The Big Dipper roller coaster at the former Geauga Lake Amusement Park, built in 1925, has been a landmark in the Bainbridge Township for nearly a century. A historic landmark for coaster enthusiasts and locals who grew up going to the park until Cedar Fair closed it. Do not let Cedar Fair destroy this extremely important coaster.

For over 80 years, the Big Dipper served as an anchor for Geauga Lake. It was designed by the legendary John Miller who was regarded as one of the greatest designers of wooden roller coasters and is one of only 11 surviving designs. It opened to huge fanfare in 1925. Many amusement parks and coasters crumbled during the Great Depression and the 1960s, but the Big Dipper survived. It was damaged by a tornado in 1942, but was repaired. For 82 years, the Big Dipper enjoyed continuous operation until Cedar Fair closed the park in 2007. For nine years, the Big Dipper has been sitting abandoned, waiting for a better life.

The Big Dipper deserves every chance to flourish once again.

For nine years, local residents and enthusiasts have watched the Big Dipper sitting abandoned, waiting for Cedar Fair-the current owners of the property- to relocate or restore and reopen the coaster. Every setback has frustrated locals and enthusiasts who are eager to see the Big Dipper running again.

The Big Dipper has the makings of greatness already. The coaster would make a great asset as part of a mixed development of businesses and would be a huge draw for locals and tourists alike. The coaster would make a profit for businesses by people going to ride it and then going out to eat or shop for goods. The ride can help create jobs in the area and help the local economy and the area is lacking tourist attractions. The ride can also be carefully disassembled, placed into storage and rebuilt at another amusement park. We want the Big Dipper to remain representative of the Bainbridge Township or the amusement park industry. It is a symbol of the amusement park that put the area on the map, but more importantly, a symbol of opportunity for the next generation of entrepreneurs, investors, and people looking for excitement.

We want a better plan that promotes the preservation and restoration of the Big Dipper over wasteful, unnecessary destruction.

The best asset at Geauga Lake is the Big Dipper. Demolishing the Big Dipper means the loss of the 10th oldest coaster in the world and one of only 11 surviving coasters out of 140 that John Miller designed. Demolishing it also encourages a mindset of destroying important history and disposable, irresponsible development.

The statements saying that the Big Dipper is unsalvageable are exaggerated. Engineers have recently looked over the ride and confirmed that the Big Dipper needs upgrades and replacement of parts, but the coaster is not beyond repair. The restoration or relocation of a wooden roller coaster is a difficult and expensive task, but over a dozen wooden coasters have been successfully restored and brought back to life after many years of abandonment.

Three of the greatest examples:

1. The Giant Dipper at Belmont Park in San Diego, California built 1925.

2. Leap the Dips at Lakemont Park, in Altoona, PA built in 1902 and is the world's oldest coaster.

3. The Wildcat at Frontier City in Oklahoma City, OK, which originally built in 1968 at Fairyland Park in Kansas City, MO.

These coasters stood abandoned for more than 10 years before they were finally restored. Much of the Big Dipper's structure is salvageable, however the ride's track and trains would need to be replaced, its station renovated, and the ride needs a new control panel. The coaster is still standing, just as it has been for 91 years. We want to encourage Cedar Fair and developers to integrate the Big Dipper into the site development plan.

We recognize the Big Dipper as an important part of the history of Cleveland.

As the park's first coaster, the Big Dipper put Geauga Lake on the map and the park established itself as an economic hub for the community and its neighbors in all directions. By the time Geauga Lake celebrated it 100th anniversary in 1987, the park owed much of its success to the Big Dipper.

Non-profit organizations, like the American Coaster Enthusiasts, have long recognized the need to protect and preserve history. Historic preservation brings money into communities by preserving that what makes the communities unique. In 2009, the American Coaster Enthusiasts designated the Big Dipper as an ACE Coaster Landmark to bring the ride attention and to increase its chances of being preserved. We want Cedar Fair to realize that historic roller coasters like the Big Dipper are an extremely limited commodity. Demolition is a permanent, irreversible, and unforgivable decision.

Parks and attractions across the country have repurposed wooden coasters and made them profitable attractions for their parks or local businesses. Because the Big Dipper is so historic, it deserves a chance to be given a better life. This is a great opportunity to save an iconic landmark and a chance to save something vibrant, viable, and distinctively Golden Age. But the Big Dipper must remain or be placed into storage if it's going to get the opportunity to operate again.

Don't demolish the Big Dipper! Save the Big Dipper!

In addition to signing this petition, please consider contacting the Cedar Fair Investor Relations directly at investing@cedarfair.com.

You can also reach out to the Mayor of Aurora at mayor@auroraoh.com

Like "Don't Demolish the Big Dipper" on Facebook

Sincerely, Matt Glumac.

Special Olympic Athelete,

Member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts,