Cedar Fair announces Geauga Lake will be water park only

I wouldn't consider myself to be a die hard enthusiast. I enjoy coasters, I love attending as many parks as I possibly can. I love the enviornments, the fun, the rush, and the freedom I get from riding the coasters themselves.

I also understand that like everything else, it's a business. Each company IN this business handles things a bit differently. Disney is a corporate money hungry powerhouse too, but as much as people bitchmoan about the mouse, they still go and enjoy the parks, and sometimes lament, sometimes revel in what has happened there. It doesn't stop people from having a good time.

Is it sad that this is happening? Of course! Is it worth depriving yourself of a good time because you're so angry about it? Personally, no, I don't think so. Does the news suck? Absolutely, but perhaps there will be a whole different market of people that can draw enjoyment from the waterpark. CF still has some stellar parks, and I would never begrudge myself of a wonderful time because I was pissed with a bad decision they made. If that was the case, I'd have stopped going to SFGaM a loooong time ago, despite the fact that it's twenty minutes from my humble abode.

It's always sad to see a park go under. ALWAYS. I wish there was a way they could relocate the big dipper. I never got a shot on the thing =('

Please don't kill me for not being eloquent @_@ I'm tired.

I just want to say that I only used your name Rob because I believe earlier in the thread you commented on "corporate tools" bringing up the business angle. No other reason. In fact, I just found it, in your post at 8:05:06 AM. So, don't toss abrasive labels if you don't want to be called out on them.

And I never said get over it. I said I don't understand the anger at Cedar Fair. Does it suck the park's gone? Sure. Big Dipper was a great ride, Villain when it was good was excellent. And if you actually read my posts instead of adding in your own editorials, you'd see there's nothing in there telling you to stop whining about the park closing down. All I'm saying is that it's not really like some unexpected, back room deal made at a smoky table by people conspiring to destroy amusement parks (despite what some posters would have you believe).

And I gotta say that while I can understand passion and really backing your hobbies (I was pretty stressed for a while by the fact that the Pens might leave Pittsburgh even though I could somewhat understand the business and economic reasons behind it) if it's bleeding over into you losing sleep over it, dude, you're WAY too invested; you're going to give yourself a heart attack. You picked something that's got entirely too many outside factors (like business, economy, investors, etc.) that from the outset are mounted firmly against the continuation of your hobby to be invested that much in it! Passion's OK. Caring about something is fine. Carry On. But when it seems to just cause you constant grief, how is that enjoyable?

Its a sad day

But when all is said and done, why did THIS particular park close, when Michigan's Adventure had lower attendance than GL, and World's of Fun is only about 200,000 higher. Is it the local economy, or the fact that there are other parks so close to it? Was it that removing the rides, animals, etc. and removing more rides to stop the bleeding was just making things worse?

I'm in California, but did make it there twice. I thought it was a nice park, but was pretty dead both times I went, as was the hotel.

I moved to Ohio with my family in 1978 from Texas, where I worked at Six Flags over Texas. I got a job with Sea World of Ohio in 1978 and became a full time Security employee in 1979. I became Assistant Manager of Security in 1990. In 2001, Sea World was sold to Six Flags. I was Assistant Manager of the non-deputy Security employees under Six Flags.

On March 10, 2004 all employees were summoned to a meeting at the then Six Flags hotel, where Kieran Burke of Six Flags announced that day we were sold to Cedar Fair. I was there when an employee of Animal Care asked Dick Kinzel what about the animals and was told "Cedar Fair does not do animals". Contrary to what many think, Six Flags would have sold the animals to Cedar Fair. However, once told that Cedar Fair did not want the animals, Six Flags had to find homes for them.

We interviewed for our jobs, but even then I told my wife I was worried since they were not adding on like Six Flags, but taking away a side of the park. On April 1, 2004 my fears became true and my 25 year career at Sea World/Six Flags of Ohio came to an end, along with careers of many of my fellow employees.

No reason was given, and we stayed on another 6 weeks while Six Flags found homes for the animals. Others stayed longer. I received a very generous severance from Six Flags which honored my years of service at that park.

I managed to find a better job in Security, but still missed the excitement and fun of working at an amusement park.

So today another small part of history is ended. The park where I met my wife, where I spend a quarter of a century is gone, replaced with just another water park.

Do I blame Cedar Fair? Absolutely! I believe their arrogance and belief that they knew better destroyed a park that survived two world wars and the great depresssion. You may think otherwise, but pause and think about what happened today. Did Six Flags make mistakes? Yep, they sure did. Yet to say Six Flags killed the park with their bad service and mistakes ignores the years that same bad service was given at Geauga Lake when Six Flags was not involved. And it completely ignores the blunder after blunder that Cedar Fair has made the last 4 years. If they are the wondeful park management with the golden touch, why did Geauga Lake rides close today? Maybe the truth that we all knew all along, that without the animals that park could not survive, was true. If you do not think so, ask yourself why the park closed today. Remember, I was there for it ALL, in a management position. So if you think you know what happened, and were not there, then maybe listen to the opinion of someone who was. Anyway, while I think Cedar Fair has reaped what they sowed, I still feel for the remaining employees who will now go through the same feelings and hard times that many of us went through 4 years ago.

Today a sadness has come with the news that the ride side is closed. A piece of history is no more. A place that once meant so much to myself and many others has become another memory, soon to fade and become lakefront condos or shopping. Maybe they will leave a sign like they did with Euclid Beach.

I choose to remember the summer nights of fireworks, Shamu, excitment and happy faces of the park visitors who were able to enjoy the magic of the park in all of it's incarnations.

RIP Sea World of Ohio and Geauga Lake, as we knew and loved them.

I honestly was saddened more by the loss of the Texas Cyclone at SFAW than this, this is defiantly a financial move, its just plain big business. But this might be like SFAW closing where all of its good rides are sent around the chain, my view is that Headspin is going to MIA. What does everyone else think.

roadkill: good to see you bro! (albiet under unfortunate circumstances).

Full disclosure: I didnt grow up with the park, dont live in the greater Cleveland area and still do not know the *proper* pronunciation of "Geauga" (nor do I care).

However, I'm not happy about this at all. I'm not quite "sad", but I have more than a feeling of indifference. Sitting here in my underwear, with Cheeto-dust encrusted fingers (not literally, a throwback for the old schoolers), it seems like a wet/dry park *shoudl* be able to work there. I never understood why they moved the Waterpark after SFI had *just* re-done the whole thing. Perhaps there is more zoning/tax stuff that I'm not aware of, but it seems like there should have been a market for a waterpark with rides sprinkled therein.

Losing Big Dicker (hi POSSE members), Le Villian (hiya Refresheads), and to a lesser extent Raging Wolf Kabobs, feels like a pointless loss to me. Yes, of course, in the grand scheme of the world, this doesnt mean Jack Schitt, but I think that these boards are *precisely* where this type of "mourning" (for lack of a better term) is best expressed.

It actually, to me, seems *worse* that the park remains as a waterpark than if the whole venture was shuttered. Admittedly, I know less than nothing about how much the place/rides costs to operate, but it seems like CF believes that there is a market for amusement. Why would they not continue to offer a varied selection as opposed to got standalone waterpark? It just feels so wasteful!

Whatever! I wont go to the point of saying I'll refrain from CF parks, 'cause the truth is, I dont visit them very often anyway. Hell, I think the last CF park was Dorney in 2002...and I'm not sure that since that time I've even been to any of the former-Paramount Parks. So a boycott threat from me would be hollow at best ;).

lata, jeremy
--"Turn and face the world, ch-ch-changes..." David Bowie

I insisted before this announcement that CF would right-size the park.

I was wrong. DAMN WRONG.

Long live Six Flags Ohio. It was a really nice park before CF came and effed it up. I had a great time when I was there. That would include the perfectly good, new wavepool they replaced for who knows the reason...

-CO

F**K cedar fair. Six Flags Great America and Kennywood will be getting my money from now on. I will proudly give Cedar Point the one finger salute as I drive by as well. This company turned a park visted by millions, to a dump in a matter of a few years. And their horrible excuses about ride removals and a delayed water park expansion were bull. As everyone knows, parks have multi-year plans. The X-Flight and Steel Venom removals were not to "balance the park" but to simply get them out before the bulldozers. And by not telling people the true reason and by not letting people know that this would be the last season for the rides is just simply unacceptable. I have lost all faith in Cedar Fair. From the 2.75 waters to the $15 meals to the complete disgust with what they have made of Geauga Lake, I do not plan on ever returning to a Cedar Fair park. Good luck Kings Island, I'm sure your days are numbered as well, afterall, the attendance spiral has already begun as well as the lies and positive spin on the true reasons. Also, I cannot wait for the day Cedar Fair collapses and Six Flags buys Cedar Point. That will be the day I ever step foot onto the Cedar Point Peninsula ever again. I also must say that Six Flags Magic Mountain in 2003 provided me with better thrills and better customer service that Cedar Point did this year. There after all is a reason I bought a season pass and only went twice to Cedar Point.
*** This post was edited by Goliath Freak 9/22/2007 12:29:23 AM ***

Out of curiosity...is anybody out there happy about this?

It seems there is a lot of arguing out there, even a Bush caused Katrina reference...just a lot of anger...much irrational and misplaced in my opinion. I know I'm pissed. I'm a wood coaster guy...

I also understand the business aspect...

Are you allowed to be pissed AND understand the economics of it? Or do we need to take sides and fight? ;)

Typical big business now of days...buy any threats and eliminate it.

I just want to say that I am sad to see Geauga Lake go. I love the park, or so I did. Not as the Six Flags that it was (I Hated SFWOA) but as what CF had made it. However I do realize that business is business and as long as I purchase a season pass like many of us in Ohio will I can still ride the rides Geauga Lake had but yet in a different atmosphere, also it will give me even more reason to travel to other parks in the near future that may not be 3 hours away and experience new things and places that I have yet to experience. So while yeah we may hurt, or be confused as to what Cedar Fair has done to our park, look at it this way it gives us reason to go to other places in this great country with our families or significant others and enjoy things from Geauga Lake as well as the parks that absorb what was once our park in Northern Ohio. Its not the end of the world for Geauga Lake or for us, its a new chapter and I for one welcome the change. What the local community and outsiders brought in wasn't simply enough to appreciate the Gem we had, but the amusement and thrill tradition still lives on only in the liquid kind of way(which many find satisfying LOL). Also for all the Cedar Point bashers understand Cedar Fairs standpoint, they were there to try and save the park from becoming Astroworld or SFNO, they saw potential and invested, their investments didn't turn out as expected and they have adjusted to become profitable so it wasn't to ruin Cedar Points competition but to maybe capitalize on the idea of having a sister park so close, at least thats what I think. Don't be so harsh on Kinzel or Cedar Fair. Many of you will return next year, maybe a little bitter but you will be there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvkvsXm1oe8

That about sums it up.

I posted this on PB, but I'd like to stick it here as well... just because I feel the need to speak about things (despite my near-zero post count, ha ha...)

Wow. I'm glad I pushed for a visit this season (I hadn't been in probably five or six years.)

While I wouldn't say GL was my *favorite* park, it is the park I grew up with. My parents' house is about 45 minutes away from it, and although I looked up directions, I still knew the way almost by heart.

I agree with the above posts -- I "knew" it would be my last ride on Batman and Serial Thriller (all right all right... Dominator and Thunderhawk) but my last time to the park ever? I figured it would at least have a few more seasons. THAT is the only place where I truly fault Cedar Fair... Based on the state of the park and the timing of this announcement, I'm sure they've known for a while (whether it be two weeks or two months... I'm certain the decision wasn't made in the last four days...) Really, they couldn't have let people know ahead of time, so that they could get their last rides in, their last true GL memories made? Makes me wish I'd taken one more spin on the Dipper, bruises on my legs be damned... I have a sad, sorry feeling that ride's destined for kindling. (The managment rides I read about somewhere kind of confirm that for me.) Wish they'd be able to move it to the other side, though.

You know... I have this struggle -- maybe it sounds ridiculous, but whatever -- with wanting to send CF a message that I'm displeased, and knowing that the best way to do it is not patronize their chain. But dangit I live in Columbus, so I have KI 2 hours one direction, and CP 2 hours the other, so... yeah. Platinum Pass here I come. I may send them a letter of disappointment though.

(FTR... I understand you don't keep a park if it's not turning a profit. BUT... I still feel like there could've been at least one more season of trying, of that 'right size' thing that keeps getting thrown around. And selfishly, I'm hung up on, 'what do you MEAN no more Geauga Lake?' And... WWK side is *not* GL. It just doesn't "feel" the same. It IS nice, and I liked it a lot, but it's not GL.)

Anyways... long and rambly... but my roommate doesn't really give a crap so I may as well whine/fuss where there's people who understand... at least to a degree.

Not the biggest park, not the best park, not my favorite park, but still special to me... it will be missed.

If anything, it's nice to see such an outpouring of emotion regarding this news. Aside from a few people, no one seems all that happy about this. Even more refreshing is the realization that Cedar Fair did not do anything to save the park. It's obvious no effort was made to right the ship- Cedar Fair's true intentions are now exposed for all to see. Geauga Lake was competition for Cedar Point and they wanted it gone- it's as simple as that. It's a shame the myth that CP's survival would hinge upon the death of GL was created, and it's an even bigger shame that the company decided to act on that. I see no reason why the area could not have supported both properties. The two co-existed fine with one another for what?- more than a century?

Just wondering...

Has CF added any new rides since they owned Geauga Lake?

It's amazing how many big corporate amusement park companies have had a part in this property.

Premier, Six Flags, Anheiser Busch, and Cedar Fair.

As others have said, I still don't understand why they can't make the waterpark side a mixed use dry and water rides. Obviously less dry then water but it would help keep attendance higher. So will the theatres on the waterpark side get shut down also? What about the flat rides that are already on the waterpark side? Those going bye-bye too?

CF should have announced this just like SF did with SFAW. People that liked SFAW and had memories of it got to visit the park throughout the whole month of October for a last visit.

This has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but that's never stopped me before.

Anyway, is it just me, or is the time stamping of posts on this thread gone haywire? According to what I see, the posts were made starting on the 18th-- 3 days before the thread was created. And the times keep shifting. This is the only thread I've noticed it happening in.

OK, back to your regularly scheduled anger.

Another blunder by CF..they should have announced the closing.

Not only to give people one last time to visit,they would have made a ton of money from the many people who would have come for that one last ride.

For all you Geauga Lake fans I can feel your pain,I know how I felt when West View closed(unannounced). :(

*** This post was edited by Ex_Westview and KW_worker 9/22/2007 12:33:59 AM ***

RGB, I've noticed that on several of the news topics lately.