Always Cedar Point: A Memoir of the Midway

Hold on tight!

“Always Cedar Point, a Memoir of the Midway” gives the reader an insider’s view of the operations of the world’s greatest amusement park, Cedar Point. From a summer as a 20-year old ride operator on the Frontier Lift to becoming the park’s general manager 35 years later, John Hildebrandt brings the reader inside the fascinating world of what it takes to market and operate a destination built for fun.

Hildebrandt walked the midway every day for 40 seasons, talking to guests and employee. He collected a lifetime of stories. There is humor, history, disappointment, thrills, and excitement in his storytelling. And there are memorable people as well. Cedar Point truly is The Amazement Park.

The focus of the book is Hildebrandt’s relationship with the park’s most iconic attractions—its legendary collection of world class roller coasters—including Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, Magnum, Maverick, Corkscrew, GateKeeper (to name just a few). As marketing vice president, it was Hildebrandt’s job to introduce these magnificent scream machines to the world. From how the coasters were named to thrilling first rides to the creation of memorable advertising campaigns, Hildebrandt gives the reader a unique perspective, including lessons learned.

“Always Cedar Point” is one of the best books yet written about life inside an amusement park. Part memoir, part history, part business brief, part autobiography, “Always Cedar Point” is also Hildebrandt’s love poem to a remarkable place, a nearly 150-year old amusement park and resort in Sandusky Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie.