Cedar Point feeling the tough summer economy

SANDUSKY -- They are still screaming in anticipation at the "Point". The roller coasters at Cedar Point are always rated in the top 10 in the world.

You wouldn't know that by the look of the parking lot. On the first day of summer, there are hundreds of empty spots.

On the big ferris wheel, there are plenty of empty seats. Down below, the ponies are getting lonely on the carousel.

"85 degrees and sunny, you would think that Cedar Point would be packed a day like this," Aaron Wilson, who visited the amusement park on Friday, said.

Talk with park visitors and it seems everybody is trying to find a way to cope with the high cost of gas.

"We got a group of five people, rented a car, put our money together and we're here," said Crystal Troup, who came all the way from Rockledge, Florida.

Tasha Dickerson drove with 12 of her relatives in a rented van from Chicago. "We all chipped in $20 bucks for gas and headed for Sandusky. It was the only way we could afford it".Millennium Force, rated one of the top rides in the country, had only a half hour wait on Friday. The wait for the premier ride used to be three to four hours.

Competing parks, like Kennywood in Pennsylvania, are trying to lure away the Cedar Point audience from Cleveland.

"They are a nice park, but if you want to have a full day of fun, this is the place to be," Robin Innes, a Cedar Fair marketing employee, said. Added Innes, "we offer an incredible value with our coasters and family fun centers plus our Soak City".

The nearby economy is taking a hit too. Almost every motel has a vacancy sign out in front. This could make for a tough summer.

"Last couple years, we get people from New York, Chicago, Pennsylvania, but they don't want to travel that far," Yusuf Shabaz of Value Inn Motel said. "They would rather stay in town because of gas prices."

Cedar Point has reduced ticket prices back to 2005 levels and added big discounts through the cedarpoint.com. A four pack of tickets purchased through the web will shave $40 off the price tag. Innes says that for the 4th of July, the park is going to offer a homemade backyard cookout to all park visitors starting at 5p.m. "We know that getting here is costing more", added Innes, "that's why we want to make sure the visitors get the best value when the come to the Point".