Credit: Cedar Fair Entertainment CompanyA grotesque accident recently forced a halt of operations at Cedar Point ahead of a permanent closure occurring at the amusement park.
From a series of animal escapes to the extended closure of Top Thrill 2, brawls, violent assaults, and threats from activist groups, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, has faced multiple hindrances to its amusement park operations this year.
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Perhaps the most scandalous incident involved the escape of two camels from The Barn Yard, Cedar Point’s petting zoo area. The escape put Cedar Point and Honey Hill Farms — which also supplies animals for other Six Flags Entertainment Corporation-owned amusement parks like Michigan’s Adventure and Worlds of Fun— under severe scrutiny.
The unfortunate escape was followed by a similar incident involving a herd of goats a few days later. TikTok user @buddylovesrides shared a video of this escape. You can see it below or click here to watch it.
I think there’s something going on with the petting zoo at #cedarpoint – first the #camels now the #goats – who knew I was a shepherd, too!
#buddylovesrides #amusementpark #themepark #pettingzoo #sanduskyohio #frontiertrail #animals #goat
@buddylovesrides I think there’s something going on with the petting zoo at #cedarpoint – first the #camels now the #goats – who knew I was a shepherd, too! 😂 #buddylovesrides #amusementpark #themepark #pettingzoo #sanduskyohio #frontiertrail #animals #goat
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Guests have recently reported multiple ride malfunctions triggering temporary shutdowns at some of the park’s most iconic attractions, including Sky Ride, WindSeeker, and Snake River Falls.
Earlier this month, Cedar Point’s Director of Communications, Tony Clark, confirmed that the latter would permanently shut down after 31 years of operations to make way for an undisclosed future expansion at the beloved Sandusky amusement park.
Unfortunately, a grotesque accident recently halted the amusement park’s operations, shocking bystanders who applauded the employees’ swift response.
It’s the final tidal wave for Snake River Falls.
It's the final tidal wave for Snake River Falls.
Learn more: https://t.co/TIbzOyBoNj pic.twitter.com/WvGqP64z3H
— Tony Clark (@TonyClarkCP) August 2, 2024
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Redditor u/KimchiBoi24_7 recently posted a picture of one of the seats in Raptor, the inverted roller coaster, commenting that a guest had thrown up after riding the intense coaster, prompting a temporary shutdown and the cleanup crew’s quick response.
“Cleanup crew of Raptor is really good. I don’t know if I’d have the stomach to clean up someone else’s puke,” the Redditor added.
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Some Redditors quickly joined the conversation by saying that this has become a frequent occurrence at the Ohio amusement park due to the intense heat.
User u/Banana8686 commented, “This is happening all over the park all day because of heat. Happened a few cars before us on SV. Just tried to go on Gatekeeper and was temp closed for maintenance issue. Saw a guy looking really sick on the bench outside.”
Redditor u/SirUntouchable responded, “Probably a mix of the heat, the intensity of raptor, and that damn end helix that just pushes all the blood into your legs.” u/RhythmSectionWantAd added, “And the slam into the final brakes. Love Raptor, hate the final brake run.”
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User u/Calm-Conference-117 blamed guest behavior for the incident and commented, “Been seeing people drinking beer here all day too. Like……howwwww? It’s 100 degrees and you’re about to ride a huge beast that’s going to try and throw you in every direction possible. I like beer and I like coasters but I just don’t understand mixing the two without getting ill. Especially in extreme heat.”
Redditor u/nohotshot commented, “What’s with Raptor always being the coaster people feel the need to throw up on. This is the 3rd time I’ve seen this happen and the first 2 times were in person.”
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Fortunately, as the original poster mentioned, Cedar Point cleanup crews handled the grotesque accident brilliantly.
A similar accident recently occurred at Six Flags Great America, with a guest accidentally relieving themselves aboard X Flight, a high-speed, high-thrill roller coaster at the amusement park.
One viewer who is likely familiar with cleaning protocols after accidents like this shared, “For everyone saying ‘just water.’ No, not just water. Protocol entails water to get the chunks off, send around on an empty cycle to air dry, when it comes back it’s heavy on the disinfectant.”
The user continued, “A thorough wipe down and another empty cycle air dry. It’s then checked to see if anything was missed. If it’s good to go, they start loading again. This is the same protocol used for any bodily fluids including but not limited to: vomit, poop, blood, spit, and snot.”
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Following the billion-dollar merger between Six Flags and Cedar Point Entertainment Company, one would hope the cleaning protocols are similar at all Six Flags-owned and operated amusement parks, including Cedar Point.
Fortunately, no significant injuries were reported after the accident, and Raptor undoubtedly resumed regular operations shortly after the cleaning protocol was completed.
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Unfortunately, Cedar Point fans were recently struck with devastating news after amusement park officials confirmed that Top Thrill 2 would not open until 2025.
“We sincerely appreciate your patience while Top Thrill 2’s manufacturer Zamperla has been working diligently to complete a mechanical modification to the coaster vehicles,” the amusement park shared in a press release.
“Unfortunately, the manufacturer will not be able to complete the modifications needed in time to reopen the coaster in 2024. We are extremely disappointed that we cannot open the ride this season, but remain committed to delivering a reliable, consistent and unparalleled coaster experience for our guests in 2025.”
— Cedar Point (@cedarpoint) August 23, 2024
Following a concerning accident involving a Michigan woman, Top Thrill Dragster permanently shut its gates to make way for Top Thrill 2, a breathtaking strata coaster that eclipses 400 feet in height.
Top Thrill 2 opened on May 4, 2024. Unfortunately, the roller coaster’s glory was short-lived. Due to safety concerns, the strata coaster had to be shut down indefinitely, prompting the modifications that have delayed its reopening since May 12.
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Like all Six Flags Entertainment Company-owned locations (formerly operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company), the Ohio amusement park prioritizes the safety of guests and employees. An earlier update stated that the ride would undergo multiple inspections before resuming operations.
Cedar Point stated: “Once the modification is complete, Zamperla, the Cedar Point maintenance & operations teams, and our third-party ride inspection partner will conduct a thorough review before approving both the modification and the reopening of the ride.”
Remember that you have the final word. Share your opinion on this grotesque accident and how Cedar Point employees handled the incident with Inside the Magic and our readers in the comments below!