Soak City opened in 1988 as the water park companion to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, offering a splashy counterpart to the roller-coaster thrills next door. Originally home to ten water slides, the park steadily expanded through the 1990s and 2000s, adding a wave pool, enclosed raft slides, and interactive children’s areas to become one of the Midwest’s premier waterpark destinations.
In 2016 Cedar Point announced a major expansion and rebranding, and the park reopened for the 2017 season as Cedar Point Shores. The renamed facility grew to 18 acres and 18 slides and attractions, including the six-story Point Plummet free-fall slide, the Storm Surge raft ride, and the sprawling Breakwater Bay wave pool. The park continues to operate seasonally from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day each year.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Adjacent Park: Cedar Point
- Opened: 1988 (as Soak City)
- Renamed: 2017 (Cedar Point Shores)
- Size: 18 acres
- Slides & Attractions: 18
- Wave Pool: Breakwater Bay — 3 to 4 ft waves, about 500,000 gallons
- Operator: Six Flags
From Soak City to Cedar Point Shores
When Soak City debuted at Cedar Point in 1988, it featured ten water slides. The park grew steadily through the early 1990s, adding a lazy river and children’s splash area in 1990, followed by the Zoom Flume, Choo Choo Lagoon, and Renegade River raft ride in 1995. A 6.5-acre expansion in 1997 introduced a wave pool, activity pools for adults and children, and enclosed raft slides — transforming Soak City from a simple slide complex into a full-featured waterpark.
SplashH20, an interactive water playground for younger guests, debuted in 2004. Cedar Fair’s announcement in August 2016 renamed the park Cedar Point Shores and funded its most sweeping makeover yet, introducing new themed family zones and a refreshed slide lineup that opened with the 2017 season.
Highlights and Attractions
Point Plummet delivers a six-story near-vertical free-fall body slide for thrill-seekers, while Storm Surge sends riders through an enclosed raft flume. Breakwater Bay, the park’s centerpiece wave pool, generates three- to four-foot waves in roughly 500,000 gallons of water — making it one of the largest wave pools in the region. For families with young children, Lemmy’s Lagoon is themed around Cedar Point’s mythical Lake Erie monster mascot, and Lakeslide Landing provides a multi-level water play structure with mini-slides and spray features.
The 18-acre layout also includes Waterin’ Hole, an interactive splash zone, dining at Beaches & Cream, and poolside cabana rentals starting around $139. The seasonal schedule aligns with the busy summer tourism corridor along Lake Erie’s southern shore, running from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
Explore more: Water Parks hub.
Soak City Cedar Point FAQs
When did Soak City at Cedar Point open?
Soak City opened in 1988 as the dedicated water park adjacent to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, originally featuring ten water slides.
Is Soak City Cedar Point still open?
Yes — the park still operates, but it was rebranded as Cedar Point Shores beginning with the 2017 season following a major expansion announced in August 2016.
How big is Cedar Point Shores (formerly Soak City)?
Cedar Point Shores covers 18 acres and features 18 slides and attractions, including the Breakwater Bay wave pool and multiple family play areas.
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Photo: Cards84664 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.