Cedar Point

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Theme Park:	Cedar Point (since 1870)

Address:	1 Cedar Point Dr.
	Sandusky, OH 44870
	https://www.sixflags.com/cedarpoint

Operated by:	Six Flags

Cedar Point sits on a peninsula stretching into Lake Erie near Sandusky, Ohio, and is one of the oldest amusement parks in the United States. Its history dates back to 1870, when the site was first developed as a lakeside resort and bathing beach. Over the following decades, it grew into one of America’s best-known amusement parks, gaining particular fame during the Coaster Wars of the 1990s and 2000s, when new rides and record-breaking coasters seemed to arrive one after another.

Today, that history is reflected in an impressive roller coaster collection. Magnum XL-200, Millennium Force and the former Top Thrill Dragster all made coaster history, while Maverick, Steel Vengeance, GateKeeper and Valravn represent more recent generations. At the same time, classics such as Blue Streak, Corkscrew, Gemini, Iron Dragon and Cedar Creek Mine Ride are still going strong, making Cedar Point an almost living timeline of American roller coaster development.

There is plenty more beyond the coasters. Classic and historic rides can be found throughout the park, including the wonderfully unusual Cedar Downs Racing Derby, while the location directly on Lake Erie provides some spectacular views. Together with areas such as the Boardwalk and Frontier Town, this creates a fascinating mix of modern thrill park and traditional American amusement park – and a place that still very much deserves its famous nickname, “America’s Roller Coast.”

Reviews

America’s Roller Coast

Highlights of the Theme Park

Blue Streak

A true classic

Cedar Downs Racing Derby

The fun derby racer

Corkscrew

One of the first looping coasters

GateKeeper

The large wing coaster

Gemini

The fun racing coaster

Iron Dragon

The great family coaster

Magnum XL-200

The first true hyper coaster

Maverick

The awesome launch coaster

Millennium Force

The first giga coaster

Raptor

A large inverted coaster

Rougarou

A very forceful machine

Steel Vengeance

Vengeance with a twist

Top Thrill 2

The first stratosphere coaster

Valravn

The fun dive coaster

Wild Mouse

A nice spinning coaster

Past Highlights of the Theme Park

Snake River Falls

Shoot the chute

TKathke September 3, 2026 September 3, 2026 Cedar Point

Six Flags Great America

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Theme Park:	Six Flags Great America (since 1985)
	Marriott's Great America (1976 - 1984)

Address:	1 Great America Pkwy
	Gurnee, IL 60031
	https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

Operated by:	Six Flags

Six Flags Great America is located in Gurnee, Illinois, about 40 miles north of Chicago. The amusement park opened in 1976 as Marriott’s Great America and was developed alongside what is now California’s Great America. Both parks originally shared a similar concept, including many of the same themed areas and attractions. Much of that common heritage can still be found throughout the park today, even though Great America has changed considerably since becoming part of Six Flags in 1984.

Roller coasters make up a major part of the park’s attraction lineup. Classics such as Whizzer and Demon date back to the opening year, while the massive American Eagle has been racing around its wooden structure since 1981. They are joined by newer rides including the B&M Hyper Coaster Raging Bull, RMC’s Goliath, the Wing Coaster X-Flight, Superman: Ultimate Flight and the pneumatically launched Maxx Force. Batman: The Ride also holds an important place in roller coaster history, having opened in 1992 as B&M’s first Inverted Coaster and becoming the blueprint for numerous rides that followed.

There is plenty to discover beyond the roller coasters as well. Great America has retained an impressive collection of classic flat rides from manufacturers such as Schwarzkopf and HUSS, while the Columbia Carousel and Sky Trek Tower are reminders of the park’s early years. Right next door is Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago, a large water park with numerous water slides, a wave pool and other aquatic attractions. During the summer, the two parks can easily be combined for a full day of rides, roller coasters and water attractions.

Reviews

A Great Day at Great America

Highlights of the Theme Park

American Eagle

The giant racing coaster

Demon

The classic looping coaster

Goliath

A relentless machine

Maxx Force

The most intense launch in America

Raging Bull

The awesome hyper coaster

Superman: Ultimate Flight

A fun flying coaster

Viper

Ride the cyclone

Whizzer

The speed racer

X-Flight

The intense wing coaster

TKathke August 28, 2026 August 28, 2026 Six Flags Great America

Indiana Beach

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Theme Park:	Indiana Beach (since 1952)
	Ideal Beach (1926 - 1951)

Address:	5224 E. Indiana Beach Rd.
	47960 Monticello
	https://indianabeach.com

Operated by:	IB Parks & Entertainment

Indiana Beach in Monticello, Indiana, is one of the Midwest’s classic amusement parks, with a history dating back to 1926. The Spackman family originally opened Ideal Beach as a small lakeside retreat with a swimming beach, bathhouse and concession stand. Over the following decades, it grew into a full-fledged amusement park that remained in family hands until 2008. After several ownership changes and a planned closure in 2020, businessman Gene Staples stepped in and gave Indiana Beach a new lease on life.

Much of Indiana Beach’s appeal comes from its compact setting along the shores of Lake Shafer. Roller coasters and classic rides are packed closely together, with several attractions extending right along or above the water. Hoosier Hurricane and Cornball Express highlight the park’s wooden coaster collection, while a wide selection of classic flat rides, additional roller coasters and a water park round out the lineup.

With rides squeezed into almost every available space and Lake Shafer always close by, Indiana Beach is simply a fun park to explore. Like many amusement parks with nearly a century of history, it has a charm that has developed over generations and can be felt throughout the park.

Reviews

There is more than corn in Indiana