Cedar Point's Gemini and some memorable rides: Cleveland Remembers

I worked at Cedar Point the summer of 1978 following my first year at college. 

I had my choice of several venues in which to work. I chose the parking lot and trams. The real benefit of this position was being pulled from my job midday and being asked to "trial" the Gemini roller coaster. 

I was warned that the ride would not stop after the first initial tour, but would continue over several rounds of the tracks. Are you kidding me? I was absolutely thrilled!! 

As we rounded the first bend, I noticed a lot of really envious kids watching us down below the tracks. We stayed on the Gemini for an afternoon (not continuously) and all I could think was "I am getting paid to do this??"

Who else can say they were a tester for the world's tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster (at least in 1978). Great memory and great place to work!

-- Molly Neider, Avon

Amusement park memories

All this week, Cleveland Remembers will feature your stories of trips to the big amusement park in Sandusky. Read all those stories on our special page. But we know you've got lots of memories from different parks as well. Tell us about the parks your family visited by submitting your story with our online submission form . And if you've got a family photo -- not studio shots or photos taken from other websites, please -- upload that as well.

Every year my grandma takes me, my sister and all our cousin to Cedar Point. One year, we had just got into the park when we came to the Gemini. Since we traditionally ride it every year, we did. There was practically no wait so we were able to ride it 4 times!

-- David Torrence, Lakewood

In the summer of 2010, my mom, two brothers, and I went to Cedar Point.

We all love the thrill of roller coasters, except my older brother Peter. He hates the feeling of going down hills. Absolutely hates it. Peter thinks the Jr. Gemini hill is scary.

So, whenever we went on a ride, he went and ate some sugary carnival food. Finally, after hours of convincing, he got in line for the Gemini. We don't think the hill is big at all, and we told him that the hill is so small that he wouldn't even feel it!

And he believed us.

So as we board, he has a little smile on his face. Then, we start going up the chain and his expression changed from happy to terrified in a split second.

New coaster to draw crowds (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

THE owner of Clacton's brand new rollercoaster says it will have thrill-seekers pouring into the town to test their nerves.

The new coaster, which has been built on Clacton pier, will boost footfall and get the town buzzing according to pier boss Billy Ball.

Mr Ball said 'Stella's Revenge' represented a significant investment, and would get crowds flooding to the pier again.

He said: “It has already drawn people in just to ride the rollercoaster, and it has created a real buzz and hype around the town.

“There are people who travel around the country to try out every rollercoaster, and people have already expressed a lot of interest in 'Stella's Revenge'.

“I think it will give a big boost to the pier and the town.”

The new attraction provides a long-awaited replacement for 'Steel Stella', the last rollercoaster in Clacton.

It drew crowds of adrenaline-junkies between 1937 and 1973, before it was burnt down in a fire.

Mr Ball said the new attraction retains the spirit of the old rollercoaster.

He added: “The old Stella was here for many years, and we have tried to channel some of the past and put something similar in place.

“I'm too young to remember it, but a couple of my key staff grew up here riding that rollercoaster, and they say this one certainly packs a punch like the old Stella.

The old Steel Stella was certainly a brilliant roller coaster and I remember when I woke up in 1973 (I was working at Butlins at the time) to be told it had caught fire. However, it wasn't the last roller coaster on the pier - in the '80s there was the corkscrew roller coaster that was built at about the same time as the chair lift to the end of the pier. The old Steel Stella was certainly a brilliant roller coaster and I remember when I woke up in 1973 (I was working at Butlins at the time) to be told it had caught fire. However, it wasn't the last roller coaster on the pier - in the '80s there was the corkscrew roller coaster that was built at about the same time as the chair lift to the end of the pier. The old Steel Stella was certainly a brilliant roller coaster and I remember when I woke up in 1973 (I was working at Butlins at the time) to be told it had caught fire. However, it wasn't the last roller coaster on the pier - in the '80s there was the corkscrew roller coaster that was built at about the same time as the chair lift to the end of the pier.

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