Geauga Lake History?

Ok, How did Geauga Lake get started? Then how did Funtime, Premier Parks, Sea Worlds and Six Flags come into the picture?
Thanks!

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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!

http://www.woodencoaster.com

Oh John Peck, where are you?? (Roommates are never around when needed!!)
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Scale model coasters and rides.....
www.angelfire.com/oh4/tk173

Geuga Lake--- Family Owned
Geuga Lake--- Purchased by Funtime INC.
Geuga Lake--- Changes hands from funtime to Premire Parks.
Geuga Lake---Premire Parks buys out Six Flags.
Six Flags Ohio---Premire/Flags transforms park to a SF park.
Six Flags Ohio--- Premire/Flags buys Sea World for $110 million
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure--- Premire/Flags combines SFO and SWO to create a 750 acre "mega park."


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Jes
Webmaster, Jes's Roller Coasters
http://www.jesms.cjb.net

Thanks G!
This is my overall question; how could Premier basically throw away the history of all their amusement parks just like that?

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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!

http://www.woodencoaster.com

No, the history is still there, just not the name. The park formerly known as Geauga Lake was opened in 1888. It was a classic trolley park, having the first rides in the area, like the first u-drive-em cars, the Dipper was the longest coaster for a few seasons, etc. They had a giant swimming pool, that gave them the upper hand for really hot days.

They were in friendly competition with Euclid Beach and Idora for the massive company picnics. There plenty of factories and mills in the whole area. The difference, Euclid Beach and Idora both were built in less than desirable areas, while the confines of Solon and Aurora did not have public housing.

When Euclid Beach closed, Geauga Lake began a steady growth pattern. The Board created a sub company ,ie. Funtime, LP, and purchased Wyandot Lake, which was in the financial poorhouse. It is now a great addition to the neighboring zoo. We in the industry think it will become a Hurricane Harbor some day, and still keep its dry rides.

Darien Lake came about from a management contract. The folks who built DL wanted rides to keep the camping area full, but found out that it takes insurance, parts, etc., to maintain them. Geauga Lake stepped in, moved and bought some rides, and well, the were involved in a cash cow that allowed expansions at all 3 parks. Funtime believed in the free waterpark policy, to compbat Cedar Point's Soak City, all for the reason of selling groups.

Those guys at Funtime were not idiots, as they allowed Sea World to come to town, which pretty much gave them the ability to market to families, when Cedar Point was blindsiding them with new rides every year. They actually worked within their means, had little debt, and welcomed the merger with Premier when the deal came. *** This post was edited by Agent Johnson on 6/29/2001. ***

Funtime sold the land to Sea World under an agreement that Sea Wolrd wouldn't build thrill rides, and Geuaga Lake wouldn't open animal atractions.

Everything was fine and hunky-dory until Sea Wolrd figured out, hey, we can make roller coasters (The Great White, Steel Eel)and people will still come into the park with families! Other Sea Worlds started getting mechanical rides, but SWO never got anything (Except for the addition of Mission: Bermuda Triangle in 2000).

Eventually, Sea World decided they could no longer be competitive without rides and roller coasters, so they sold the property to Premire/Flags.

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Jes
Webmaster, Jes's Roller Coasters
http://www.jesms.cjb.net

Geauga Lake was a good place to get away and drink during prohibition. Lots of people "enjoyed" much more than the rides.