Cedar Creek Mine Ride
1969

Cedar Creek Mine Ride is Cedar Point's classic Arrow Development Mine Train Roller Coaster. Cedar Creek Mine Ride was the centerpiece for the new expansion of Frontiertown. In 1969. Cedar Creek Mine Ride was Cedar Point's 3rd roller coaster at that time. Today it is the second oldest in the park.

The 1950s was a bad time for Cedar Point. The park was still not doing good because it was still trying to recover from the depression. Buildings, attractions, and rides were falling into disrepair, but that would soon change. In 1956, Cedar Point would be purchased by George Roose and Emile Legros. Their original plan was to demolish the park and redevelop it as a housing community. The public rebelled and they decided to turn Cedar Point into the "Disneyland of the Midwest!". In 1961 Cedar Point added Riverboat Cruise; it would be renamed several times over the years eventually becoming Paddlewheel Excursions. Guest would never have to ride a roller coaster just to see the sights from above when Sky Ride opened in 1962. In 1963 Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad gave guests a trip through the woods and along the park's lagoons. Blue Streak became the first major roller coaster built at Cedar Point since 1929 when it opened in 1964. In 1965, Space Spiral became the tallest ride in the world with the slogan ''New Heights in Fun''. In 1966 Pirate Ride was moved to Cedar Point from Freedom land. In 1967, Frontier Town opened. In 1968, Frontier Town was expanded with the Golden Palace Theater and Chuck Wagon. More would come in 1969 when Cedar Creek Mine Ride opened. The story of Cedar Creek Mine Ride begins in 1967.

In 1967 Cedar Point opened Frontier Town. When Frontier Town originally opened the area was very small. The only way to get to Frontier Town was to ride the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad, A new station stop was added so guest could get on and off the train. The original station looked like the main station. 

Frontier Town opened with the General Store as its only gift shop. Today the original General Store is home to The Emporium.

Frontier Town had just one ride, Shoot-the-rapids. Shoot-the-rapids was a small log flume located near the train station. Frontier Town was very small but that would soon change.  Frontier Town was also home to Town Hall, a guest services center.

In 1968 Frontier Town received a number of improvements that doubled the size of the town. Frontier Lift was added to help bring guest to the section of the park. Frontier Lift was a Sky Ride that was located over the lagoons. The ride had a station near the Main Midway and in Frontier Town. Frontier Lift lasted until 1985. Next to Frontier Lift,  Town Hall Museum was enlarged. Town Hall acts as an actual museum and Guest Services.


Near the train station, Cedar Point added Golden Palace Theater, Last Chance Salon, and Chuck Wagon.

With all these new and impressive changes, Cedar Point was still not done expanding Frontier Town. 1969 would see the biggest expansion yet.

In 1969 Frontier Town was expanded once again. The area received 2 new food stands, an arcade, a small restaurant, Antique Cars and the star attraction of the area, Cedar Creek Mine Ride. This new expansion finally made Frontier Town the basic circular midway that is still in place today.

All these new editions helped make Frontier Town a major midway at Cedar Point.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride was built over the winter of 1968-1969. Cedar Creek Mine Ride opened on May 24, 1969, as Cedar Point's 3rd roller coaster.

When Cedar Creek Mine Ride opened in 1969, it took up more space than any other roller coaster in the park!

Cedar Creek Mine Ride was built by Arrow Dynamics of Clearfield, Utah. Arrow had built several other rides for Cedar Point including: Turnpike Cars (1959-2014), Cadillac Cars (1958), Mill Race (1963-1993), Earthquake (1965-1984), Pirate Ride (1966-1996), Shoot-the-rapids (1967-1981), Antique Cars (1969). Arrow would later return to build several more Arrow rides including: Corkscrew (1976), Gemini (1978), White Water Landing (1982-2005) and Iron Dragon (1987), Magnum XL-200 (1989), and Snake River Falls (1993).

Cedar Creek Mine Ride was designed by Ron Toomer. Ron was a NASA engineer who got bored with his job. After a job hunt, he joined the Arrow Development Company. He would then develop some of the world's best rides. Cedar Creek Mine Ride would be the first ride built by Arrow at Cedar Point to be designed by Ron Toomer.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride is a Hybrid Roller Coaster. A Hybrid Roller Coaster is a roller coaster that uses a combination of wood and steel. Cedar Creek Mine Ride has a steel track and a wooden frame. Cedar Creek Mine Ride is classified as a steel roller coaster.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride was Cedar Point's first Hybrid Roller Coaster. Cedar Point later added 2 more Hybrid Roller Coasters after 1969: Gemini (1978) and Steel Vengeance (2018).

Cedar Creek Mine Ride
Ride Facts
Height: 48 feet
Drop:
Speed: 48 MPH
Hills: 6
Inversions: 0
Type: Hyper roller coaster
Designer: Ron Toomer
Company: Arrow Dynamics of Clearfield, Utah
Capacity: 2,400/HR
Opened: May 24, 1969
Number of Coaster in 1969: 3
Cost:
Cedar Point's 2nd oldest existing roller coaster.
24 roller coasters have been added since Cedar Creek Mine Ride opened.

Ride Experience

The Cedar Creek Mine Ride experience begins when riders enter the line for the ride. The ride has a basic western style entrance sign.

The line is located between different sections of the ride. It has a few switchbacks near the entrance of the ride but it is very rare that this section is actually needed.

The line then snakes its way into the station building. The wait for this ride is usually a walk on when the park is slow. When the park is busy the line usually doesn't get any longer than around 20 minutes.

The station is themed as a Mining Company. While there isn't any actual theming inside the building other then a few painted signs.

The trains on Cedar Creek Mine Ride are very small and compact. They have individual seat belts and riders share the same lap bar. The trains are manual meaning the ride operator has to open and close the lap bars by hand. The lap bars only lock in one position making the ride very restrictive.

After the ride operator gives the ''all clear'' the ride begins.

The ride leaves the station then goes into a small dip. The small dip gives the train some speed to make it to the lift. After the dip, the ride makes a turn to the right and heads into the Mine Shaft.

The Mine Shaft is a straight section of track. The train then goes thru the Shaft. The Mine Shaft has a feeling as if you were in the old west. The Mine Shaft also houses the transfer track where crews take the trains on and off the ride track.

After exiting the Mine Shaft, the coaster goes into a small dip and a left-hand turn toward the lift hill.

The train then heads up the first lift hill. The first hill on the ride is 48 feet. The first hill gives riders an amazing view of the ride and the lagoon.

Being an older ride in the park, it takes about 25 seconds for the train to reach the top of the hill. It is a very slow moving chain.

After dropping off of the lift, the roller coaster has a straight section that leads to the next element on the roller coaster.

After going through the straight section, Mine Ride then dips and banks to the left.

The coaster goes left into a circle. As the ride goes through the circle the train goes up and down over some very small hills.

The turn then leads the ride into a small straight section of track.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride then takes a turning drop to the left. The drop is a fun dropfor guests. The drop is really cool because it gives great views of the lagoon.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride then glides over the pond. You really feel as if the ride is out of control.

The ride then heads to the left, and goes into an upwards helix. Helixes are often used on rides to kill speed. After the helix, the ride turns to the left toward the second hill. This turn is completely hidden by the trees. 

Before reaching the base of the second hill the ride then goes thru a trim break. The trim break helps slow the train down so it can be dragged to the top of the second lift.

The second lift hill on Cedar Creek Mine Ride is 48 feet tall. The lift hill gives riders a great view of Frontier Town as riders go up the lift. The views on this ride are absolutely stunning. You get great views of the park from here.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride is one of two roller coasters at Cedar Point to have two lift hills. The other roller coaster at Cedar Point to have two lift hills is Iron Dragon.

After dropping off the lift hill the ride goes into a small dip and into a straight section of track.

Mine Ride then takes its riders thru a s section of track. The ride twist and turns thru the middle of a grassy area.

The train then banks to the right and heads into a straight section of track. The train is moving really fast thru this element!

The train then heads up to a straight section of track. On the way up the track turns slightly.

The train dives to the left then goes into a double down helix. The double helix on this ride is very forceful. It helps make the impression of a runaway mine adventure. When you go thru this helix the train is moving very fast. 

After the helix, the ride goes to the final brake run.

The train waits on the break run until the station is ready for the train to come in.

Becoming A Classic

When Cedar Creek Mine Ride opened in 1969 it was really the most thrilling and terrifying ride that Cedar Point had to offer at that time. There was only 2 other roller coasters in the park at that time and they didn't compare to what the new roller coaster would offer.

Over the years the standards of ''thrilling'' changed. Cedar Creek Mine Ride went from thrilling roller coaster to family coaster status. By 2020 standards, Cedar Creek Mine Ride is a tame ride.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride has seen some changes over the years. When the ride opened in 1969 the ride had 5 trains. They could only run 4 at a time. In the mid-2000's Cedar Creek Mine Ride received air gates to keep the next group of riders from crossing the yellow line on the ride platform. When Cedar Creek Mine Ride got seat belts and air gates it really slowed down the operation of the ride. By the mid-1990's the park only ran 3 trains on the ride.  In 2014 the ride was further modified to receive seat belts for every rider. Before then you shared a seat belt with the rider next to you. Also that year the park would start running only two trains on the ride.

On June 30, 1977, a tornado ran across the upper section of the Cedar Point peninsula. The tornado moved across Camper Village and Frontier Town. Several rides and buildings were damaged by the tornado. Cedar Creek Mine Ride was one of the damaged rides. The park worked to fix the ride and it reopened on July 16, 1977.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride has been an important part of Cedar point's history for the last 51 years.

In the years following the opening of Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Cedar Point would add attractions that would balance out the park. Over the next 50 years, Cedar Point would add 24 roller coasters, 4 children's areas, 2 water parks and much more. After Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Cedar Point added: Million Dollar Midway (1970 - 1984) Wildcat (1970-1978), Jumbo Jet (1972-1978), Corkscrew (1976), Gemini (1978) Jr. Gemini (1979 - 2013), WildCat (1979-2011), White Water Landing (1982-2005), Demon Drop (1983-2009),  Avalanche Run (1985-1989), 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), Raptor (1994), Mantis (1996-2014), Power Tower (1998), Camp Snoopy (1999), Millennium Force (2000), Wicked Twister (2002), Top Thrill Dragster (2003), maXair (2005), Skyhawk (2006), Maverick (2007), Planet Snoopy (2008), Shoot The Rapids (2010-2015), WindSeeker (2011), GateKeeper (2013), Pipe Scream (2014), Rougarou (2015), Valravn (2016), Cedar Point Shores Water Park (2017), Steel Vengeance (2018), Forbidden Frontier,  and Cedar Point's 150th Anniversary Celebration (2021). Since 1969, the park has changed so much. It is really a fun place to be!

Cedar Creek Mine Ride is a great ride at Cedar Point. Over the last 50 years, the ride has been a favorite among different demographics. In the early years, the ride attracted thrill seekers and teens. Today, Mine Ride is most popular with families and young kids. Mine Ride is often the first ride for the parks younger guests.

Riders must be 48 inches tall to experience Cedar Creek Mine Ride.

Last Updated: 05/20/2020

Photos by: Jake Hamons, COASTER-net, Cedar Point, and Russ Hauden.