Editor’s Note: This article has been recently updated with additional information, including a video of the brand-new Cedar Point Shores Water Park.
With the proximity of Mansfield and Richland County to one of the world’s premier theme parks, and with only a couple of weeks until Cedar Point’s opening on May 6, we thought it a good time to look at what’s new this year on Ohio’s “roller coast.”
New ride enhancements include the addition of a virtual reality component to the Iron Dragon roller coaster. This will be available each evening starting at 6:00 PM from June to September. Iron Dragon riders will put on VR headsets, which are programmed with 3-D images.
One ride has been moved to a new location. RipCord, which provides riders with a bungee cord type of experience, has been moved from the Challenge Park area to Frontier Trail on the site of the former Shoot the Rapids. It has also been given a new name – “Professor Delbert’s Frontier Fling.”
According to the park, the other major highlight of fun to come is an extensive transformation of Soak City to the brand-new, 18-acre Cedar Point Shores Water Park.
With a nod to its lakeside surroundings, Cedar Point Shores now features three completely new water attractions, new and upgraded food and merchandise locations and more. All-new amenities have been added for guests to enjoy the one-of-a-kind setting of beautiful Lake Erie and Cedar Point’s mile-long beach.
New attractions for water lovers of all ages are coming ashore in 2017. They include:
- Point Plummet – a six-story-tall, four-person aqua-drop body slide that will simultaneously send four guests on a nearly vertical free fall when the floor drops out from under them. The four separate 400-foot-long slides will send riders through a series of flat loops and s-curves for an amazing water rush.
- Starboard Surge & Portside Plunge – located on the same structure as Point Plummet, these two, five-story tube slides can accommodate guests riding alone or with a friend and will send them through an enclosed tunnel before shooting them out into the sun through intense drops and turns.
- Lakeslide Landing – a new family splashground with 12 kid-sized water slides that line the perimeter of a zero-depth-entry pool, giving kids their own mini water thrills while parents can relax under shade structures and enjoy an oversized lounge and sun deck area.
The water park’s existing slides and attractions will receive makeovers as well, with most receiving new names highlighting the unique beachside location.
For food lovers, the new Crystal Rock Café will cook up delicious food items guests won’t be able to resist. The menu includes items like: fresh-baked flat breads with options such as caprese or buffalo mac & cheese; farm stand salad options like crispy chicken BLT, Asian chicken and chicken Caesar; pesto-glazed grilled chicken sandwiches; fresh-breaded chicken tenders; cheeseburgers; bratwurst; waffle fries; tater tots and more.
Cedar Point Shores will also boast a completely new main entrance, a new poolside bar, new family changing/showering areas, more lounge chairs, additional shade, improved landscaping and unobstructed views of Lake Erie. Updated cabanas on either side of the massive 500,000-gallon wave pool will be the perfect place to relax for large groups or families. Upgrades include free Wi-Fi, charging stations, ceiling fans, TVs and dedicated food and beverage service.
Guests who want to get the most out of their summer with repeat visits to Cedar Point Shores will want to purchase a 2017 Platinum Pass. To do so, visit cedarpoint.com.
On April 11, Cedar Point released a video introduction to the new Cedar Point Shores Water Park. Click on the arrow below to watch!
Source: Press Release – Photo: Creative Commons License
