Blue Streak is a classic wooden roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, and it holds the distinction of being the oldest roller coaster still operating at the park. Built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and designed by John C. Allen and Frank F. Hoover, it opened to the public on May 23, 1964, ending a stretch of more than a decade in which Cedar Point had no roller coaster at all following the removal of the old Cyclone.
Named after the athletic nickname of nearby Sandusky High School, the Blue Streaks, this out-and-back wooden coaster cost about $200,000 to build and has been thrilling guests for six decades. In 2022 it earned a Coaster Landmark designation from American Coaster Enthusiasts, and in 2013 it ranked 27th on Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards list of the world’s top wooden coasters.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
- Manufacturer: Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
- Opened: May 23, 1964
- Height: 78 feet
- Top speed: 40 mph
- Length: 2,558 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Blue Streak follows a traditional out-and-back layout, a hallmark of classic wooden coaster design from the mid-20th century. Riders climb a chain lift hill to 78 feet before descending a 72-foot first drop, reaching a top speed of about 40 mph as the train races along 2,558 feet of wooden track. The full circuit lasts about 1 minute and 45 seconds, delivering the kind of airtime and rattling, old-school energy that has kept fans returning for generations.
Unlike many modern steel coasters packed with inversions, Blue Streak relies on its classic profile, quick pacing, and the natural feel of wood-track construction to deliver its thrills, making it a favorite among enthusiasts who appreciate traditional coaster engineering.
A Cedar Point Landmark
Blue Streak’s opening in 1964 marked a turning point for Cedar Point, giving the park its first roller coaster in over ten years and helping set the stage for the park’s later transformation into a world-renowned coaster destination. Its continued operation for more than six decades earned it a Coaster Landmark designation from American Coaster Enthusiasts in 2022, recognizing its historical and cultural significance.
Today, Blue Streak remains a beloved part of Cedar Point’s lineup, offering a nostalgic counterpoint to the park’s many record-breaking modern coasters while still drawing steady crowds and wait times.
Explore more: Explore more classic and record-breaking roller coasters.
Blue Streak Photo Archive: 2002–2005
These are original ThrillZing photos of Blue Streak taken at Cedar Point in 2002, 2003 and 2005, restored and upscaled from the original camera files. They show the 1964 wooden coaster’s light-blue structure, the station and a train cresting the lift. All photos are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license with credit to ThrillZing and a link to this page.
Blue Streak FAQs
When did Blue Streak open at Cedar Point?
Blue Streak opened to the public on May 23, 1964, and is the oldest roller coaster still operating at Cedar Point.
Who built Blue Streak?
Blue Streak was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and designed by John C. Allen and Frank F. Hoover.
How tall and fast is Blue Streak?
Blue Streak stands 78 feet tall with a 72-foot first drop and reaches a top speed of about 40 mph over 2,558 feet of track.
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Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Stratosphere assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.