Retrospect… 1974

I started this little blog back in May of 2009 with 1 picture and a simple statement “Hello World… Welcome to The Lost Coaster… More to come..”

This post was almost 35 years after my first and only ride on Cedar Point’s Jumbo Jet. I’ve posted lots of pictures, videos and links of many Jet Star, Jet Star 2 and Jumbo Jet Roller Coasters and I’ve even told you some of what happened on my first trip to the Point!

I have decided to take you back 39 years to my first ride on the Jumbo Jet. I was finishing up my 8th grade at Butler Elementary School (May/June 1974) and it was tradition that the 8th graders would take a class trip before heading to Clear Fork High School for their freshman year. Our trip started at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village and then on the way back home we would make a stop at Cedar Point on Sunday. This would be my first weekend away from the parents and could really be myself. Back in those days I was a bit backwards or even awkward and may have been considered a loner.

We arrived at Cedar Point and all ran like dorky kids to get to our 1st ride. Favorites back then were the ones with the smallest waits like the Cadillac Cars, Cedar Creek Mine Ride, The Pirate Ride, Earthquake, Sky Ride, Log Ride, Shoot the Rapids and who could forget the slide? This part may be sad to you, however needs to be told because it is very important to why I rode the Jumbo Jet at all, let me explain…

I found myself abandoned late in the afternoon and decided to head back to the bus, because it was hotter than heck. As I got on the bus the driver asked me if I had ridden all the rides. I said yes, but that really wasn’t the truth. We were all scared to ride the Blue Streak and the Jumbo Jet because of their size. We told ourselves that why would anyone want to wait that long for just one ride? We were lying to ourselves. The bus driver had asked me earlier in the trip if I was “Lester’s Boy”? Oh great, I thought now if I do anything wrong it will get back to my dad!. The drivers name was Bill and he started to asked me if I had rode the Blue Streak and Jumbo Jet. I had not and it was time to come clean with Bill. I told him that no I had not ridden the Blue Streak or Jumbo Jet because no one wanted to ride those with me. The hard truth is that no one wanted ride with me and I had spent most of the day being a 3rd wheel. It’s hard growing up being that kid. I think that Bill kinda knew that and offered to ride the Blue Streak and Jumbo Jet with me and off we went to ride…

First up was the Blue Streak, Cedar Point’s biggest wood roller coaster. I know that we enjoyed the ride, but I don’t really remember a lot about it. As we got off the ride, Bill asked me if I wanted to ride the Jumbo Jet. Unsure I reluctantly said Yes and we headed off to the Jumbo Jet. I did not take this picture, but this is what I saw:

We got in line and I remember how hot it was and thought that we would never get to ride, I would surly die of thrust. Since I was with Bill, who the ride op thought was my dad, they allowed me to ride even though I did not meet the height requirement. We finally got the chance to ride, as the train went up the spiral lift hill, I remember thinking this is what I waited for all this time in the heat for, a leisurely ride?

Little did I know how scared I would be heading down that first hill. I am sure that I thought “Oh Shit, we are gonna die!” The Jumbo Jet did not have any type of restraints and it really wasn’t needed. As you went into that first banked conner you were planted into the seat. Same thing when you came off the second hill. In the middle of the ride was the area that one might call “Meet Yourself” and you couldn’t have gotten out of your seat even if you wanted too.

I remember how fast and loud the ride was and before I knew it the ride was over. My next trip to Cedar Point would be years later in 1984 and by that time the Jumbo Jet was long gone. I want to thank Bill the Safeway Bus driver (where ever he may be) because with out him I would never have ridden Cedar Point’s Jumbo Jet…and this blog would have never happened!

**Note this is my 212th post. Through out the years this number shows up in my life and I consider the numbers 212 as lucky**

Retrospect…

I got a chance to go to Cedar Point last Wednesday (July, 24th 2013) and the drive to the Point was exciting as ever, I felt as if I was 21 again. I was wondering how I would feel seeing Gatekeeper in this famous corner. Gone was Disaster Transport and the Cedar Point Needle changing the skyline forever. Would I be sick to my stomach thinking how old I had become since the 1st time I rode the Jumbo Jet in 1974? I thought about standing in line to ride the brand new Avalanche Run and waiting for hours for that ride. As I turned left onto the causeway the excitement really started to build. I caught glimpse of the Gatekeeper and then the entire ride with the 2 majestic keyholes. I could not wait to park the car and get in line. Cedar Point did a really nice job with the new entrance to the park. I felt as if I wanted to run, perhaps to beat the others that arrived at the same time, so I could get inline ahead of them. Did I just transform back into that geeky kid from 1974? Our line wait started next to Max Air and continued toward Gatekeeper, then a sharp left toward Wicked Twister and then a sharp turn to the right back towards Gatekeeper. Finally I reached cue lines next to the Gatekeeper. At one point I got this eerie feeling as if I was standing dead center where Jumbo Jet once stood. It took forever to reach the platform, but once we did I knew I must ride the front seat. It took about 1 hour and 10 minutes and finally I was strapping myself in for my 1st ride on Gatekeeper. I must have felt the same way back in 1974 taking my seat on the Jumbo Jet. As we started up the lift hill I thought hang on tight, before I knew it we were heading towards the keyholes. I knew we would make it through the keyholes as riders before me had, none the less the ride was exciting. It was almost over before it started and we arrived back to the platform and I thought Cedar Point had done a good job with Gatekeeper. As I walked away I thought of all of those coasters that came before the Gatekeeper. I saw Jumbo Jet, Wildcat, Avalanche Run and finally Disaster Transport as they stood in this corner made famous, at least in my mind, by the Jumbo Jet. Could todays memory of Gatekeeper be that of some other geeky 14 year old kid who looks back at 50 thinking this is the ride that made them love roller coasters, like the Jumbo Jet did for me?

WildCat in Jumbo Jet’s Corner!

I was thinking how I did not get to ride the WildCat my last visit in 2011, then by 2012 the WildCat was removed from the park. I guess that would have been the same feeling someone had when they came back in 1979 and not being able to ride the Jumbo Jet. I came across this great photo of the WildCat from 1980:

Here is the park map from 1980:

You can also catch the WildCat in action from the Space Needle at the end of this video:

I keep wondering if the WildCat was in fact sold for scrap? (See Sold for Scrap) A point to ponder!

Cedar Point Souvenir Plate

Every once in a while I will head over to eBay just to see what Cedar Point collectables are available that feature the Jumbo Jet. Today I found this Cedar Point Plate 1960s Era Sandusky,Ohio Cedar Point amusement park roller coaster plate-VINTAGE!:

Here is a close up:

If you are interested in adding this to your collection, just head over to eBay 1960s Era Sandusky,Ohio Cedar Point amusement park roller coaster plate-VINTAGE!.

I know what your thinking… Really? A dinner plate? Yep, I really like this “pop” art from the 70’s. This is the second time we have featured a plate. Check out the post “Thankful for the Jumbo Jet” from November 27th 2011 that features a “Blue Willow” Jumbo Jet.

Cedar Point’s “New World of Fun!”

Our FaceBook friend Jim Hammer is at it again. Jake posted these cool pictures on our FaceBook stream. Here is the cover of the 1972 Cedar Point Pleasure Company Annual Report:

Inside the front cover describes both new attractions for 1972:

A BIG thank-you out to Jake Hammer!

Cedar Point’s Roller Coaster Challenge

The questions is “Can you ride all 5 in one day?”

This newspaper add is from 1977 and challenges you to ride Cedar Point’s big five coasters, Cork Screw, Jumbo Jet, Mine Ride, Wildcat (original) and Blue Streak in one day. If you were one of the first 1,000 to do so each day you would receive a special bonus… A beautiful “High Rollers” sew-on patch if you completed the task.

On June 14, 1977 our facebook friend Jim Hammer completed the roller coaster challenge. Jim said “It wasn’t easy…the lines for the Corkscrew were 1 to 2 hours back in 1977!”. I wish today I could do this challenge, but sadly the Jumbo Jet is no more at Cedar Point. A big thank-you to Jake for posting these pictures on our FaceBook page!

There’s more for you at Funtastic Cedar Point

I’ve never been a fan of eBay for the most part, however lately I’ve found some really nice Cedar Point items. I wish I had not missed this one, a mint 1972 brochure with park map:

Lost Forever – Space Spiral

Earlier this year, Cedar Point removed the Space Spiral…

This video may bring a tear to your eye….

Let’s remember the Space Spiral… 1965-2012

Jumbo Jet July 1973

Hello…and look who is back. After a long hiatus from this very blog, I have returned and on the prowl again for anything Jumbo Jet, Jet Star 2 or WildCat. Drop me a line at thelostcoaster at live dot com or thelostcoaster at facebook dot com if you have any pictures or ideas. Alright here we go! I found this great picture looking down on our beloved Jumbo Jet from what I would believe is from the space needle. Look how close she sets next to the beach and the cue lines in direct sunshine and no shade, You know that was a long hot wait!This picture was taken in July 1973 by Macserv and Jumbo Jet was looking good. The next year would be my 1st and only time to ride her. Until next time Cheers!

Silent Cedar Point 1973

I can’t tell you how much I love YouTube… This silent Super 8mm video was posted at the end of January 2011. This has some great footage of what Cedar Point looked like when I visited for the first time in 1974. See the original Shoot the Rapids, log ride, big slide and the Frontier Lift. Be on the look out for the Jumbo Jet at :50 and 12:53:

By the looks of the parking lot it was a busy day at Cedar Point… I kinda wish that Cedar Point was not as famous as it is now. It would be nice to go back to the was Cedar Point was back in the 70’s! Let’s Ride!