Rumors of the removal of GL's X-Flight

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Charles Nungester said:
for a month in 2002 we had a lazer show on the fountain and tower each night, That was the big thing for the 35th anniversary

Chuck

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Chuck, the 35th anniversary is 2007. ;)

2002 was 30th.

I can help being pessimistic for the park, I think next year's going to be just fine. They won't see a major increase, but numbers will steadily go up. At the very least, they'll probably be leaps and bounds more profitable than they've been in previous years.

Every move the park has made this offseason has been something to boost the profitability of the park and set it up for the greatest possibilities of success. Shortening the season removes the expense of running the park on days where they rarely saw enough attendance to justify the park being open, so while it may annoy YOU the enthusiast, the normal park-goer isn't going to notice because they weren't going anyway, and the park will see a bump to the bottom line because they have less days they're spending and not bringing anything back in. Removing the monorail, well that was basically out for the last 5-6 years anyway, so why is this year any different? It's just not taking up space on the midways anymore. No one will miss it enough to not go to the park. X-Flight's removal again takes out something that was not justified in its cost. A park with attendance less than 1million does not need 10 coasters, especially one that is as big of a maintenance nightmare as X-Flight. Plus, it's intimidating and removing it makes the park a more attractive skyline for their target audience.

So, in every move, they've taken things where the benefit/cost ratio is well below 1 and eliminated those operations. That's what I call creating a "well oiled machine".

Well said, Impulse-ive. I just hope that we don't see rides removed with nothing added. Good family flats should dominate the 50's Midway, throw in a Coaster's diner and perhaps a good dark ride, and you'll have an area for your waterpark customers after dark.

I think we'll see at least one more coaster go (Steel Venom, although it's as if it left last year). Then, we can have the "Kids area" (old Looney Toons KidWorks or whatever), two "Family areas" (50's Midway and Coyote Creek), and the "Thrill area" (Power City).

This idea seems much more logical and much more complimentary to WWK, IMO!

Michigan's Adventures deserves X-FLIGHT the most. MIA dosent spend any money but makes millions but they give most of it to CP. Before CP bought MIA things where going great. MIA was putting in coasters and thrill rides, and since CP's buy out nothing but water rides. So if MIA gets X-FLIGTH then CP Wouldnet be waseting the rest of land on water rides. So every one say that Michigan's Adventures deserves X-FLIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know, does MIA have the numbers to support another large attraction? Let's not forget why CF pulled XFlight from the Lake to begin with.

My money still rests with KI, although I have been wrong before!

Like Michiagan's Adventures

Sorry, I can't see how the elimination of a major ride and shortening the season even more is going to help increase attendance. It may be a smart business move to relocate the coaster and to shorten the season to help GL's bottom line, but, the average park goer won't see it that way. And I'm not looking at this from an enthusiasts' point of view, as you say, I'm looking at this from a practical point of view. Less days open usually equates to less people visiting, thus, a drop in attendance. And contrary to what you may think, X-Flight had it's fans, whether they were enthusiasts or the general public. Personally, I could care less that the coaster is leaving. But, there are those that will. And from a consumer's viewpoint, one less major ride might just sway someone from going to GL, unless something else was taking it's place. You can't keep removing things from a park and expect people to keep returning. Something has to be added back to attact customers.

By the way, the monorail may not have operated in 2006, but I do remember riding it in 2005. And, it had it's fans, too, I'm sure.

I think CF needs to stabilize the park before they can expect to grow attendance. Make the park financially healthy with 700,000, then grow from there.
XFlight's removal will sting a little, but the deflagging of the Lake will take a little longer than we thought.
Here's to a BALANCED GL!

It amazes me how many of you keep blaming all of Geaugas problems on SF.

I'm not blaming the problems on SF, but SFWoA is not what CF wants to be running, so turning what was once trying to be destination CP-fighter into a local, family park is going to take some time. Hence: deflagging.

I'm not saying that it doesn't fit at MiA, I'm just not convinced that CF would move it there. I think CF knew they wanted to pull XF out of the Lake for the obvious financial reasons, and saw moving it to PKI as a way to help the lackluster CBS expansion plans they inherited. Just a guess..
BTW a poster on a KI site had a sweet idea about the "Area 51" work that could be done to a possible FoF and XF area.

Swoosh, no, there is not a date on it. I don't think there was one on the map in last year's packet either.

Regardless, as a group sales tool, wouldn't it benefit whatever park was getting it to start promoting it with these packets? I wonder if KBF has started sending their group sales packets and if the new coaster is included. Can anyone confirm? *** Edited 11/24/2006 6:26:39 PM UTC by SVLFever***

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Brother Dave said:
Sorry, I can't see how the elimination of a major ride and shortening the season even more is going to help increase attendance.

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No one was making that case.

I don't think you're getting that being open on days when there aren't many people, the park is taking a loss. They're shrinking the operating season because they spent a lot of time spending more than they were making on a given day.

Sorry for all fans of Geauga Lake on their loss of X-Flight. I think this is the only Vekoma coaster I actually enjoyed, as it was very smooth and offered lots of interesting elements. However, even though X-Flight was the only flying coaster in the midwest, it never really made people flock to GL and it is not popular enough to have such high maintance costs. The fact is that Six Flags over built this park and GL has more coasters then the public needs. What Cedar Fair is trying to do is make GL a popular local amusement park with a nice waterpark, that families will go to if they don't want take the trip to Cedar Point for the biggest thrill rides. They want to make GL offer traditional family fun with a few thrill rides, so it will not compete with Cedar Point. GL will now focus their attention on building family rides such as dark rides, flats, and maybe smaller coasters. (all things that can be operated cheaply) With the removal of XF as well as other rides on that side of the park, CF now has lots of room to implement new family rides. Things like a Halloween edvent and more edvents and picnics would benefit the park in getting that family atmosphere. As for future large roller coasters, I don't think we will see that until the park builds more family centered attractions as there is no need for it, as the park has more thrill rides than it needs for its current clientell.

Now the question is where will XF go? The obvious choices are either PKI or MiA. I feel MiA is a better choice. I think PKI would benefit more from a reliable B&M invert, floorless, hyper, or even a dive machine. This would give PKI a reliable thrilling coaster that the park hasn't had for sometime now. PKI has built lots of family rides lately and a new thrilling coaster help bring more people to PKI, not just season pass holders, which PKI could make even more money if these people choose to stay in their new hotel. With this new hotel addition I see PKI's next attraction to be a very thrilling ride (maybe not to the CP level) that people will come from all over to ride and X-Flight wouldn't not be that coaster because people didn't come to ride that at GL. MiA would definatly benefit from XF because the small park doesn't get the latest greatest rides. The general public there would love a new thrill ride but the parks size doesn't justify a huge new coaster. Giving it XF would be a way for CF to raise attendance at MiA cheaply. *** Edited 11/24/2006 8:11:02 PM UTC by Patrick Meyer***

I don't think anyone has asked this question, but what does anyone think it costs to dismantle, move and reassemble a major roller coaster?

Only flying coaster in the midwest? You mean other than Superman at SFGAm?

To dismantle, move and reasemble doesent even come close to the money it would bring in.

It amazes me too how everyone is blaming all of Geauga's problems on Six Flags. When in reality BEFORE the year 2000, when the park officially became a 'Six Flags' it was still, yup you guessed it, OWNED BY THE SAME COMPANY that owned Six Flags at the time. Once the park was flagged it suddenly Sucked? If it sucked so much, Why is it that when it was a SIX FLAGS park it was bringing in the most attendance the parks ever seen?? I remeber hearing figures close to 3 million annually. Hmm.. that makes me wonder just a little bit.

Actually, I personally blame the problems on the removal of the animals which did infact, play a crucial role in attracting families, keeping the "Sea World": crowd coming back year after year & most importantly, shooting attendance right through the roof. There was TWO parks there at one time and once it became SFWoA it was actually a two-for-one kinda deal which people PROBABLY thought was good. Then basically overnight, all the animals were gone, one HALF of the park was gone, all the SF theming was gone (Whether it sucked or not that's besides the point), it was a totally different park. It caused all the people who came just for THOSE reasons to NEVER return again. If anything Six Flags did it right. Yeah, they had a few mistakes but why was attendance so high?

Compare 2004's attendance (WHILE STILL SFWoA) to 2005's attendance (WHILE NOT A SIX FLAGS PARK)and you'll see a VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.

Cedar Fair kinda destroyed the park, lost customers and they probably knew to some extent that's exactly what would happen, but I will bet money they didn't know it was going to get as bad as it really did. They realize what happened and ARE currently turning things around for the better and are doing everything right too.

Trust me, the GP is not as dumb as you think. EVERYONE who posts on this bord is a "GP". You got a family, you got a job, you got kids, you live in the country, you live in the city, your all the same just the only thing seperating US from other people is WE HAVE A DEEP LOVE FOR COASTER;) Everyones different. Bozo next door to you could have a deep love for gum packages, you sister could love opera plays, your dad could love cars. Everyone is different and likes different things but you think we dont realize what's going on?

My conclusion is that Six Flags DOESN'T suck, They didn't wreck GL, and either did CF. It's just right now the economy is tough(maybe not for all of you) but there is DEFINETELY alot of people who can't afford the gas, the money or the time to go to an amusement park. Instead there working their asses off trying to support their families and your all sitting her blaming all the problems on six flags. Very cool.

Geauga Lake will recover and if not, what can YOU do about it? Unless you are the owner or a multi-milion/billionaire I'd stay out of it. You should be happy you still have a park to visit with your family like normal families do. Maybe if the world wasn't so "sue happy" and so eager to pick out everyones wrongs rather then all the GOOD THINGS, mmaybe, just maybe this world and your precious little theme parks might just become a better place. You really are not always going to have a good time, and yes, it is NORMAL to have a bad experience but F*K life goes on. It's not the end of the world unless of course you were expecting to get married to the park you went to visit.

K, Im done. I don't a have time for this. Yes, I come to this site almost everyday and have been a registered member/lurker for years(under only one other name which has been deleted BY MYSELF) but by no means do I live on this site. Everyone is here just looking for ways to prove everyone wrong because you think "YOU KNOW THE MOST ABOUT COASTERS OUT OF EVERY REGISTERED MEMBER ON THIS BOARD!!!111!!11" and take all your REAL life problems out on people on the internet. Seriously im only 17 and can figure out alot more then most people here, because I do think about other things besides ROLLERCOASTERS (but don't get me wrong I love them to death). Anyways, Im going out, to do NORMAL things like NORMAL people do instead of sitting here blaming ALL OF MY LIFES PROBLEMS ON SIX FLAGS JUST BECAUSE THEY'VE SCREWED UP. Hell, everyones screwed up once(not EVERYONE but you know what I mean, and if you don't your dumb), company's do screw up but let me tell you something: SIX FLAGS IS NOT A SCREW UP COMPANY. Yes, It does have flaws and alot of mistakes to repair but, UNTIL THE COMPANY GOES BANKRUPT AND ROTS TO THE GROUND, it's still alive, still succesful and still in peoples minds or else it wouldnt be operating right now. ANyone care to prove me wrong? Now go ahead and CoasterBASH me just like you do to everyone else, for having an opinion.

OH, I almost forgot. There might be some spelling & grammer mistakes in here, cuz let me tell you I don't have the time to waist reviewing this and making this post perfect because it definetely is not being sold nor am I gaining anything from posting this except maybe some respect or hate. Not everyone is perfect, but to the losers who come on here being the grammar police, GET A LIFE, and if you don'tlike this post or its as flawless as you all say Six Flags and Every park that isn't Cedar Point is, Simply delete it. I couldn't care. Just thought id give my 2 cents. Have a nice day to everyone who actually took the time to read this:).

EDITED FOR RE-ARRANGEMENT OF PARAGRAPHS. My post still sucks however, I left EVERYTHING the same just so I don't get called a pussy for changing it. *** Edited 11/25/2006 1:59:04 AM UTC by ??x Flag? Ðar??? Lak?***

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Brother Dave said:
Less days open usually equates to less people visiting, thus, a drop in attendance.

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Days open is not directly proportional to yearly attendance. It's not that simple.

Can we save ^^ post as the best all time pointless, unprompted, no one cares, no one's going to read it post of all time? Or do none of us have the brainpower to figure that one out because all we think about is coasters and their "ups and downs" (da-dum-cha!) control our lives? (that's about as far as I got and I was just skimming when that one caught my eye)

Hey, you're 17? Congrats. You know so little you can't even comprehend what you don't know. Keep up that attitude though, that'll go far in college, on job interviews, etc.

Yea, so what was that we were talking about before the kids acted up?