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Cedar Point

The Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. The Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than 200 feet (61 m). As of 2010, Cedar Point has more rides (75) than any other amusement park.

The Cedar Point also has a mile-long white sand beach, an outdoor water park (Soak City), an indoor waterpark and the hotel (Castaway Bay), two marinas, several hotels, and Challenge Park, which features attractions such as go-karts, miniature golf, Ripcord and Skyscraper. Known as "America's Roller Coast", Cedar Point has been deemed "Best Amusement Park in the World" by Amusement Today for the past thirteen years.

The Cedar Point park opened in 1870, and is the second oldest amusement park in North America after Six Flags New England which was opened in 1840 as Riverside Amusement Park (Six Flags bought it in 1995 and renamed it Six Flags New England). Cedar Point is the flagship park for Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (which is headquartered at the park) and, along with Valleyfair, was one of the original parks owned and operated by the company. Cedar Point's normal operating season runs daily from early May through Labor Day, then for nine weekends following Labor Day. Operating hours vary throughout the summer, but on most days the park opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m. However, on July 4, the park stays open until 1 a.m. Cedar Point also has six resorts

In the 1860s, during the American Civil War, the housing for a battery of 4 field artillery pieces was constructed at the tip of the peninsula to guard access to the confederate prisoner of war camp on nearby Johnson's Island. When the war ended, Cedar Point resumed its role as a summer picnic area, and the initial park was constructed in 1870. In 1870, Louis Zistel, a German immigrant, who was a cabinet maker at the time in Sandusky, Ohio, constructed a beer garden with a small dance floor on the peninsula. He also made a set of small, unsightly bathhouses, and constructed a couple of children's playground attractions. Zistel charged 25 cents a ticket to get a ride from Sandusky to Cedar Point on his boat, "Young Reindeer." In 1871, there had been no indication of Cedar Point reopening. The activity level at Cedar Point from 1871 until 1878 was nearly zero. In 1878, James West opened a group of bathhouses, when there were no boating services to Cedar Point. Benjamin F. Dwelle and Captain William Slackford made a lease with the peninsula's owners, Adolph and Stoll, in 1882, and started to make major improvements for the upcoming season.

Thrill rides

• Calypso – A Mack Calypso ride that spins riders in two degrees of motion.
• The Cedar Downs Racing Derby Built in 1920 by Prior and the Church and brought to the Cedar Point in 1967, this Carousel simulates a horse race and is one of only three still operating today. The other 2 are located at Playland, in Rye, New York; and Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, in Blackpool, UK.
• Dodgem - A classic bumper car attraction.
• Matterhorn – A Mack Matterhorn circular ride that swings riders as it moves in a clockwise motion while traveling up and down.
• maXair – A Huss Giant Frisbee ride that holds 50 riders, which swings back and forth at an arc of up to 120 degrees and reaches a height of 140 feet (43 m)
• Monster – A standard Eyerly Monster ride.
• Power Tower – A drop tower ride featuring both a Space Shot and Turbo Drop. Power Tower is the only four-towered drop tower ride in the world, devoting two towers to each drop cycle. All four towers are 240 feet (73 m) tall
• Scrambler – An Eli Bridge Scrambler ride that is one of the oldest rides at Cedar Point.
• Skyhawk – An S&S Screamin' Swing, which is currently the world's largest swinging ride. It reaches a height of 125 feet (38 m), speed of 60 mph (97 km/h), and swings up to an arc of 92 degrees

• 4x4's
• Balloon Race
• Bumper Boats
• Camp Bus
• Dune Buggies
• Flying Ace Balloon Race
• Frog Hopper
• Helicopters
• Hot Rods
• Kite Eating Tree