Cedar Fair announces Geauga Lake will be water park only
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Cedar Fair Entertainment Company announced today that Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom in Aurora, Ohio, will become exclusively a water park attraction beginning with the 2008 season.
“After four years of operating Geauga Lake as a combined water park/amusement park attraction, we have concluded that its future should be entirely as a water park,” said Dick Kinzel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. “Visiting Geauga Lake is a 119-year-old tradition in northeastern Ohio. That tradition will continue, but in a new and exciting way.”
“Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom has been recognized as one of the finest water parks in the country,” Kinzel said. “Over the past three seasons, we have invested approximately $25 million to create and develop the premiere water park in northeastern Ohio. Since its opening in 2005, Wildwater Kingdom has been the park’s highest rated attribute.”
Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom attractions will include Tidal Wave Bay, a 30,000 square-foot wave pool featuring seven different types of wave patterns; Liquid Lightning, a 60-foot-tall tornado slide; Thunder Falls, Ohio’s tallest water slide complex; an activity pool; an action river; and a multi-story play structure. The park will also provide a catering facility and picnic pavilions for group outings and poolside cabanas will be made available for daily rental.
Read the full press release from Cedar Fair.
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The fact CF destoyed one amazing park (Sea World) and one pretty good one (Geauga Lake). I have a CF season pass, I will not be getting another next year, and probably not visiting any CF parks for awhile. Six Flags seems to have their heads on straight now, Disney is magical, Universal is amazing, and Busch still has beautiful, fun parks. And what does CF have?
Pavement.
As for Kinzel's role in all of this. I don't think he broke the camel's back. Honestly, I believe he needs to step aside and let some new blood shape the company but I don't feel that way because of Geauga Lake.
^ As AJ said, the park didn't need saving. It was fine before Premier got their hands on it. It wasn't broken until the mid-90's.
*** This post was edited by Rob Ascough 9/21/2007 4:52:19 PM ***
CF just can't continue to operate the park at a loss.They went into the deal hoping for the best but it just didn't turn out that way because SF ruined the park's reputation with their poor management,operations & service....still I'm suprised to see them just walk away from the ride side though.
I've been to the park once before and to tell the truth, was very underwhelmed. It's best that the rides section be removed as stated before, and by the company, the water park really is the strong drawing power to the venue now.
Like all other businesses, things change, and people will always be left distraught or angry during change. But seriously, get over it. That simple...you will eventually. It's not the end of the world and it could have been worse. It's not like they permanently shut it down or razed it over for apartment buildings or as a golf course.
Also I think the big dipper would be a great addition to Idlewild. Tell Kennywood there is no market for Miller coasters sheesh.
*** This post was edited by Uncle Coaster 9/21/2007 5:13:04 PM ***
Goodbye Dipper, Villain, Double Loop, Dominator and the rest of the ride side.
You know what brings people to a park? It's not always the biggest and tallest, it's the tradition. Sure attendance may spike if you add a new thrill ride but after that ride is done what will bring those customers back?
Tradition? Knott's had over 75 years of tradition under its belt and recognition as the first themed amusement park in the Americas, and a friendly family atmosphere. But tradition didn't keep its attendance from gradually plummeting in the mid 90's before Cedar Fair stepped in and breathed some high-tech attractions into it.
Tradition only goes so far.
The park was open for over 100 years. Many people have been going there since they can remember and have great family memories of the park.
Newsflash the park IS STILL GOING TO BE OPEN. Did I miss something or does everyone posting in this thread seem like they were misinformed about what exactly is happening with the park?
Geauga Lake is still going to be an operating park -- albeit with just water attractions. It's not closing, or being torn down, or being sold off to a developer.
All I am reading about is really deep down just a bunch of whimpering over a handful of lost amusement park rides rather than anything to do with the park (some of which, may I remind you are planned for relocation). The park is and will still be there in the future.
*** This post was edited by kRaXLeRidAh 9/21/2007 5:21:45 PM ****** This post was edited by kRaXLeRidAh 9/21/2007 5:22:22 PM ***
So save Geauga Lake!!!!!
You did this in the Astroworld thread, too, and while you're entitled to your opinion I'm not sure why this is the time or place to tell people to "get over it." There's the business side, and there's the enthusiastic/sentimental side. We don't have to be dismissive of one or they other just because they're not in agreement. Perhaps this is the time for many of us to say "get over it" to those who seem to have such a problem understanding that.
"All I am reading about is really deep down just a bunch of whimpering over a handful of lost amusement park rides"
Really, this is just rich. God forbid anybody be sad about a favorite ride closing. What bunch of babies we are.
What's the point of even being an enthusiast if you can't be saddened by something like this? I just don't get it. I mean really what's even the point of being in the hobby?
*** This post was edited by matt. 9/21/2007 5:27:23 PM ***
The fact CF destoyed one amazing park (Sea World) and one pretty good one (Geauga Lake).
Six Flags made that mess, not Cedar Fair.
I am sad about this. I thought they would give it a few more years cause it seemed like performance in the park was good this year.
Now getting down to the point. All this starts with lost opportunity and then a huge opportunity for Cedar Fair. The lost opportunity started with the acquisition of the park. They had a fledgling park in their hands when it opened, and attendance never hit its peak. Then boom add a waterpark and watch things grow, nothing did. What then really was the kicker is that Kinzel buys out paramount and adds more money to a budget and needs to make more money to support his financial decisions. Then Geauga Lake is obviously real estate worth selling which im sure he has already reached an agreement on, note buying of shares. He knew he was gonna make money off it and its going to cut losses not operating one side. But i hope it fails to say the least. Me being very upset will not see how well that waterpark does, its not going to bring in that much income.
However, just like a few others i want to say that Cedar Fair has lost my money. I will gladly give to the parks that have the whole package in the views of their patrons. I would prefer going to Kennywood and Holiday world much more than dealing with this bs of fattening his Ohio cows that are Cedar Point and Kings Island. The almighty dollar is a sickening reality when things like this happen. A good business man is a also a snake, Dick Kinzel you are just one of those creatures that crawls on your belly. Good luck, with your egotistical ideas, and your legacy that we once talked about, but to me its been tarnished by ruining something that has always been a part of my life and brought me happiness.
Flame me i dont really care, it just upsets me i can see others points and i can see my own, i am just pretty disappointed with this decision.
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