Cedar Fair Entertainment owns 12 amusement parks, 6 extensive water parks, and several other entertainment venues such as "Star Trek: The Experience" in Las Vegas. They are one of the largest amusement park chains in the world.
They have made many drastic changes; such as closing a historic paddle boat ride built in the 1960's and having given over 47 million rides by auctioning off a final ride with the boat "piloted" by the companies' CEO (at Cedar Point, Oh.) to make way for an "over-charged dinosaur ride". -They have a pending law suit at hand regarding their handling of a situation at "Six Flags Great America California", and for this petition- the closing of a beloved 104 year old amusement park (Geauga Lake in Aurora, Oh.) and holding onto ownership of the property- but letting it sit vacant and decrepid; with one of its most loved and one of the oldest wooden rollercoasters built STILL on the property decaying away to rot. This page is for "Geauga Lake"...the people have spoken Cedar Fair- WE WANT OUR AMUSEMENT PARK BACK!!!
Started in 1872 as a picnic and swimming spot called "Picnic Lake" and re-named "Geauga Lake" in 1887 this small plot of leisure water and land in Geauga County, Ohio (Thus the name "Geauga Lake") went from being a small resort spot sometimes holding major-league baseball games to being an iconic amusement park in the sleepy suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio.
This timeline shows how the park quickly grew from a weekend family getaway to one of Ohio's most prestigious amusement parks:*
•1887: Renamed "Geauga Lake"
•1889: The park's first ride was constructed, a steam-powered carousel
•1925: New owner William J. Kuhlman expanded the park; the Big Dipper was built, which at the time was the largest wooden roller coaster of its kind
•1930s: Racetrack, dance hall, theater and bowling alley were added
•1937: Hand-carved Marcus Illions carousel was brought to the park at a cost of $35,000
•1938: New owner, Vi Schryer, inherited the amusement park
•1941: A tornado hit "Geauga Lake" park, damaging the Big Dipper and several buildings
•1952: Fire destroyed several buildings including bowling alley, dance hall and theater
•1969: "Geauga Lake" was purchased by Funtime Inc.
•1970: "SeaWorld Ohio" opened across the lake
The 1970s saw major growth for "Geauga Lake" theme park. After "SeaWorld" opened, the park expanded into acres of undeveloped, adjacent land. Major attractions added during this time included:
•Gold Rush log flume
•Fun Bunch characters: Geauga Dog, Gunkey Money, Dandy Lion and Andy Panda
•Skyscraper, a 200-foot tall observation tower
•Bayern Kurve thrill ride
•Calypso scrambler ride
•The Matterhorn roller coaster
•Zyclon roller coaster
In 1977, "Geauga Lake" built the Double Loop roller coaster, the first coaster ever constructed with two vertical loops. A year later, it added the ever-popular Corkscrew coaster to the front of the park. By 1980, the park began an $800,000 renovation of the Big Dipper.
During the 1980s, several of the older "Geauga Lake" rides and attractions were removed to make room for an updated park expansion. A water park area, Boardwalk Shores, was added and included:
•Neptune's Falls flume body slide
•Undertow double water coaster
•Kiddie pool
•Open beach and swim area
•Paddle boats
In 1981, "Geauga Lake" started an annual Oktoberfest celebration, that ended out their season. Over the next few years, the park expanded even more with the additions of more water park attractions and roller coasters, including the $10 million Serial Thriller coaster. In honor of the park's centennial (100 year) celebration, the Raging Wolf Bobs was built, the first roller coaster added to the park in 10 years. The park also broke the one millionth mark for attendance. In 1998, the then-owners of "Geauga Lake", Premier Parks, purchased the "Six Flags" amusement park chain from Time Warner for $1.8 billion, creating the second largest theme park company. A year later, it was announced that "Geauga Lake" would be renamed to "Six Flags Ohio" and a $40 million park conversion was under way. When it opened for the 2000 season, four roller coasters were brought to the park:
•Batman Knight Flight
•Superman Ultimate Escape
•Villain
•Roadrunner Express
In 2001, "SeaWorld Ohio" was sold to "Six Flags" for $110 million, thus closing down the long-running Shamu show and expanding the theme park to both sides of the lake. The park was now called "Six Flags Worlds of Adventure". Other water attractions and shows were brought in to draw crowds over to the marina. Six years after Six Flags purchased "Geauga Lake", it was sold to Cedar Fair, the owners of nearby "Cedar Point Amusement Park", for $145 million and brought back the "Geauga Lake" name. Any ride or attraction that was signature of "Six Flags" was removed including the animal shows. However, the move to new ownership proved to be a disaster. That first season saw only 700,000 guests, a major decline from the previous year. In an attempt to save the park, "Geauga Lake Wildwater Kingdom" opened its gates in 2005 on the old "SeaWorld" property. It was a success. Improvements were made to the amusement park side of the park and things ran smoothly for a few years.
In 2007, despite a steady summer attendance, it was announced that Cedar Fair would close "Geauga Lake" for good. "Wildwater Kingdom" remained open, but all of the rides and attractions across the lake were sold off. This came as a major blow to park attendees and residents who called "Geauga Lake"; 'home'.
-Today, while the water park is doing well, 'Geauga Lake" stands vacant. Only shadows of childhood memories are left amongst the abandoned buildings and whatever is left of the rides.
(* Some exerpts quoted from lovetoknow.com)
-THIS Cedar Fair is where YOU need to step in, and put back in place what you've destroyed into a vacant eye-sore! The people have spoken, and now we are speaking directly to YOU Mr. Dick Kinzel-Cedar Fair CEO and you too Mr.Matt Ouimet the newest member-Company President! Especially you Mr. Ouimet; coming from "Disney" we will have high expectations for you to fill, see Mr. Kinzel's already shown his true colors to Ohio-now let us see yours! It's "all about the money" to Cedar Fair in the "eyes" of the public...so let the "eyes" of the public "see" you put "your money where your mouth is" an bring back a 104 year old icon; so those of us who lived and loved "Geauga Lake" can now share it with our children and grandchildren! It was born into greatness in 1872 by one lone man, and killed in 2007 by greed of a Company that felt threatened to have two amusement parks competing for attention but an hours drive away. -Or at least this is what you've proven to the public Mr. Kenzel and your trusty Board Of Directors...Show us you REALLY care about the people and not just the money- GIVE US BACK OUR PARK!