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PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

The unofficial Cedar Point fan site that started as Guide to The Point and Virtual Midway was started nearly a decade ago and has served millions of fans.

Posted April 9, 2008, 6:43A by Jeff

CLEVELAND - PointBuzz.com, the world's most popular unofficial Cedar Point fan Web site, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month. Since April 1998, the site has served as a home for millions of fans, critics and tourists of the famed amusement park on the North Coast.

"I would have never guessed that it would have lasted ten years or have such a huge impact for me and others who love Cedar Point," says Jeff Putz of Brunswick, one of the co-editors and programmers for the site.

"I'm grateful for the impact this site has had on me. The friendships and priceless experiences have made for a fantastic journey," says Walt Schmidt of North Ridgeville, the site's other co-editor.

PointBuzz made its debut in 1998 as Guide to The Point, and featured photos and tips for enjoying the park. Later that year, a forum was added, and the birth of an extensive community began to grow. In 2000, Schmidt published a site called Virtual Midway, with his trademark panoramic photos from the park. In May of 2004, the two sites joined forces to start PointBuzz. The site attracts more than a million visitors every year.

"Virtual Midway and Guide to the Point set the standard for amusement industry fan sites," Schmidt says. "Now PointBuzz is continuing that tradition. But even after so many years, covering the park never gets old. It's definitely a labor of love."

Putz agrees, "It's staggering how much people care about that place, but it's not surprising since generations of Ohioans have been visiting it for more than a hundred years. We're very proud and humble to host this online community.

PointBuzz relaunched over the winter with a cleaner look and simplified content. The site focuses on news related to the park, community and includes an extensive database of thousands of photos, but does not try to duplicate the content found on the official Cedar Point site. The new forum features fast searching and categories for news, trip planning and newer attractions like Maverick, a roller coaster the park introduced last year.

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Chief Wahoo
April 9, 2008, 11:43A

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Congratulations Jeff and Walt. Ironically I celebrate 10 years since departing the Point and that time has gone by so fast.

I know you aren't likely going to get any FT employees on record here one way or the other. But, I can speak as a former employee and say I am sure there are folks within Cedar Fair who appreciate your site for what it is.

Is Cedar Point sometimes reflected unfavorably here? Sure. But, there are also opportunities for employees to share information about working there, unbiased reviews of the park for potential visitors, etc. So, I think overall a fansite like this can do more good than harm.

As a company you've got to be happy when people talk about you...particularly a seasonal company with facilities closed a good portion of the year. I don't see a lot of fan sites for Office Depot or Burger King.

I guess you can't really pat yourselves on the back but here's to you.

"You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world...but it requires people to make the dreams a reality."

-Walt Disney

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MiLLeNNiuMRiDeR
April 9, 2008, 12:36P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Wow, it's been 10 years?! I've been a member for 8 years then (and lurking for at least 5 now).Jeff, congratulations on reaching the 10 year milestone! In internet years, that makes PointBuzz ancient. When does the deal where Microsoft buys you out go through?

Tommy
generationprime.net - I has blog. You can has blog too is gift.

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PB-Reader
April 9, 2008, 3:57P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

I believe I found this site in 1999-2000 when 
MF was being built, I flipped between
Virtual Midway and Guide to the Point.
Mainly to keep up on construction of MF.
I think I found Virtual Midway,
and the forum was linked to Guide to the Point.
I was a reader then. . and a long time reader. . 
until I registered about 1 or 2 years ago..(PB-Reader)
-One other thing... I am not registered to any other
forum, for any other hobby, only PointBuzz. 
Congratulations on 10 years. Keep up the Terrific Work.

Good Bye 2007
Hello - 2009
(If I am lucky I'll get 1 visit in '08)

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TTD 120mph
April 9, 2008, 4:50P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Happy 10th birthday PointBuzz and congrats to Jeff and Walt.

-Adam G- Next CP trip = Maverick ERT 21st
First Dragster train of the 08 season
Dragster rides= 242 Rollbacks= 4

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Ralph Wiggum
April 9, 2008, 6:37P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

I stumbled onto this site in late 2001 when Wicked Twister was being built. I've been a daily visitor and poster ever since. 10 years is a very impressive milestone!

-Chris Woodard
2004 Screamsters, 2005 & 2006 Screamsters and Admissions
2007 Screamsters, Admissions, Corkscrew, Millennium Force, Monster Midway Invasion
2008 Ripcord

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Red Garter Rob
April 9, 2008, 7:28P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Thanks Jeff and Walt for both the original sites and the resulting site we have today..Lost track of when I started here..

June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Fright Zone - Many years in a few parks...

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ridingon1771
April 9, 2008, 7:45P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Happy birthday Po!ntbuzz!! Yay!

Here I come!

-Lizzy

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Dvo
April 9, 2008, 9:25P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Happy birthday PointBuzz! Thanks for giving me a dose of CP to tame the fever I get in the offseason :D

Millennium Force Laps: 51!
Maverick Laps: 7
TTD Rollbacks: 2 :D
NEXT TRIP: Sometime this summer...
MF Still reigns #1

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Vince982
April 9, 2008, 10:08P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

I found this site in 2003 shortly after Dragster opened and before my first ever trip to the park. I didn't end up joining until 2004 when my school had a bus trip that I went on, I've been an avid reader and park visitor since. Thanks Jeff and Walt and congratulations on 10 years.

We'll miss you MrScott

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Mr. Cedar Point
April 9, 2008, 10:35P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Congradulations to ya!!! I never came on the pointbuzz till I heard a person next to me on the Raptor around 2001. This has been a great time reading from many people of their fun times at the Point.

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JuggaLotus
April 10, 2008, 8:28A

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Congratulations guys. Takes quite a bit to get a non-corporate site to hang around this long. Hopefully we'll have a 20 year anniversary in another 10 years.

Goodbye MrScott

John

My Website

"I don't come to McDonald's and scream in your ear when you're working."

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djDaemon
April 10, 2008, 8:49A

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Surely you jest. Cedar Point will have long since run out of room by then, John.

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CP4eva'04
April 10, 2008, 6:02P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Came here when TTD was being built, hell in many ways alot of my growing up has been done on this site.

Congratulations on 10 years, happy I could be here for half of them.

<Matt>
101 on Magnum and counting...

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Dan
April 10, 2008, 6:40P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Happy Ten Years Guys! For the 10 year annv. I'm going to visit the site 801 times this season.

The future is no place to place your better days.

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Jeff
April 10, 2008, 8:31P

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Your tally counter is on its way.

Jeff - Advocate of Great Great Tunnels™ - Co-Webmaster - PointBuzz - My Blog

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loneranger7281
April 11, 2008, 9:21A

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

I think i have also followed the site since TTD. The first year i went for vacation was mainly to ride TTD. I have been hooked ever since. Congrats on making 10 big years.

I have no clue what to put here !!!!

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Vanessa
April 11, 2008, 11:20A

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Thanks for all you do Walt and Jeff!

Rides 2001
Guest Services 2002
www.veronicaspreciousgifts.com

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negative g
April 11, 2008, 11:42A

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Jeff & Walt,

Congrats and Thank You! While I don't post often, I truly enjoy the sight. The two of you have done a great job! Keep up the good work.

...Also please let us know if they ever find a way to keep Magnum from sinking!!! lol :-)

Jay

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Your mom is to fat to ride TTD.
April 12, 2008, 11:33A

Re: PointBuzz celebrates 10 years of entertaining Cedar Point fans

Great job guys!

May Is Here!!!
Funniest Video Ever: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1uwOL4rB-go
ZC
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