Cedar Point: America's Roller Coaster Capital on Lake Erie

Cedar Point is a 364-acre amusement park perched on a Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky, Ohio, recognized worldwide as the Roller Coaster Capital of the World. Open since 1870, it ranks as the second-oldest operating amusement park in the United States and consistently draws more than three million visitors per season.

Every coaster Cedar Point has ever run, including the ones that are gone, is on our Cedar Point roller coaster history timeline, from the 1892 Switchback Railway to Siren’s Curse.

The park’s collection of 18 roller coasters — including Millennium Force, Steel Vengeance, and Top Thrill 2 — has shattered dozens of world records over the decades. Cedar Point held the Golden Ticket Award for Best Amusement Park in the World for 16 consecutive years from 1997 to 2013, cementing its reputation as the definitive benchmark for thrill-seekers everywhere.

Stats at a Glance

Opened: 1870
Location: Sandusky, Ohio (Lake Erie peninsula)
Acreage: 364 acres
Roller Coasters: 18 (ties for most in North America)
Total Rides: About 70
Owner: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (since July 2024)
Peak Attendance: 3.73 million (2019)
Best Park Awards: Golden Ticket ‘World’s Best’ — 16 consecutive years (1997–2013)

A Century of Record-Breaking Coasters

Cedar Point’s pursuit of records began with the modest Switchback Railway in 1892 — a 25-foot wooden coaster topping about 10 mph. The obsession accelerated in 1989 when Magnum XL-200 became the world’s first coaster to surpass 200 feet, launching the hyper-coaster era. A decade later, Millennium Force opened in 2000 as the first complete-circuit coaster to exceed 300 feet, reaching 93 mph and breaking 11 world records on debut.

Steel Vengeance set 15 records when it debuted in 2018 as the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest hybrid roller coaster, with 205 feet of height and 27.2 seconds of airtime. Top Thrill 2 raised the stakes further with a 420-foot structure and 120 mph top speed. In total, Cedar Point has built more than 12 world-record-breaking coasters, and is the only park on earth with five coasters that each exceed 200 feet in height.

Beyond the Coasters: The Full Cedar Point Experience

Cedar Point offers far more than roller coasters across its 364 acres. The property includes around 70 total rides and attractions, the 18-acre Cedar Point Shores waterpark, live entertainment, and a mile-long beach along Lake Erie. Overnight guests have access to six on-site resort hotels, anchored by the historic Hotel Breakers — built in 1905 and restored through a $50 million renovation in 2015 with over 650 rooms and suites.

As of July 1, 2024, Cedar Point operates under Six Flags Entertainment Corporation following the merger of Cedar Fair and Six Flags, creating the largest amusement park operator in North America. Despite the ownership change, the park continues under its beloved Cedar Point name, with new additions such as the record-breaking tilt coaster Siren’s Curse opening for the 2025 season.

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Roller Coasters at Cedar Point

Every Cedar Point coaster ThrillZing has covered — stats, ride experience and history for each:

Cedar Point Photo Archive: 2002–2026

Original ThrillZing photos of Cedar Point taken on September 13, 2026, the first HalloWeekends weekend of the year: the skyline from the central midway with four coasters in one frame, Millennium Force behind Maverick’s launch tower, the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad, and the barrel jack-o-lanterns in the evening sun. The older frames, from 2002 to 2007, come from the same archive as the coaster photo sets and show Thunder Canyon and the park entrance, midway and lagoon of that era. Photos are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license with credit to ThrillZing and a link to this page, except the few marked all rights reserved, which show copyrighted characters or artwork.

September 2026

Millennium Force's lift hill rising behind Siren's Curse's tilt tower at Cedar Point — Millennium Force’s lift hill rising behind Siren’s Curse’s tilt tower at Cedar Point. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

A Rougarou train beside its vertical loop, with Top Thrill 2's top hat and spike and Millennium Force's track at Cedar Point — A Rougarou train beside its vertical loop, with Top Thrill 2’s top hat and spike and Millennium Force’s track at Cedar Point. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

Millennium Force's blue track near the station with Top Thrill 2, Rougarou and Siren's Curse behind at Cedar Point — Millennium Force’s blue track near the station with Top Thrill 2, Rougarou and Siren’s Curse behind at Cedar Point. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

A row of carved jack-o'-lantern barrels on the midway in evening sun at Cedar Point — A row of carved jack-o’-lantern barrels on the midway in evening sun at Cedar Point. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

September 2007

A HalloWeekends hearse with coffins, tombstones and a skeleton on the lawn at Cedar Point, September 2007 — A HalloWeekends hearse with coffins, tombstones and a skeleton on the lawn at Cedar Point, September 29, 2007. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

The HalloWeekends hearse and graveyard props with coaster track behind the trees at Cedar Point, September 2007 — The HalloWeekends hearse and graveyard props with coaster track behind the trees at Cedar Point, September 29, 2007. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

July 2005

The Camp Snoopy rockwork waterfall topped by a Snoopy canoe statue at Cedar Point, July 2005 — The Camp Snoopy rockwork waterfall topped by a Snoopy canoe statue at Cedar Point, July 26, 2005. *Photo: ThrillZing (all rights reserved; the artwork shown belongs to its owner)*

July 2003

The Ohio Bicentennial mural on a red barn with coaster structure behind at Cedar Point, July 2003 — The Ohio Bicentennial mural on a red barn with coaster structure behind at Cedar Point, July 16, 2003. *Photo: ThrillZing (all rights reserved; the artwork shown belongs to its owner)*

The Welcome to Cedar Point main entrance sign with flags at Cedar Point, July 2003 — The Welcome to Cedar Point main entrance sign with flags at Cedar Point, July 16, 2003. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

The Cedar Point skyline with Millennium Force and the Power Tower above the trees and Lake Erie at Cedar Point, July 2003 — The Cedar Point skyline with Millennium Force and the Power Tower above the trees and Lake Erie at Cedar Point, July 16, 2003. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

May 2002

Magnum XL-200 and Wicked Twister rising behind Iron Dragon's track and a picnic area at Cedar Point, May 2002 — Magnum XL-200 and Wicked Twister rising behind Iron Dragon’s track and a picnic area at Cedar Point, May 5, 2002. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

A lagoon fountain with coaster track behind at Cedar Point, May 2002 — A lagoon fountain with coaster track behind at Cedar Point, May 5, 2002. *Photo: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0)*

Plan Your Cedar Point Visit

Cedar Point in the News

Stories from our daily theme park news roundups that mention Cedar Point, newest first.

Cedar Point & Kings Dominion Unveil DIABLO Haunted Maze — Aug 11, 2026
Cedar Point Wildfire Smoke Closure: Why 5 Parks Shut Early — Jul 17, 2026
Cedar Point Shores Opens New Crosscurrent Slides for 2026 — May 31, 2026
Cedar Point Top Thrill 2 Reliability Improves — May 17, 2026
Cedar Point Begins Top Thrill 2 Reliability Push — May 10, 2026

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Cedar Point FAQs

When did Cedar Point open?

Cedar Point first opened in 1870 as a beer garden and bathhouse on a Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky, Ohio, making it the second-oldest operating amusement park in the United States.

How many roller coasters does Cedar Point have?

Cedar Point has 18 roller coasters, tying for the most of any amusement park in North America alongside Six Flags Magic Mountain and Canada’s Wonderland.

Who owns Cedar Point now?

Cedar Point is owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, following the completed merger of Cedar Fair and Six Flags on July 1, 2024.

Get More from Cedar Point

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Cedar Point, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Cedar Point: America’s Roller Coaster Capital on Lake Erie