Cedar Point Shores is the water park at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio — an 18-acre complex of speed slides, a giant wave pool, two lazy rivers, and family splash zones perched directly on the shore of Lake Erie. Operated by Six Flags, it consistently ranks among the top water parks in Ohio and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer to its striking lakeside setting.
The park traces its roots to 1988, when it opened as Soak City with ten slides before growing steadily through the 1990s. A full rebrand and overhaul in 2017 gave it the Cedar Point Shores identity, introducing new themed areas and attractions. Following Six Flags’ 2024 merger with Cedar Fair, the park has continued expanding and now offers more than 28 water attractions alongside the iconic Breakwater Bay wave pool.
Quick Answer
Cedar Point Shores is the official water park at Cedar Point, typically open from late May through late August with hours that vary by date and season — always confirmed on the park’s live calendar. Admission is sold separately from Cedar Point amusement park tickets: a standard Cedar Point day ticket does not include water park access, though combo tickets and season passes covering both parks are available. The water park has its own dedicated parking lot near its entrance, with standard parking priced the same as Cedar Point’s main lots.
Rides and Attractions at Cedar Point Shores
Cedar Point Shores packs more than 28 attractions across 18 acres. The headline thrill ride is Point Plummet, a six-story tower with four enclosed 400-foot speed slides, each featuring an aqua-drop pod that drops the floor out beneath you for a near-vertical free fall. Riptide Raceway channels a different kind of competition — six side-by-side mat racing lanes let riders go head-to-head from top to bottom. Lake Erie Nor’easter delivers an enclosed multi-slide experience, while Perch Plunge offers three classic serpentine body slides and Wild Walleye features individual tube slides for solo riders.
Portside Plunge, part of the park since its 2017 rebrand, is a pair of five-story single-rider tube slides that send riders through an enclosed tunnel of twists and turns before a dramatic airtime-hill drop into a splash pool. For mixed groups and families, Storm Surge is a 76-foot family raft ride sending multi-person tubes twisting down to a splashdown. Cedar Creek is the park’s relaxing lazy river for drifting at an easy pace, while Runaway Rapids is a wilder action river winding through simulated canyons with waterfalls and geysers along the route. Two additional tube slides were added inside the former Crosscurrent tower, rounding out an already deep lineup.
Breakwater Bay: Cedar Point’s Giant Wave Pool
Breakwater Bay is the centerpiece of Cedar Point Shores and one of the largest wave pools in Ohio. The pool holds roughly 500,000 gallons of water at a maximum depth of six feet, generating rolling waves that reach three to four feet — large enough to body surf or ride inner tubes through the surf. Inner tubes are permitted, making it accessible for swimmers at all comfort levels.
The pool draws large crowds throughout the day, so arriving early or heading to Breakwater Bay during the midday lunch window — when most guests are eating and lines for slides are shorter — gives you the best chance at open water and a lounge chair. The surrounding deck looks directly out toward Lake Erie, giving Breakwater Bay one of the more scenic backdrops of any wave pool in the Midwest.
Family Zones and Kids Areas
Cedar Point Shores dedicates significant space to younger guests across three distinct children’s areas. Lemmy’s Lagoon is the park’s signature kids zone, themed around Lemmy — Lake Erie’s legendary sea-monster mascot — and features shallow-water play areas, kid-scaled slides, and interactive spray features designed for toddlers and early elementary-age children. Lakeside Landing is a multi-level play structure offering 12 smaller slides, geysers, and fountains for slightly older kids, and The Waterin’ Hole rounds out the trio with additional interactive splash features and shallow wading areas.
Great Lakes Cove offers open swimming with floating obstacles, and The Sandlot provides a beach volleyball area and lounging space with open-air seating. Complimentary Coast Guard-certified life jackets are available free of charge throughout the park for guests who want extra flotation in the wave pool or lazy rivers.
Height Requirements and Safety Rules
Cedar Point Shores follows a tiered height structure similar to the main park. Play areas and leisure pools carry no minimum height, so toddlers and non-swimmers can enjoy them with a life jacket and adult supervision, but both lazy rivers — Cedar Creek and Runaway Rapids — require riders to be at least 48 inches tall to ride unaccompanied, or 42 inches if accompanied by a supervising companion. Family raft rides and moderate tube slides typically start around 42 to 48 inches, while the park’s most intense attractions — including the Point Plummet speed slides — require riders to meet the tallest thresholds, generally 48 inches or more.
Requirements are posted at each slide entrance and can shift by attraction, so families with young or borderline-height children should confirm specific numbers on the official Cedar Point Shores site before queuing. For a full ride-by-ride breakdown of every height rule at both the water park and the main gate, see thrillzing’s Cedar Point height requirements guide.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets & Parking
Cedar Point Shores runs on a seasonal calendar, generally opening in late May and closing at the end of August, with the fullest operating hours during peak summer weeks and shorter or weekend-only days at the start and end of the season. Because the schedule shifts by date and can change for weather, always check the live calendar on the official Cedar Point Shores site before you go.
Water park admission is sold separately from Cedar Point amusement park tickets — a standard Cedar Point day ticket does not grant water park access, and a Cedar Point Shores ticket does not cover the rides at Cedar Point. Single-day tickets are typically cheaper when purchased online in advance than at the gate, and Six Flags regularly runs seasonal flash sales that lower the price further. Guests who want both parks can look at combo tickets bundling Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores admission into one purchase, and season pass holders often get water park access included or discounted depending on the pass tier — details and current pricing are listed on the official site.
Cedar Point Shores has its own dedicated parking lot near the water park entrance, separate from the main Cedar Point lots, though standard parking is priced the same as the amusement park’s general lots. Preferred and close-in parking is available for an added fee if you want a shorter walk in. A few practical notes for the gate: beach bags and bags with wheels aren’t allowed inside, and all-day rental lockers near the entrance let you store valuables, phones, and dry clothes and access them throughout the day rather than just once.
Best Time to Visit Cedar Point Shores
Weekday mornings, especially right at opening, consistently see the shortest lines for the marquee slides like Point Plummet and Riptide Raceway. Weekends and the first two weeks of July tend to be the busiest stretch of the season, so if your schedule is flexible, a Tuesday or Wednesday visit in June or late August will feel noticeably less crowded. Because the water park closes earlier in the season than Cedar Point itself, pair a Shores visit with a same-day or next-day trip to the main park if you’re staying overnight in Sandusky.
Cedar Point Shores water park FAQs
Is Cedar Point Shores included with a Cedar Point ticket?
No. A standard Cedar Point amusement park ticket does not include water park admission, and a Cedar Point Shores ticket does not cover rides at Cedar Point. The two admissions are sold separately, though combo tickets bundling both parks are available, and some season pass tiers include or discount water park access.
What are Cedar Point Shores’ hours?
Hours vary by date and season, with the fullest hours in the heart of summer and reduced hours in late May and late August. Because the schedule can also shift for weather, check the current day’s hours on the official Cedar Point Shores calendar before visiting.
How much does parking cost at Cedar Point Shores?
Cedar Point Shores has its own dedicated lot near the water park entrance, and standard parking is priced the same as Cedar Point’s main amusement park lots. Preferred and close-in parking spots closer to the gate are available for an additional fee.
What months is Cedar Point Shores open?
The water park operates seasonally, generally opening in late May and running through late August, which is a shorter season than Cedar Point’s main amusement park. Exact opening and closing dates shift year to year, so confirm on the official site before planning a trip.
Does Cedar Point Shores have a lazy river?
Yes, it has two: Cedar Creek, a relaxed lazy river for easy drifting, and Runaway Rapids, a faster action river that winds through simulated canyons with waterfalls and geysers. Both require riders to be 48 inches tall to ride unaccompanied, or 42 inches with a supervising companion.
How tall do you need to be to ride Point Plummet?
Point Plummet, the park’s six-story speed-slide tower, is one of the tallest-threshold attractions at Cedar Point Shores, generally requiring riders to be at least 48 inches tall. Exact requirements are posted at the ride entrance, since minimums can be adjusted by park management.
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