Cedar Point Timeline 1970 - 1999

From its humble beginnings as a simple beach and bathhouse in 1870 to the mega-resort it is today, Cedar Point has undergone many changes. Here’s a look back at the park’s unique history in a timeline featuring enhancements and changes to America’s Roller Coast®!

1970: This was Cedar Point's Centennial year. WildCat, Bayern Kurve, Dodgem #2, Monster, Schwabinchen, Calypso and Super Himalaya open. Centennial Theatre (now the Jack Aldrich Theatre) opens. Kiddieland (Kiddy Kingdom) was opened at its present site with 14 rides and a Lost Children's area. Sealand, a large walk-through marine exhibit, opened on the beach. Sealand had eye-level windows for guest viewing of sharks, penguins, and a variety of other aquatic animals. The aquarium was razed after the 2001 season to make room for Wicked Twister. WildCat lived in several locations until it was removed from its home on the Million Dollar Midway just prior to the opening of the 2012 season to make way for expansions to Celebration Plaza. 

1971: Trabant opens. Connecting Frontier Town with the main midway, the Frontier Trail was built near the lagoons on the bay side of the peninsula. It offered a shaded walkway with log cabins and craft demonstrations, Fort Sandusky and the Petting Farm. Camper Village RV Campground opens with 224 RV campsites.

1972: Frontier Town Carousel, Jumbo Jet, Giant Wheel and Matterhorn open.

1975: The Cedar Point Cinema with IMAX projection system opened in June. "Man Belongs to the Earth" was shown. The Cinema had a total area of 19,000 square feet. The area was divided into the Cinema Showcase and the Main Theatre. (The Main Theatre housed one of the world's largest indoor motion picture screens -- 66 feet high by 88 feet wide.) 950 guests watched the film in the Main Theatre while guests in the Cinema Showcase were entertained by the zany Showcase performers. The Cedar Point Cinema was converted to the Good Time Theatre in 2002.

1976: The red, white and blue Corkscrew roller coaster debuts at Cedar Point. Troika opens. "Circus World" was shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1977: Witches' Wheel opens. "To Fly" was shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1978: The Gemini racing roller coaster opens as the tallest and fastest scream machine on the planet. "North of Superior" was shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1979: Jr. Gemini and Wave Swinger open. "Man Belongs to the Earth" was shown in the Cedar Point Cinema. In May, Robert L. Munger, Jr. was elected President and Chairman of the Board.

1980: Oceana, a 1,600-seat dolphin stadium and aquazoo, opens. "To Fly" once again played in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1981: Ocean Motion opens. "Living Planet" was shown in the Cedar Point Cinema. Sky Wheel, Funhouse and Shoot-the-Rapids were removed after the season.

1982: White Water Landing opens (removed after 2005 season). Kid Arthur's Court opens (removed after 1999 season). "Hail Columbia" was shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1983: Demon Drop opens. "Flyers" was shown in the Cedar Point Cinema. Cedar Fair, L.P. was formed with Robert L. Munger, Jr. its Chief Executive Officer.

1985: Avalanche Run (re-themed as Disaster Transport in 1990) opens. Berenstain Bear Country indoor complex opens. "Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1986: Thunder Canyon white water raft ride opens. Sir Rub-A-Dub's Tubs added to Kiddy Kingdom. "The Dream Is Alive" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema. Steadily declining health forces Robert L. Munger, Jr. to step down. Richard L. Kinzel became the new President and Chief Executive Officer.

1987: Iron Dragon suspended coaster opens. "On the Wing" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1988: Soak City waterpark opens. The original complex consisted of 10 slides. In 1990, Main Stream and Tadpole Town were added. In 1995, Zoom Flume, Renegade River and Choo-Choo Lagoon were added. A 6.5-acre addition in 1997 included a 22,500-sq. ft. wave pool, an action slide area with three twisting enclosed inner tube raft slides, an activity pool section with various interactive water elements and an adult activity area with whirpools and a swimup refreshment center. Splash Zone was added in 2004. "Skyward" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1989: The world’s first coaster to top the elusive 200-foot-tall threshold, the Magnum XL-200, opens. "North of Superior" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1990: Sandcastle Suites opened with 96 suites. In 1992, 91 additional suites were added.

1991: Mean Streak opens as the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster on planet Earth. "A Freedom To Move" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1992: Challenge Park, featuring an exciting go-kart track and two 18-hole miniature golf courses, opens. Outdoor complex added to Bernstain Bear Country, including Bear County Railroad. "To Fly" is once again shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1993: Snake River Falls, the tallest, fastest and steepest water flume ride in the world, opens. "Flyers" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema."

1994: Cedar Point unleashes Raptor as the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in the world. "Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1995: Breakers East is added to Hotel Breakers. "Flight of the Aquanaut" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema. Laser Show projected on a huge screen measuring 50 ft. high by 72 ft. wide near Main Train Station.

1996: The $12 million Mantis opens as the tallest and fastest stand-up roller coaster in the universe. "Speed" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1997: Chaos opens. "Speed" is once again shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1998: Cedar Point debuts Power Tower, a 300-foot-tall thriller that either launches its riders up 240 feet or blasts them down 240 feet at speeds of up to 50 mph. "Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.

1999: Lucy, Linus, Charlie Brown and everyone’s favorite beagle, Snoopy, help Cedar Point open Camp Snoopy, a family playland that features seven rides, including the Woodstock Express roller coaster. The Aquatic Stadium, a 1,600 seat capacity complex featuring Splash!, an innovative and daring high diving demonstration opens (originally opened as Oceana dolphin stadium in 1980. Breakers Tower is added to Hotel Breakers. "Extreme" is shown in the Cedar Point Cinema.