SANDUSKY, Ohio – Cedar Point Shores, the 18-acre outdoor water park adjacent to Cedar Point, will not open this summer, according to updated information on the park’s website.
The water park, which requires a separate entrance from the amusement park, offers dozens of slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and children’s play areas. Open since 1988 and originally called Soak City, the water park was expanded and renamed Cedar Point Shores in 2017.
In a blog post Thursday, Cedar Point communications director Tony Clark cited the reduced summer season for not opening the water park. The interactive Forbidden Frontier attraction on Adventure Island will also not open in 2020.
Cedar Point, meanwhile, continues to prepare for its opening on July 9. The park announced Thursday that it would be open from 11 am to 8 pm daily, from July 9 to September 7. Those hours are reduced from a typical summer time, which will run from 10 am to 10 pm or later.
Clark said the reduced hours are a function of “operational complexity” this year. The current schedule, he said, “reflects our continued commitment to the safety of guests and associates, as many new protocols require additional time to complete.”
Hours of operation for September and October will be announced later, depending on the park.
The park also announced that Fast Lane passes will not be on sale this year. Those passes allow visitors to avoid long lines at the park’s most popular attractions. However, guests who have already purchased Fast Lane passes will be able to use them this year, according to Clark.
All guests must make a reservation to come to the park, in an effort to limit capacity during the coronavirus pandemic. Cedar Point has yet to announce when the reservation system will be operational.
Kings Island, which opens to season pass holders on July 2, opened its reservation system on Tuesday, June 23.
Cedar Point will open first to season pass holders on July 9-10. From July 11 to 22, the park will be open to pass holders and resort guests. Depending on the park, there will be no early entry benefit for pass holders or resort guests.
Starting July 23, the park will be open to guests who have already purchased day tickets. Single-day tickets are not currently available, although they will be at a later date.
All guests and staff must wear face masks in the park. The park said Thursday that there will be designated unmasked areas, called RelaxZones, located throughout the park.
Cedar Point is also eliminating smoking within the park, with a designated smoking area located outside the front door.
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated.
Read more: Cedar Point, Kings Island, Kennywood, Waldameer prepare to reopen, with tweaks: Amusement Park Guide 2020
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