7 of 11 History, Cedar Point-on-Lake Erie

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he year was 1963, and the park was showing a modest profit and able to invest in larger improvements. One of these improvements was the addition of the Mill Race water ride. The second such ride in the world, the Mill Race opened on the site of today's Raptor lift hill. The water flume ride featured boats that resembled logs, which would travel through flumes. The ride contained two lift hills with the second having a height of twenty-eight feet. Another addition that year was the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad. This narrow gauge railroad was built during the off season of 1962 and originally was equipped with two authentic steam locomotives. These restored locomotives pulled new passenger cars into a series of scenes and a new station was constructed on the midway for guests to board. The ski lift-like Sky Ride also opened in 1963 in the center of the new midway. Riders board gondolas at one of two stations on the midway and travel a height of ninety-two feet. Passengers on the Sky Ride are then treated to the many floral displays under the ride.

The lagoons, which were dredged in 1906, were used for the new Western Cruise riverboat ride that opened in 1964. Riverboats traveled through a series of scenes depicting such things as log cabins and animated animals. The Blue Streak was also added in 1964 on the location of the Monorail ride. This roller coaster has a seventy-eight foot high lift hill and extends out 2,400 feet. At the top of the lift hill they built a copula where the car passes through. During its first few years in operation, the ride remained unpainted. Today this ride remains as the oldest roller coaster existing at Cedar Point.

Jungle Larry's Safari opened in 1965 in the area of today's Power Tower ride. Run by zoologist Lawrence Tenzlaff and his wife, this attraction featured wild animals such as elephants, lions, birds and chimpanzees to name a few. The enormous Space Spiral opened as well that year near the beach and parking lot. This 330-foot tower rises guests up 285 feet in its rotating two-level observation deck. The splendid new ride was quick to receive the phase, "New Heights, in Fun!" and became a Cedar Point landmark.

Debuting in 1966, the Pirate Ride originally operated at Freedomland, an amusement park in New York. Located next to the Blue Streak roller coaster, the ride's ship looking trains traveled on a single track into a dark funhouse full of pirate themed scenes. Each of these scenes was lit with black lights. Also acquired from Freedomland, the San Francisco Earthquake ride was installed between the Pagoda Gift Shop and the Coliseum. Prior to boarding the ride, radio earthquake news flashes from San Francisco were played in the ride's station. During the dark ride, buildings and walls were simulated to look as if they were falling down while on the ride. The Upside-Down Funhouse opened near the new Space Spiral that year as well. The attraction included rooms such as an upside-down room, a tilted room, and a rotating barrel. At the end of the attraction, three spiral slides were used to exit the funhouse.

In 1967, the Rotor was installed near the Coliseum. Riders would enter a circular room, lean against the wall and the room would spin. The riders would 'stick' to the wall due to centripetal force and the floor would drop giving them the illusion of floating.

Since Cedar Point's beginning, the tip of the peninsula never saw any major expansions. The first development in this area was in 1968 when Frontiertown was added. This themed area features an Indiana village and town square area. A second station for the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad was added so guests could access this remote part of the park. Another way for guests to access this new themed area was the new Frontier Lift, which carried passengers from the main midway to Frontiertown. Another ride that was added to Frontiertown was the Shoot-the-Rapids water ride that opened in the area of today's White Water Landing water ride.

The next year in 1969, Frontiertown was expanded with the addition of the Cedar Creek Mine Ride. The forty-eight foot tall roller coaster opened that year and has a track length of 2,450 feet. This ride was one of the first roller coasters to use tubular steel track and was built partially over the lagoons. Also that year in Frontiertown, the Antique cars opened along with the Town Hall Museum that houses a collection of Cedar Point memorabilia.

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