Our timeline is nearing completion. Please check back soon for the completed version.
| Year |
Events |
| 1823 |
- The name Cedar Point appears for the first time.
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| 1831 |
- The name "Cedar Point" appears for the first time in legal documents.
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| 1836 |
- Theodor Shelton purchases the northwest section of the peninsula from Alexander Porter for $55,000. Porter later buys the land back after it was repossessed for only $292.80
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| 1838 |
- Stephen Hills, Jr. and Ebenezzer Jessup purchase the southwest section of land from Porter.
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| 1839 |
- The Cedar Point lighthouse is constructed.
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| 1849 |
- Fishermen are required to pay Porter 1/8 of their day's catch.
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| 1862 |
- George A. Boeckling, the future owner of Cedar Point, is born on February 2nd.
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| 1865 |
- Cedar Point is purchased by Rush Sloane.
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| 1870 |
- Cedar Point opens as a public bathing beach.
- First passengers arrive at the Cedar Point Resort via the "Young Reindeer" steamer.
- Louis Zistel brings children's entertainment and a beer garden to the peninsula.
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| 1878 |
- Additional bathhouses open.
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| 1882 |
- A new dancehall and 8 new bathhouses open.
- Steamer "R.B. Hayes" begins its service to Biemiller's Cove. Steamer "Lutts" takes guests to the Cedar Point lighthouse.
- A new dock between Bielmiller's Cove and the Cedar Point lighthouse is built.
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| 1888 |
- The Grand Pavilion opens. The new pavilion features an auditorium, bowling alleys, and dining facilities.
- Steamer "I.M. Weston" begins service.
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| 1889 |
- The Ladies' Pavilion first provides refreshments for children and ladies.
- The Brush Electric Dynamo power plant is installed.
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| 1891 |
- First electricity arrives at Cedar Point.
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| 1892 |
- Cedar Point's first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, opens. The coaster reached a speed of 10 mph and an amazing height of 25 feet.
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| 1894 |
- A pony track, diving platform, water toboggan, horizontal bars, bicycle boats, and water trapeze open on the Cedar Point Beach.
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| 1897 |
- George A. Boeckling purchases Cedar Point for $256,000.
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| 1899 |
- The Bay Shore Hotel opens as Cedar Point's premier hotel.
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| 1901 |
- The White House Hotel, designed by Oliver W. Marble, is built.
- The Bay Shore Hotel becomes a boarding house.
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| 1902 |
- Opening the Cedar Point's second roller coaster, the Figure-Eight Roller Toboggan makes its premier.
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| 1905 |
- Cedar Point's historic Hotel Breakers opens. Offering more than 600 rooms, it was one of the largest hotels in the midwest.
- "The Great Train Robbery," first plays at Cedar Point. Sam Warner worked at Cedar Point, and later purchased the film from George A. Boeckling. He left with his brother for California where the two started Warner Brothers.
- The Crystal Rock Palace entertains guests.
|
| 1906 |
- A new midway is built. It features various rides, games, shops, fortunetellers, a skating rink, and the famous Coliseum.
- A new electric plant is built.
- Cedar Point purchases Steamer "New York."
|
| 1907 |
- The Steamer "Eastland" arrives for the first time.
- Steam service from Cleveland to Cedar Point begins.
- A new dock is constructed. The addition allows boats to travel directly to Cedar Point without first stopping in Sandusky.
- Final year for the Skating Rink.
|
| 1908 |
- At the end of the season, engines from the Steamer "New York" are removed to be placed in the newly constructed Steamer "G.A. Boeckling."
- Steamship service from Detroit to Toledo begins.
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| 1909 |
- On June 28th, Steamer "G.A. Boeckling" is christened.
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| 1910 |
- Glenn H. Curtiss, aviation great, sets a new world record for flying over water when he complete a 65-mile-long trip from Euclid Beach to the Cedar Point Beach.
- The world's largest bathouse opens.
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| 1911 |
- Cedar Point announces that a roadway would be built to connect the Resort with the mainland. The Chaussee opens several years later in 1914.
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| 1912 |
- Leap the Dips Scenic Railway opens.
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| 1913 |
- Legendary Notre Dame football great, Knute Rockne, works as a lifeguard at Cedar Point. Together with teammate Gus Dorais, the two perfect the forward pass on Cedar Point's Beach.
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| 1914 |
- The Cedar Point Chausee opens on July 19.
- The Cedar Point water tower is constructed.
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| 1915 |
- The White House hotel is remodeled and reopens under the name "The Cedars."
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| 1918 |
- The Scenic Railway is renamed the Leap the Frog Railway after being rebuilt.
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| 1919 |
- The Eden Musee makes its premier.
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| 1920 |
- The Cleveland Road access to the Chausee opens. The original entrance was destroyed two years earlier by storms.
- The Hotel Breakers' Bon-Air Wing opens.
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| 1924 |
- The original Kiddieland makes its premier.
- Cedar Point's boat dock, located in downtown Sandusky, is hit by a tornado.
|
| 1925 |
- Hellen Keller speaks at the Annual Convention of Lions which was held at the park's Convention Center.
- Noah's Ark makes its premier.
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| 1928 |
- Last season for the Racer.
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| 1929 |
- The Cedar Point Cyclone opens on the park's Lake Erie Beach. It's promoted at being "Scientifically built for speed, thrills and safety."
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| 1931 |
- Death of George A. Boeckling at the age of 69.
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| 1934 |
- Premier of the Tumble Bug.
- Leap Frog becomes High Frolics when it is rebuilt.
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| 1935 |
- The last season for the Leap the Dips Scenic Railway.
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| 1939 |
- The Cedar Point Coliseum is renovated to become a ballroom. Big name bands would soon perform there.
- High Frolics closes.
|
| 1946 |
- The Midway Carousel debuts.
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| 1951 |
- The Cyclone closes.
- The steamship the G. A. Boeckling sets sail for its final time. It would eventually be sold and become a floating warehouse.
|
| 1952 |
- A new and improved Kiddieland opens.
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| 1955 |
- The famous Fascination opens at Cedar Point.
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| 1956 |
- George Roose and Emile Legros purchase the Cedar Point property and make plans to turn it into a residential community.
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| 1957 |
- The Cedar Point Causeway opens on June 12.
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| 1958 |
- Legros and Roose destroy plans to make Cedar Point into a residential community, and instead plan to turn it into the "Disneyland of the Midwest."
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| 1959 |
- The Cedar Point Marina is completed.
- Wild Mouse, Turnpike Cars, and the Monorail all open.
- Final season for Noah's Ark.
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| 1960 |
- Scrambler and Tiki Twirl open.
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| 1961 |
- Sky Ride, Rotor, Cedar Classic Miniature Golf, and Star Voyager make their debut.
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| 1962 |
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| 1963 |
- The Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad entertains 370,000 guests in its first season.
- Mill Race, later replaced by Raptor, opens.
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| 1964 |
- Cedar Point's oldest operating roller coaster, Blue Streak, opens.
- Calypso makes its debut, and Rotor has its final season.
- The Western Cruise, now Paddlewheel Excursions, deubts.
|
| 1965 |
- Jungle Larry's Safari premiers.
- Earthquake, Space Spiral, and Turnpike Cars open.
- Calypso is relocated.
- Attendance hits 2 million for the first time while the park proclaims "New Heights in Fun!"
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| 1966 |
- Pirate Ride opens.
- The Live Entertainment Division is formed.
- Final season for Eden Musee and the Monorail.
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| 1967 |
- Cedar Downs and Shoot the Rapids open.
- Frontiertown shows guests the old west.
- Sealand makes its debut.
- The Hollywood Wax Museum opens in the location of the current Centennial Theatre.
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| 1968 |
- The Frontier Lift, Kiddieland Carousel, and Sky Slide open.
- The Golden Palace Theatre opens.
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| 1969 |
- The Cedar Creek Mine Ride opens and is one of the first coasters to use steel tubular track.
- Antique Cars open.
- Town Hall Museum opens.
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| 1970 |
- Cedar Point celebrates its 100th season.
- WildCat, Bayern Kurve, Dodgem 2, Monster, Super Himilaya and Schwabinchen open.
- Kiddieland opens in its present site.
- Million Dollar Midway opens.
- First season for "ride all day" ticket.
- Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad main station relocated to present position.
- Centennial Theatre opens.
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