| Despite being home to the world's first giga-coaster, the Frontier Trail is the quietest part of the park, providing a peaceful retreat from the thrills provided throughout the park. Travel into the past, as you experience days gone by along this wooded path. |  |
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When approaching The Point, there are many visible structures.
One of the tallest is located here. We now approach the awesome giant
that sprouted up on the Frontier Trail for the 2000 season, Millennium
Force.
When I first heard that Cedar Point's 14th coaster was going to be placed on the peaceful Frontier Trail, I had mixed emotions. Naturally, I was delighted at the prospect of a new world-class coaster. However, I was also a bit distressed at what the structure would do to the park's quietest midway. Well, despite its incredible size and speed, Millennium Force isn't as noisy as one would expect (excluding the screams of the riders!), hence this magnificent coaster fits rather well with the serene surroundings. |
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Does this serenity mean that this coaster is tame? Not by a long
shot! Millennium Force is an absolutely remarkable coaster.
As the trains rush forward, you can hear the air tearing apart as the entire
atmosphere bends in submission to this spectacular coaster. The ride
is an adrenaline rush from beginning to end! Even the lift hill is
fast!
Ready for the statistics? Millennium Force is 310 feet tall. It drops 300 feet at an 80 degree angle, reaching breathtaking speeds of 92 miles per hour, as it races through the 6595 feet of track. This monster is no kiddy coaster! Riders must be at least 48" tall to feel this Force. Riders named "Luke Skywalker" are no exception. (Sorry, young Anakin!) |
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Want to talk about World Records? Here are some interesting facts surrounding Millennium Force. When it was built, It was the world's tallest roller coaster at 310 feet. It was also the world's fastest roller coaster, reaching speeds of 92 miles per hour. It had the world's longest roller coaster drop at 300 feet. It gave Cedar Point the most roller coasters in the world with 14 (now up to 16), and the most rides in the world with 68. Millennium Force was the first coaster to break the 300 foot barrier. |
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The coaster gave Cedar Point the most steel coasters in the world with 12 (now at 14). Cedar Point also has more roller coaster track than anywhere else in the world, with 44,013 feet (now up to 47,353 feet). Millennium Force is the first coaster in the world to use the fast and quiet elevator lift cable system. Millennium Force has the world's steepest non-inversion banked turn on a roller coaster at 122 degrees. Finally, Millennium Force made Cedar Point the first park in the world to have two coasters over 200 feet tall (since boosted to four, including two over 300 feet). Wow! |
To help reduce the wait times, Cedar Point has introduced The FreeWay.
There's a little podium next to the Millennium Force entrance. You
can step up to that podium and get a handstamp. This handstamp will
provide you with a time to return to Millennium Force, thereby allowing
you to bypass most of the line. However, only 10% of the ride capacity
is scheduled using the FreeWay, so you'll want to get your stamp early!
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We have to trek the length of Millennium Force, reaching the end of
The Trail before we find any more rides. As we near Frontiertown, we see
Thunder Canyon on the left. Thunder Canyon is a river rafting ride, with
more than one million gallons of water flowing through it. When the ride
was installed in 1986, the park employees nicknamed it "Thunder Car Wash
-- the definition of overkill!" You will get wet and possibly soaked on
Thunder Canyon as you encounter the likelihood of being drenched by multiple
waterfalls. Informal statistics show that all but two seats, on the average,
will get dumped on by at least one waterfall. On hot days, that water feels
great!
Because Cedar Point wants you to enjoy your entire day, you are allowed to take off your shoes for Thunder Canyon. Lockers are available for leaving belongings that you want to keep dry. Just a word of warning, however. The platform is NOT the place to leave these items. The platform is a large turntable, with lots of action. If you leave your belongings here, they may accidentally find the water, anyhow. |
As wonderful as it feels on a hot day, you probably should avoid Thunder Canyon on the cooler days, unless you have a change of clothes readily available. During Thunder Canyon's first season, I had a friend who test rode the ride in early May, when the temperatures were in the low 40's. During test riding, he had to go through the ride several times. When he finally got off, the first thing he heard was a recording indicating the "Air conditioned comfort of Lusty Lil's Showtime Palace." Ah yes, the human popsicle is born!
Without a doubt, the most descriptive explanation I've ever heard of Thunder Canyon came from two teenagers that I overheard talking one day. The one teen said to the other, "See, I told you. It's that thing where you sit in the thing." Now, who could possibly argue with a description like that?
Cedar Point did make a slight error (in my opinion) when creating Thunder
Canyon. The ride uses a pump system that brings the water in straight from
Lake Erie. Well, Lake Erie is a rather clean lake, but trapping lake water
in a confined space tends to lead to the build-up of some rather unpleasant
odors. To reduce this problem, Cedar Point empties the ride every night,
and scrubs it down regularly. If you arrive early in the morning, you can
stand on the observation platform and watch the wall of water flow through
the ride as it is pumped in from the lake. It looks like something from
a flood disaster movie!
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Not wet enough after getting off Thunder Canyon? No problem! Right
across the midway is Snake River Falls. In 1993, this ride was the tallest
and steepest of its kind in the world.
The concept of the ride is rather simple. You go up, then around, then down, where water splashes everywhere. I've been on similar rides in other parks where the drop was about half the height of Snake River Falls, and I found them rather dull. However, the extra height of Snake River Falls makes this ride a real winner! When you hit the bottom, you see water shooting upwards in every direction. You will even have enough time to think, "Gee, I didn't get very wet." Well, what goes up generally comes back down! In this case, quite a bit of that water falls right back on the boat, drenching everyone inside. You may notice some people standing on that bridge. They apparently were still not wet enough, so they are waiting for that wall of water to hit them. |
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In Snake River Falls, Cedar Point showed that they do learn from their mistakes. While Thunder Canyon uses Lake Erie water, Snake River Falls uses fresh water. So, if you are smelling a bit fishy after Thunder Canyon, go ride Snake River Falls to smell fresh once again!
Snake River Falls actually provided a bit of a dilemma when creating this particular page. The entrance to the ride is in Frontiertown, with the exit on the Frontier Trail. However, I felt that the ride had more of an impact on the Frontier Trail, so I included it here. Besides, Frontiertown has many other rides that it can claim.
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Children and adults typically enjoy the Early Petting Farm, halfway
down the Frontier Trail.
In the spring, there are often young ducks and geese in this area, as seen in these pictures. The various animals can be fed. The goats are the most fun to feed, using a baby bottle to give them milk. While you've got that bottle, those goats will consider you their best friend! |
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At the start of the journey down the Frontier Trail, we see The Red
Garter Saloon. The Red Garter has two shows. Rockin' At The Red Garter
is a 25 minute show running from May 15 through September 6 (except Mondays).
Stomp your hands and clap your feet (or something like that) to the rock
'n' roll hits. Yeeeeeeeee-haw!
The Red Garter also hosts the Karaoke Party. Pick your tune, and stretch your vocal cords as you become the star of the party! The party is held from June 19 through August 15 (except Mondays). The Red Garter fills up fast, so be sure to show up early to get the best seats. Who knows, you might even find yourself on stage! |
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While not actually a show, the Cedar Junction is a showplace for an
antique steam engine and caboose. Once in a while, a special show
takes place at the Cedar Junction, but it generally is just a nice spot
for taking a rest.
During the HalloWeekends, Cedar Junction often becomes haunted. Those ghosts just can't keep away from the Cedar Point fun! |
| After passing through Tenderfoot Pass, we come across the E.J. "Coon" Hammer's Blacksmith Shop. Some seasons, a real blacksmith can be seen at this shop, demonstrating how he works with metal. The shop even sells some of the items made right at Cedar Point. |  |
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As we continue down the trail, we see Fort Sandusky, a replica of a fort that once stood in the Sandusky area. Be sure to stop inside and take a look around. Just try to avoid firing the cannons -- they make a terrible racket. |
| A bit farther down, we come across the J.W. Addington Mill. Stop inside and check out the working mechanisms of the old water-driven mill. Not only is it scenic, it makes for a great place to rest and think. |  |
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Near the end of the trail is a rather odd looking building, with many bottles sticking out of it. This building would be where the Glass Blower used to be found. This show was a real treat on cooler days after riding the water rides, as the glass blowing furnace generates quite a bit of heat! The glass blower has been missing for a few years, but the facility remains for one to return. This building narrowly escaped destruction in 1987. A tornado swept through this area, tearing out a large tree, which fell just a few feet from the glass shop. Thunder Canyon was closed for a few days, as the entrance path was torn out by the uprooted tree. I'll tell you more about that tornado in the Frontiertown Games section. |
| Farther along, we find one of my favorite spots in the park, the Toot Sweets Candy Factory. You can get delicious ice cream, wonderful cookies, and fresh fudge at this stop. Whoops, I hope that drool doesn't damage my keyboard! |  |
Grist Mill Refreshments is located near Snake River Falls. This food stand provides hot dogs and other standard amusement park food.
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About half way down the trail, we find a group of old log cabins. These cabins are originals, brought in piece-by-piece for an approximate cost of three million dollars. Within the cabins, there are quite a few interesting crafts for sale, unlike anything you'll find at most amusement parks. This area is where the shopping can really be fun, as you'll find many unique hand-crafted articles. One of my favorite long-standing merchants is Bob's Boats. Why? I don't know, I just like 'em! However, I also miss 'em -- Bob stopped coming around in 1999, although live woodcarving still takes place. |
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You can also find a sketch artist along the Trail. You can get a serious portrait, or, if you prefer, a humorous caricature.
Have you been looking for an original sign, proclaiming your name and/or address? Look no further! The Sign Shop can provide you with a sign, carved to your specifications.
Remember that blacksmith and glass blower? Well, they are both located at shops where you can buy interesting iron and glass items, some of which were made right at the park. These are items you won't find anywhere else!
You can also make your own candles at the Candle Shop, or buy candles
that were made by Cedar Point's crafts people.
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| Return to the Wildcat Midway | Go to The Point Tour | Continue with Frontiertown |