Geauga Lake carousel moving to Worlds of Fun for 2011

Cool! I was wondering what happened to this thing. I could have sworn I heard immediately after GL Closed that the carousel was headed to Worlds of Fun.

It's great to see that the carousel will be living on and not peiced out in an auction. I wish it could have been installed in the water park though. I can't wait to see it, the Mansfield company does great work.

Acoustic Viscosity said:
I could have sworn I heard immediately after GL Closed that the carousel was headed to Worlds of Fun.

Knew it sounded like this wasn't coming "out of left field". Then again, say something sensible long enough and sometimes someone important will listen.

Seriously though Matt, that thing masquerading as a carousel at WoF didn't properly represent a park with a ride like Prowler in its arsenal. The GL carousel, which I've ridden on a couple of occasions, is quite the spectacular ride. Big, big win for WoF! :)

pointperson said:
I wish it could have been installed in the water park though.

I don't get that... why would anyone at a waterpark, in a swimsuit, want to ride a merry go round?

Finally, some good news to come out of the whole Geauga Lake drama.

After all the buzz around the Big Dipper, it's nice to see another ride saved.

Can I click "Like" on this post?

I know there is one at Six Flags New England, but doesn't the Columbus Zoo also have an Illions carousel?

Cool. Are any other major rides not accounted for?

Yes the carousel at the Columbus Zoo is a 1914 Mangels-Illions. It came from Olentangy Park that was just north of the University.
My dad grew up in this area and has ridden a few of the coasters that were there. He also talks about seeing many of the greats of the big band era playing there like Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Miller.

My wife's former doctor is the grandson (or great grandson) of Illions. His office was adorned with carousel memorabilia and we had a nice coversation about the carousel his grandfather built and I had a chance to operate on many occasions. It is a very nice carousel and I'm glad it found a home.

Pointperson just gave me a fabulous idea! They could install it in the waterpark, add water effects, and call it a "water carousel"! People in the queue could have water guns to spray people as they gallop by. Riders could spray their friends riding next to them. Grabbing the brass ring allows your horse to throw up a huge pile of cold water all over the people waiting in line!

I think it's great that the carousel is being rescued!

Rick_UK said:
Cool. Are any other major rides not accounted for?

I don't think the bumper cars or Merry Oldies were ever accounted for. But, in all likelyhood they were probably used as parts for other Parks.

The only other ride on site (besides Dipper) that still has an unknown outcome is the Sky Coaster. It has changed hands at least once since it was auctioned.

Bobs is still there but has been completely stripped of anything of value, is still damaged from the final season. Plus a section was removed and donated to the Geauga County Historical Society.

But even discounting those problems, I suspect Bobs wouldn't be salvageable anyway. From all the pics and its appearance from drive-bys, I just don't know if there is any way it could be saved. There are trees growing through the track now, warped timbers, probably a good bit of mold and rot too by this point.

kpjb said:
I don't get that... why would anyone at a waterpark, in a swimsuit, want to ride a merry go round?

I was just thinking along the lines of zoos and malls that have them. I have also been to waterparks that have some dry activities to do also. You do bring up a good point about wet swimsuits and wood don't really mix, but how much does Little Tikes and cornhole?

Geauga had one of the top five bumper car rides in the US...shame to lose that - "parting out" isn't exactly the same thing, IMO.

No mention made of the band organ. It's a Stinson Model 87 behind the original Illions facade. It was playing as I recall when the machine was pulled down.

And will probably be replaced with a CD player...

~Rob

I hate it when that happens, Rob. :(

So does this mean Worlds of Fun is going to have something that looks like a proper entry? I've always thought that coming in through the main entrance at Worlds of Fun kind of feels like you're sneaking in through the employee gate...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.