Geauga Lake 2005: Midnight, Tonight!

Keep this in mind for those of you who would travel to Geauga over Kennywood....With the price increases in gas you'll probably spend that $10 that Geauga knocked off the gate price. Not that im tryin to deter anyone from either park, just somethin to think about is all.

^ And don't forget the $9 parking fee! ;)

Ray P.

But you are still saving money since they knocked that $10 off.

Im Pissed!
This is not the annoucement I have been waiting for.
a BIG dissapointment

I would think that an announcement showing that the park has a viable business plan that will probably keep it open for more than another year would be an announcement worth waiting for.

Would you have rather seen "Hyper-giga-mega-strata-happy coaster this year!" and then "Park closed forever!" next year?

I think its a very good move for the park the more and more I thought about it. They are doing alot to bring back people, and alot of people ive talked to say they are going to come in 05'... I give the annoucement 4 out of 5.

LOL, I think they should have chosen a different tagline to hype the announcement.

Now, the question remains; Should they move the boadwalk for a third time back over to the other side of the lake? Since the waterpark is now temp. going to be split? Now if they move the boadwalk back over it would at least connect the two halves. But then again, juging from the renderings, I don't think phase 1 will go all the way to the Pearl Diving building. Interesting...

yawn..waterpark

I am floored that everyone is not more excited about this announcement. I think it's a brilliant strategy and one that adds a new dimension to the park.

-M.

The only people not excited about this announcement are those who do not understand what this could potentially do for the park. Imagine if the new waterpark was so successful that it brought in enough revenue to pay for a slew of new rides?

mOOSH

Some number info from the Cedar Fair press release:

The water park will cost $24 million total, the 2005 portion will cost $16 million.

Total money spent at the park in 2005 is $18 million.

I'm assuming that the release on Geauga's site that uses the $26 million figure is adding the total cost of Wildwater over the two years and the extra $2 million that is being spent in '05.

So .. they said that there was $34 million for CP, GL, and WoF for 2005, that leaves $16 for CP and WoF.

How much does a Camping Village cost?

Thinking CP is adding something larger than I figured,

Mike

I too am confused as to why more people aren't happy about this announcement. I am far from being a waterpark fan since I don't swim...but in my eyes, everything about the announcement was a great move by the park. Slashing admission prices to $19.95 in May and $24.95 the rest of the summer is simply unheard of for a park that offers as much as GL & WWK does.

Think about that for a minute. Waldameer Park in Erie charges $18 for admission to the amusement park and water park. There are 2 coasters there (3 if you count the kiddie coaster) and roughly 20 rides overall. For $6 more (only $2 more during May), depending on how you count, you get 7 or 8 additional coasters, a brand spankin' new waterpark, and a nice selection of family attractions like the new 4-D attractions, the ski show (if it stays), three water rides, and more. If this doesn't bring in more people, I really don't know what will.

The picnic groves by the lake are another huge plus. Picnics were always a big hit at GL and having new pavilions by the lake just makes the whole picnic in the park concept even more appealing.

The Thriller Bees and Starfish are back. That's 2 more flats and both of them are a lot of fun.

They're rehabbing RWB and Villain. At least they are getting the care and attention they deserve.

And Good Grief, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang are coming to GL & WWK. I have to say I was a bit disappointed that Geauga Dog and the Fun Bunch weren't returning, but if you ask a kid on the street who they'd rather shake hands with- Geauga Dog or Snoopy, I think most kids would answer the latter. This also fills a void that I believe was sorely lacking at the park in 2004. Many guests seemed to miss some sort of "costumed characters" roaming the midways, which is why I believe the Halloween Haunt monsters were such a success.

OK- enough ranting from a local GL fanboy. I for one am happy and more than satisfied by this announcement and look forward to a great 2005 season at Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom.

Ray P. (who despite what he said earlier about waterparks, really wants to try the ProSlide Tornado!)

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FLYINGSCOOTER said:
northern Ohio, WaterPark capital: OF THE WORLD!
Dover lake, pioneer, GW CP, GL plus that other one they're putting in sandusky...
did i miss any?

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I think Wisconsin Dells still easily retains the title of Water Park Capital of the World.

-Nate

I think this is a good move for Geauga Lake. After 2006 after they have built all of Wildwater Kingdom, 2007 is the year there will probably be a new ride or coaster. I see this as them wanting more people to visit and get guest that come back year after year. By 2007 there attendence will be higher and there will be a better reson to put in an new ride.

-Jacob

By doing what they are doing, they are totally unifying the park. Up until this change, the park always seemed like two seperate parks just haphazardly joined together. When this expansion is done, the park will look and feel like one large united park and will set the foundation for future additions. I see the waterpark as Cedar Fairs way of improveing the overall "framework" of the park. Once that's done, everything will fall into place as to where it needs to be. It's like several years ago when they completly redid the midway into Dorney Park. *** Edited 11/11/2004 6:40:06 AM UTC by Coaster Lover***

I completely agree with what Coaster Lover just said. Splitting the rides side and the water side is an excellent move and will allow for things to make more sense with regards to the flow of the park.

I just have to ask when Cedar Fair became Cedar Point. ;)

Oops, mistake fixed...but the way Cedar Point leads the company, it might as well be called that...

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MHammer82 said:

Thinking CP is adding something larger than I figured,

Mike

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I wouldnt doubt CP is adding something big but, wouldn't you think they would have announced it already? I'm thinking since the addition of Castaway Bay they might not add another ride this year. Although, if my calculations are correct this should be the year for another coaster.

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Mamoosh said:
The only people not excited about this announcement are those who do not understand what this could potentially do for the park.

mOOSH

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While I for one applaud the move by Cedar Fair, I wanted to make two comments about this.

1. I don't think consumers (which is what most of us here are), necessarily need to look at things from a business standpoint. If McDonalds stops selling things super-sized because it is good PR and better for business, I'm still going to miss super-sized items. I could care less if some day it means they will bring us better buns.

2. How many times in the last ten years have Geauga Lake locals been told that a move could bring great potential to the park? When Premier bought the park from Funtime. When Premier branded it a Six Flags. When they bought Sea World. When they brought in Shouka. When Cedar Fair bought the park. When Cedar Fair moved the waterpark. I can understand someone being pretty sick of the "look at the potential" comments about this park.

Like I mentioned above, I don't really agree with what I just said (particularly number 2), but I can understand why someone not into waterparks would be disappointed today.

- Jeff