Roller Coaster Road Trip 2017: Lighthouse Point at Cedar Point

As I spoke about in my last post, our visit to Cedar Point was the ultimate in roller coaster fun, but that wasn't the only great thing about that stop.  For all of our other stays on this trip, we used AirBnB for lodging, but for here, and at Gary's suggestion, we stayed on the grounds of The Point and it was spectacular!

Lighthouse Point is an area within the Cedar Point property that consists of an RV camp, cottages and cabins.  We opted to rent one of the cabins, just steps from the shores of Lake Eerie.  The rental was a little pricey, but oh so worth it.  The three of us had left Cincinnati early in the day and as we made our way up to Sandusky, my curiosity about our digs was piqued.  Gary had described it to us beforehand, but it was hard to picture just what it would be like.  All I can say is wow!  

The cabins are located just outside the park (a five-minute walk), towards the northern tip of the peninsula.  There's a common area swimming pool, a deck, and a barbecue just outside of each lodging, and the place itself is charming and clean.  It was nice to be able to escape the crowds of the park for a couple of hours and enjoy a swim, some relaxation and even some home-cooked BBQ. Oh, and discounted tickets to the park are also available to guests of Lighthouse Point.

Well, there's not much more to say about the place, except if you're ever planning on a multi-day visit to Cedar Point, this place is so worth the visit.  Check out some more pictures of the cabins of Lighthouse Point...

the front door

inside the entrance

bedroom

Gary relaxing on the deck

A view from the grounds

Rich having a giggle

Gary grillin'

So that's about it for Cedar Point.  Be sure to check out previous posts on our adventure and stay tuned for Niagara Falls...

A New Adventure Awaits

An Unplanned Stop in Pittsburgh and Kennywood

King's Island's Great Coasters

Get to the Point

Roller Coaster Road Trip 2017: Get to The Point!

Boy did we start this trip off with a bang!  After a quick, unplanned stop in Kennywood on our first day, and the wonderful day of coaster riding at King's Island on the second, our third and fourth days were to be the main event with a stop at America's Roller Coast, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Sandusky is only about a four hour ride from Cincinnati and so with an early start we were able to make it to Cedar Point by early afternoon, giving ourselves a whole day and a half of ultimate coastering.  

For those of you who've never heard of Cedar Point, well it is the Mecca for roller coaster enthusiasts all over the world.  It's collection of world class roller coasters of every kind are rivaled by all and beaten by none.  This would be my third soiree to The Point and ultimately proved to be my best visit yet to the park.

There are several talking points I'd like to make about our visit to Cedar Point, but for this post I'd like to focus on the coasters.  If you're a fan and you've never been, then maybe this post will make you want to get there. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!  Take a look at some of the best the park has to offer...

Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper is the second newest coaster at Cedar Point, opening in 2013 to much fanfare.  The ride is a the park's wing coaster and is located towards the front entrance.  It's structure is imposing, with a cool blue track hovering along the shores of Lake Eerie, slithering through two giant 'keyholes' at the front gate.  The ride itself was much more fun than scary, very smooth and definitely worth it.  Take a virtual ride...

Millennium Force

Millennium Force is one of my all time favorite roller coasters!  It is one of only a handful of giga-coasters and it's one of the best.  Giga coasters are ones that reach heights of over 300 feet and this one rises to 310 feet and with spectacular views and an unbelievable first drop of 80 degrees, this one is simply spectacular.  We got to ride the thing several times, and I can now say with first-hand experience that it is even better in the dark.  This one never lets up on some wicked twists and turns and some great negative G's.  Take a ride...

Maverick

When you first take a look at Maverick, you think to yourself that it looks just like an okay roller coaster.  It's not very big or tall or anything like that which would whet your roller coaster whistle. But then you ride it and whoah!  This is one wicked ride!  There are a couple of things about Maverick that make it such a great roller coaster, and judging from the wait time, plenty of others agree.  First of all, it is very smooth, and that first drop is a doozy.  That is the kicker that sends you off on a wild two and a half-minute ride through twists, turns and of course some wicked loops, starting with a 0-70 mph launch over a 95 degree, 100 foot first hill.  The first time Rich and I had gone to Cedar Point, we'd waited most of the day to give it a try because it didn't look impressive and the wait was so long, but once we had ridden it, we'd wished we had tried it earlier. Not so this time. This trip to The Point had us riding the thing several, heart-stopping times.  Take a virtual ride yourself...

Top Thrill Dragster

Before there was Kingda Ka, there was Top Thrill Dragster.  Ever on the cusp of the newest technology in roller coastering, Cedar Point broke out with this then unique ride way back in 2003 and at the time it was the tallest in the world at 420 feet, only to be surpassed by a mere 36 feet by the aforementioned King of All Coasters.  The layout is very similar to Kingda Ka...zooming at high speeds (120 mph) straight out to a towering hill, up and over.  The only difference in layouts between these two monsters is that this one does not have another hill after the big drop.  The finale is simply straight back..fun still!  My pal Gary thinks that this one is better than KK, smoother and more fun. Perhaps!  Take a look...

Valravn

Valravn is Cedar Point's newest coaster.  It's what they call a dive coaster, that is, one whose train is wide, sitting ten across, over 200 feet tall (this one's 223), and perches at the top of the lift hill, dangling riders perched over the drop for a perilous few seconds before plunging downward into a wild frenzy.  The ride opened up in 2016 and stands as the tallest, fastest (75 mph) and longest (3,415 feet) of its kind in the world.  Loved it!  Take a ride...  

Well, that was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to great coasters at Cedar Point.  At the risk of posting too many videos and commentary, I've left out great rides like Magnum XL-200, an old favorite of mine, Raptor, Gemini, Wicked Twister, Rougarou, and more.  Check 'em out on YouTube is you so desire.  In the meantime, stay tuned for more about our Roller Coaster Road Trip 2017, including a relaxing spot on the shores of Lake Eerie, Niagara Falls and Toronto.  

Roller Coaster Road Trip 2017: A New Adventure Awaits

Back in 2014, just three years ago, my pals Rich and Eddie and I took our second ever Roller Coaster Road Trip, venturing out to Louisville, Kentucky, Nashville, Tennessee, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Richmond, Virginia.  It was our second such trip, and a great one at that, riding many great coasters at Holiday World, Kentucky Kingdom, King's Island, and Dollywood, as well as exploring Mammoth Cave National Park, all the sites in Nashville, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and more.

OSU

Our third trip will not include Eddie, sadly, but our pal Gary, one of the most intense roller coaster enthusiasts I know, will be joining Rich and I instead.  This time we're hitting King's Island again in Mason, Ohio, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, Niagara Falls, and finishing up in the city of Toronto, including a day trip to Canada's Wonderland.  Cool, right?

Eater

As the clock ticks down towards our adventure, I'm getting more and more excited.  It'll be our first Roller Coaster Road Trip in three years!  I can't promise any regular posts during the trip, but I do hereby promise to get all the way to the end this time (On our last trip, I only covered up until the first part of Nashville.)  So stay tuned...

niagarafallslive

Dollywood Announces Lightning Rod, The World's Fastest Wood Coaster

There's a new trend in the theme park industry and their ongoing coaster wars that generate mega bucks at the gates, and I'm not sure if I like it, but it does get me excited nonetheless.  Whereas in recent years, amusement parks have been saving their big coaster announcements for the dreary, inactive winter months, new ride press releases have been coming out in the summer months, sometimes up to a couple of years in advance of the newest, baddest roller coaster.  With Cedar Point's teasing of a big announcement on August 18th, Tennessee's biggest theme park attraction, Dollywood, has already made a big one.  Lightning Rod will strike in March 2016.

 

Lightning Rod is a huge announcement for Dollywood, The new record-breaking coaster stands as the park's largest investment ever, coming in at a cool $22 million.  That signifies a seriousness in the parks desire to become one of the beacons of coaster coolness, adding to their already respectable line-up of great roller coasters.

Here's what the theme park has to say about the new Lightning Rod coaster on their website:

Themed after a tricked out 1950s-era hot rod, Lightning Rod launches riders from zero to 45 mph more than 20 stories up its lift hill to one of the ride’s first airtime moments. At the crest of the hill, riders face twin summit airtime hills before tackling the daring first drop. Lightning Rod races down the 165-foot drop and propels guests along its 3,800-ft. track to a top speed of 73 mph, the fastest speed for a wood coaster in the world. 

Located in Dollywood's Jukebox Junction, Lightning Rod rockets riders around its massive wooden structure on an adrenaline-charged lap through the trees in the hills and valleys surrounding Dollywood. During the ride, guests experience nearly 20 seconds of airtime. The coaster train is comprised of 12 cars, carrying two passengers each, for a total of 24 people per train.

Sounds pretty exciting, no?  2016 is already sounding ike it's already going to be a great year! Check out a video simulation of the new ride and stay tuned for more...

A-Z Blogging - Adventure Parks - V is for Valleyfair Amusement Park

Valleyfair is an amusement park in Shakopee, Minnesota and therefore one which I can't envision myself ever visiting because I don't ever envision myself going to Minnesota.  But, hey, you never know, and if I ever did I'd be sure to visit this Midwest mecca for coaster-riding.

sciencebuzz

Valleyfir Amusement Park is a Cedar Fair property, so you know there are plenty of spills, thrills and fun to go around.  The park has over 75 attractions and eight roller coasters.  Let's check out a couple of them...

High Roller

negative-g

The High Roller is Valleyfair's oldest operating roller coaster, opening during the park's debut season.  The wooden coaster is not a giant, modern thriller like today's rides, with a first drop of 56 feet and a top speed of about 50 mph, but it sure looks like fun!  Take a ride...

Renegade

usatoday

Renegade is one mean-looking ride, almost as mean looking as Mean Streak at Cedar Point.  The coaster opened in 2007 and was one of the first ones designed and built by Great Coasters International, a company that is well-known around amusement circles.  The ride is a combination out and back and twister design and looks frightfully good.  Check it out...

Steel Venom

coastercommunity

Steel Venom is one wicked, wicked ride, and I can tell you that for sure because this one, or ones very similar to it, also appears at Cedar Point (Wicked Twister) and Dorney Park (Possessed), and also at Six Flags Great America (V2).  This one you've got to see to believe....and I tell ya, it is scary!  Talk about anticipation!

Wild Thing

coasterpedia

Finally we come to the big one...Wild Thing.  This hypercoaster is the biggest thing at Valleyfair, coming in at a height of 20 feet.  The ride opened in 2005 and with over 1 mile of track I soooo want to ride!  Check it out...

"V" Coaster of the day - Verbolten - 

Busch Gardens, Williamsburg

seaworldparks

Our "V" coaster for the day is Busch Gardens' Verbolten.  I've written about this one a few times, and it's one of my favorite fun rides to ride.  Check it out...

Be sure to check out my other A-Z Adventure Parks posts below, and stay tuned for the rest coming soon!

A is for Alton Towers

B is for Busch Gardens Pipe Dreams

C is for the Coasters of China

D is for The Derby Racer

E is for EPCOT Center

F is for Ferris Wheels

G is for Geauga Lake

H is for Holiday World

I is for Islands of Adventure

J is for Coasters that Begin with the Letter "J"

K is for Kennywood

L is for Log Flumes

M is for Magic Mountain

N is for Nitro

O is for Outlaw Run

P is for Pirate Ship Rides

Q is for Quassy Amusement Park

R is for Rolling Thunder

S is for Six Flags

T is for Thunderbolt

U is for Ultra Twister

A-Z Blogging - Adventure Parks - M is for Magic Mountain

If Cedar Point is America's Roller Coast, then Six Flags Magic Mountain is a close, close second.  As a matter of fact, the Six Flags' California edition has been holding the coveted crown of most coasters with 18, a record that surpassed The Point a few years ago.   Though Cedar Point is a sentimental favorite and still the mecca for roller coaster enthusiasts, Magic Mountain is definitely a place for our bucket lists.  In fact, one of my buddies is going there next week and I am soooo jealous!!!!

floriangilles

So, as I said, Six Flags magic Mountain is one popular place.  As far as Six Flags parks goes, it is the second most visited of the company's parks behind Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey (my home park, hoo-rah!), getting over 2.8 million visitors in 2013.  This is no doubt that their roster of roller coasters has something to do with that.  Let's take a look at some of their best...

The Great American Revolution

kendenton

Opening in May 1976, the Great American Revolution (today it's just Revolution)was indeed a revolution in that it was the very first roller coaster in the world to feature a vertical loop, a big deal in those days.  Take a ride...

Colossus

joyrides

Colossus is Magic Mountain's giant wooden roller coaster.  It opened just two years after Revolution and at the time was one of the biggest and fastest of its kind in the world, and I'm sure it still packs a punch!

Now that we've done a couple of Magic Mountain oldies, here are a couple of the newer thrillers...

Superman: Escape from Krypton

wikipedia

I remember when this one first opened in 1997, it looked terrifying, and although there are now bigger and badder coasters out there, I'd still be nervous going on this one....straight out and up at 100 mph, then you just kind of hang there for a second only to drop back down the 300-plus feet down.  What a ride!  And backwards, no less!

X2 (or X-Squared!)

Wikipedia

Ooh, this one looks wicked!  The very last ride manufactured by legendary coaster manufacturer Arrow Dynamics, this one is called a "4th Dimension Coaster," where riders are rotated independently of the track. Sounds scary, huh?  Well it is...

Full Throttle

latimes

Full Throttle is the newest and hottest addition to Magic Mountain's stable of great coasters.  Featuring a "top hat" element and speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, this is another hot-looking ride!

Tatsu

themeparkreview

Finally, we have Tatsu, the park's signature flying coaster.  Built into the hilly countryside, this one looks mahvelous!  

"M" Coaster(s) of the Day - 

Millennium Force and Magnum XL-200, 

Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH

Well, since we're on great amusement parks with lots of great rides, and there happen to be two (maybe three, with Mean Streak) great "M" coasters at Cedar Point, my all-time favorite park.  First up is Magnum XL-200, one of my favorite hyper-coasters with a lift hill of 205 feet and top speeds of 72 mph.  I've ridden this one a few times and it is nothing but thrilling fun all the way!

And here's Millennium Force, just like Magnum, only bigger and faster.  Hella cool!!!!

Check out my other A-Z blog entries for this month's challenge:

A is for Alton Towers

B is for Busch Gardens Pipe Dreams

C is for the Coasters of China

D is for The Derby Racer

E is for EPCOT Center

F is for Ferris Wheels

G is for Geauga Lake

H is for Holiday World

I is for Islands of Adventure

J is for Coasters that Begin with the Letter "J"

K is for Kennywood

L is for Log Flumes

Cedar Point's all-new GateKeeper

Cedar Point is home to some of the best roller coasters in the world. Groundbreaking rides like Magnum XL-200, Millenium Force, Maverick, Mantis, Raptor and so many more have helped to make "The Point" the consistent favorite theme park around.  The park disappointingly hasn't added a new coaster since 2007's Maverick, but all that's about to change...

about

Coming May 11, 2013, Cedar Point's newest record breaker will burst on to the scene with a flourish and coaster enthusiasts from all around will be flocking in droves to ride the park's brand-new thriller.  Gatekeeper is the newest of so called "wing coasters" that have become the latest rage at theme parks all over.

Examiner

The ride is being built on the site of the old Disaster Transport and will be one of the first things people will notice upon entering the park.  A wing coaster is one where riders sit on either side of the track, giving them a whole new perspective of flying.  These rides have become very popular and Cedar Point's is going to be a doozy, with the longest drop of any coaster of its kind at 164 feet, a 360-degree spiral, speeds of up to 67 mph, and tons of cool drops and loops.  Also featured on Gatekeeper is the first of its kind Zero-G Roll, in which riders fly through two support towers right near the main entrance of the park.

The Zero-G Roll

about

Gatekeeper looks like its going to be another classic among one of the most classic collections of coasters around, and I only wish I were going there this summer to give it a try.  In the meantime, check out a preview of this new monster:

Also new for 2013: Six Flags Fiesta Texas' Iron Rattler

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