Blue Streak (Cedar Point)

Blue Streak is a wooden roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Built by Philadelphia Toboggan Company, Blue Streak opened to the public on May 23, 1964, and is the park's oldest roller coaster. In 2013, it achieved its highest ranking of 27 among the world's top wooden roller coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication by Amusement Today.

Blue Streak
Initial drop on Blue Streak
Cedar Point
LocationCedar Point
Coordinates41°28′47.50″N 82°40′57.50″W
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 23, 1964 (1964-05-23)
Cost$200,000
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerPhiladelphia Toboggan Coasters
DesignerFrank F. Hoover & John C. Allen
Track layoutOut and Back
Lift/launch systemChain
Height78 ft (24 m)
Drop72 ft (22 m)
Length2,558 ft (780 m)
Speed40 mph (64 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:45
Max vertical angle45°
Capacity1,400 riders per hour
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains2 trains with 4 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Blue Streak at RCDB
Pictures of Blue Streak at RCDB

History
Blue Streak logo on station
Blue Streak turnaround from the parking lot

Cedar Point went without a major thrill roller coaster for more than a decade following the removal of Cyclone in 1951. The only coasters added between the 1951 and 1964 were two Wild Mice, and 2 Allan Herschell Little Dippers[1] Blue Streak was One of three roller coasters at Cedar Point when it opened on May 23, 1964. The attraction's success led to a rebirth of roller coasters at Cedar Point, including the installation of Cedar Creek Mine Ride (1969), Corkscrew (1976), Gemini (1978) and Jr. Gemini (1979).[1]

Blue Streak features a traditional "out-and-back" layout design from Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The roller coaster was named after the local Sandusky High School athletic nickname "The Blue Streaks".[2] Cedar Point invested US$200,000 (equivalent to $1,648,712 in 2019) to construct the wooden roller coaster, and it remains a favorite at the park, consistently getting 30 minute to hour waits, and within annual roller coaster polls.[3] In Amusement Today's 2013 Golden Ticket Awards, Blue Streak was ranked 27th among wooden roller coasters worldwide – its highest ranking to date.[4]

Ride experience

After a 78-foot climb (24 m) up its lift hill, the train descends 72 feet (22 m) at a 45-degree angle reaching a top speed of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). Riders then enter a series of two short hills which provide the ride's maximum airtime followed by a larger, third hill that slows the train slightly. After the next drop, the train climbs into a 180-degree turn that sends riders over a short hill followed by three medium-sized hills on its way back. The ride ends on the track's final brake run before returning to the station.[5]

Rankings
Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year2001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Ranking 48[6]34[7]35[8]42[9]38[10]38[11]48[12]41[13]47[14]47[15]49[16]38[17]27[18]35[19]35[20]42[21]42[22]41[23]38[24]

References
  1. Samuelson, Dale; Yegoiants, Wendy (2001). The American Amusement Park. St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing Company. p. 130. ISBN 978-0760309810.
  2. "Blue Streak — Point Place". Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  3. Cedar Point to hear band of 3,500 The Toledo Blade, May 19, 1964
  4. Baldwin, Tim (2013). "Amusement Today — Golden Ticket Winners 2013" (PDF). Amusement Today. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2014.,
  5. "Blue Streak On-Ride POV". Cedar Point. October 16, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  6. "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  7. "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  8. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  9. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  10. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  11. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  12. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  13. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  14. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  15. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  16. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  17. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  18. "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  19. "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  20. "2015 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 45–46. September 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  21. "2016 top 50 wooden roller coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  22. "2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  23. "2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  24. "2019 Top Wood". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
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