Celebration Plaza

Celebration Plaza
2012

In 2012 Cedar Point announced they were redoing the WildCat Midway to become Celebration Midway. Over the years this midway has been home to many things. Today the midway is home to Iron Dragon, a large entertainment area and the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad.

History

In 1970 Cedar Point was celebrating it's 100th anniversary. To celebrate the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad's station was relocated to allow a 1,000-foot expansion of the Main Midway. The new area was called Million Dollar Midway. It included the existing Frontier Lift. The Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad and Western Cruise received new stations. The midway also received new rides including Bayern Kurve, Dodgem, Himalaya, Monster, and Schwabichen.

Further midway expansion would occur in 1975 when Cedar Point Cinema was added to the park. The Cedar Point Cinema featured the largest IMAX theatre in the world when it opened. To make room for the Cedar Point Cinema, Himalaya was moved into storage. It would be reinstalled in 1978 on the Beach Midway. It has been moved several times since.

In 1985 Cedar Point opened Avalanche Run. To make room for the ride Cedar Point would need to move WildCat. It was decided to relocate Schwabinchen to the Beach Midway where it replaced the Rotor. Bayern Kurve would be relocated to Valley Fair. WildCat would be moved to this area to free up room for Avalanche Run.

The original plan was for the Rotor to be reinstalled at Valley Fair, but once it got to the park it was decided the ride was in poor shape. It would remain in storage at Valley Fair for many years until it would finally be scrapped.

Frontier Lift was closed at the end of the 1985 season. Over the years many rumors have went around about why the ride was removed. Over the years the removal of this ride led to the construction of many different things. It opened up room for huge construction of the next frontier.

At the end of the 1986 season, both Monster and Western Cruise were relocated to the Gemini Midway. Western Cruise would be reimagined to become Paddlewheel Excursions.

In 1987, Cedar Point would open it's 8th roller coaster, Iron Dragon. Iron Dragon was the first successful suspended roller coaster in the region. Iron Dragon takes riders on a journey over the lagoon and thru the woods. Iron Dragon would be a great roller coaster for the entire family to ride together.

In 1995 Cedar Point was celebrating its 125th anniversary. Cedar Point would add the laser show to help celebrate the anniversary. The screen was ugly and blocked the view of the train station, as well as Giant Wheel. Over the years the laser show was switched out a few times.

In 2012 Cedar Point would reimagine the area. The screen was finally taken down and replaced with a new outdoor theater called Celebration Showplace Theatre. It would show the new night time shows, as well as a few shows during the day. The original plan was to keep WildCat on the midway, but in May 2012 it was announced that WildCat would need to be removed to make room for Celebration Plaza. Today the WildCat site houses bleachers.

In November 2014 Cedar Point announced it was removing the Good Time Theatre from the park for future expansion. In February 2015, it was announced that Dodgem was being relocated the Beach Midway.

In 2016 Cedar Point opened Valravn. Valarvn's second half of the ride uses land that was once part of Celebration Plaza.

In 2025, Siren's Curse will open on the former WildCat and Cedars site. Siren's Curse is known as a tilt coaster!

Area names

Over the years the midway would have several names including:

Million Dollar Midway (1970-1984)
WildCat Midway (1985-2011)
Celebration Plaza (2012)

Attractions that have been in Celebration Plaza over the Years

21 and Colder

Opened: 2024
Location: Between Iron Dragon and the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad's train tracks.
Type: bar

21 and Colder is an adult bar that serves specialty adult beverages. 21 and Colder specializes in frozen drinks.

Bayern Kurve

Opened: 1970
Manufacturer: Schwarzkopf
Type: Bayern Kurve
Closed: 1984

Bayern Kurve was a spinning ride added to Cedar Point in 1970 for the park's 100th anniversary expansion. Riders were loaded into small cars and spun around in a circle over a small hill. The ride was removed at the end of the 1984 season to make room for WildCat.

Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad

Opened: 1963
Manufacturer: Cedar Point
Type: Train Ride

All Aboard! The Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad is a train ride that will take you around the back half of the park. During the ride you will encounter villages of skeletons! The Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad has been a family favorite since 1963!

Cedar Point Cinema

Opened: 1975
Type: IMAX Theatre
Closed: 2001

The Cedar Point Cinema opened in 1975. At that time it featured the largest IMAX theatre in the world. Every year the theatre would feature a different show. It closed at the end of the 2001 season.

Celebration Showplace

Opened: 2012
Type: Outdoor Stage

Celebration Showplace Theatre is an outdoor stage that features shows and entertainment. This stage is often home to the park's night time show.

Celebration Station

Opened: 2012
Type: refreshment stand
Closed: 2015

Celebration Station was a refreshment stand that was located in Celebration Plaza.

Dive In

Opened: 2016
Closed: 2022
Type: refreshment stand
Replaced by: Hops+Drops Bar

Dive In was a refreshment stand that was located in Celebration Plaza. You could get a great view of Valravn's second dive from this location.

Dodgem

Opened: 1970
Manufacturer: Soli of Italy
Type: bumper cars
Moved From Midway: 2014

Dodgem is a giant bumper car ride! Riders will drive the cars wherever they want to drive them and can bump the other cars! Dodgem opened in 1970 as part of Cedar Point's 100th season! The entire family can ride this ride!

Dragon's Inn

Opened: Around 1987
Location: Between Iron Dragon and the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad's train tracks.
Type: food stand
Closed: 2023
Replaced by: 21 and Colder

Dragon's Inn was located near Iron Dragon. The food stand had chicken fingers, hotdogs, breadsticks, and mozzarella sticks.

Frontier Lift

Opened: 1968
Manufacturer: Von Roll
Type: Sky Ride
Closed: 1985

In 1968 Cedar Point opened Frontier Lift. The ride was a second way to get to Frontier Town. Frontier Lift was a sky ride that took riders over the Cedar Point Lagoons. It closed in 1985.

Fun Fact: Frontier Lift's cars replaced Sky Ride's cars in 1986.

Good Time Theatre

Opened: 2002
Type: ice skating show
Closed: 2014

Good Time Theatre was home to an ice sating show. Guests could be entertained to a really cool show while they sat in air conditioning.

Hops+Drops Bar

Opened: 2024
Location: Celebration Plaza
Type: Bar

Hops+Drops Bar is a bar that is located in Celebration Plaza. Hops+Drops Bar offers guests adult beverages and snacks. Valravn looms in the background of the stand.

Iron Dragon

Opened: 1987
Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics
Type: suspended roller coaster

Iron Dragon was the first successful suspended roller coaster in the mid-west when it opened in 1987.

Iron Dragon takes riders on a journey over the forest and the lagoons as the ride swings riders at speeds of 40 MPH. Iron Dragon is one of two roller coasters at Cedar Point to feature two different lift hills.

Laser Show

Opened: 1995
Type: Laser Show
Closed: 2011

The Laser Show was a nighttime show that projected lasers onto a giant screen located in the middle of the midway. The show was added to Cedar Point for the park's 125th anniversary.

Monster

Opened: 1970
Manufacturer: Eyerly Aircraft Company
Type: moster
Moved From Midway: 1987

Monster spins riders in a circle that goes up, down and around. Monster has been a favorite since it opened in 1970 and was originally located where Iron Dragon's break run now stands. Monster was relocated to the Gemini area in 1987. Monster gives its riders a lot of air time!

Paddlewheel Cafe

Opened: 1970
Type: restaurant
Closed: 1998

Paddlewheel Cafe was a small restaurant located on the Million Dollar Midway. It served simple things like cheeseburgers and hotdogs.

Riverboat Cruise

Opened: 1960
Manufacturer: Cedar Point
Type: Boat Ride
Closed: 1963

Riverboat Cruise was a small boat ride that used the Cedar Point lagoons to take riders on a boat ride. The ride was very popular and would be expanded.

Schwabinchen

Opened: 1970
Manufacturer: Mack Rides
Type: Schwabinchen
Moved From Midway: 1985
Closed: 2002

Schwabinchen was a family spinning ride that opened on the new Million Dollar Midway in 1970.In 1985 it was relocated near Oceanea where it replaced Rotor.

Schwabinchen was a german themed family ride that spun around and up and down on a platform. The ride was sold to Strikers Grove in Ohio but never reopened.

Super Himalaya

Opened: 1970
Manufacturer: Mack Rides
Type: himalaya
Moved From Midway: 1974

Super Himalaya was a spinning ride at Cedar Point. It first opened in 1970 as part of the Million Dollar Midway. It was moved into storage at the end of the 1974 season.

Western Cruise

Opened: 1964
Manufacturer: Cedar Point
Type: Boat Ride
Moved From Midway: 1986
Closed: 1986

Western Cruise opened at Cedar Point in 1964. The ride took guests on a journey back into the days of the old west. The ride closed in 1986 and was moved to the Gemini Midway. It was renamed Paddlewheel Excursions for the 1987 season.

WildCat

Opened: 1970
Moved to Midway: 1985
Manufacturer: Schwarzkopf
Type: wildcat
Closed: 2011

WildCat was a mini coaster that featured small four passenger cars. WildCat featured a figure-eight style layout. The ride opened in 1979 and it was placed near Space Spiral. The ride was moved to the Million Dollar Midway for the 1985 season to make room for Avalanche Run. It closed in 2011 to make room for Celebration Plaza.

Last Updated: 3/26/2023

Photo Credit: Andrew Borgen, Cedar Point, and Jake Hamons