Cedar Point closing Snake River Falls, once a record-breaking water ride

When Top Thrill 2 will start running again at Cedar Point is a nagging question for coaster enthusiasts.

But we know for sure when Snake River Falls will take its final curtain call.

The log flume ride that finishes with a massive splash down into a pool of water will stop operating on Labor Day 2024, according to a Cedar Point blog post .

Here’s what we know about Snake River Falls and what Cedar Point has planned for that parcel of land.

When did Snake River Falls open at Cedar Point?

Cedar Point debuted Snake River Falls during the 1993 season, according to the park’s blog post.

That means it will have operated for 31 years before setting sail for the last time. The blog post notes that more than 15 million riders plunged over the falls throughout the years, an average of almost 484,000 passengers per year.

Why is Cedar Point closing Snake River Falls?

The park teased future expansion on the Snake River Falls site in its blog post without revealing what would take the ride’s place.

“As with previous attractions that have reached the end of their serviceable life, we honor and respect the past but look forward to future fun for generations to come,” Tony Clark, Cedar Point’s Director of Communications, wrote in the blog post.

As for why Cedar Point is getting rid of the ride, some YouTube vloggers speculated that Snake River Falls’ age, downtime and the expansion of the Cedar Point Shores water park all contributed to the decision to close it for good.

What will Cedar Point replace Snake River Falls with?

So far, the park has not announced what will take the place of Snake River Falls.

Given that Cedar Point will have to demolish the ride before it decides what to put in its place, it’s unlikely that a permanent new ride will take its place in 2025.

Will the park open another coaster on the site of Snake River Falls? That remains to be seen.

Cedar Point’s roster of roller coasters has continued growing in recent years, with GateKeeper (2013), Rougarou (2015), Valravn (2016), Steel Vengeance (2018) and Top Thrill 2 (2024) debuting within the last 12 years. Yet the parcel of land that Snake River Falls sits on, in the shadow of Millennium Force and Maverick, might not be spacious enough to house a large coaster.

Two things that make Snake River Falls unique

When Cedar Point opened Snake River Falls in 1993, it stood as the tallest, steepest and fastest flume ride in the world, according to the blog post.

Another unique feature of the ride? You didn’t have to ride it to get soaked by the 64-foot wide wave the boat generated. Non-riders could stand on the exit bridge above the splash-down area to get drenched by the massive wall of water.

When does Cedar Point close?

The last ride for Snake River Falls happens on Sept. 2, 2024. That’s the last day of regular operating hours before Cedar Point begins closing for the season .

Then, it's time for HalloWeekends , which runs on select nights from Sept. 12 to Oct. 27. During that time, the park will be open Thursdays through Sundays.

After that, the park will close until next year.

When does Cedar Point close today?

Cedar Point is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Sunday, Aug. 18.

After that, the park is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Labor Day.

During HalloWeekends, the amusement park will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight Thursdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays from Friday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 27.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cedar Point closing Snake River Falls, once a record-breaking water ride