Many of us were in for an unexpected announcement that occurred in the Cedar Point world just last month. Aside from other Cedar Fair organizational changes, it was made public that Dan Keller, general manager of Cedar Point since 2000 and Cedar Fair employee for over thirty years, will be retiring on March 11, 2005.

Assuming Keller's position as general manager of Cedar Point will be 55 year-old John Hildebrandt, who has been associated with Cedar Fair for a solid 31 years. This includes over ten years serving as vice president of marketing at Cedar Point, so being with "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World" again will be nothing new to him. Despite his marketing days at Cedar Point, however, Hildebrandt has more recently served as vice president and general manager of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. He was appointed to that position less than a year ago, in May of 2004.

With all of the changes going on at Cedar Point right now, along with ones that we are bound to see in the future, it is important to remember the footprint that Dan Keller left in Cedar Point's history. In his four short years as general manager, he contributed greatly to the park's ever-growing success. He was a man that I personally will always look up to, and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I wish him a happy retirement, as he certainly deserves it. Currently, he is on vacation until he officially retires. One can only imagine what kinds of changes we will see at Cedar Point under Hildebrandt's management, but I believe it is safe to say that only time will tell.