Geauga Lake, Kennywood battle for visitors

I've seen some of these signs near each other. I don't think Kennywood has to worry.

I had more fun at WoA

Word, same here!

I'm going to finally get away from the NE Ohio amusement park scene this season, and check out all the destinations I can get to in PA for a change.

I've also seen ads at the www.goerie.com website, which means they are trying the same for the Waldameer crowds. This won't hasten me, since we're going to drive twice the distance that takes us to GLP, as we visit Waldameer in Erie, PA this forthcoming weekend.

Erie also has so much more than just Waldameer in that local vicinity to offer.

As for Kennywood, we're heading there the final weekend of this month :) I see that they have been 'stuck' at 1.3 million guests per year, yet I see that increasing with large group outings like ours, that once attended GLP/SFO/SFWoA for the past nine years.

*** This post was edited by midwave 6/8/2005 2:27:43 AM ***

Hopefully there are enough people to attend both parks. I have to say, I attended Geauga Lake for a few hours on Monday and I had a great time. It was far from busy, but probably busier than when I went mid-season last year. The park looks great, the employees are much improved, although it looked like they could still use some more staffing on rides like Villain, and the guests seemed to be happy, not miserable like during some of my past visits. Also, the Dino Island simulator and Escape from Mars 3D shows are kind of unique and worth a look. I can see this park heading in the right direction and I can really see it doing well once the waterpark is open.

Funny, I haven't seen or heard a single GL advertisement in the Pittsburgh area yet this year. Maybe I'm watching/listening to the wrong stations.

I think they need to stop worrying about each other and concentrate on what will make their park unique and enjoyble to come too.

Chuck, who just visited both and enjoyed both, I give a slight edge in thrills to Geagua and big edge in atmosphere and food to Kennywood.

I haven't really noticed that much difference in the advertising, except for that GL finally got rid of that annoying commericial from last year. BUT I do think that it was a good idea for Kennywood to get in with the K.I.SS. campaign. Heck, its tempting me to do it, cuz I'd love to get the heck outta Ohio for a bit. For those who dont know what the K.I.SS. campaign is, its Kennywood, Idlewild, and Seven Springs. But when advertising is talked about, I'm surprise that PKI doesn't advertise up here in NE-OHIO any. We see the CP, GL, and KISS ads, but never any PKI...I think they should try to lure away from CP!
*** This post was edited by CP Boy 6/8/2005 2:22:27 PM ***

The guy that plays the "Host" on the KISS commercials looks remarkably similar to Mr. Fun from last year's horrid GL commercials.

Ray P. (who obviously is starting to have way too much time on his hands if he's noticing things like that)

I pulled out from the Kennywood parking lot after work today, and to my surprise, there is a Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom billboard on Kennywood Boulevard (the road, not the site) not more than a block down from the park...

Nothing new with this strategy.

Just drive around SFKK, and you will find both PKI and Holiday World billboards. In fact, last year, when you went up the lifthill of Twisted Twins, a huge HW billboard was placed right off the side of the road.

I don't think it's a "come to our place instead" ad campaign on either park's side. I see it more as a "Hey, if you like that place, come to ours, too" type of thing.

I don't think GL is trying to divert people away from Kennywood by putting a billboard next to the park... once people see the billboard they've most likely already been to the park. If you wanted to advertise to Pittsburghers who like roller coasters, where would you put your sign?

I went to GL on Thursday, and it was totally deserted. We literally walked on to everything all day. I talked to some of the employees, and they said that it had been pretty dead all season so far. Hopefully they'll start pulling in more people, because it is a great park with some awesome rides, and overall I thought it was run well.