Delbert Feinstein bringing new life back to Cedar Point's Frontier Trail

Editor's note: Justin Dietz represents a Cedar Point food blog, (CPFoodBlog.com, @CPFoodBlog on Twitter). He recently visited the park to check out a new attraction for the 2017 season and its ties to a former popular ride.Toward the end of the 2016 season, guests of Cedar Point may have noticed the RipCord attraction in the Challenge Park area was taken down in anticipation of the Cedar Point Shores water park expansion.While the Skyscraper attraction was completely removed from the site in late 2016, RipCord sat idle, leading many to speculate the fate of the attraction. Hold on to that thought for a moment.Another missed ride at Cedar Point is Paddlewheel Excursions. The boat ride traversed the lagoon of Cedar Point telling the tale of various characters along the bank of the river from the standpoint of creative storytelling captains.One of the characters displayed on the ride was Sir Delbert Feinstein, a local inventor whose famous flying machine was jokingly made out of "flypaper." Following the closure of the Paddlewheel Excursions after the 2011 season, Delbert Feinstein continued to live on in a new form.One of the Cedar Point characters displayed on the now-defunct Paddlewheel Excursions ride was Sir Delbert Feinstein, a local inventor whose famous flying machine was jokingly made out of "flypaper." His legend lives on in a new form, as the reincarnated RipCord ride is now known as Professor Delbert's Frontier Fling in the amusement park's Frontier Trail area. (Provided photo/ANDREW HYDE)Halloweekends, Cedar Point's fall extension of the season, is always looking to reinvent itself, and that was done as a new outdoor fright zone along the Frontier Trail, "Maniacal, Mechanical Screamworks."Fortunately, Delbert Feinstein found a new home across from what is now the Trail Tavern, animating guests with his famous flying machine each evening. But, as legend would have it, the perpetual motion of change was in the forecast, effecting Mr. Feinstein's future.One of the Cedar Point characters displayed on the now-defunct Paddlewheel Excursions ride was Sir Delbert Feinstein, a local inventor whose famous flying machine was jokingly made out of "flypaper." His legend lives on in a new form, as the reincarnated RipCord ride is now known as Professor Delbert's Frontier Fling in the amusement park's Frontier Trail area.The 2016 season saw the removal of the Frontier Trail's Shoot the Rapids log flume ride, leaving speculation about what could be coming to the area. Would we get a new log flume, flat ride or roller coaster? There were so many possibilities.Now we get back to RipCord and the fate of Delbert Feinstein. Following the end of the 2016, footers were installed for what now is the new home to RipCord on the former Shoot the Rapids site. Guests will now have the chance to experience the ride within the footprint of the park.RipCord received a fresh coat of paint, and now the observation platform for what was Shoot the Rapids will provide great views. It will still give an up-close encounter with the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad.The reincarnated RipCord ride, now known as Professor Delbert's Frontier Fling, debuts in 2017 at a new location in Cedar Point's Frontier Trail. The ride should be ready once the park opens on May 6.In addition to a new look and location, Delbert Feinstein finally gets to live up to his high-flying name. RipCord will now be known as Professor Delbert's Frontier Fling.This is just the beginning of what is to come for the 2017 Cedar Point season. If you want to really dive into what will be new for 2017, in addition to what has already been announced, then you should be on the lookout for Winter Chillout tickets to go on sale in the next week or two. The Feb. 25 event should reveal what is in store when the gates open May 6. We can almost smell the fresh cut fries. See you in the spring!