Cedar Fair Announces New Direction For Geauga Lake

[coastersue]

http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm?current_root=15&mode=story&story_id=133

[rjholla2003]

Can't say we didn't see that coming.

[GADVwow]

And a local reaction:

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/3097

[Bubba Z]

Thanks Dan for stopping on the way home!

[GADVwow]

A detailed article:

http://www.ohio.com/news/9930322.html

[WadeJ]

Such a shame.   If only Six Flags operated Worlds of Adventure the way they are running parks now.  Just maybe it would have stood a chance. (although  a rather small chance)

One has to wonder though... CF has no problem relocating these massive rides.  Many of which are newer.  So in 4-5 years, could they give up on Dorney just as easily?  The ride portion of Dorney has been hurting bad in recent years.  And I think a lot has to do with Great Adventure in a lot of ways. 

[ChuckR]

Even Hershey....

[Dubya91]

Such a shame.   If only Six Flags operated Worlds of Adventure the way they are running parks now.  Just maybe it would have stood a chance. (although  a rather small chance)

One has to wonder though... CF has no problem relocating these massive rides.  Many of which are newer.  So in 4-5 years, could they give up on Dorney just as easily?  The ride portion of Dorney has been hurting bad in recent years.  And I think a lot has to do with Great Adventure in a lot of ways. 

I think that perhaps "Voodoo" could be the deciding factor on that....

[PcMan]

Wow that must suck for the locals

Thanks Rob for stopping here on the way, it was my first visit and Big Dipper was awesome.

What are they going to do with it and other rides Like Villain  ?

[rjholla2003]

http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/09/24/cedar-fair-throws-in-the-beach-towel.aspx

Ouch!

[PcMan]

THey own a lot of land 700 acres WOW 
Compare that to Great Adventures 260 acres
and a lot of to sell off

Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom owned a combined 700 acres, a huge chunk of which were never developed.

The water park takes up only about 30 acres. Cedar Fair spokeswoman Stacy Frole said that, after the removal of the rides, about 400 acres will be available to develop or sell. She said the company hasn't decided what to do with those.

[rjholla2003]

Great Adventure is 260 developed acres, not counting Hurricane Harbor, Wild Safari, and the undeveloped land.  The only place with more property, developed or not, is Disney World.

[Millennium Force 44]

Wow that must suck for the locals

majorly...

[GADVwow]

See both the main page and the video report (which adds few details about the closing, but DOES mention the online petition and says it will change nothing). It also says the decision to close the park was not made until after the season ended, there are no plans to expand the waterpark, and some other things:

The main page:

http://www.wkyc.com/news/regional/akron_article.aspx?storyid=74916

The video player (this link may not work):
http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=43746&sid=74916&bw=hi&cat=2

[GADVwow]

BRICKBATS: To Cedar Fair L.P. of Sandusky, which owns Geauga Lake and numerous other amusement parks around the country, for the way it handled the recent announcement that Geauga Lake was becoming strictly a water park.
Cedar Fair waited until after the park closed for the season to make the announcement. The company claims the decision wasn't made until then, but that's little consolation to those who would have wanted to visit the park one more time before the change was made.
"At least they could have given us some notice so we could ride our favorite rides one last time," said longtime season ticket holder Diana Sloban of Eastlake. "They didn't handle this in a people-oriented way."

From:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18914139&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=220548&rfi=6

(second item)

[GADVwow]

Park Closing Doesn't Thrill Fans

From The Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-parks_tueoct23,1,4820168.story