today.
A year later in 1962, the Wild Mouse roller coaster was removed and in its place the Scamper was added. The wooden structure ride was built in the area of today's Corkscrew roller coaster turnaround and Matterhorn ride. Also debuting that year was the Sky Wheel double ferris wheel. Standing an amazing eighty-five feet above the midway, the ride opened in the center of the midway. (Page 1 IPage 2 IPage 3 IPage 4 IPage 5 IPage 6 IPage 7 IPage 8 IPage 9 IPage 10 IPage 11)

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