Senator asks Cedar Fair to preserve Geauga Lake's Big Dipper

Back when he was a rep, his office was downstairs from mine (circa 1998), and I met him a few times. I was always surprised at how real he was and un-politician like. When he ran for the senate it was a no-brainer to vote for him. I just hope he keeps up that record.

Who wants to get some money together to buy this thing at auction and install it in my backyard?

Good for him.

Given my lack of deep affection for the ride, but this is an incredibly honorable thing he's done. Who knows - maybe the state could put up some cash and help fund moving the ride to the water park. Given it's not probable or entirely pratical, but who knows? Whatever happens, I've got a lot of respect for the guy now.
*** This post was edited by rOLLocOASt 12/6/2007 12:18:04 PM ***

Kudos to Sherrod Brown. I was surprised to see Cedar Fair put it up for sale to begin with. To me, it could be the centerpeice of a boardwlak shopping experience. It's a no brainer marketing ploy.

I really don't understand why they don't do the whole 'outdoor shopping mall' idea. It'd make so much money. They could leave Big Dipper there and maybe some other rides too, like Skyscraper and maybe even Villain or Headspin. I mean, what other outdoor mall could boast 'real' rides? Not just some dinky little train for Christmas or something.

Seriously, it would even top MOA's rides and it could turn into something like that. It would just be sweet if there was like a Mainstreet USA-esque mall buildings that weaved where the main drags are right now. Something like the Easton mall in Columbus even. They could even add condos or sell some of the land to a developer to build condos on a plot of land that's far enough away from the coasters/rides.

It would be like Coney Island meets classy shopping center. You wouldn't have to pay to get in, just pay for the rides or have an all day ride ticket, something like IB. It would just make so much money!! Plus the waterpark would be right next door! On a hot summer day, Mom could bring the kids to the waterpark and then go shopping! It would be really cool and no other mall would be able to boast attractions as big as GL's!

Whether or not you feel some love for the coaster, you have to appreciate what Mr. Brown is doing. I've heard people complain that he should be working on more serious matters but I don't see why he can't do something like this in addition to trying to save the world. It's refreshing to see a politician that realizes the value of a community asset and is willing to stick his neck out to do right by the people that voted him into office. There should be more like him... not because he's pushing to save the Dipper but simply because he seems to really care.

Oh. So if a U.S. Senator asks Cedar Fair to preserve it, that just totally means they have to do it.

What a piece of crock. Like one letter is going to pursuade a giant corporation to do anything.

Well, I was going to say the comments here were much better than over on PointBuzz. That is until kraxl replied.

I'm glad he took the effort to write the letter to Cedar Fair. It doesn't mean they'll do anything. But, it was a good start. It's more than anyone else has done.

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I really don't understand why they don't do the whole 'outdoor shopping mall' idea.

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Because ultimately, they are a company that runs rides and knows how to entertain people in a park, not a company that runs outdoor entertainment centers or malls. As much sense as this seems to make, it would be a completely different business model than what Cedar Fair currently does, and something completely different is then much more dangerous.

I think it could happen, but just not by Cedar Fair.

Krax can pretty much always be counted on to cause the aggregate intelligence of a conversation to take a dive.

I'm with you, it's nice to see the effort being made. Too many politicians are widely known for lining their pockets through backroom construction deals and destroying the nation from the inside out. Cedar Fair's under no obligation to listen to the guy but it's good to see someone in a position of power- and someone representing the overall population- speak up and bring attention to an issue that means something to certain people (and not just enthusiasts). Besides, what harm is this going to go? Mr. Brown writing a letter about a roller coaster isn't going to bring about more attacks in the Middle East, nor is it going to delay troops coming home from Iraq.

"Oh. So if a U.S. Senator asks Cedar Fair to preserve it, that just totally means they have to do it.

What a piece of crock. Like one letter is going to pursuade a giant corporation to do anything."

It was merely a suggestion by a local political figure. Way to take something nice involving coaster preservation, completely blowing it out of proportion, and then spinining it to be some sort of negative thing.

But then again, that's pretty much your M.O. half the time you post.

Ok, sorry, now back to our non-feeding-the-trolls discussion...

Ah, I can gain some votes if I do this :)

Its for the children.

Chuck, Just kiddin

Oh yeah Chuck? Well 9/11 !!!!!

I win.

~Rob Willi

geez, doesn't anyone miss Mike DeWine? Now, there was a Senator for which Ohio could sigh in resignation.

No coaster left behind. ;)

I wrote down some of my ideas over at Pointbuzz but I will say this: Not one dime of public money should be spent to preserve the ride and I say that even though it has significant ties to me as a rider and as a ride operator.

If the coaster is meant for the waterpark then a company that spent $1 billion to buy the Paramount franchise should be able to come up with dollars to move it. I am so sick of private entities asking, begging or otherwise trying to gain my taxdollars for these types of purposes. (If I hear the Florida Marlins ownership continue to bash Broward or Miami Dade county officials for not coming up with money for their baseball stadium I'm going to scream.)

Ohio has some real problems. They cannot afford to spend taxdollars on the Dipper.

I bet some coaster enthusiasts wrote to ther senator.

Just to clarify, I believe only one person (on both boards) has ever suggested the government put up any tax money to help save/relocate the coaster.