I started this new thread, as I think "Area 51", the walled off construction area near Gemini, is a good indication of some sort of Construction. It's reasonable to assume that the construction is for next year, as this season is nearly over, therefore, let's get the ball rolling.

What we know:

There is a construction fence around an area of construction adjascent to the Gemini. The climbing wall was moved across the midway as it occupied what is now the construction area. Behind this wall are 3 large footings, with a circular pattern of bolts sticking out. There are also large piles of directly across the lagoon on Millennium Island. Surveyor flags and orange paint were spotted near Iron Dragon on the banks of the lagoon at the beginning of the season. We also know that **** Kinzel, CEO of Cedar Fair stated that 2002 was a 'filler year' or a year in which spending would be minmized and that 2003 was a year of significant capital improvement. (Wicked Twister, a filler ride?) At Knott's Berry Farm, a Cedar Fair-owned park, Intamin engineers were testing Xcellerator at 100+mph. So, what conclusions can we draw from some of this evidence? Post your thoughts and comments, and Cedar Point's announcement should be soon, as construction is slated to go into full swing at the end of August.


My Wish:
Shattering all records, Cedar Point will open the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster. It will be taller than Superman: The Escape and faster than Dodonpa...maybe 420 feet and 115mph. It will be a launch coaster, witht the station near Power Tower, and it will launch northeastward down the Gemini midway, where it will go itnto a large tophat, currently the site of the construction area, or "Area 51". Those are my wished and thoughts, I hope it comes true!

__________________
ORA MONSTER
Goats

First, show me when and where Mr. Kinzel called '02 a filler year. Second, you stole the "Area 51" title from GTTP...but that really isn't my problem. Third, you stated that construction should go into full swing by the end of August. Where did you get that tidbit of "official" information?

Finally, you want to "get the ball rolling" when this has been discussed ad nauseum on this and many other sites for a couple of months now. Click your heels three times and maybe you will go home.

__________________
Working here is like an amusement park! There's excitement! There's challenge...and it will often make you sick.

Wahoo skipper, i don't really appreciate your response, it doesn't really add to the discussion, so if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. Don't be a jerk.

I'm still finding where I saw that Kinzel interview, but I remember it distinctly. As soon as I find it, i'll post it here. Also, the end of august time frame comes from Monty Jasper...i chatted with him this last weekend at CP when I ran into him.

Also, check out this picture. I outlined "Area 51" in red.

-seth

Attached Images

area-51.jpg (91.9 KB, 2820 views)

__________________
ORA MONSTER
Goats

wahooskipper, oramonster is right. Mr. Kinzel did make a quote in a paper, but everyone is looking into it way to much. The quote(from Aug. 01): "Plans are complete for a new thrill ride next season at Cedar Point, with an announcement expected in October, and more money will be put into the park in 2003, Kinzel said." I have the article right in front of me... Anyways, I think by the means of the quote Mr. Kinzel is suggesting that the park will again add something in 03, not necessarily some that costs more money.

- Andrew Hyde

oramonster, where did you get that aerial photo of Cedar Point? I've tried MapQuest, but their photos aren't nearly as clear as that one.

NOTE: The following is some of my speculation based on some of the information we have about Cedar Point's new attraction. I'm just trying to provide another possible view on what could happen in 2003.

Anyway, back to the topic. Cedar Point is obviously building something. It may not be a roller coaster, but it is something. We just have to wait until the announcement. However, as much as I hate to admit it, that capital improvement could go to better use than another coaster, and just might. It has been confirmed that Mantis will be painted for the 2003 season, and there are rumors of Magnum being painted as well. It has also been rumored that Mean Streak will be getting some help. Apparently, it was announced at a coaster convention that Blue Streak had been worked on to smooth it out, to see if it that treatment would work on Mean Streak. With at least one, and possibly two coasters being painted, and a possible face lift for Mean Streak, there are some explanations for the significant capital improvement. There's also a chance that Cedar Point may throw something at us that we never expected. Oramonster, you mentioned surveyor flags over by Iron Dragon. Could Cedar Point be planning on putting Vekoma Floorless trains on Iron Dragon? Those flags could be to see if clearance will be an issue for new trains. Iron Dragon isn't the most popular ride, so new trains could bring a larger number of guests to that ride. It's not probable, but those new trains and new station would cost a pretty penny. There's also the long hoped for and rumored second station for Mantis. As of now, Mantis doesn't have the best capacity. With the new seatbelts, it runs two trains and still stacks every so often. Cedar Point crews are good, but not prefect. A new station could perhaps allow for the third train to be used, with minimal stacking. Or, at least, still use two trains and have no stacking what so ever. The new coaster that we've all been hoping for, may not be a roller coaster at all. It could be a HUSS Land of the Giants. HUSS has confirmed that this concept has been sold to a park. Cedar Point could use a huge flat ride section, making the parks attractions more rounded out. With several new flat rides, Cedar Point could have more of a marketing ploy with a never before seen concept. These four new giant rides would also meet Cedar Point's capacity reqiurements very well, as well as opening up a new area to the public.

Whatever Cedar Point does, we can be assured that it will be amazing. The one thing that I ask is that, when they keep expanding, they keep all the trees they have. Those trees provide MUCH needed shade when it is 95 degrees outside with a humidity of 90 percent. They also add great atmosphere to the park, which some parks don't have. Rides are nice, but when you can't relax under a nice grove of trees after some major thrill rides, you don't get the best experience.

__________________
Intelligence is a God given gift. Know how to use it.

Remember: Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic

ditto coastercrazy, Cp can't afford to loose shade. As for all that other improvment stuff, i dont think so. So many people believe its gonna be this rocket coaster that i feel like its almost a sure thing, even though its not. It is however, very wierd to have such a strong rumor all across the net.

__________________
1. MForce 2. Volcano 3. S:ROS (sfne) 4. Dragster

i have obseved the fact that the wildcat has a very similar set of pillings set up that mirror the area well. the 2 areas where the beams come together on the wildcat have 12 pins the same as the footers in area 51. with 2 footers confirmed and another something under a tarp i think this is a very real possibility, and the thing under the tarp could be the placement of the station.

this would explain why no construction has occured since the season has opened.

it would open a very large possibility for expansion with a detour of perimeter road and the demolishen of the dorms.

if the wildcat was moved it would be a perminent move since the ride is currently not anchored to a large footer. like the ones in area 51.

crash, Since when has Wildcat had a " very similar set of pillings "? Wildcat doesn't have any footers. It basically just sits on the ground(actually on some pieces of wood). So *if* Cedar Point was going to move it to the '03 Construction Zone' they would have just poured a big flat piece of concrete. It would be pretty much impossible and quite silly for the park to make Wildcat a fixed coaster - it was designed and manufactured as a moveable ride.

Andrew's theory for a early start: Back in the days of Raptor, Mantis, and even Millennium Force to some part Cedar Point closed for the season earlier(93- mid-September, 96 - mid-September, 99- mid-October). Now with the park open pretty much to November it would be hard to work on. Espcially that the construction site is surrounded by midways - while MF and WT construction was off to the side of the midway allowing the park to start earlier. Remember it takes concrete ATLEAST 2 weeks to set, thus meaning if they pour HUGE footers in early November you are talking almost December before they will be set - not to mention to have a ride open for opening day they would need to have more than just footers done by December. Not to mention pouring a 2 footers, and putting up a small little sign is one great free marketing tool! Look... every site on the 'net is buzzing about the footers/sign.

SHADE: I support Cedar Point in most aspects of the operation, but one thing I don't support is them removing trees. Lighthouse Point: anyone remember seeing this area pre-Lighthouse Point - a pure forest! Now it has only a few trees, though they have planted a few trees(hopefully more will planted soon...). If rumors are correct and a new ride will be located near and around Iron Dragon, Mantis and Millennium Island then I certainly hope Cedar Point doesn't touch any trees -that area is so nice with all the trees. I still also wish that some of the big trees inside the construction zone didn't get removed.

- Andrew

From what I've been hearing, this project is the largest project Cedar Point has ever undertaken, therefore the constuction technically began last winter/spring with the pouring of the footings in "Area 51" Additionally, with construction scheduled to start at the end of August provides more evidence of the scale of this project.

Concrete takes 28 days to cure (set means the initial hardening, curing is the chemical bonding) in warm weather, and takes even longer in cold weather, like November and December. If there is large volumes of concrete, it takes even more time to cure. Any sigificant project will probably start at the end of the season from now on because of the longer season, as Andrew pointed out.

-seth

__________________
ORA MONSTER
Goats

Assuming this big coaster comes true, then your saying that those footers were poured early to get an early start on the coaster. Then why not put in all the footers rather than only 3?
Are you saying that they would put together the (assuming) large part of the ride on these footers while the other footers are curing? Finally, doesnt CP need a building permit? I mean if they are already building footers they must have a permit for it right?

__________________
1. MForce 2. Volcano 3. S:ROS (sfne) 4. Dragster

The reason they'd start these footers so early is because of the size of these footers. These footers are supposedly 30ft deep which is why they need to be poured so early. Now the rest of the footers can be poured once they start contsruction the same way as they would any other coaster.

__________________
"Cedar Point has a wide variety of wooden coasters" - Discovery Channel

The Hoover dam [boulder dam] cement was poured foot by foot in many different sections. Each dump took minutes to set enough to stand on [the workers slowing rose up with the cement as they poured it standing in it] and to this day it's still curing.

As for what there building there, it's for very few to know, and everyone else to wonder [If they care]

There are two conflicting factors. First off, what Seth mentioned, there are a lot of factors pointing to a new coaster. [A big Intamin rocket] And there is the fact that CP has been predictable for a while, building a major attraction every other year. Raptor 94, Mantis 96, Power Tower 98, MF 00, WT 02. The only thing that is inevitable, is change. [This reminds me of Staind's second album, Break the cycle]

I think CP SP holders should be the only freeway participants. I am one :-D and the current one is pretty stupid. What would be even better, if it was a surcharge on the SP make shorter lines for people that pay the price.

That's good logic, ATrace, and was exactly what I was thinking. As far as building permits go, the state of Ohio allows foundation permits to be obtained separately to actual building permits. CP could(should) already have foundation permits for whatever it is they're building. When actual vertical construction begins is when the actual building permit must be obtained.

-seth

__________________
ORA MONSTER
Goats

From what I've heard, if you want to ride Chaos, Troika, or Paddlewheel excursions at CP, do so before the end of August. I am not sure, however, if these rides will return next season.
-seth

__________________
ORA MONSTER
Goats

i wouldn't think that the rides would be removed but relocated, there are plenty of nice places.

the boart ride was at the very front tip of the lagoon before the iron dragon was put in, and it went all the way around both islands.

chaos and troika very compact therefore easy to move and easy to set up they will definetly be somewhere in the park next year.