Geauga Lake, July 8, 2006

Well, let me start out:

My Dad and I didn't leave the house until about 1:30 pm. Knowing Geauga Lake is close, and knowing many people would be on the Wildwater Kingdom side, we knew we weren't in trouble. We took a detour though, to our local Tops to get "discount tickets" and weren't discount. But before you say anything, keep reading. You'll see why later. Anyways, we continued our trip to Geauga Lake, and I found something amazing! It takes 30 minutes and four left turns to make it Geauga Lake from the house. For those who don't know, I am in a suburb of Cleveland, known as Eastlake. However, I live in Texas with my mother.

We arrive at the park, and the parking lot is pretty full. I believe we parked somwhere around "C-1". That scared us though, because we hoped it wouldn't be too crowded. We walked through the front gate and... *cricket chirping* Nobody! So I guess everyone was over on the Wildwater Kingdom side. Anyways, we decided that X-Flight would be our first ride, knowing it was broken the other day. Guess how long we waited?!?! About... 30 seconds! They had both station open, and it was almost walk-on on both station.

I has been years, I'd say... 2002 since I've been to Geauga Lake. Man, I love that ride. What ever happen to me? I'll tell you, Cedar Point. We rode again, this time changing the station, still walk on though. Both times we got front row, I love that ride.

Went to Superman... opps I mean "Steel Venom". I noticed a slight jerk, then launch. Nothing bad though, and I love that pause on the last verticle spike. You just sit there for a second, and it gets quiet (the people, not the ride). And down, up the spiral, and back into the station.

Honestly, I forgot what we did directly afterwards. I think we rode Head Spin, then walked over to Thunderhawk, got on that. Man, both those are rough, but hey, what can you say about a Vekoma that's not X-Flight. Good, nonetheless. Rode the Sky Scrapper, and looked at the old Turtle Beach, they have a lot of land to play around with, hopefully in the next few years.

Next: Dominator! My lord, smooth-as-butter! I love you Walter and Claude! Next, I think we rode the Texas Twister, and worked our way up to the Villain. We, unfortunetly, rode somewhere in the middle back. Hurt! Fun, but kinda hurt. Didn't spoil it though. We also rode the Double Loop, I really forgot where we sat, but that top of the hill going into the Helix really threw us up. Fun though, I loved that ride as a kid.

I think that's when we went out back to the truck and got some Soda. Man, I guzzled down two Dr Pepper's like a five minute time span. Is that bad? We moved the truck closer to the gate, and walked to the everance. Showed our "WOW" or "MOM" stamps androde Time Warp since I wanted to see the new Wildwater Kingdom. Took the floating bridge, and feed the fish on the way. Those are huge! Just as I remembered.

Wildwater Kingdom was crowded! My dad was facinated by the Tornado, I told him those are popping up like wildfire! He seemed really interested in it. However, we didn't ride. We looked at Tidle Wave Bay, seemed really popular... I think. Everyone was standing just as the water's edge enforced by the lifeguards. I don't know what they were doing. They ran a few waves, and let the people back in. And also, I found the worlds best drinking fountain next to the wavepool. Good preasure, cold-ish, and you barely have to bend over. Recomended!

Also, we caught the 5 o'clock Lumberjack Show. The stadium was very empty, but the show was good. The log runs and walking on the rolling log was very entertaining. A shame not too many people were watching. On the way back, we hit Raging Wolf Bobs. That was fun! It's like a hidden jem, very smooth (at least on the black train).

Then, we decided to get something to eat, we decided on the Jukebox Cafe (is that the name?). Now this is really where it got fuzzy. I know we rode Superman... DARNIT! I ment Steel Venom. That's the only coaster I trouble with. Anyways, we also rode X-Flight and Head Spin again. X-Flight was running two trains, but one station this time. And HeadSpin did an E-Stop because some kid jumped the fense to get his basketball he dropped. Yes a fence, like the one that seperates the midway from the roller coaster track. And the two people in the row infront of wanted something for his time he had to wait. So, what'd he get? A Jollyrancher!

Then I know we went back to the Texas Twister, Dominator, and Thunerhawk, then the Villain. However, the Villain was not so bad this time, only because we sat in the front row. I see they have an almost "NASCAR Race Track" like fence near the twist-track. You know, where Six Flags got in trouble because people were throwing rocks.

I think this is about the time is started getting dark. So we rode Superman.... DARNIT I DID IT AGAIN. Seriously, I'm not doing this on purpose. It just comes out as that... Anyways, we rode Steel Venom again, and then about at 9:45 we got in line for X-Flight.

Know, this is where it gets confusing. Not the trip report, the ride ops. They were running one station, with one train. They would lower the other train in the other station, then run it, and do the same. However, finnaly they ran two trains and one station. Why didn't they open the other station? I don't know, but the line was long enough to. Just as we were in line, I noticed on the back of the Tops Ticket Stub. "Redeem this ticked stub at any Geauga Lake or Wildwater Kindom Concession Stand and receive a free 32oz Souvenir with your choice of any available Pepsie Soft Drink. Refills only $1.99 all summer long! (2006 Season Only)" I just stood there, quiet. "Uh... dad, *reads back of stub to him*". If we would have known earlier we could have saved nearly $5 for the two drink we bought at the Cafe. But oh well, I knew I wanted this Tropicana Orange Twister thing I've been seeing all day.

So, after we rode X-Flight in the dark, which is amazing! We waited in this long line near the El Darado, and got ourselves each a nearly $8 Drink, for FREE! So if you live in the greater Cleveland area, and want to go to Geauga Lake seperatly from Cedar Point, GO TO TOPS! Now that's what I call a DISCOUNT!

Oh, and the woman helping working the Cotton Candy machine almost handed us Cotton Candy because that's what everyone else was buying. I think we we're the only ones buying.. I mean... er... taking, stealing... no, recieving drinks. Left the park, found a quick way out, and took four right turns and a half our home. Pretty good day in general. I like what they did with the old Mr. Hyde's Nasty Fall area. You would never know it was there! Overall, I liked the park. The "Rides" side was pretty dead all day long until the sun began going down. All the Wildwater Kingdom people migrated over.

I think Cedar Fair is really turning that place around, and I can see the improvements, although it worries me how little people there were over on the Geauga Lake side. Oh, and I definetly got a Cedar Fair feeling. "Thank You, and enjoy the rest of your day at Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom" and Snoopy (Which I liked seeing, he gave me a high five oddly enough), and the uniforms remind me alot of Cedar Point.

Good Job guys! Keep it up!

No mention of Big Dipper?! Can't forget the best woodie in the park. haha

But this was a great TR. I'm glad to hear someone FINALLY saying that the coasters are still fun even though a tad rough. Everyone usually just complains about how rough Villian, TH, and HS are. You mention the roughness, but you still say how much fun they are. THANK YOU! haha

Glad you had a good time. ;)

Actauly.... I did forget the Big Dipper. I will tell you though, I rode it. But I don't remember when. I just remember the guy in the row infront of us getting in trouble because he was drinking beer in the line. I love the airtime on that ride!

Oh, and thanks for reading the entire post. It was a long one.

Well I'm glad you rode it then. And yes, it does have great airtime.

And you're welcome! I enjoy reading trip reports...even if they are long! ;)

The Big Dipper is one of the top two or three woodies in the state of Ohio, at the very least.

Most definately! Its extremely smooth for an old woodie, and its so exciting and packed with air!

Definately a must ride when at the park!

Nothing compares to the smoothness of Raging Wolf Bobs, now, though... :)

True, true. If they had a "ride again" policy when the station was empty, I'd sit through that beauty 20 times in a row. It seems like such a haul getting out of the station, going down those long ramps and back around up the hill. Not that I'm complaining.

Does anybody know, when SF and then CF finished their respective segments of the rehab, did they go from 7-ply to 9-ply on the rails? It's baby smooth. I wish Villain would get half that gentle.

RWB could really use a paint job.

Raging Wolf Bobs was incredibly smooth. And so is Big Dipper. And yes, I noticed the white paint pealing off on Raging Wolf Bobs. But I'll take entertainment over looks any day!