Why does Kennywood not make its self into a bigger
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Jeff how can you say the name change had nothing to do with it, it was the rides. If it was not for the name change to six flags they would not have the money to make those changes. Six flags paid for the rides not Geauga lake. I had never even heard of the place until SF bought them and ive lived in Pa and MI most of my life.
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Army rangers lead the way
Well Jeff, in my humble opinion, they have managed to enhance the charm of both SFGAm and SFOT. There are other parks that they have managed not to do so well with, but tell me, which of those parks can you name that were acually better off without the SF name? I can't think of one, except maybe SFMM.
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Thank you Disney, thank you... *** This post was edited by Middleman on 1/29/2001. ***
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Thank you Disney, thank you... *** This post was edited by Middleman on 1/29/2001. ***
The name of the park has nothing to do with it. If they built all of those rides at SFO and kept the name Geauga Lake, people would still come. I feel if they would have done this more quietly, lets say build 4 coaster's in 4 years instead of what they did, (quickly butcher the park) the public and bad press would not be so rampant. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Premier, The same company that owned and funded GL from 95-99 is still the same company that owns and funds SFO.
While the only park I have been too once the Six Flags stamp was put on was Geauga Lake, I can tell you that the park did loose some of its charm. In fact my best times at that place were before the PKS buyout of funtime in that park. I had a blast at the one Octoberfest were I remember the food was cheep, good, and plentiful. Since it was the end of the year, they were giving the stuffed animals away and even if you lost at a game, you would get something. I left the park with a full stomach, prizes which made me a hero to the younger siblings in my family, and great rides on the Big Dipper and Raging Wolf Bob's (Yes thats right!).
Which brings up another subject, while SF may have so far kept the wooden coasters, how well have they maintained them? Since I've only been on 2, from my experience I thought RWB and to some extent the Big dipper have went the way of the dot com's since PKS bought out.
While the only park I have been too once the Six Flags stamp was put on was Geauga Lake, I can tell you that the park did loose some of its charm. In fact my best times at that place were before the PKS buyout of funtime in that park. I had a blast at the one Octoberfest were I remember the food was cheep, good, and plentiful. Since it was the end of the year, they were giving the stuffed animals away and even if you lost at a game, you would get something. I left the park with a full stomach, prizes which made me a hero to the younger siblings in my family, and great rides on the Big Dipper and Raging Wolf Bob's (Yes thats right!).
Which brings up another subject, while SF may have so far kept the wooden coasters, how well have they maintained them? Since I've only been on 2, from my experience I thought RWB and to some extent the Big dipper have went the way of the dot com's since PKS bought out.
Jeff says:
That kind of puzzles me to. What is the point of putting the states name on your name logo. I would think that SF:Geauga Lake would have been more appropriate. If they would have bought Marriotts Great America and called it Six Flags Illinois I would have been aggravated at it. The thing that made the transition good with SF buying Marriott is because Marriott also used the Looney Tunes characters so it felt like the purchase didnt affect anything. I dont know, while Six Flags hasnt torn down the classics after purchase, I can see the disappointment with the other charm.
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"SAVING THE WORLD BEFORE BEDTIME" Powerpuff girls
I don't mind the Six Flags name, but I would have liked it better if they matched it to the Funtime sister park and called it Six Flags Geauga Lake.
That kind of puzzles me to. What is the point of putting the states name on your name logo. I would think that SF:Geauga Lake would have been more appropriate. If they would have bought Marriotts Great America and called it Six Flags Illinois I would have been aggravated at it. The thing that made the transition good with SF buying Marriott is because Marriott also used the Looney Tunes characters so it felt like the purchase didnt affect anything. I dont know, while Six Flags hasnt torn down the classics after purchase, I can see the disappointment with the other charm.
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"SAVING THE WORLD BEFORE BEDTIME" Powerpuff girls
It is a safe fact that the focus on some maintenence has been left behind recently. Just be happy that the Dipper was entirely rebuilt about 8 years ago, and the the Bobs,(which I love)is only 13 years old. Too bad it looks about 25. That Oktoberfest kicked butt.
*** This post was edited by Agent Johnson on 1/29/2001. ***
I think iv'e changed my mind i would rather have
back Geauga lake before PKS bought them. Boy i really would make the trip for a park that had not put a new coaster in 7 year's (88-95, what would they have then 4 coasters all old but worth while. Now as for now between 95-01 what do you think the park's owner's would have put in. 88 being the last year they built a new coaster and before that 77. Just my 2cents worth
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Army rangers lead the way
back Geauga lake before PKS bought them. Boy i really would make the trip for a park that had not put a new coaster in 7 year's (88-95, what would they have then 4 coasters all old but worth while. Now as for now between 95-01 what do you think the park's owner's would have put in. 88 being the last year they built a new coaster and before that 77. Just my 2cents worth
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Army rangers lead the way
Why even put the words "Six Flags" in front of these parks anyway. I can see the original Six out of the bunch, but right now there is like 22 flags. What is wrong with names like Geauga Lake, Darien Lake, Eltich Gardens, and Magic Mountain? When Cedar Fair bought parks likes Knot's, it did not become "Cedarfair Knotts Berry Farm" or Cedarfair over So-Cal"
*** This post was edited by Joe E. on 1/29/2001. ***
Wrong... Six Flags (the company formerly known as Premier Parks) has owned Geauga Lake for years, as they have Wyandot Lake and some other minor properties. Ditto for Darien Lake before the name addition. See the pattern? They were all owned by Six Flags (then named Premier) because they were all properties of Funtime. You can thank Six Flags for the SLC's at Geauga and Darien prior to the Six Flags branding.
supermandl said:
"Jeff how can you say the name change had nothing to do with it, it was the rides. If it was not for the name change to six flags they would not have the money to make those changes. Six flags paid for the rides not Geauga lake."
And just because you never heard of Geauga Lake doesn't mean it didn't exist. Few Ohioans were unaware of the park's existence.
If the name had changed and they didn't add rides, you can bet your bippy that we would have seen zero growth in attendance.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
If Six Flags were to take over Kennywood Entertainment, say goodbye to your chance at safely riding - or riding, at all - Kennywood's classic wooden coasters. The maintenance would all go downhill. Kennywood's maintenance crews are the BEST anywhere. They keep the rides at tiptop shape and I actually feel safe in them, unlike a Six Flags when you fear for your life when you hear nuts and bolts flying off the ride.
Kennywood has established itself as "America's Finest Traditional Amusement Park," but if Six Flags were to take over, it would be just another face in the crowd.
Kennywood has established itself as "America's Finest Traditional Amusement Park," but if Six Flags were to take over, it would be just another face in the crowd.
I am not in the maintenence department, but is no small task to keep 3 woodies operating from the 1920's, a dark ride from 1901, several buildings from the 1898-1899 construction period, and a host of flat rides from the 1920's. No wonder why they host several off season seminars year after year. If all those coasters that SF builds now run this good in 50 years, I will take back all that I said.
I agree that Kennywood doesn't need to become a big park, but I would suggest some improvements. I would like to see Thunderbolt updated with new trains with seat dividers. I prefer not having someone in my lap when I ride thank you. I also think a more traditional lapbar (not like the new PTC's) would be good on the Jack Rabbit. I can't believe in the year 2001 that all they have on that ride is an extremely loose strap as a safety device. I loved the airtime, but it doesn't seem safe to me.
Jumping back to SFNE for a minute, I don't think they have any intention of changing Thunderbolt. When Riverside was owned by Premier but not yet branded, they put up that really cool neon Thunderbolt sign. The coaster also runs with PTC trains that have, get this, flip-down lapbars. The coaster is not marketed as a high intensity thrill ride, but more of a family friendly coaster. Most of SFNE except for DC SuperHero Adventures is distinctly traditional.
As for Cyclone, although I am extremely disheartened by the reprofiling and breaking, I can see why they did it as the coaster may have been a bit too much for the GP. *** This post was edited by themeparkne on 1/29/2001. ***
As for Cyclone, although I am extremely disheartened by the reprofiling and breaking, I can see why they did it as the coaster may have been a bit too much for the GP. *** This post was edited by themeparkne on 1/29/2001. ***
Jeff your right they have owned since 95 and they have increased the people going there ever since.
Why do you think they put the ride's in there not to attract people to the new SF. Ohio people are not the only one's going to this park now it is a national known park. Now people come from all over not just from ohio.
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Army rangers lead the way
Well, in all truths, how do they measure gate attandance? If you have buy one get one free pepsi cans, are both considered paying customers. Maybe. Do you count each time a season pass holder rolls the turnstyle? Maybe.
SF theory is to give away the gate, therefore concessions(f/b,arcades,games,retail,pay-skycoaster,paddle boats,etc.) all take in record cash amounts. So, in theory, the imposed is 'a too good to be true' season pass program. Maybe Geauga Lake pass holders who usually visited 4 times a year, visited 6. Maybe a few more Darien Lake holders made the road trip.
Maybe more Pittsburghers' made the turnpike crawl due to the new rides. But in all honesty, Geauga Lake is not that large of a park. Riverside is not that large of a park. If someone told me Kennywood did 2.4 million, I would say bull****. There is only room for so many people. Period. I think there is a flimm-flammin going on on these increases. A lot of industry people are just a bit curious on how attendance goes up so damn fast, when rides are unstaffed, broke down, and the park is crying that they don't have enough staff for everything.
I have never been to a SF that has had every ride, game, food outlet, cart, etc. open at one time. This will occur enough times that people will move on to another park. And honestly, we are talking about Ohio. SF Ohio is reginal. Period.
The average family who wants a sure fire theme park experience will visit Orlando. Fact. I love Ohio in the summer, but nobody from the East Coast, Virginia, etc, is not driving there for SF Ohio. At best, people will hit that park instead of Cedar Point or PKI, but they always return. At least the one problem SFOhio had was no parking, but they spent $110 million to solve that problem. *** This post was edited by Agent Johnson on 1/29/2001. ***
SF theory is to give away the gate, therefore concessions(f/b,arcades,games,retail,pay-skycoaster,paddle boats,etc.) all take in record cash amounts. So, in theory, the imposed is 'a too good to be true' season pass program. Maybe Geauga Lake pass holders who usually visited 4 times a year, visited 6. Maybe a few more Darien Lake holders made the road trip.
Maybe more Pittsburghers' made the turnpike crawl due to the new rides. But in all honesty, Geauga Lake is not that large of a park. Riverside is not that large of a park. If someone told me Kennywood did 2.4 million, I would say bull****. There is only room for so many people. Period. I think there is a flimm-flammin going on on these increases. A lot of industry people are just a bit curious on how attendance goes up so damn fast, when rides are unstaffed, broke down, and the park is crying that they don't have enough staff for everything.
I have never been to a SF that has had every ride, game, food outlet, cart, etc. open at one time. This will occur enough times that people will move on to another park. And honestly, we are talking about Ohio. SF Ohio is reginal. Period.
The average family who wants a sure fire theme park experience will visit Orlando. Fact. I love Ohio in the summer, but nobody from the East Coast, Virginia, etc, is not driving there for SF Ohio. At best, people will hit that park instead of Cedar Point or PKI, but they always return. At least the one problem SFOhio had was no parking, but they spent $110 million to solve that problem. *** This post was edited by Agent Johnson on 1/29/2001. ***
So you're saying you have access to their demographic surveys? How do you know this? I don't recall seeing many plates from outside of Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Summit counties, let alone outside of Ohio.
supermandl said:
"Ohio people are not the only one's going to this park now it is a national known park. Now people come from all over not just from ohio."
I totally agree with Johnson. SFO is and will continue to be a regional park like Kennywood or Holiday World, and will remain so unless they can improve infrastructure in and out of the area and handle capacity crowds.
I think that's where the "give away the gate" strategy will get them over time. If they can't provide the services, why keep coming back? When that fails, do you suddenly double the price of your season pass? SFO has a long way to go before it's on par with SFGAm or SFMM.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
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