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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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.
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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.
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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.
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Attractions that have been in Celebration Plaza over the Years
Bayern KurveOpened: 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 RailroadOpened: 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! |
Celebration ShowplaceOpened: 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. |
Dive InOpened: 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. |
DodgemOpened: 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 InnOpened: 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 LiftOpened: 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 TheatreOpened: 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. |
Iron DragonOpened: 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. |
MonsterOpened: 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! |
SchwabinchenOpened: 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 HimalayaOpened: 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 CruiseOpened: 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. |
WildCatOpened: 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