Snake River Falls
Defunct water ride at Cedar Point
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Snake River Falls was a shoot-the-chutes water ride attraction located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Designed by Arrow Dynamics, the ride opened to the public on May 8, 1993.[1] Its theme was loosely based on a wood packing company.
| Snake River Falls | |
|---|---|
| Cedar Point | |
| Area | Frontier Town |
| Coordinates | 41°29′2.76″N 82°41′27.84″W |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | May 8, 1993 |
| Closing date | September 2, 2024 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Shoot the Chute |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Dynamics |
| Model | Shoot-the-Chutes |
| Height | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Speed | 40 mph (64 km/h) |
| Max vertical angle | 50° |
| Duration | 2:20 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
Snake River Falls debuted as the tallest, fastest and steepest water ride in the world. Guests board flat bottom, 20-passenger boats that advance directly onto the lift hill. Upon reaching the top of the 82-foot-tall (25 m) hill, the boats make a U-turn left into a 50-degree splashdown drop at 40 mph (64 km/h).[2] A bridge sits at the bottom of the hill directly over the path of the ride providing spectators a view up close and the opportunity to get wet. An artificial mountain was originally planned to sit underneath the highest point of the track, but the idea was later abandoned.[3]
From the ride's opening in 1993 until the 2012 season, Snake River Falls was sponsored by Pepsi.[4] After Cedar Point switched to Coca-Cola in 2013, the ride operated without a sponsor.[5] On August 2, 2024, Cedar Point announced that the ride would close permanently and take its final plunge on September 2, 2024 to make way for future expansion. [6] The ride was then demolished over the offseason.
On the final operating day of the ride, commemorative t-shirts and buttons could be purchased. In addition, the riders of the final public boat each received an exclusive mug and certificate
The ride was subsequently scrapped.
Incidents
- On Wednesday, July 3, 2013, a boat on Snake River Falls jumped the track after the drop, dislodging the boat. Riders did not report any injuries. Cedar Point stated the incident was caused by a low water level throughout the ride. The ride was closed down for the day and inspected, and reopened on Sunday.[8]