says should worry visitors.

As Susan Glaser reporter on cleveland.com, layoffs have raised that cost-cutting measures might fundamentally alter what makes this beloved destination special.

“Six Flags is chopping away at staffing at Cedar Point and in some cases, longtime staffers who really know the park like the back of their hand,” reported Courtney Astolfi during the podcast, explaining how the aftermath of a merger between Cedar Point’s parent company and Six Flags is beginning to materialize on the ground.

Six Flags is finalizing layoffs of 10% of Cedar Point’s full-time staff, part of a broader corporate restructuring that will eliminate about 500 positions across 42 parks.

The staffing disparities between the two companies were stark before the merger – Cedar Fair employed approximately 3,300 staffers while Six Flags operated with just 1,300, despite its comparable size. The disparity appears to be driving the current cost-cutting strategy.

Podcast host Chris Quinn expressed serious concern about potential long-term consequences: “If they don’t keep it as clean as they’ve kept it, if the lines don’t move as efficiently as they’ve moved, people go elsewhere… They’re paying extra, but they know what they get for the money. And this is a dangerous move that really could tarnish one of the jewels of Ohio."

The podcast referenced several former park executives who have publicly voiced concerns. Astolfi noted how one former Cedar Fair exec described the park as “historically being the kind of the gold standard” in guest experience, and expressed skepticism that these standards could survive the layoffs.

Cedar Point has long occupied a special place in Ohio’s tourism landscape, comparable to destination parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios rather than local carnivals. The premium pricing has been justified by exceptional quality and attention to detail.

“It’s not cheap, but they go there and they’re expecting that environment,” Quinn emphasized.

As Astolfi, who grew up near the park, concluded: “I’ve been concerned from the beginning for my hometown about what this merger would mean.”

Listen to the episode here.

Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from Today in Ohio, a news podcast discussion by cleveland.com editors. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions.

Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.