Wave Swinger
1979
45th Anniversaary Edition
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Wave Swinger is a swing ride located in Frontier Town at Cedar Point.
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Wave Swinger is a classic amusement park ride found in parks around the world.
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The 1960s saw significant expansion at Cedar Point, a trend that continued into the 1970s. In 1970, the Million Dollar Midway opened, giving guests more rides and helping reduce wait times. In 1971, Frontier Trail opened, taking guests back in time. The Giant Wheel debuted in 1972, followed by Cedar Point Cinema in 1975, featuring IMAX films. In 1976, Corkscrew opened on the new midway, becoming the first roller coaster in the world to invert riders three times. The Corkscrew Midway was expanded in 1977, and in 1978, Gemini opened, briefly holding the title of the world’s tallest racing roller coaster.
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1979 was a major expansion year for Cedar Point. On the Beach, a new WildCat was added, replacing the old one, and it was relocated to the Jumbo Jet site to make room for future expansion.
On the Gemini Midway, the Gemini Children’s Area made its debut. The area included Jr. Gemini, which would become one of the first roller coasters in the world built by Intamin. Intamin would later return to the park to build some of its biggest roller coasters. Wave Swinger also opened in Frontier Town, adding another attraction for guests to enjoy in that area. |
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Wave Swinger opened at Cedar Point on Saturday, May 12, 1979.
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The first Wave Swinger was built in 1972 in Germany. The ride quickly became popular and began appearing in amusement parks around the world.
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Cedar Point added its version in 1979, placing it in Frontier Town near the Frontier Carousel, next to a pond. The pond created a unique effect as the ride swung above it.
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Wave Swinger remains in its original location from when it first opened. It is located in Frontier Town next to Frontier Inn.
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Wave Swinger was built by Zierer and became the park’s modern swing ride.
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Wave Swinger is a fun ride that continues to thrill guests even 47 years after it first opened.
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Wave Swinger Ride Facts:
Opened: 1979 Location: Frontier Town Height: 31 feet Designer: Zierer Swings: 48 |
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Theming
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Wave Swinger is one of Cedar Point’s most themed flat rides. It features a German-inspired theme.
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Wave Swinger features beautiful engravings throughout the ride, with each panel depicting a different scene. The ride also showcases bright, vibrant colors.
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Wave Swinger features hundreds of colored lights that bring the ride to life at night. With all its lighting, the ride has the look of a flying carousel.
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Ride Experience
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The Wave Swinger experience begins with guests entering woven basket-style seats. Each seat is secured with a safety bar and seatbelt.
Wave Swinger can accommodate up to 48 riders per cycle. |
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Wave Swinger begins by lifting riders into the air. As it rises, it starts spinning in a clockwise circle.
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Wave Swinger lifts riders 31 feet into the air. It’s a bit thrilling to spin above the ground in a small chair like that!
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As the ride reaches full height, it begins to tilt to the side, creating a wave-like motion.
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The ride feels as if you are floating through the air. It’s a very fun experience!
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Wave Swinger stops tilting and begins lowering riders back to the ground.
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The ride then stops spinning and lowers riders to the ground. Wave Swinger lasts about 2 minutes.
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Wave Swinger is a great family ride. Since 1979, it has been a family favorite, putting smiles on the faces of its riders.
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Today, Wave Swinger is Cedar Point’s 30th-oldest ride in the park.
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After Cedar Point opened Wave Swinger in 1979, the park continued to add rides and attractions that offered something for everyone. Over the following decades, Cedar Point would add:
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). All of these new attractions have added something unique to the park. They are part of what has made Cedar Point the ultimate thrill park it is today. |
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Wave Swinger was a great addition to Cedar Point and continues to thrill riders today!
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Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride Wave Swinger.
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Photos by: Jake Hamons, The Lost Coaster, Russ Hauden, and Cedar Point
Last Updated: 5/20/2026
