Geauga Lake Going to Close?

[url][url]There was a huge rumor in an article in the Plain Dealer[url][url]

Which talks about the Ohio amusement parks, in it Geauga Lake which talks about there woes, and rumors of it closing and the land being sold.
Now the commercial around the park has really gone up, so I don't know what to think. Here is some of what the article said.

"At this point in my trek, I started losing steam (despite two large "four-ways"). I could not bring myself to go to Geauga Lake, the 750-acre amusement and water park in Aurora, just a half-hour down the road from Cleveland. Too depressing...But it looks increasingly as if Geauga Lake may go the way of Youngstown's storied Idora Park and Cleveland's Euclid Beach Park, both defunct.

When I mentioned speculation among park enthusiasts that Cedar Fair could make a lot more money closing the park (keeping open the water attractions) and selling the land (in a fast-growing exurb) for condos, one company spokesman (who shall remain anonymous) said simply:
"That sounds like pretty good speculation."

If this is true, I have no faith in Cedar Fair, and I think SF did a better job with the park (I hate to say that). Now I'm guessing this is just another rumor, but who knows.

I can tell you Cedar Fair did not do everything it could of to save the park...

Sorry I'm having trouble posting the link, but I think it is in the Maverick Plain Dealer Topic.

*** Edited 6/2/2007 3:32:49 AM UTC by ChrisC.***

The quote saying "That sounds like pretty good speculation" is pretty misleading in my opinion. It could have been said by an executive for Target for all we know. And plus, the quote is so short it could have been taken entirely out of context.

CF has other parks with low attendance, and I just don't think GL is ready to close. I could be wrong though.

I don't know much about Geauga Lake since I have never been there, but I can say I have never known anyone saying "Hey, let's all go to geauga lake, its just so great!"... Everyone goes to Cedar Point, not geauga lake here in NW ohio...

Yes but NW Ohio is not part of GLs marketing.

If I lived in NW Ohio and was that close to Cedar Point I think I would say the same thing most of the time.

I don't think GL focusses though, or should focus, on marketing to other areas. They should focus on people within an hour of the park at most, just the locals.

well it seems not even the 'locals' are going there based on the reports I read about online.... I think that parks days are very numbered... and I would not blame cedar fair one bit for shutting it down and focus on Cedar Point and Kings Island here in Ohio...

Well that would be dumb if they shut down the whole Geauga Lake down cosidering they just fixed the Villian, and they've spent like Millions of Dollars with the waterpark that they built in 2004 or 2005. It wouldn't be so bad if they closed down the park side and kept open the Waterpark side, but to me that would sound like a dumb move.

I still say put the parking lot on the site of the old steel venom and xflight and sell off part of the land the parking lot is on.

The park can't just keep losing money and stay in business though.

Andrew VanAtta said:
well it seems not even the 'locals' are going there based on the reports I read about online.... I think that parks days are very numbered... and I would not blame cedar fair one bit for shutting it down and focus on Cedar Point and Kings Island here in Ohio...

You are right on that pretty much a lot of locals don't bother with Geauga Lake. I know some people who go up to Cedar Point all the time including me. People think Im nuts since I live 5 minutes from GL and go to CP. The whole Geauga closing I haven't heard to much about that but who knows. They haven't been doing that great so possibly.

Every time I've been there its dead, thats all I know. It doesn't seem like they could be making money when there are sparse crowds there all the time.

In fact, its kinda funny to see such long lines for Firehawk when I walked on X-Flight every time I rode it...

I went to Geauga Lake for the first time on Thursday and pretty much every ride was a walk-on, including Dominator, which was the most enjoyable coaster at the park for us. The park was not busy at all and there are signs of poor upkeep all over the park, starting with the parking lot. Not sure how busy it is on the weekends, but if our trip was any indication, I can't see how they are making any money. We were able to ride just about every coaster in the park at least twice, and some more, almost always in the front seat, in less than four hours. We only rode Villain once, by choice. ;)

On our way out (right before the park closed at 7pm), we were asked to take a survey. Since I was curious what they would ask, I agreed. The questions included:

- How much money did you spend on food inside the park?
- Did you buy any merchandise in the park?
- Did you play any games in the park?
- Did you bring any external food?
- How far did you drive?
- How much did you spend on gas?
- Are you a season pass holder?

And one or two other things. We spent nothing inside the park--we were just there for the rides (and we were there only four hours). Drove an hour to the park.

At least they are doing some research, so it would seem like they are interested in keeping the park open and making it profitable.

Oh, and I must say Villain is the most brutal wooden coaster I have ever ridden..

..Al

A park like Michigan's Adventure has low attendance (550,000 last year I think), but it is much smaller, has a lot less rides, and in general, is probably a lot cheaper to run and therefore it adds something to the bottom line.

CF is attempting to bring the operating costs of GL in line with their attendance. The question is - will they be able to maintain the 700,000 attendance after removing two rides and slashing the operating season or will it drop to say 500,000 and offset the savings?

To me, GL is the perfect place for them to try breaking away from the typical model. Raise the admission to $29.95, give "free" parking and "free" soft drinks and ADVERTISE THAT! Maybe those "free" drinks will be enough to wash away the bitter taste that Six Flags left behind. Not only that, it would be something unique for the area which I think is the main thing GL is lacking. Some might argue the waterpark is unique, but I'm not sure how many people consider the waterpark when making a decision to go there. You can get more and better rides, a nicer location, and better employees at CP, you can get cheaper and better food at Kennywood. Why would I go to a park that just removed two coasters amd is charging more than last year?

I think CF is really struggling with painting a positive picture of GL. They've made blunder after blunder when it comes to PR and that is on top of the few years of Six Flags doing the same. Those things are hard to reverse, but I think "free" parking and drinks would go a long way.

Losing money on that park can't continue forever. It needs to turn around in the next two years or so or I really could see them cutting their losses and unloading it for the land. I never would have said that two or three years ago, but I think it's starting to become a possibility.

TAER IT DOWN1!1!!11 ;)

One observation that I would like to make. Between here and coasterbuzz, everyone that goes comments about how short the lines for the roller coasters are. My question is: how crowded is the waterpark? Last year I went to MI Adventure, and the line for Shivering Timbers was just barely out of the station. Yet at the same time the water park was packed. I just don't think that you can base attendance off the roller coaster lines.

They all invest in the water park and it might get torn down..poor GL. :( *** Edited 6/2/2007 6:35:20 PM UTC by Jerreus***

Wow.

Going back to the article I agree that we have no idea what context the statement was made, so I would take that with a grain pf salt. I also don’t think any park employee with any credibility would tell that to someone. With that said I agree that if the park is loosing money they can not keep it open but last year the park attendance stayed flat from the previous year and with a shorter operating season, which means attendance was up. The ride removals this year should save a ton of money in operating expenses. I guess anything is possible but if they loose money this year then I don’t see it staying around much longer.

It would be a nice gesture if an official statement of some kind was made about GL’s future. Instead they lead us to believe the worst and articles like this only feed the speculation. Hopefully we don’t see any more ride removals. If we do than all this speculation is most likely true.

Personally I think it should close. The removal of rides to other parks and the general neglect placed on other rides and parts of the park. It looks as though the park will close. CF could save a bunch of money if they sell the land and relocate the major attractions.

Hmm I wonder if Dick even came to GL more then once. What got people to go to Geauga Lake when Six Flags owned it? RIDES! People are only coming now because the new thing is the water park! Dick wants Geauga Lake not to build dry rides in fear people might loose some focus on Cedar Point (his baby).

For the people who said just have it closed down, wow you are fools.
*** Edited 6/2/2007 9:11:20 PM UTC by ChrisC.***

Coastern3rd said:
Personally I think it should close. The removal of rides to other parks and the general neglect placed on other rides and parts of the park. It looks as though the park will close. CF could save a bunch of money if they sell the land and relocate the major attractions.

How has the park been neglected? Just because they don't put in a multimillion dollar attraction ever year dosen't mean that its the "ghetto park of the north". One thing that gets me is that most people want it shut down so they can send a coaster to their local park

:
I don't know much about Geauga Lake since I have never been there, but I can say I have never known anyone saying "Hey, let's all go to geauga lake, its just so great!"... Everyone goes to Cedar Point, not geauga lake here in NW ohio...

Geauga Lake dosen't even market in NW Ohio! THeir strictly NE Ohio, NW Penn and the Pittsburgh Area. Thats like saying "I never hear anyone say 'Lets g to Waldameer Park!"

Every time I've been there its dead, thats all I know. It doesn't seem like they could be making money when there are sparse crowds there all the time.

In fact, its kinda funny to see such long lines for Firehawk when I walked on X-Flight every time I rode it...

Its kinda funny that Firehawk is a NEW ride down there and I bet alot of people have never ridden a "flying coaster" Back in 2001 when X Flight first opened, it had lines that would of rivaled Firehawks! I waited nearly 3 hours to ride XF back in July of 01.

I went to Geauga Lake for the first time on Thursday and pretty much every ride was a walk-on, including Dominator, which was the most enjoyable coaster at the park for us. The park was not busy at all and there are signs of poor upkeep all over the park, starting with the parking lot. Not sure how busy it is on the weekends, but if our trip was any indication, I can't see how they are making any money. We were able to ride just about every coaster in the park at least twice, and some more, almost always in the front seat, in less than four hours. We only rode Villain once, by choice.

School was still in session and people were at work. Hardly anyone goes to Amusement Parks on the weekday due to other priorties. I'm willing to bet that Kennywood(actually...I know for a fact that it's dead on weekdays) and almost any other parks are walkons Mon-Fri.

A park like Michigan's Adventure has low attendance (550,000 last year I think), but it is much smaller, has a lot less rides, and in general, is probably a lot cheaper to run and therefore it adds something to the bottom line.

MiA isn't much smaller than GL.

One question I have to ask everyone is why would CF all of a sudden close down the park after 4 years of operating it? Its pointless and would show a weak point in CF's stragety. Unless Bill Spehn tells the world that GL will not be opening next season...the park will stay there.
*** Edited 6/2/2007 9:27:09 PM UTC by Kennywooddude***
*** Edited 6/2/2007 9:27:42 PM UTC by Kennywooddude***