Aurora to redevelop Geauga Lake as a public park

Kinzel will just buy that park and close it too.

😝

Fast forward 2124. Headline: "In the city of Aurora, history is reinventing itself. The city council has approved a $200 million project to reconstruct the historic Big Dipper. The Big Dipper was an amusement ride of a mere 70 feet tall - tiny by comparison to today newest coasters that are 7000 feet tall, but it thrilled locals for more than 70 years. The wood for the ride will come from the land, planted in 2025 when the city made the land into a park." :-)

That's a nice fantasy. It could happen.

Appreciate it didn't go that way, but it's a shame this didn't happen from the outset - a public park featuring a carousel and a classic coaster could have happened without too much fuss. It's just a shame there was 15+ years between the two.

Amusement park becomes a trolly park, trolly park becomes an Amusement Park

Time is a flat circle

I keep seeing "Aurora" and think that a quirky Norwegian songwriter is gonna develop the park.

I have been in public parks with carousel's operated by the local government. I've never been in one that had a rollercoaster, and I am guessing most cities would not want to absorb the ongoing maintenance costs, insurance risks, etc.

If I was to design that park, I would be looking for opportunities to embrace and honor the Geauga Lake history. Maybe not with rides, but in other ways.

Or allow someone to lease the land for a coaster, maybe? Has that every been done?

Maybe even Cedar Flags.

I think that it took to ‘16 to take down the Dipper proved the city didn’t want to preserve it. I would call GCI and have them build an homage, and a PTC carousel from NJ should be for sale soon.

Don, I think Bay Beach is all city owned.

wahoo skipper:

I have been in public parks with carousel's operated by the local government. I've never been in one that had a rollercoaster, and I am guessing most cities would not want to absorb the ongoing maintenance costs, insurance risks, etc.

Tuscora Park just down the road in New Philadelphia, OH, I believe fits this description. After a very quick Google search, it does appear that it's owned and operated by the city of NP. I could be wrong. We stopped here years ago and found it to be quite a charming place, I absolutely loved it and would visit again if it were closer. Granted, their coaster is just a Little Dipper, and I don't see them getting a 500ft T-Rex any time soon, but my point is it can be done.

Bay Beach is city-owned - their website is a section of the City of Green Bay’s website.

https://greenbaywi.gov/445/...ement-Park

Westchester County owns Rye Playland, although they turned over management to private companies a decade or so ago.

Would liability for a roller coaster be that much greater than for a pool or a waterpark? Maybe - I don’t know. But lots of municipalities own those things. I think you just buy insurance. Obviously the maintenance required is a different order, and especially the unusual experience required.

For those of us that still live in this area, this is truly bizarre. First it was going to be a new Meijer store. Then a bunch of condos. Then a car dealership. Then a Meijer. Or maybe I am mixing up the order, but it was something like that.

I suppose in the end that if it really does become a park, that's about as good as it gets...for now.

The land has been divided into multiple projects. As far as I'm aware, the Condos, the house and the Meijer are all still happening in different parts of the property.

The property purchased by Aurora City is the old Sea World site, including the wave pool and beach that was part of Wildwater Kingdom. This was actually the only continuous part of the property within Aurora City limits. The majority of Geauga Lake Park was in Bainbridge Township. I believe there was a joint agreement between Aurora and Bainbridge concerning the park. My memory may be a bit off.

The Geauga Lake property is currently building Condo/Apartment buildings, with a Meijer to follow.