Vintage Views of Cedar Point Beach

The Sandusky Library Archives Research Center is fortunate to have in its collections several photographs and post cards from Cedar Point. Above is a scene featuring the boardwalk along the Cedar Point Beach in the early twentieth century. Below are three individuals watching the boats on Lake Erie as the waves roll in.

           

In the summer of 1914, Tony Jannus thrilled crowds by offering daily flights in a "hydroplane." The brief air flights were offered for a fee of fifty cents per person. (About $8 in today's money -- not bad!)

       

During the 1930s, several amusement rides were located very close to the beach.

      

Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to learn more about the rich history of Sandusky and Erie County. Historical photographs may be viewed online at http://sandusky.pastperfectonline.com.

New Rides at Cedar Point in 1938

One of the largest new rides to open during Cedar Point’s summer season of 1938 was the Hi-De-Ho-in the Dark. It was a fun house attraction, with uneven floors, lots of mirrors, and a female mannequin that was upside down and rocking in a rocking chair. In the 1940s and 1950s, this attraction was re-built as Laff in the Dark. 

Another ride that was new to Cedar Point in 1938 was the Octopus.

 An article in the May 20, 1938 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal reported that in 1938, new telephone service had been implemented at Cedar Point, as well as several thousand dollars of electrical improvements. Four brightly colored lights had been placed at the Chaussee entrance to the park which made an impressive sight in the evening hours. Several conventions had booked Cedar Point as the location for their annual meetings. Over one thousand people were expected to attend the annual convention of the Ohio Credit Union League, which was to open on June 11, 1938.  

Below is a picture of tourists arriving at Cedar Point from the Goodtime, in the 1930s.

To read a more thorough history of Cedar Point, see the book Cedar Point: The Queen of American Watering Places, by David W. and Diane DeMali Francis (Amusement Park Books, 1995), available at the Sandusky Library.

Noah’s Ark at Cedar Point

The Noah’s Ark attraction at Cedar Point was operated by the Concourse Amusement Company from 1925 until the mid-1950s. Noah’s Ark was a funhouse, with a Biblical theme. The model of the ark rested upon Mt. Ararat. In the picture below, you can see Noah’s Ark behind the Flying Skooter ride.

As Cedar Point guests walked up the ramp towards Noah’s Ark, they could see the heads of animals peeking out through the windows. Noah was fishing outside the ark. A sign along the way read “Do not feed animals.”

Authors David W. and Diane DeMali Francis wrote in their book Cedar Point: The Queen of American Watering Places, that on quiet days, men from the Concourse Amusement Company could be found in Roy Parker’s office where they gathered for card games. Millions of local residents and tourists still visit Cedar Point every summer, where roller coasters, live entertainment, and a beautiful beach await them.

The Mill Race Ride at Cedar Point

Correction: This image is actually the Shoot-the-Rapids ride in Frontier Town at Cedar Point; similar, but not the same as the Mill Race.

The Mill Race, a log flume ride, opened in Cedar Point for the 1963 season. It was only the second flume ride of its kind in the United States. The ride cost $300,000 to build, and it was over 1200 feet long. Boats shaped like logs carried riders down a 28 foot hill, after following a winding track filled with water.  On a hot summer day, a ride on the Mill Race left riders cooled off by the water splashing them as traveled rapidly down the final hill. The Mill Race closed in 1993, to make room for the Raptor. 

To read more about the history of Cedar Point, see the book Cedar Point: The Queen of American Watering Places, by David W. and Diane DeMali Francis (Amusement Park Books, 1995), available at the Sandusky Library. You can see the Mill Race in this aerial photograph of Cedar Point, taken by Thomas Root on May 25, 1968.