Dodgem

Dodgem
1970

Dodgem is a bumper car ride at Cedar Point.

Dodgem is a great ride for the entire family.

In the 1960s, Cedar Point began adding attractions that would significantly expand its collection. In 1962, guests could enjoy scenic views without riding a roller coaster when the Sky Ride opened on the Main Midway.

In 1963, the park introduced the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad as well as the Mill Race. Mill Race was only the second log flume ride ever built. The ever-popular Blue Streak (1964) was the first major roller coaster to open at Cedar Point since 1929. Space Spiral became the tallest ride in the world when it opened in 1965. In 1966, Cedar Point debuted Pirate Ride, a dark ride that transported guests back to the days when pirates roamed the high seas.

Frontier Town opened in 1967, adding to the park’s immersive themed experiences. In 1968, Sky Slide opened just off the Main Midway. Then, in 1969, Cedar Point added another roller coaster: Cedar Creek Mine Ride.

1970 was a huge year for Cedar Point. It marked the park’s 100th anniversary, and the celebration was done in a big way.

In the marina, Cedar Point added Pet Check, a pet-sitting service.

Near the front of the park, Cedar Point introduced the Centennial Theatre, Calypso, and Hofbräu Gardens.

Kiddieland was expanded to double its size and was advertised as the largest in the world.

On the Beach Midway, Cedar Point added the Wildcat roller coaster and the Sealand attraction.

The train station was moved back to make way for a new midway called Million Dollar Midway. This area was home to Bayern Kurve, Dodgem 2, Himalaya, Monster, and Tiki Twirl. The Western Cruise station was also relocated there, and Paddlewheel Café opened.

Fifty-six years later, all of these attractions have either been relocated or removed, with only three remaining under their original themes.

Originally named Dodgem 2, the ride opened in 1970 on the Million Dollar Midway at Cedar Point.

Dodgem 2 was placed at the far end of the midway, across from the Sky Ride station near the Marina Gate at Cedar Point.

Dodgem 2 was a very popular addition to Cedar Point. It was larger than the original Dodgem, and the line moved faster.

In 1977, the original Dodgem was relocated to the Corkscrew Midway and placed in a new building at Cedar Point.

2001 was the final season for Dodgem 1 at Cedar Point. In the spring of 2002, the park removed the ride and soon began construction on Top Thrill Dragster.

Dodgem 1 was relocated to Michigan's Adventure for the 2002 season. The park received the Dodgem 1 building along with the cars from Dodgem 2, while Cedar Point kept the original Dodgem 1 bumper cars.

At the same time, the “2” was dropped from Dodgem 2’s name, resulting in the Dodgem that operates today.

Names over the years:
1970–2001: Dodgem 2
2002–Present: Dodgem

In 2004, Dodgem received a new sign, fresh paint, and an overall update to reflect its new name. The ride’s popularity continued to grow following this refresh.

In early 2015, Dodgem was relocated next to maXair at Cedar Point.

Dodgem’s relocation helped bring new life to the Wicked Twister Midway. Since 2000, the rides in this area have all been replaced with new experiences.

Dodgem is a great ride for the entire family to enjoy together!

Dodgem was relocated to the Wicked Twister Midway to make room for Valravn. To accommodate the move, Krazy Kars was relocated to Planet Snoopy and renamed Joe Cool’s Dodgem School. Sir Rub-a-Dub’s Tubs was removed from the park, and Kiddy Kingdom was downsized to make space for the relocated ride.

The classic family ride was rebuilt and restored in its new location on The Boardwalk.

The ride also received new landscaping, helping it better blend in with The Boardwalk.

Dodgem is located next to maXair and across from Troika and Giant Wheel.

In its new location, Dodgem’s queue was redesigned, and a Fast Lane entrance was added.

Bumper cars are a classic staple of amusement parks, and most major parks have one. At Cedar Point, that ride is Dodgem.

Dodgem was manufactured by Soli of Italy.

Dodgem Ride Facts:
Opened: May 23, 1970
Type: Bumper cars
Manufacturer: Soli of Italy
Cars: 20
Locations:

Million Dollar Midway (1970–2014)
The Boardwalk (since 2015)

Dodgem’s floor is coated with graphite, which helps the cars move smoothly across the surface. When the floor gets wet, the graphite can clump together, affecting the ride’s operation. As a result, the ride may temporarily close until the floor dries at Cedar Point.

A New Era Begins

While the ride received a refresh in 2015, not much about the ride itself actually changed. It remained the same classic experience—just in a new location with a fresh paint job at Cedar Point.

In 2016, Cedar Point replaced its Dodgem cars, which had been in operation from 1977 to 2015, with new ninja-style bumper cars.

The new cars are a great upgrade—they move smoothly, are larger than the old ones, and provide a more comfortable ride.

The new cars don’t have seat belts; instead, they use a non-locking lap bar. This design allows for faster loading and unloading, which helps improve the overall ride experience.

Ride Expereience

The Dodgem ride experience begins when guests enter the queue. The ride entrance is located at the front of the attraction.

The average wait time for Dodgem is typically 5–10 minutes, with the longest waits usually around 15 minutes.

On Dodgem, riders can choose the car they want to ride in, and each car accommodates up to two people.

Dodgem is a very fun ride and the only attraction at Cedar Point where riders are allowed to bump into other cars as part of the experience.

Riders drive their bumper cars on a slippery floor, aiming to bump into as many other cars as possible while navigating the ride.

Dodgem is a really fun ride—riders are sure to laugh and giggle as they bump into other cars!

A ride on Dodgem lasts about a minute and a half.