Geauga Lake's Wild Water Kingdom... Closing?

I was there yesterday and the guy at the photo station said there's no reason they shouldn't open next year. From my anecdotal observation yesterday, there was around 15 minute waits for some slides and this was on a weekday with the possibility of rain in the forecast. I'd say the park isn't going anywhere for a while. I would think it's still profitable for the company.

I agree that the place likely won't be around "forever" like the rest of the properties. My guess is that they aren't necessarily actively preparing for a shutdown like they were during the 2007 season with the ride side, but if and when they may be able to get an offer for that land - and it's an offer they can't refuse - they wouldn't think twice about selling and having some new slides for other parks.

I doubt there will be any offers for the land itself since they're having so much trouble unloading what they already have across the lake. If the park is making a profit I would imagine they would keep it open.

Emily24 (In the Michigans Adventure Thread) said:

What an exciting time to be alive! As Cedar Fair makes it's announcements for it's improvements to it's parks for 2017, I can't help but wonder what new attraction is coming for Wild Water Kingdom next year!

I can only imagine the exciting possibilities we could expect. Perhaps a new entrance gate and parking area for "Geauga Lake Shores"? Maybe even a Campground or Small Hotel on property?

Can't wait for the announcement for 2017! Any day now.....

^ If those things are not coming to Wildwater Kingdom it's because they don't expect they can get a decent return on their investment there. People don't book multi-day family vacations Aurora like they do the Sandusky area.

Cedar Fair just announced today that Wildwater Kingdom won't be reopening next year.

https://www.wildwaterfun.com/media-center/wildwater-kingdom-update

On a related subject, I hear Dorney will be getting a new wave pool next year....

I am actually surprised it's really happening this time. We don't go often because the drive is a bit of a pain but when we've been there they seem to be doing OK business. I suppose now the question is by redevelopment do they have a buyer for the land already for a different purpose or is it possible the park could be sold and reopened under different management? Or are they going to rip everything up into a big mess and let it sit for years on end?

Based on the previous model of Geauga Lake's redevelopment, I think it's safe to say it will be option #3.

My observation of this one suggests to me that while closing Geauga Lake was always a contingency, I don't think Cedar Fair was planning to close it after this season.

Perhaps most obvious is the fact that Cedar Point Shores is not getting a ProSlide Tornado next year. They cleared out a perfect spot for it, then...opted to do something else. Like they're keeping it in mind, but for now they still need that thing at Geauga.

I made my first and only visit to Wild Water Kingdom last weekend. What I saw has validated my mostly-unsubstantiated opinion that the closure of Wild Water Kingdom was a very recent decision, not entirely unlike the decision to remove the WildCat from Cedar Point a few years ago. I suspect that the park was "making its nut" in terms of attendance and total revenue, but that its continued existence is holding up a real estate deal.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Yep, that's still my hypothesis too. They haven't been able to sell the GL side for 8+ years, and even after being willing to split a parcel all they got was Meijer. Now they can finally rid themselves of the abandoned property, fill out some other water parks with a few slides, and use the cash to pay for other company projects that might result in more profits than operating WWK did.

I was there today to watch the park die for good. It was actually really weird because in the last few months they have fixed quite a few things and put in money for new lounge chairs, paint and rafts. The crowd was the best I've seen it since it was a stand alone water park and there was still a few thousand guests after 7pm when the park closed. After my last ride I got my stuff and kept hearing Terry Jacks - Seasons in the sun on repeat. Checked the gift shops and it looked like a tornado hit it with nothing but a few things left on the shelf. Then walking out the gate for the last time about 20 lifeguards, security and managers, all looking at everyone leaving and definitely gave me the chills.

I don't recall ever visiting a park for the last time knowing it was the last day ever, but for me it would surely be of the saddest things on earth. And we've covered this before, but to visit the site of a former amusement park is so melancholy.
My partner, who was a farm boy, feels the same way when he sees an abandoned farm or a beautiful but dilapidated barn.

Ah, well. Good bye, all that was Geauga Lake Park, and thanks.

SeaWorld lured my family to Aurora since the early eighties. I loved all the marine animals and especially that killer fish! but mostly, I will forever remember the torture of sitting in those grandstands starring at that beautiful mirage of an amusement park. It wasn't until 2006 that I finally visited the ever elusive Raccoon park on the other side of the lake. Whatever the day after coaster mania event was called... Oh that's it, a ghost town. Fun, clean, charming, abandoned. it's sad that another great park is lost. But for me, Geauga Lake has always been a reason for sadness.

My family and I are Platinum pass holders for four years and have had Wildwater Kingdom passes since they opened. We also were Six flag and gueaga lake pass holders back in the day. I will say for a step child park it was always neat busy and much more clean then the kings Islands Waterpark and way cleaner then Soak City but it has been obvious over the years they never added much. I Have been telling my wife for the past four years that this year has to be the last year. But this year something seemed different. It was even more taken care of, and the crowds were very large every time we visited. They even recently put new padded floors in the bathrooms. Leaving last month I told my wife for the first time think they may not close this place this year....I was wrong!
So now getting to what I really found odd. We made our last trip there Monday and what I noticed is that even tough it was there last operating day crews were still walking around the park picking weeds and cleaning up in the landscape beds. Something I've never seen at the other two above mentioned parks.

The weeds are being transferred to Michigan's Adventure's waterpark.

I'm sure this will be very effective! ;-)

http://fox8.com/2016/09/09/thousands-sign-petition-to-save-wildwate...in-aurora/

Are any petitions effective?

Some apparently.

https://www.change.org/victories