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Cedar Point Interview: Robin Innes
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Cedar Point Interview: Robin Innes / By: Clint Novak, Thursday, January 13, 2005 -
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Ever since the late 1800’s the sandy beach on the Cedar Point peninsula has been attracting people from all over the world, from all walks of life. Since the first roller coaster was erected Cedar Point has always been the place for thrills.
This year the Roller Coaster Capital of the World is adding a new thrill ride called Maxair. I had a chance to talk to Robin Innes, Public Relations Director of Cedar Point. Robin gave us some insight as to what is going on for 2005.
Clint Novak: All right, this is Clint Novak with In The Loop, now I have been going to Cedar Point for the last 5 years now. Every year I happen to run in to one man in the park, his name is Robin Innes, Director of Public Relations at Cedar Point. Robin how are you doing?
Robin Innes: I am doing well Clint, How are you?
Clint: I am doing very good. Now like I said every year I run in to you in the park and two years ago I ran in to you in front of Wicked Twister well you were doing some public relations in the park. I asked you a question about a rumor I hear about a roller coaster going in to the park in 2006. I missed it by 2 years. It was Top Thrill Dragster. You would not tell me about it but that’s ok I sill like you.
Robin: That’s great, I get a lot of questions like that and unfortunately I just cant provide information that has not gone public yet
Clint: It must be hard to keep all these secrets and not be able to tell them.
Robin: That’s right. Some times you just reach that level you say “boy I would love to tell you everything I know but I just cant do it”. You learn to bit your tough and learn the virtue of passions.
Clint: Very good. Why don’t we dive right in to it. Tell us what we have to look forward to in the 2005 season.
Robin: Well we have a lot of exciting plains for this year. I am sure every one knows about Maxair, with is our new ride. Maxair is our swinging ride that also spins. Riders are seated in a 50 person ring facing out word so they can face the park. But as the ride starts this huge ring moves in a pendulum motion. Eventually this pendulum motion will carry riders nearly up side down. At that point they will be 140 feet from the ground. Well that is going on the ring will also rotate.
Clint: Where is Maxair going to be located in the park?
Robin: It will be located near the space spiral, next to kiddy kingdom, in the games area.
Clint: Was there any rides or games that had to be relocated or removed to make way for Maxair?
Robin: We are going to relocate the games area that was next to kiddy kingdom. We are going to moves those rides to the main midway to face another section or rides and games. This will give people a chance to experience some more rides and games.
Clint: I have noticed in the last few year since Wicked Twister went up that more rides have been added or moved to that part of the midway.
Robin: Yes we have found that rides like Millennium force, Magnum, and Top Thrill Dragster people skip the main midway and make there way back to them. So we have been adding to that section of the park so more people will have a chance to experience that as well.
Clint: Also, just before the 2005 season you had a chance to open a new in-door water park. Castaway bay opened its doors in November, am I right?
Robin: That’s right, It opened in early November and has been going very well. Castaway bay has been very popular. Castaway bay, resort and in-door water park, its overall a $22 million dollar project that took a year from start to finish. And what we did over the summer of 2004 is spent time renovating the old Radisson hotel. At the same time we added a 38 thousand square foot water park
Clint: I had a chance to go to Castaway Bay just before the winter holiday. It was a great experience. I had a chance to do the water roller coaster and everything. Got a chance to experience in-door water parking at its finest.
Robin: Great, it really is. It has something for every one. You mentioned Redezvous run our water roller coaster, of course we have a huge wave action pool, a family center, slides, children’s area. Really every one in the family can have fun.
Clint: The theme for the park is great to. My favorite part was the in-door out-door hot top. You could go out doors and it was freezing out there. You should spike your hair up and it would freeze in like 5 minuets.
Robin: It’s a unique feature and very popular.
Clint: What can you tell us about the future for Cedar Point?
Robin: Well like before I unfortunately cant talk about much. I can only talk about information that has gone public. But I can tell you that we will continue to provide the best in family entertainment
Clint: Top Thrill Dragsters has been the tallest and fastest coaster for the last two years. This year its not going to be the tallest and fastest. How does Cedar Point feel about that?
Robin: Well I think there is a twang of disappointment. Having the worlds tallest and fastest roller coaster, and with MF we had number one and number two in America. So that is some huge bragging rights. So it will be sad not to have that but that still does not detract from the thrill of these rides. Plus when you conceder our over all package of roller coasters we are still unmatched when you put Top Thrill Dragster, Millennium Force, Magnum, Raptor all these rides, if people are looking for thrills Cedar Point is still the place to be.
Clint: The Buzz in the chat rooms is what is Cedar Point going to do with all the tallest and fastest sings around the park.
Robin: Well have to make some changes. But we will wait and see when the new coaster opens, till then Dragster is still the tallest and fastest.
Clint: One more question from the message boards. How does Cedar Point View the coaster Enthusiasts.
Robin: We have a lot of respect for them. We love to work with them. We love there courage and support and enthusiasm for our product. They probably get as much enjoyment from our product as everybody. So we enjoy working with them.
Clint: so you sneak in the park now and then and ride some coasters right?
Robin: Oh yes, I love the coasters. I am a person you cant take me high enough or fast enough. I don’t spin like I used to but I still have fun.
Clint: I had a chance to ride Raptor with Robin a few years back well visiting the park. It was a privilege.
Robin: yes, Raptor is still one of my favorites.
Clint: Its in my top 5. Well thanks very much Robin for being with us today.
Robin: My pleasure. Let's do it again some time.
For the full interview in audio format, Click here
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