Cedar Fair announces Geauga Lake will be water park only

I also hope something can be done for the Big Dipper, its on a flat piece of land so maybe something can be done for it. I would imagine too that Villain could be taken apart and moved fairly easily since its all metal framed.

I still call dibs on the Cornhole Toss.

I'm so sad right now. Like many others have said, I've been going to this park since I was a little girl. My family went every year. Most years this was our ownly vacation. Double Loop was my first roller coaster. It's what made me the rider I am today.

Also, like others I don't plan on giving any more of my money to Cedar Fair after this year. If I didn't already have plans for Kings Island and Cedar Point next month, they wouldn't get anymore this year either. I say I don't plan on it, but as time passes I may want to buy a season pass, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

It really does make me feel like crying. I feel like a part of my childhood is being thrown away. Geauga Lake has so much potential. I didn't like CF removing rides, but I understood. I wouldn't have minded that they shrunk the park a little. But to make it a water park only is just stupid. I'm not a water park person, so maybe I don't see the value in it.

I really, really (although doubtful) hope that Double Loop is moved somewhere close.

I am AMAZED that even after all of this, people around here have the audacity to say "Six Flags did this all, Cedar Fair is still god-like." Throw me a bone.

People will mourn the loss of Geauga Lake for a long long time, just like people still mourn the loss of Euclid Beach Park, decades after the fact. Fortunately, parks like Kennywood and Holiday World are still strong - these parks really seems to understand their customers, and thanks goodness for that. If only one of those parks could snag Big Dipper from Cedar Fair - I think a lot of us would breath a big sigh of relief.

Busch sold Sea World cause they couldn't make it work. Thats their fault that they sold it, not Cedar Fair's or Six Flag's. Parks are sold for a reason and it usually not because they are turning a profit.

And don't think that I am not sad and dissapointed about this. I just don't place all the blame it all on one man or one company.

So where would the Big Dipper work? Right along the road in Lost Kennywood? In the parking lot of Waldameer? :)

There are small flats (mostly kids flats) in Wild Water Kingdom. Anyone think those will go too? Or maybe expand that area with a few more ride relocated over from the Ride Side.

eightdotthree, I do not understand the point you are trying to make. The way I see it is that Cedar Fair purchased Geauga Lake in 2004 with one of the two frames of mind:

A) The park had potential but needed new management. Cedar Fair believed they could take a park with a lot of potential and turn it into a great asset for their company.

OR

B) The park was a threat to Cedar Point and the company would be better off if it didn't exist.

If the A scenario is true, then Cedar Fair failed to turn around the park and deserves to be held accountable for it, regardless of what happened before 2004. If the B scenario is true, then they got what they wanted, but eliminated a once great park from the map and its perfectly reasonable for people who grew up with the park to be upset.

I am really saddened by this news. I love the Big Dipper and the Villain. I was really excited when Cedar Fair bought the park. I am in shock. I went to the park five times this year and it was really busy. I guess Waldameer will be my new home park.

How many of you are planning on backing out of Boobuzz?

I'm as sad as the next guy...but knee-jerk reactions tend to fade away. I'm wondering how many people are actually upset enough to actually not go to a CF park...? I guess we'll see how mad everybody really is...?

I'm also guessing CF did not come to this decision without good cause. I say this as somebody who has avoided all regional themers for about 2 years now. I'm still pissed that CF advertised TTD the opening season after they knew the darn thing was not running. I went every year of my life up until then...and have not gone back since. I'm certainly not a fanboy for the park or company. But I refuse to believe that this was the plan from the beginning. There probably was no way to make it work.

Anyhow, I've always said that thrill rides are a rather inelastic commodity. No matter how bad the park treats the guests, there are plenty of guests willing to take it because they really do not have better options.

I personally decided not to support this crap a couple years back...and after the tough initial months...I can honestly say I don't miss any of the CF or SF parks at all. It can be done. The question is...will it?

My bet says Boobuzz has as many or more enthusiasts than it had last year! ;)

*** This post was edited by Jeffrey R Smith 9/21/2007 6:21:53 PM ***

I had a feeling this was going to happen.

I am curious though if they are going to move some of the dry rides over on the waterpark side. They still have plenty of room. They should even consider moving the kiddie coaster over by the waterpark as well.

Kind of turn it into a Wyandot Lake setup. Main focus is the waterpark with some dry rides here and there.

I feel bad for the people who have visited Geauga Lake for years but this seemed inevitable.

If the Big Dipper is to be saved it won't be Cedar Fair doing it. Only chance this coaster has is if an outside amusement company came in and relocated it. Someone give Knoebels or Little A Merrik A up in Wisconsin a call.

They both specialize in this.

So does this mean the hotel and campground will be closed too? It seems to be removed from their web site.

You know I started to go into a whole market debate but I knew Rob would just come whining after it, so I'll just say this; you try and rescue and operate a mid- to large-sized rides and waterpark with 3 years of bad PR in the middle of the economic basement of the country with two well-respected parks with fiercely loyal fanbases less than 2 hours' drive in either direction.

I give you a 10% chance of success if I'm feeling generous.

It's like trying to open a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in the middle of Compton; could it make money? Sure. Will it? Probably not. But would you rather have an empty building or Bob's Discount Steakhouse?

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DorneyMan88 said:
This decision is going to have so many negatives. Has anyone considered what will happen to the employees? Most seasonal employees at amusement parks go back year after year expecting to have their job for them. I feel bad for the GM too, now all he has left is a waterpark.

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I wouldn't worry too much about the seasonal employees. There is still incredible growth in that area and new restaurants and stores are still opening up in a new plaza half a mile away from the park - I don't think unskilled seasonal employees will have a difficult time finding minimum wage work. From what I understand, a lot of the seasonal employees at Geauga Lake were making less money than the cashier's across the street at McDonalds anyway.

I do feel for the year-round employees who will likely lose their jobs. Geauga Lake surely employed a lot of ride mechanics and other year-round maintenance employees who WILL have a difficult time finding work in the current environment. I'm not sure if GL has any back-office year-round employees anymore, from what I understand, the marketing and PR departments were about completely eliminated in 2006.

However I do not feel bad for the GM. He still has a job - things could be a lot worse for him.

In response to the comments about employees..

From Yahoo Finance:
"My spouse is one of more than 50 full-time people that were terminated today including one person that had 30 years with Cedar Fair. Only about a dozen full-time people will remain to run the water park. Local news helicopters were over the park today so I imagine it will be on the news tonight. A lot of good people were let go today. One can only imagine what may become of the ride side of the park. As of today, the Geauga Lake of my childhood no longer exists."

“Visiting Geauga Lake is a 119-year-old tradition in northeastern Ohio. That tradition will continue, but in a new and exciting way.”

News flash: I'm not excited by waterparks, and I'm not driving 150 miles to get to one, particularly since I'm getting a brand new one next year at the Columbus Zoo.

I'm to the point where I don't much care what happens to any of Geauga Lake anymore. But I don't want to see any of the rides destroyed. There's three wood coasters on that site that really ought to be taken down and stored at the very least, if not re-erected immediately for the 2008 season.

So let's see what Cedar Fair is made of. The Villain at Cedar Point? Raging Wolf Bobs at Worlds of Fun (hey, it would go well with Timber Wolf...)? And heck, they could put the Big Dipper *anywhere*. Point is, those three rides are all better than any wood coaster at Kings * or Canada's Wonderland, and they're certainly all better than Mean Streak.

The good news about all this is that there is now NO REASON AT ALL for me to *ever* drive to Cleveland anymore.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Some of these responses are borderline ridiculous. For every grandma that goes to a park for the sentamental value there are 25 kids that want to ride Millenium Force. I guess I feel a little bad for the people the people that will miss the tradition, but I suppose they should have invited their friends along.

BoddaH1994, do you have a link to this post you quoted?

^^Super Loopy, that quote is from a Yahoo Message board.

50 layoffs is rough. I understand that its part of the world we live in, but it is still really tough to deal with when it happens to you or someone close to you.It also shows that there is more to the story than initially meets the eye.

Edit: I tried to post the link but the formatting got all messed up. Sorry.

*** This post was edited by Paul Blackstone 9/21/2007 7:04:31 PM ***

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=fun

Click on Message Board. It's in the "Mystery Solved" topic.
*** This post was edited by pkidelirium 9/21/2007 7:12:14 PM ***