Discovery Channel Goes Behind-The-Scenes at Cedar Point

Sandusky, OH -- Have you ever wondered what it's like "on the inside" at the world's largest amusement park? You know...what's happening after the park closes, who inspects the world's first "giga-coaster" at 310 feet high and how all the cars and buses are parked?

The award-winning Discovery Channel will answer these questions - and many more - when it takes viewers behind-the-scenes at the famed 131-year-old Cedar Point amusement park/resort during a rare one-hour documentary called "World's Largest Amusement Park" on Monday, July 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Viewers of "World's Largest Amusement Park" will learn how Cedar Point grew from an old-fashioned traditional amusement park in 1870 to become today's world-record-breaking "America's RollerCoast." With a total of 68 rides, including 14 amazing roller coasters, Cedar Point is home to more rides and roller coasters than any place on the planet. Located on a scenic and historic 364-acre Lake Erie peninsula, Cedar Point has evolved into a resort destination for nearly 3.5 million guests from around the world during its intense 150-day operating season.

"We chose Cedar Point as the subject for this documentary for four reasons," says Kiku Lani Iwata of Termite Art Productions, Studio City, Calif., producer of Discovery Channel's "World's Largest Amusement Park." "First, Cedar Point has more rides and more roller coasters than any other park in the world; second, it covers an enormous amount of acreage on an unusual peninsula; third, the park has a rich history; and finally, it has earned an international reputation as the world's favorite park in many amusement park surveys and polls."

Discovery Channel cameras ventured where no cameras have ever gone before at Cedar Point to document exclusive "day in the life" profiles of various park employees - from a ride operator and hotel bellhop to a performer in live entertainment and the CEO - to capture the mega-park through their eyes and discover what it takes to operate the world's largest amusement park.

While Cedar Point has an international reputation for its outstanding collection of roller coasters and rides, as the world's largest amusement park Cedar Point is also one of only a few "destination" parks in the world and operates four hotels with a total of 1,424 rooms and suites, a marina, RV campground and cottages and cabins for overnighters. Plus, a beach and boardwalk, water park, restaurants, beautiful landscaping, award-winning live entertainment, museum, miniature golf, go-kart raceway, children's areas, Camp Snoopy family playland with the popular PEANUTS characters, merchandise shops and games are just a sampling of what guests discover at Cedar Point.

"All of us at Cedar Point are thrilled and honored to be the sole subject of Discovery Channel's 'World's Largest Amusement Park,'" says Richard L. Kinzel, president and CEO of Cedar Fair, L.P., which owns and operates Cedar Point. "We take great pride in our park and our employees, and we couldn't be more excited for the world to see Cedar Point from behind-the-scenes on the Discovery Channel."

With a full-time team of 350 employees and a seasonal staff of nearly 5,000, Cedar Point is a hub of activity 24 hours a day, as Discovery Channel found out while spending almost a month at the massive park shooting for "World's Largest Amusement Park" during the park's 2000 season. Discovery Channel crews shot more than 46 hours of tape and spent eight months editing the program to fit the one-hour timeslot.

Documenting the 24-hour cycle of what happens at Cedar Point around the clock revealed such things as the monitoring of weather conditions and the CEO picking up trash! Viewers will be surprised to learn the endless efforts that go into making Cedar Point, the world's largest amusement park, an ongoing success.