A Cedar Point love story 50 years in the making

After meeting at Cedar Point 51 years ago, and wedding there the following summer, Bill and Jayne Djubek will return to where it all started. Together, with family, they'll celebrate their 50th anniversary there this month. Here's the one-of-a-kind story of how the two met, got married and, to this day, live a happy life in the Sandusky area.SANDUSKY — Bill Djubek can still vividly remember the awe-struck, life-changing moment occurring 51 years ago.In 1968, he served as a riverboat captain aboard the Western Cruise ride, later renamed to Paddlewheel Excursions, at Cedar Point.From a distance away, he noticed a young woman, clad in her Surf Lounge concession outfit, walking toward him."I still picture Jayne that way, walking up on the dock of the riverboat in her uniform," Bill said. "She was, and still is, pretty attractive."And Jayne Crowl, in return, felt a mutual attraction: "I liked the way he looked," said Jayne, who first noticed Bill walking on the Midway.Thanks to a mutual friend, Bill Brenner, who introduced them, a romance soon blossomed."He thought we were a perfect match," Jayne said about Brenner's hunch. "He convinced us to go out."When the two ended their respective dayshifts, they'd spend pretty much every night together, enjoying cocktails at popular Sandusky establishments. This would include the former Beer Barrel on Hancock Street; the former Sportsman Bar, now Louie's, near Pipe Creek Wildlife Area; and the Old Dutch Tavern on East Perkins Avenue.Though, after a-six-week summer fling, both left Cedar Point shortly after Labor Day. Jayne, from Canton, returned to school at Bowling Green State University. And Bill, originally from Lakewood, traveled back to his then-home in Maine.Yet what the two didn't know back then: It would be the last time in life they'd be apart."I do"After exchanging letters in the following months, both Bill and Jayne learned the other would return to work at Cedar Point in summer 1969.Neither person, however, could have anticipated what happened next.Almost immediately after reuniting at Cedar Point, and while on a walk together, Bill unexpectedly twisted off a beer tab, carefully placed it on Jayne's ring finger and confidently popped the question, "Will you marry me?"Jayne proudly exclaimed "yes" without any hesitation."We announced our engagement at the Old Dutch during what we called a 'Western Cruise Party,'" Jayne said. "We did all this so quickly. Our parents didn't know anything."Word quickly spread of their engagement, and Cedar Point management wanted to fully capitalize on the impending nuptials."There had been one private wedding on a Western Cruise boat a few years prior, but no one really knew about it," Jayne said. "Cedar Point wanted to make a big deal about our wedding."Bill Evans, the park's former publicity director, who drew comparisons to P.T. Barnum because of his eccentric nature, went all-out for Bill and Jayne's big day, scheduled for 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, 1969.Evans enlisted a crew to decorated the park's Frontier Town, where the wedding took place. The Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad escorted family and friends to the seating area. A classic Cadillac, meanwhile, ushered Bill and Jayne.He also posted advertisements all over the park, which doubled as a collective invitation for each and every employee. That's why the wedding took place at 11 p.m. so park employees could attend without worrying about missing work. About 300 people showed up to the event, "And we didn't even know most of them," Jayne said with a chuckle. "But it was fun that way."Among the VIPs in attendance: park president George Roose, who acquired ownership of Cedar Point in 1957. He's credited with serving as a key visionary in transforming the park into a premier destination. Roose gifted the newlyweds with a pewter salad bowl set made on Frontier Trial."He wrote in a card this came from the pewter craftsman at the trail," Jayne said.In exchange for the publicity — about 100 newspapers from across the state and region wrote articles on the event — Cedar Point comped the pair, living on a shoestring budget, with many wedding-related items. This included:• A venue for the ceremony, at Town Hall, and reception, at the Corral dining room• Decor, such as flowers and other festive visuals around Town Hall• Music, consisting of a live-show piano player and a special trumpet performance provided by their friend, city resident Ed Eder• A photographer, who tailed the pair all day, beginning at 9 a.m.And a friend paid for their overnight accommodations at Hotel Breakers."It was just so great," said Jayne, whose maid of honor Connie Clingaman was a fellow Cedar Point worker. Bill's best man was Phil Lura, a Western Cruise colleague."Everything was so great," Jayne said.Happily ever afterAfter a short honeymoon at the Cleveland Sheraton, Bill and Jayne returned to Cedar Point, where they worked until the season ended. Management even made special arrangements for them to stay together in a dorm room within the Cedars.Though the two didn't want to become lifers at the amusement park they still love today.So they traveled across the U.S. in hopes of finding work. Despite some career opportunities falling through in Las Vegas, Seattle and a town near Kent State University, the pair miraculously ended up back in Sandusky, where Jayne began a lifelong career in education. Neither had any intentions of coming back to Sandusky.She worked as a special education teacher for Sandusky Schools for two years before transitioning to EHOVE Career Center in a counseling position for the next 25 years. Bill, meanwhile, worked at several area jobs, including American Greetings, the Scott Paper Co. and Huron County Transit System.They made a home in Sandusky, moving onto Lurie Lane on the Cedar Point Chaussee and raising two sons who attended Sandusky High School: Chad, a 1993 graduate; and Sean, a 1996 graduate.Buying season passes for many years, the family remained a permanent fixture at Cedar Point in the 1980s and 1990s. Bill no longer rides roller coasters but positions Millennium Force as his top attraction there. Jayne, who also retired from riding roller coasters, likes Gemini because, "It's so cool that they are racing coasters."Bill's only regret in his entire relationship: Not asking Roose, Evans or some other higher-up executive for lifetime season passes as a wedding gift. "At the time, we had no intention of coming back here," Bill said while laughing.Though they're glad they did return to America's Roller Coast. They're big fans of Sandusky and marvel at its ongoing renaissance. "We have always liked it so much, and we are so amazed about all that's happening now," said Jayne, who feels a bit guilty for living in Huron Township today.Reliving the momentTo commemorate their 50th anniversary, Bill and Jayne booked a five-night reservation at Hotel Breakers on Cedar Point's beach. They also invited Chad, Sean and their sons' wives to vacation with them as well.Some activities planned include sunbathing at Cedar Point Shores, drinking champagne on the beach and capping off everything with a fancy family dinner Saturday night at Bay Harbor. They'll also eat at Tomo, where the former Anchor Room previously operated from. It was one of Bill's and Jayne's favorite dining spots.Bill and Jayne are preparing for their upcoming trip by reliving their wedding through photographs and the many newspaper articles. One reason why: So their family can know all about the fun and light-hearted details."They know some of the story, but not everything, and we just want to share with them how special everything was," Jayne said.During their reminiscing, Bill and Jayne also recalled some people, even close friends, not giving the couple a chance at lasting even one month together.This month marks their 600th together."Everyone who knew us said we got together too fast, that we only knew each other for a short period of time," Jayne said."But we were lucky that we had the same views," Bill chimed in. "And if we didn't, we never let it affect our relationship. We just fit together."When asked what's the secret to maintaining a healthy and happy relationship, Jayne paused before saying "trust."She trusted Bill and his makeshift wedding ring, a beer tab, as a symbol he would commit to her for life — which he has, and Jayne continues to reciprocate those very emotions."Had we not met at Cedar Point or worked at Cedar Point, our whole lives would have been totally different," Jayne said. "But I'm so glad we did, and I wouldn't change a thing."Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Bill and Jayne Djubek hold a sign they kept from their wedding at Cedar Point on Aug. 8, 1969. At the time, the park's employees highly publicized their ceremony, which was attended by more than 300 workers.A photo shows Jayne Crowl being walked down the aisle to marry Bill Djubek outside Town Hall at Cedar Point on Aug. 8, 1969.A photo shows the wedding ceremony Jayne Crowl and Bill Djubek outside Town Hall at Cedar Point on Aug. 8, 1969.