Geauga Lake----Why bother?

Well since 95% of Pittsburghers don't even know the animals are gone, I'd say they'll still get a sizable chunk of their visitors from last year ... they haven't exactly advertised around here (that I've seen)

Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo all have *excellent* zoos. If you want to see animals, you can do it for a lot cheaper at those places, and you can see a lot more variety, too. And you can get season passes to zoos as well.

/spent about one hour on the Wildlife side and hated every minute of it.

I admit that I was HIGHLY skeptical about Cedar Fair buying Geauga Lake. I do mean Highly. I knew that I would always be skeptical about it unless I took a visit up there. That is what I did this past Saturday, I took a trip to the park. It may or may not be a good picture as to how the park will be in the near future, but it did give me a little peace of mind. The main thing was that the park was clean. I felt a little safer too with all of the security around. That means more to me than most anything.

I loved the animals there. Most of the times I went up (about 10 times a year) I spent about ¾ of my time on the animals’ side. I preferred it to the rides side. It was less crowded, it seemed cleaner and it had way better restaurants to eat at. I’m an animal lover. Animals of all sizes and species, I love them all. I love them so much that I am happy that they have been moved to a park that can better accommodate them. Shouka has a bigger tank and I’m sure the other animals will Love the weather out there better (Ohio winters are brutal!).

Cedar Fair said that they don’t have the expertise to run an animal park and I believe that. I would hate for them to have taken the animals in the sale and then not be able to care for them properly and as a result, have the animals suffer in poor conditions and die. Even one death is too many. Six Flags realized that they just couldn’t afford to care for the animals in the off-season. They don’t stop eating just because no one is there to see them. There was no way to keep money flowing in enough abundance to keep the animals during the winter.

If you don't want to go to the park, fine don't go, but don't sit there on your ass complaining about something you can't control. If you want the animals back, then YOU pay for their housing, food, medical care and workers.

This is my opinion and it isn’t meant to offend anyone.

Brett: Blockbusters in Allegheney county are selling $18 KW Ride all days until June 15, valid any day before July 1, and weekdays thereafter.

Brett Look on Kennywood.com it's big as day $18.

You're an enthusist. I'm talking about families. For a family of 4 their is a big difference. By the time you add in the gas, tolls, parking, and gate your talking about more than enough to pay for lunch and dinner at the park. Also, don't forget the difference in travel time.

You make a good point about 95% of the people not knowing about the change. I hope not too many people drive up expecting what they got last year.

Sara. I'm not sitting on my ass complaining, I'm having a conversation. *** Edited 5/4/2004 2:11:42 PM UTC by jimster03***

wildlife fan said:
The animals...y were such a draw,

Not enough to stay in business.

wildlife fan said:
What a joke they listen to customers. IF it suits their wallets it does.

Of course they listen. Customers vote with their wallets and although it was not unanimous, the people have spoken. *** Edited 5/4/2004 2:42:13 PM UTC by RavenTTD***

If the wildlife was the only reason for a family to go to an amusement park, then why does a park like Kings Island continue to attempt to add family friendly attractions in their kiddy land and in their waterpark?

I do believe people have been spoiled rotten by getting two parks that formerly had separate admission prices become one single admission price. As bitter of a pill it may be to swallow, parks with wildlife as their sole or primary focus have slowly had to turn to amusement rides.

Geauga Lake existed as a park long before Funtime took over and from a visit last year, has a pretty solid foundation in place with its rides and waterpark. Add in the potential expansion room on the old wildlife side with a management group that knows how to operate its CORE business and the park will turn out fine. A park with 100 years of history should not be swept under the curb because a 3 year experiment was not continued by new owners.

Amusement park history is dotted with failed attempts of parks trying be more than they should be. Geauga Lake is wisely returning to its foundation instead of continuing to spread itself thin.

I'd like to know how many of you that are upset about the animals went to Sea World? Or, did you just discover the animals when the two parks were combined? The Sea World side lost many of their regular visitors when Six Flags bought the property. They just didn't buy into SFWoA.

Combining the two parks was the kiss of death for Six Flags. Cedar Fair isn't that stupid to continue with that doomed plan. If CF would have kept the animals, they would have had to have two gates again. If Sea World couldn't make it work, with the brand recognition they have in marine parks, I doubt anyone could make it work.

I've heard rumors where SFWoA wouldn't have opened this summer if the sale hadn't been made. I don't know how reliable those rumors were, but it wouldn't have surprised me.

$35 dollars for a park with 10 coasters and a water park is one hell of a value. And the season passes for $59 dollars are even more of a value. Geauga Lake has much more to offer than Kennywood. Though I like Kennywood, it's not in the same class.

It doesn't really matter how many people from Pittsburgh come to Geauga Lake. The local area has plenty of people within 30 to 45 min. of the park to make it a big success. I bet CF would rather have all you Pittsburgh people come to Cedar Point anyway, and stay a few days.

Personally, I'm happy to now have a high quality amusement park 20 min. away from home. It's fun to take a few rides on Villain and enjoy being in a park when I don't have the time to go to CP.

Sea World, I know for a fact, certainly didn't lose any money. They just couldn't pass up 110 mill. in cash from Six Flags. And, by the way, most of their other parks are seasonal.

Also, the animal side was doomed under Six Flags when they closed all exhibits 5 hours before closing leaving many guests disappointed. Sea World brought in the most revenue from 8p-closing, and Six Flags, to "save money" closed everything down. HOw can you earn money when you don't provide the opportunity? They wouldn't evne let the staff have a night whale show which Sea World had to do 2 a night sometimes to accomodate. There's your revenue.

My point is is that if they had looked at what worked and listened to the former Sea World experts, they wouldn't have gotten in so much financial trouble. My issue is that if you combine the expert animal staff with the management expertise of CF, I feel it could have been profitable for everyone. I just wish they had given it a chance.

I know it's like beating a dead horse, but I appreciate your patience as I work through my sadness (I know, wha, wha, but I'll get there!) and am glad I have the chance to do it. Thanks for all the input and patience everyone!

Personally, I will not miss the wildlife side one bit. Never did a thing for me.

Of course I also do not necessarily agree with caging and training animals to do tricks for the unnecessary enjoyment of humans either. I don't take some huge stance against it, it just seems sad to me.

Unless the animals are caged for preservation or conservation purposes. And unless they are there for scientific study, and properly taken care of, then I say loose them.

Obviously CF knew that they could not maintain the animals in the way they required and produce a profit as well. So they opted to not utilize that aspect. I think it was wise.

Shaggy

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wildlife fan said:
Sea World, I know for a fact, certainly didn't lose any money. They just couldn't pass up 110 mill. in cash from Six Flags. And, by the way, most of their other parks are seasonal.

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What other Sea World parks are seasonal? San Diego, Florida, Texas?

It's not about losing or making money. It's about how much you make vs. how much you invest. Heck, even WoA turned a profit last year---just not a large enough profit to justify the capital invested.

Back in 1991, my family went to Sea World - Aurora as well as Geauga Lake. I remember a couple of things about Sea World there:

1) It was next-to-empty. It was summertime and there were a handful of people in the park.

2) The Shamu show was NOTHING compared to what it was in Florida.

Not a lot to go on. ;) I just remember being disappointed in that park as compared to the Florida one. When it was under SF's direction, I went back twice. Comments?

1) The food venues were DISGUSTING. Dirty and there was little appetizing to eat. Not cool.

2) Animal shows were all scheduled in such a way that you couldn't see them all, rather than timed to see multiple shows in a day.

3) It was 100% annoying to have to either wait 1.5 hrs (no joke) for the ferry across the lake or to walk all the way back around the wildlife side to get back into the rides area. That was awful.

Overall... I don't know. There's no animals at Cedar Point and people still go. No animals at MiA and people still go there. Oh wait... no animals at SFGAM are there? And people go there...

Just my $.02.

So...the bottom line is that no body from Pittsburgh is going to Gl because there aren't any more animals, which pretty much spells doom for the whole place. Is it time for a taer it down post yet? ;)

I'll let someone else have the chance.

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wildlife fan said:
Sea World, I know for a fact, certainly didn't lose any money.

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But that still dosen't mean they were making money, and that is what a buisness is supposed to do. If all you ever do is break even and not make a profit, there is no point in keeping the business.

I've never been to SFWoA. This year was to be my first visit. Am I sad that there won't be any animals there? No. I'm an animal lover(4 dogs, 3 cats), but I'm going there first and formost for the coasters, personally, so I'd have only walked over to that side just to see what its like, and to possibly eat.

What I hear most is that "Wah, my home park/park thats close dosen't have what it used to, and thats not fair!". You think them losing the wildlife side isn't fair? Try living at least 4 hours from the nearest theme park. try living in a state where there is only 1 amusment park(which I haven't had the chance to visit in over a decade cause its too far to justify going. Then maybe I'll feel sympathy for ya.

I don't know why... maybe because I haven't visited Geauga Lake prior to 2001...

...but why is the vast majority of peeps standing up for Cedar Fair and saying that this was their best financial decision to close the wild-life side, and say to just go visit the Cleveland Zoo instead?

When I visited in 2001 for the first time, I was totally blown away at all that there is to do. If it was just the wild-rides side, I would have been somewhat satisfied, but it was just the amusement park...
With with wild-life side, there opened up a whole slew of other activities including the Pirates 4D theater, the Bermuda Triangle thing, the Shark Exhibit, the Reptile exhibit, the Sting Ray, the Penguins, the Aquarium.... damn, the list goes on & on.

It was something to do to take a break instead of riding rides & standing in line all day long. It really set this park apart from the others that I've been to. There was so much to do... it's just ashame that Six Flags didn't handle it better.

It made the 3hr drive from Buffalo well worth it since it was something that could be done in one day... and still left me wanting more. If I had kids, I think that they would have got a kick out of the Loony Tunes area, with the giant characters & all...

...but the thing that REALLY really irritates me? Now that Cedar Fair has taken over... is how they are restricting adults from going into the nets & tubes thing on the wild-life side.
...what fun is that, if the adults can't have fun in that too? That was a blast, and if I take my nephew to Geauga lake... what fun is it for him to be climbing around if he doesn't have anyone to climb with?

**sigh**
I hope Cedar Fair knows what its doing.
Because I'd really love to attend there again.

Is it just me or does it seem suspicious that wildfire fan has not returned to this thread to defend his/herself? Perhaps this person was just looking to start an argument?

We all grew up with Sea World, and that was the standard we were used to. I can assure you that after Six Flags bought the park, it was not Sea World. Not even close.

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wildlife fan said:
Sea World, I know for a fact, certainly didn't lose any money. They just couldn't pass up 110 mill. in cash from Six Flags. And, by the way, most of their other parks are seasonal.

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I'm sure they weren't losing money, but I'm also sure the margin was not what the company expected from its parks. Heck, a lot of people would suggest that in the Busch corporate culture, the parks are just a nice thing to do as a good corporation, especially in the context of its conservation efforts. Compared to selling beer, the parks I doubt are rolling in cash that boosts the bottom line to record levels.

It is just you, Moosh. ;) He was the second to last post on the first page. I think he is just disappointed and is starting to calm down.

On that note, is there a better diversified company out there? I mean seriously, who wouldn't want to work for a place that makes beer and pretzels, owns a hockey team (or at least used to) and buys roller coasters ;)