Sky Ride
1962

Sky Ride opened in 1962 over Cedar Point’s Main Midway and serves as the park’s classic aerial ride.

The early 1950s were a difficult time for Cedar Point, as the park had fallen into decline and was still recovering from the Great Depression. In 1956, Cedar Point was purchased by George Roose and Emile Legros, who initially planned to redevelop the property for housing. However, due to public outcry, they shifted their vision and instead set out to transform the park into the “Disneyland of the Midwest.”

As a result, new attractions began to appear, each larger and more ambitious than the last. Cadillac Cars debuted in 1958 and proved so popular that Turnpike Cars followed in 1959. In 1961, Western Cruise repurposed the old lagoon to take guests on a journey through the past. These additions marked the beginning of Cedar Point’s significant growth and revitalization.

Sky Ride opened to the public on Saturday, June 9, 1962.

Sky Ride cost $300,000 to build. Adjusted for inflation, that would be approximately $3,246,208.61 in 2026.

Sky Ride was built by Von Roll of Switzerland and was the first attraction at Cedar Point constructed by the company. They later returned to build Space Spiral (1965–2012) and Frontier Lift (1967–1985).

When Sky Ride opened in 1962, it featured two-seater buckets that gave riders an amazing view of Cedar Point.

In 1967, Cedar Point improved ride capacity by adding additional vehicles wherever possible. Sky Ride received new cars that year, increasing capacity to four passengers per car.

Those cars operated through the end of the 1985 season. At that time, Frontier Lift was retired and removed to make way for further park expansion.

In 1986, Sky Ride’s cabins were replaced with those from Frontier Lift. Initially, the cabins retained the same colors they had on Frontier Lift.

Eventually, the cabins were repainted, and they continue to operate on the ride to this day.

Sky Ride is a great family attraction that everyone can enjoy together.

Sky Ride is located in the middle of the Main Midway and passes by many attractions. Riders are given a bird’s-eye view of the midway to enjoy.

Sky Ride Facts:
Manufacturer: Von Roll
Opened: June 9, 1962
Location: Main Midway
​Tower Heights:
     Tower 1: 87 ft
     Tower 2: 86 ft
     Tower 3: 58.5 ft
Cable Length: 2,630 ft
Ride Time: 2 min 40 sec
Capacity: 3,000 guests per hour

Disneyland's Skyway

Disneyland’s Skyway opened on June 23, 1956, and was the first Von Roll Sky Ride in the United States. The attraction featured a similar station and drive system to Cedar Point’s Sky Ride, showcasing Von Roll’s early aerial lift design.

The Skyway operated for nearly four decades before closing on November 9, 1994. After its closure, the ride was dismantled and removed from the park, marking the end of one of Disneyland’s long-standing aerial attractions.

Ride Experience

Sky Ride has two loading stations located by the Midway Carousel and near Coasters Diner.

Sky Ride consists of 38 cabins that travel above Cedar Point’s Main Midway.

Sky Ride’s cabins hold up to four people each and feature a simple bench-style seat.

Sky Ride takes guests 92 feet into the air, offering great views of Cedar Point’s Main Midway during the ride.

Sky Ride takes guests on a half-mile journey over the park.

Sky Ride is a great attraction for guests who want a scenic view of the park or prefer not to walk to the other side of Cedar Point.

The ride offers excellent views of the front of the park as well as the Cedar Point Marina, giving riders a unique perspective of both the midway and surrounding waterfront areas.
​
A ride on Sky Ride lasts about 2 minutes and 40 seconds, making it a quick but memorable experience. It is a fun, family-friendly attraction that guests of all ages can enjoy together. While similar aerial rides can be found at a few other amusement parks, Cedar Point’s setting and views make its Sky Ride a truly distinctive experience.

Sky Ride is a one-way trip. When guests arrive at the other station, they must exit the ride. If they wish to ride again, they must re-enter the line.

A great Family Ride

Sky Ride is a fun, family-friendly attraction.

Before Sky Ride was built, the only way to get a high view of the park was by riding a roller coaster. That changed when Sky Ride opened, giving guests a relaxing way to see Cedar Point from above.

Sky Ride is a unique attraction with a long history. When it opened, it was the ninth Sky Ride ever built. Today, it is the third-oldest Sky Ride still in operation and the oldest Von Roll Sky Ride in its original location in the United States.
​
Over the years, Von Roll constructed 48 Sky Rides. As of 2020, only 10 remain in operation, including two located at Cedar Fair parks.

Over the years, Sky Ride has become a family favorite.

After adding Sky Ride in 1962, Cedar Point would continue to add:
  Mill Race (1963-1993), Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad (1963), Blue Streak (1964), Calypso (1964-1969), Broadway Trip (1964-1964), Western Cruise (1964-1986), Space Spiral (1965-2012), Earthquake (1965-1984), Pirate Ride (1966-1996), Trabant (1966-1990), Fun House (1966-1981), Frontier Town (1967), Shoot-the-rapids (1967-1981), Sealand (1967-1998), Rotor (1967-1984), Cedar Downs Racing Derby (1967), Frontier Lift (1968-1985), Sky Slide (1968-1991), Antique Cars (1969-2021), Cedar Creek Mine Ride (1969), Cedar Point’s 100th Anniversary Celebration (1970), Frontier Trail (1971), Jumbo Jet (1972-1978), Matterhorn (1972), Giant Wheel (1972), Cedar Point Cinema (1975-2001), Corkscrew (1976), Troika (1976), Witches’ Wheel (1977-2018), Gemini (1978), Gemini Chilrden’s Area (1979-2013), Wave Swinger (1979), WildCat (1979-2011), Oceana (1980), Ocean Motion (1981), Kid Arthur’s Court (1982-2005), White Water Landing (1982-2005), Demon Drop (1983-2009), Avalanche Run (1985-1989), Berenstain Bear Country (1985-1998), Thunder Canyon (1986), Iron Dragon (1987), Soak City Water Park (1988-2016), Magnum XL-200 (1989), Disaster Transport (1990-2012), Mean Streak (1991-2016), Challenge Park (1992-2016), Snake River Falls (1993-2024), Kiddy Kingdom (1993), Raptor (1994), Cedar Point’s 125th Anniversary Celebration (1995), RipCord (1996-2016), Mantis (1996-2014), Chaos (1997-2011), Swan Boats (1997-2003), Power Tower (1998), Camp Snoopy (1999), Millennium Force (2000), Lighthouse Point (2001), Wicked Twister (2002-2021), Good Time Theatre (2002-2014), Top Thrill Dragster (2003-2021), Castaway Bay Resort (2004), maXair (2005), Skyhawk (2006), Maverick (2007), Planet Snoopy (2008), Shoot the Rapids (2010-2015), WindSeeker (2011), Dinosaurs Alive! On Adventure Island (2012-2018), GateKeeper (2013), New Gemini Midway (2014), Rougarou (2015), Valravn (2016), Cedar Point Shores Waterpark (2017), Steel Vengeance (2018), Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island (2019-2022), Cedar Point’s 150th Anniversary Celebration (2021), Snake River Expedition (2021-2023), The Boardwalk (2023), Top Thrill 2 (2024), and Siren’s Curse (2025)
​Since 1962, the park has changed significantly and continues to be a fun place to visit.

Sky Ride was a great addition to Cedar Point, and its success helped the park continue on a path that would eventually make it the world’s largest amusement park.

The ride became a centerpiece of the Main Midway, with the park growing around and beyond it over the years.
​
Today, Sky Ride remains a family-friendly attraction that guests of all ages can enjoy together.

Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride alone. Guests under 48 inches must be accompanied by a responsible person. Each cabin has a maximum combined weight limit of 680 pounds.

Photos by: Cedar Point, Robbie Von Roll, vonrollskyway1, and Jake Hamons

Last Updated: 05/01/2026