Geauga Lake's rides sold at auction

After generations of nostalgia, months of speculation and a sharp-tongued moment of contention, it all came down to just a minute or two of bidding.

[The Original Realist]

Do they realize the potential goldmine they would have had in announcing the park would be closing and keeping it open for just one more season?

I think everyone who grew up with Geauga Lake just kind of took it for granted, which led to smaller number, and eventually it's decline (among other things).

But, to say, "Hey, you've got one more season to ride the coasters you grew up on before they're gone..." I know I would be there.

Instead, they decided after the season was over to 86 it.

I'd say it was their loss in missing out on "The Farewell Season," but I really think it's everyone's loss.

[unamused]

The way the closing was announced only after the end of the season sure makes me less likely to visit Cedar Point, Cedar Fair's other north Ohio park. As in, will not.

[wiz]

I hope Cedar Point Falls..

[Hugh Michael McCarthy II]

I never new the park was closed. I am only sorry that I didn't get to take my grand kids the last year that they were open. My health is very poor and I don't know how long I have.
Just like Euclid Beach park. No matter how good a park is, they won't match the old time parks.

[Brian]

Sometimes nostalgia interferes with reality. It was not a very fun park. The best attraction was the patrons themselves. I haven't been there for over 10 years.

Yet, at the same time, I too am sorry to see it go.

[bye big dipper]

Hate to see it go.

What a great park it was. Well, at least up until Six Flags bought it. They ruined it. Sure they added some great coasters, but the rest went down hill. It was way understaffed. The bathrooms were awful!

[rachel]

have to agree that once it was bought by Six Flags, it was no longer as much fun. I spent only half a day there and spent most of that time over at the Sea World side. Most of the rides were closed for some reason or another. I have my memories from when I was a kid and those will have to do.

[Bergermeister]

The Original Realist wrote:

Do they realize the potential goldmine they would have had in announcing the park would be closing and keeping it open for just one more season?
I think everyone who grew up with Geauga Lake just kind of took it for granted, which led to smaller number, and eventually it's decline (among other things).
But, to say, "Hey, you've got one more season to ride the coasters you grew up on before they're gone..." I know I would be there.
Instead, they decided after the season was over to 86 it.
I'd say it was their loss in missing out on "The Farewell Season," but I really think it's everyone's loss.

A delapitated park exposes Cedar Fair to huge liability claims and lost revenue at Cedar Point. I am sure they considered the whole "nostalgia thing" in their decision, but it didn't justify keeping it open.

How come the closing of the Montrose Drive-In didn't get press like this? Many of us have a heck of alot more childhood memories there? The United States has always bulldozed the past to build a better future.

Let Geauga Lake Park rest in peace already.

[OhioLovesYaBaby]

I love the past. It's where my memories live.

It's funny, I grew up on a 400 acre farm and now it's a crappy tract house community.(oh look, you live the the same house I do but it's blue and mine it brown! how lame!!) any idea where original architecture has gone?

So now, we bulldoze the past to put up more ugly and poorly built homes from the fine people at __________just insert a builders name here, they are all the same these days).

[CuddyTheFlash]

Brian wrote:

Sometimes nostalgia interferes with reality. It was not a very fun park. The best attraction was the patrons themselves. I haven't been there for over 10 years.
Yet, at the same time, I too am sorry to see it go.

I was last at Geauga Lake in 1993 with my family. This was obviously before Six Flags wrecked the family park. We were bored with the park by 2pm. I think my first visit to that park was in the early to mid 1980s, and it was cool then. It was a nice "starter" park, but not a thrills park by any means.

A lot of other parks saw their demise, not by the larger parks like Kennywood and Cedar Point expanding, but by the evolution of the automobile. Brady Lake Park, Shady Lake (Streetsboro), Silver Lake Park just to name a few.

[Dusty]

Hugh Michael McCarthy II wrote:

I never new the park was closed. I am only sorry that I didn't get to take my grand kids the last year that they were open.

Don't be sorry, Hugh.

I WAS there for the last season and the park was awful, to say the least. Parking was a ridiculous $15, the entire park was dirty, unkempt, trash everywhere, the bathrooms were a mess. At least half of the rides were down/under repair, and many of the people working there were downright rude.

Consider yourself lucky that your memories of Geauga Lake are good ones - because I don't think your memories would be as fond had you visited the place the last season.

[Jeff]

I went to Geauga Lake as a kid, as well as Cedar Point, with fond memories of both. Ever since Cedar Point bought Geauga Lake they knew they would close it to increase ticket sales at CP. Now I have no desire to go to CP. They want to live without competition, so be it. As far as I care, the entire park can fall into Lake Erie. GL was a great park for those of use who didn't want to drive the distance to CP. Now you couldn't pay me to go to CP.

[KillTheCan-org]

so glad to hear that the dipper is going to be around (somewhere). it would be a shame to see it go away forever... i've got a ton of great memories of the dipper and geauga lake.

[tony]

Same with Meyer's Lake and Chippewa - great memories of both parks. I guess we can't live in the past, but I'll never forget them. Too bad today's kids could not have experienced the smaller parks - no long lines, you could ride your favorite ride several times in a day.

Can't wait to read David's book - I hear it's on Oprah's A - list. Congrats, David! You do us proud!!

[Citizen]

It's a glim reminder that Ohio itself is folding.

[Redneck]

CP can jump in the lake. I will take my money to Kennywood and Ideawild parks they are alot cheaper and customer friendly. My 4 year old was allowed to ride by his self and even ride rides that Ohio would not parks would not. CP and GL made a 300lb man climb in a littel train so his child could ride.Kennywood is about the same distance as CP from Akron.

[LilOne]

bye big dipper wrote:

Hate to see it go.
What a great park it was. Well, at least up until Six Flags bought it. They ruined it. Sure they added some great coasters, but the rest went down hill. It was way understaffed. The bathrooms were awful!

I agree totally. Six Flags initiated the ultra-cheap "Season Pass" which basically turned the park into a babysitter for unruly kids.
I went twice after the purchase....was repeatedly run into by teens, actually knocked over once, and had a drink thrown at me (one teen threw it at another who moved...and I got soaked by soda). I never went back.
The Season Pass program started the downfall. Cedar Fair bought the place to see IF they could revive it...and failed, as so many were driven away by the hooligans left to run wild there.
I'll miss the old days when it was a nice, clean fun park...but those days were gone long before Cedar Fair got involved.

[Byzdalmyt]

Wow... I never knew it closed either. I wondered why I haven't seen any commercials or billboards on it. I haven't been there since Six Flags left. I was planning on taking my 4yr old this year since it would be a nice test to see if he would be ready for Disney World lines and rides.

I guess we'll stick to carnivals or fairs for now. I don't know if I want to make the trek to CP. Maybe Kings Island, since they have that Nickelodeon kids section. Well, I guess I haven't been there in about 6 years, so maybe it's gone too

[QTBaby]

I worked there last summer. Before anybody else Bill Sphein (the GM for Geauga Lake) told us that they would turn the whole thing into a water park. I think after the Raging Wolf Bobs went off the tracks, and the clientel went down, Cedar Fair decided that this was the best thing. BUT alot of people grew up going to Geauga Lake (including myself)its one of the few parks that Northeast Ohio has, and now its gone. I loved every moment working there. All the friends I made, riding the coasters after closing time was the best. I'll miss it.

[Soulman]

I can understand from a business perspective why it would close. I just wish I had the property and the funding to have gotten the Big Dipper all for myself. I really love those old wooden coasters, especially in the very back seat where you would be thrashed about the most. Good memories there!