Home l History l Post Cards l Features l Archives Then & Nowl Lost Rides l Coaster Index l About Us l Links

[1 I2 I3 I4 I5 I6 I7 I8 I9 I10 I11]
ndeed, the year 1970 was a year for celebration. For it was the year Cedar Point celebrated its 100th anniversary. To mark this monumental occasion, the park made many additions. The biggest addition was the new Million-Dollar Midway. This midway is the midway where today's Mantis roller coaster and Cedar Point Cinema is located. The Bayern Kurve, opening on the new midway, featured a bobsled themed train that ran in a circle, with a small hill in the back of the ride. Built across the old Grand Pavilion, the WildCat roller coaster deputed that year with a blue and red structure. Children could enjoy a new Kiddle Land, known today as Kiddy Kingdom, that was built next to the massive Coliseum with an antique carousel as its centerpiece. The Hollywood Wax Museum was converted into the live show theatre called the Centennial Theatre in mark of Cedar Point's Centennial.
Frontiertown was connected with a midway in 1971 when the Frontier Trail opened on the northwest side of the peninsula. Themed like Frontiertown, this path features authentic log cabins and various shops. Near the tip of the peninsula, Camper Village was also added in 1971 for the use of guests with recreational vehicles.
The mammoth Giant Wheel ferris wheel debuted in 1972 behind the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad Station on the new Million-Dollar Midway. The 168-foot ride features over 7,996 light bulbs, which put on a dazzling light show at night. The Frontiertown Carousel, built by William H. Dentzel, featured 66-piece menagerie of animals and chariots. This carousel was added to Frontiertown in 1972 from an amusement park in Michigan. The Jumbo Jet roller coaster with its all steel structure and track opened in 1972 along the beach area where the Cyclone once stood. When it opened, it was said to be the fastest in America and had banked turns as steep as seventy degrees.
In 1975, Robert Munger, Jr. became the new president of the thriving peninsula, replacing presidents George Roose and Emile Legros. New that year, was the Cedar Point Cinema with an IMAX® projection system. The 19,000 square-foot theatre debuted on the Million-Dollar Midway near the old Cedars Hotel.
The Corkscrew roller coaster opened in 1976 and was the first roller coaster ever to have three inversions. The ride was built over part of the midway near the lagoons and Hotel Breakers. The lift hill is eighty-five feet tall and the ride reaches speeds of forty-eight miles per hour. Near the new Corkscrew, the Troika fast-moving circular ride opened that year with three large arms that hold gondolas that move counterclockwise while the ride rotates clockwise.
The Dodgem bumper cars opened the next year in 1977 near the Corkscrew roller coaster station. A little further down the midway, the Witches' Wheel opened as well that year. An exciting variation of the Ferris wheel, the Witches' Wheel rises almost sixty feet while it turns guests upside-down.
The one hundred twenty-five-foot tall Gemini opened in 1978 and was the tallest roller coaster in the world. As the name suggests, there are two separate tracks in which riders get to race the other train when ride is in operation reaching speeds of sixty miles per hour. After dismissing the idea of starting a new park from scratch, Cedar Point purchased Valleyfair Amusement Park in 1978. This Minnesota amusement park was originally built in 1976 and was already successful before Cedar Point purchased it. (Page 1 IPage 2 IPage 3 IPage 4 IPage 5 IPage 6 IPage 7 IPage 8 IPage 9 IPage 10 IPage 11)

Home l History l Post Cards l Features l Archives Then & Nowl Lost Rides l Coaster Index l About Us l Links

Copyright © Cedar Point-on-Lake Erie. Please view our Site Notice.
Problems? Questions? Email the Webmaster at webmaster@cedarpointonlakeerie.com