Wyandot Lake auction

I hope they don't wind up making each ride a "ticket only"

But like I said.. it's way too early to even think about this.

Perhaps I'll drive up to Wyandot here in a month or two to see whats going on for myself.

Dave, you do know who you're talking too. I guess you never realized I was a park lover, too!

I am still trying to get the rest of the information. It all seems to be in planning, but they still swear some of the new attractions *will* be open by next season. We'll have to see.

Any one else planning on going to the auction? *** Edited 9/28/2006 9:32:19 PM UTC by PREMiERdrum***

Sounds like this could wind up being a very nice facility (not that I've heard bad things about the current facility). Might be time to get serious about a weekend in Columbus in the near future ;)

^If you spend a weekend there, you won't have a problem finding a hotel room. they're all over the place in and around Columbus.

Well, I just stay with grandma, who lives within 4 miles of the zoo!

The brochure is up on the Nortons site.

4 row Illions Grand Carousel

Bradley & Kaye Wet Boats
Eli Bridge No. 16 Ferris Wheel
Eli Bridge Kiddie Wheel
Allan Herschell Pony Rodeo
Everly Bulgy The Whale
Everly Spider (2yr old center pole)
Sartori Elephant
Hampton Combination Dune Buggies
Hampton Motorcycles Umbrella
King Frolic
Mangels Turtles

20+ Johnson Go Karts with Honda Gas Motors, traffic light, shut off switches and control system.

What I want to know is, are the inspection hours of these auctions open to the public? It says no admission fee, but doesn't mention registration. *** Edited 10/19/2006 8:09:03 PM UTC by pkidelirium***

Norton usually opens for viewing two hours prior to auction. At this time you can register or not. There is a registration fee and a 10% fee over your purchase price of any item.

Chuck

Hmm, in this case it looks like the viewing is the day before, inspection 406 PM on November 28, auction at 8AM on the 29th.

I'll probably go during the preview just for the sake of going.

Well, even though they are selling the Spider, they are at least keeping the coaster, bumper cars, scrambler and tilt and a couple kiddie rides.

Sorry Dave A. ...Frolic is on that list :(

I'll be there for sure. By the way - we are getting into concessions (my wife, in-laws, and myself) for next spring and summer. If anyone has any tips, let me know!

Well, would this be an appropriate place to start talking about theming and park ideas for the new Lake?

I would love to see a jungle or safari theme, in the feeling of KI's old Congo River Valley. What do you think? *** Edited 10/19/2006 8:58:45 PM UTC by PREMiERdrum***

^ Well, the zoo has already proposed a Safari-type ride, (like Animal Kingdon) and African wildlife display, but that was even before the talks of a W.L. sale.

It could be incorporated!

Also, PREMiERdrum, as for concessions, find a niche!
Im not sure what type of concessions your lookingn at, but visit every competitor you can. (but Im sure you have done that already, you seem like a smart guy)

I like the idea of a safari type ride at the zoo (Think KI's Lion Country Safari). I know that the Zoo has said that they intended to keep 2 gates, but what if attractions made up the border? Like some were visible from both parks? This could be where the combo water ride/ animal enclosure ideas could be realized.

We are planning on wings and popcorn chicken (with buffalo sauce for dipping)as the staple, but the trailers we're looking are also equipped for curly fries and corn dogs, so we might as well have those!

Hmmm...I'm not too happy about that ride list. I really like those Eli Wheels and I think that would be a neat feature of the new park. The King Frolic is a pretty rare piece. I can't ride the thing but it was neat nonetheless.

Odd that they're booting so many kiddie rides.

What's the deal with the 4-row Illions Grand Carousel? The current Wyandot Lake machine is not exactly an Illions Grand Carousel and I am pretty positive that the zoo is not selling their 3 row authentic Illions Grand Carousel!

Those go-karts were just installed this year. There was a useless expense.

Well, at least Sea Dragon is staying put. That's all that really matters. :)

/\

I think the main reason for clearing out most of these rides, including the kiddie rides, is their age. If the Zoo is starting over fresh, it wouldn't make much sense to do it with a set of older rides that just have a fresh coat of paint, in my opinion.

As for the go-karts, there was actually very little expense associated with their instalation. The karts were already owned by Wyandot from the track that used to be located where CI is today. Since they were an up-charge, the expense for constructing the track itself was probably recovered.

That's Norton-speak. The frame MAY be Illions, or maybe Dentzel. The scenery(What little of it there is) is a reproduction as are all of the figures. I heard that they scrounged that machine up from some where "south" when the city of Columbus pulled their Mangels-Illions machine out of the park for restoration. It has belonged to them since 1974 when the Gooding heirs gave it to the city per the request of the late Floyd Gooding.

Ok then, building the go-kart track was a waste of resources.

I watched them install that carousel (they took there time with it too, the entire 200 season!). Much of the frame was built new on-site. Maybe the floor is original Illions?

A few of those kiddie rides were moved to Wyandot from Geauga Lake when they 'flagged' Geauga into Six Flags Ohio. I believe the kiddie turtle, Bulgy the Whale (Guppies), and Kiddie Eli Wheel all came from Geauga.

I don't remember a kiddie Eli wheel. Is this something Six flags dragged out of storage for the auction?

I remember the Lil' Eli Wheel back in the Funtime era. SF may have put it in storage when they took control. If memory serves me right it was one of the early cable drive versions, not the present hydraulic drive that has been in production since the late 80's. *** Edited 10/20/2006 10:31:36 PM UTC by Dutchman***

Hmmm...Lots of inaccuracies on the auction brochure, I see.

If they still have the kiddie wheel, I wonder if they also still have the Midge-O-Racers that they took out a few years back when they re-did kiddieland. That Turtle ride is a Chambers, I suspect.

I do think it is interesting that they are selling the Spider and the Frolic, but not the Scrambler or the Tilt-A-Whirl. Given a choice between the Spider and the Tilt, I'd rather have the Spider, although the Spider is a harder ride to maintain (it has some rather extreme NDT requirements).

And I see they are trying to sell that damned dome. I wonder who would want it?!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.