33°What's the commotion? Say goodbye, Ocean Motion
Aug 18
2010
As Cedar Point begins to shuffle an old ride off stage, a new star is preparing to make its entrance.
The amusement park has put an old ride, the Ocean Motion, up for sale, and begun dropping clues about the new ride it will debut next year.
Offers for Ocean Motion are being taken by Ital International, which sells new and used rides. The ride is identified on Ital’s website as a Huss Pirate Ship, reference No. 1392.
The asking price is $179,000.
“In our industry, this is a very good ride,” said Carlo Guglielmi, founder and chief manager of Ital. “It’s a classic in the business.”
Ocean Motion is in good shape, well made and would cost more than a $1 million as a new ride, he said.
Cedar Point spokesman Robin Innes said Ocean Motion, which dates back to 1981, is less of a drawing card for Cedar Point than newer rides at the park. Reviewers discussing the ride at the ThemePark Critics website note that “short lines” are a major attraction for the ride. A YouTube user who posted a video of the ride labeled it “lackluster” and wrote, “this ride in hardly popular anymore.”
Fans, however, have noted on the internet that the ride is well-landscaped and that the beach location adds to the ride’s ambiance.
Jeff Putz, webmaster for Pointbuzz.com, said a swinging ship ride is “kind of a staple of theme parks everywhere. The fact that they are selling it surprises me.”
It’s also a surprise considering that Cedar Point has made a considerable investment to keep the ride in good shape, Putz said.
Construction markers near the ride have given rise to speculation that the space vacated by Ocean Motion will be used for the new ride.
Cedar Point announced Tuesday that it will reveal its plans for 2011 at 2 p.m. Tuesday. It began posting clues about the new ride from its Facebook site. Tuesday’s clue linked to lesson plans for teaching students how to make a wind detector.
Over the weekend, the amusement park celebrated getting more than 500,000 Facebook fans by posting a clue about the new ride. The clue is “IEItRmA,” which unscrambles as “airtime.”
That’s not much of a clue, because most of the rides at Cedar Point spend time in the air, Putz said.
He said he’s confident the new ride will not be a roller coaster but will be a thrill ride with broad appeal.
Speculation has been rife at roller coaster websites that the new ride may be a ride resembling the StarFlyer, a ride made in Australia. At Vienna’s Prater Park, the ride has a tower 236 feet tall that spins guests seated in chairs at the end of a chain.
Roller coaster fans at a Dutch website have pointed out that Mondial, a Dutch ride manufacturer, is producing a new ride that resembles the StarFlyer but can operate against stronger winds.
Mondial said early this year that it designed the Wind Seeker ride “following requests from clients who wanted a Star Flyer-style ride they could still operate within normal wind conditions.” The company said then that “negotiations are currently under way to find the first client.”
Ocean Motion facts
• Manufactured by HUSS Park Attractions, Bremen, Germany
• Debuted in 1981 at Cedar Point
• Seats 54 people
• A boat that swings back and forth in the air
• Located next to the beach in the northeast part of the amusement park
What will take Ocean Motion's place? Read Thursday's story on this here, and reporter Tom Jackson's blog here.
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Sold to the highest bidder!
Comments
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06:01 PM
bogiehead says
I was in the park Wedsnesday and ran into Kinzel, and said "hi." His response was "thanks for coming. Where you from?" When I told him, he says, "great market, love that area." No "how do you like the rides, etc..." He did, however say it was a great day to be there with the weather and all.
05:56 PM
bogiehead says
Tell you what. The cheapest way to get food at CP is to get a job there. My step-son worked there in '02 and he could take us into the commisary anytime qwe came to the park. Same food as in the park, but with like a 70% discount. Tell you the truth, we younger (?-I'm 47) people don't have all that much to spend, either.
11:20 PM
katelih says
Ocean Motion is a great ride. My son and I never went to Cedar Point and NOT ride it ! I agree with ride_pride , the family rides should stay. We loved the White Water Landing ,too. I was disappointed when it was removed. My son is too young for the " speed roller coasters" and too old for the kiddie rides . We look forward to ride the rides that are intended for families.
10:43 PM
ride_pride says
Cedar Fair Planning and Development (Mr. Decker):
Listen to your guests below: Ocean Motion does not need to leave port.
Sure, the lines are short, but that is part of the lure.
Yes, it's slower than Maxair, but riding it with my kids is Magic.
Just because it's dated, doesn't give due cause to toss it out (if that was a justification, Cedar Downs would have left the stable long ago).
Call Mayflower Moving and move this ship:
Moving family rides is nothing new for CP. I've hunted down Monster, Troika, Chaos, Calypso, Matterhorn, Himalaya, and the kiddie Bumper Boats with a child or grandchild in tow on opening day.
After all, big rides like Wildcat, Western Cruise and Giant Wheel have all been relocated for new roller coasters.
Please stay a family park. Keep the family rides you have.
06:31 PM
Coastin Colt says
Have to echo what some of you have already said: the removal of this ride is indicative of a troubling trend, not just @ Cedar Point, but industry-wide. At 6F Great Adventure inj New Jersey, for instance, they recently removed their swing ride. Not only that, but they no longer have a "Himalaya" -type ride, nor bumper cars! There are certain rides which are just park staples, and swinging ship rides are definitely in that category. These types of rides not only make for a congenial family-type atmosphere, but also serve as a break from " faster/taller/more intense". They also help bleed off the lines from the coasters.. As much as I love coasters, I don't want to just ride coasters all day, as some enthusiasts do. Ideally, a park should have a balance of rides ( & shows), not just be a random collection of coasters.
Salvatore raises some very valid points. As we age, we may still want to get on the "biggest baddests", but our bodies may just not be up to it. Parks, particularly waterparks, need to really start catering to older patrons who might not necessarily want to ride the adrenaline-rush thrill rides, but who would definitely enjoy a nice day in the park. As I've grown older, I find that I particularly enjoy spending time in a waterpark on a hot, sunny summer day. Families are the backbone of the industry; an atmosphere that's pleasant for families is pleasant for everyone!
04:04 PM
perkinsparent says
If the type of ride is true, do they really need it with MaxAir, Skyhawk, Power Tower and the swings? I'm a thrill seeker and a mom. I like Ocean Motion because it is one of the rides you can ride as a family...they are running out of those. I'd like to see it stay and another coaster come in like Diamond Back at Kings Island!!
03:10 PM
outsider says
Cedar Point has built its reputation on bigger, badder, faster. The family of the future.
02:49 PM
Salvatore says
Cedar Point is not looking at the largest group of people, the aging baby boomers. I miss the boat rides and never really had a chance to ride the Ocean Motion. Why get rid of it? Due to health issues, I cannot ride the roller coasters. It seems that CP is going after thrill seekers and not the family. I remember Esmond Dairy days from the 50s, the free admission from the 60s where riders had to purchase bracelets to ride the rides. Then there was a $3 admission which I could afford and walk the grounds but not ride. Then came the greed of charging everybody the same whether you rode the rides or not and paying to park. Maybe I will take a chance on a season pass next year if I can afford one plus a parking pass. Cedar Point could use more benches as the baby boomers get older. Maybe even shuttle service for those who have difficulty in walking. But how can one afford all of that expensive food? Why not have a senior center at CP that has reasonable cafeteria food? We seniors have money to spend but not a whole bunch of money. Why not have a couple of Senior Citizen days at CP with discounts?
11:04 AM
Raoul Duke says
I guess maybe they are doing what they need to do. My favorite memories are of the Hotel Breakers, Frontier Trail when it was dark and cool and quiet, and going up into the fort, and buying a coonskin hat, and the African Safari that seems so big and magical, and train ride. All of those things took you out of the park in your mind. The rides were fun too, but it's like dessert...
Now the park is noisy, hot and very one dimensional. It's just not for me anymore.
10:42 AM
cooke says
Cedar Point as a family park went away a long time ago. George Roose and Robert Munger wanted it a park for everyone in the family...that dream went away with them unfortunately. I remember them fondly and feel they would be very disappointed on the direction the park has gone.
-R.
07:16 AM
rainbow414 says
Can I see the words "Casino" on the horizon? No, No, not the way to go!!!!
Who can afford to go there as a family? I long for the simpler days and less expensive to enjoy the day at the Point. Just my opinion,ok?
06:41 AM
Raoul Duke says
LOSE it's focus of being a family place? That's long gone...
11:11 PM
Dianna44857 says
I just hope Cedar Point is not going to become, all Sky high roller coasters. I don't want it to lose focus, of it being a family place. Not everyone can handle the heights, including me, haha :) I would love to see some more in between rides. Like Iron Dragaon size, or less.