Dick Kinzel: Roller Coaster King of Cedar Point Amusement Park

by Tim O'Brien

Roller coasters took Dick Kinzel slowly to the top and a $1.24 billion acquisition ultimately lead to his direst years. During his 39-year career (25 as president and CEO) with Cedar Point and Cedar Fair parks, he built the world's first 200, 300, and 400-foot tall roller coasters. He is responsible for adding more than 35 multi-million dollar scream machines to the company's 11 amusement parks. It was he who delivered the first shot in the coaster wars of the 1990s when he built the Magnum XL-200, the first to top the 200-foot barrier. .

He brought big, edgy and expensive coasters to Cedar Point knowing that the bigger the thrill ride, the bigger the crowds. He made sure Cedar Point remained the "Amazement Park" and the Roller Coaster Capital of the World.

His story is one of tenacity, conservatism and risk taking. It's one of big business and one of fun making. Dick spent his life putting smiles on people's faces and fear in their eyes.

For the first time his journey is told in full: from his highs and lows to the laughs and tears, this is the story of the man who brought more roller coaster to Ohio than any other man. This is the official biography of Richard L. Kinzel.

Genres: History

124 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2015

About the author

Tim O'Brien is an American novelist who served as a soldier in the Vietnam War. Much of his writing is about wartime Vietnam, and his work later in life often explores the postwar lives of its veterans.
O'Brien is perhaps best known for his book The Things They Carried (1990), a collection of linked semi-autobiographical stories inspired by his wartime experiences. In 2010, The New York Times described it as "a classic of contemporary war fiction." O'Brien wrote the war novel, Going After Cacciato (1978), which was awarded the National Book Award.
O'Brien taught creative writing, holding the endowed chair at the MFA program of Texas State University–San Marcos every other academic year from 2003 to 2012.

Reviews

[Maddie Coe · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the midst of the pandemic, I vowed to myself that I would go on every roller coaster I would encounter in the future. This promise certainly is made fast and thrilling thanks to Kinzel.

I loved learning more about the rides I love, and I loved the Succession-esc voting towards the end.

Also just for fun, my top three Cedar Point rides in no particular order are: Gatekeeper, Maverick, and Millennium Force.

[Dwayne]

If you love roller coasters and Cedar Point, this book is a must-read! The story about Kinzel is very intriguing and rich, and I found that the book is written in a way that is easy to follow!

[Dan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story about one of the legends in the Amusement Park industry!

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great in depth look at the life and accomplishments of Dick Kinzel, the father of the modern amusement park. I wish there would have been a little more detail of Dick's early life before he was Coaster King.

[Sam M.]

good read

[Nikki Kleba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick and easy read and a lot of fun if you are interested in the history of Cedar Point. I’m an avid fan of the park as I grew up in north-central Ohio. I have fond memories visiting the park with my family and now I take my own children many times a year.
It was fun to read about how these beloved coasters came to be. I also found it fascinating that Kinzel had very little experience or qualifications to be in the positions he found himself in, yet did an amazing job. It was really just a man with big dreams, big imagination, a lot of guts, and the willingness to take chances.
I definitely recommend this for anyone who loves roller coasters or is interested in the behind-the-scenes details of an amusement park.

[David Dahlman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Inside Look to the Mastermind of Cedar Fair’s Success

This book gives a great inside look to the man who pushed the limits of technology and grew small theme parks into the giant regional theme park brand known today. This book gives a look at Dick Kinzel as an individual as well as a businessman, and looks at some of his business decisions and his opinions on them. It’s an easy read and absolutely worth every penny.