Wilderness Run is a steel kiddie roller coaster tucked into the Camp Snoopy area of Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Though modest in size, the ride carries an outsized claim to fame: it was the first roller coaster ever manufactured by Intamin, the Liechtenstein-based company that would go on to build some of the tallest and fastest coasters in the world.
Originally opened in 1979 as Jr. Gemini, a nod to the full-size Gemini racing coaster across the midway, the ride was repainted and renamed Wilderness Run in 2014 as part of a broader renovation of the Gemini Midway. The ride’s track stayed in its original location, but its queue and entrance were relocated into Cedar Point’s Camp Snoopy children’s area, giving it a fresh look and a more prominent spot within the park’s family-friendly zone.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Cedar Point
- Manufacturer: Intamin
- Opened: 1979
- Height: about 19 feet
- Top speed: about 6 mph
- Length: about 443 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Wilderness Run is built for younger riders, running a single train of four cars arranged two-across in two rows for a total of 16 riders per trip. A chain lift hill pulls the train up before it winds through a short, gentle circuit lined with rockwork and forest theming, lasting around 50 seconds from start to finish. Riders must be at least 36 inches tall to board, making it one of the more accessible coasters on Cedar Point’s midway.
The current layout features tubular steel track finished in green with brown supports, paired with an orange and yellow train accented by a red stripe, a look that ties into the surrounding Camp Snoopy theming introduced during the 2014 renovation.
A Quiet Piece of Coaster History
Despite its small stature, Wilderness Run holds a notable distinction in roller coaster history: it was Intamin’s first-ever coaster installation, opening in 1979 as Jr. Gemini. At the time, it served as a scaled-down companion to the newly built Gemini racing coaster on the opposite side of the midway, giving younger park guests their own version of the racing experience.
Ahead of the 2014 season, Cedar Point announced the ride would be repainted and renamed Wilderness Run as part of a wider refurbishment of the Gemini Midway. The coaster’s track itself was not relocated; instead, its entrance and queue line were moved into the adjoining Camp Snoopy area, folding the ride more fully into that children’s zone.
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Wilderness Run Photo Archive: 2002–2005
These are original ThrillZing photos of Jr. Gemini, now Wilderness Run, taken at Cedar Point in 2002, 2003 and 2005, restored and upscaled from the original camera files. They show the Intamin junior coaster’s station sign and its yellow train on the purple track. All photos are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license with credit to ThrillZing and a link to this page.
Wilderness Run FAQs
Is Wilderness Run the same ride as Jr. Gemini?
Yes, Wilderness Run was known as Jr. Gemini from its 1979 opening until it was repainted and renamed in 2014.
Who manufactured Wilderness Run?
Intamin built Wilderness Run, and it holds the distinction of being the very first roller coaster the company ever manufactured.
Did Cedar Point move the Wilderness Run track in 2014?
No, the track stayed in its original spot on the Gemini Midway. Cedar Point moved the ride’s entrance and queue into the Camp Snoopy area and gave the coaster a new paint scheme and name.
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Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rollercoasterphilosophy/ / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.