Geauga Lake letter on Website

No. We don't. So we don't have sharks either. And thankfully, no aquariums with sharks as well. So I don't have to worry about crashing into one of those. We almost didn't have a lottery anymore either, but they raised our income tax to make sure the lottery could continue to run.

I'll keep an eye out for you. I see sharks here all the time. They rock. :)

raising4daughters said:
But, instead, CF gave up on GL completely. That's what puzzles and disappoints me. There are plenty of successful small, regional ride-plus-waterpark places. Why not remake GL into what it once was, something similar to but bigger than Waldameer, not unlike Knoebels? Waldameer is just now getting its first adult-sized coaster, and Knoebels is getting its third, yet no one seems to be talking about closing those parks.

Those are good points, but you can't just look at those situations in a vacuum and assume they'd work here.

Waldameer and Knoebels are very different places attracting very different demographics with a totally different competition landscape. Strange as it is to suggest it, even retail itself is a competitor around here, as someone else mentioned. Consider the local FEC's, giant Cinemarks, a world class zoo, museums, theaters, three pro sports teams... there's an awful lot to do in the Greater Cleveland area, and that doesn't even touch recreational Internet use or home video games.

Seriously, we had an amusement park with ten coasters and a beautiful water park, and even at $25 that wasn't a great enough value proposition to make it work.

I can't believe that people on a fan site can be so callous about the complete and utter destruction of a beloved 119 year old park. If memory serves me correctly a certain park on Lake Erie was so unprofitable that they had to scrap their 1 and only rollercoaster just to make ends meet. Thankfully in 1956 whan a real estate developer bought the property people did speak up and the park was saved.

Of, course if that bit of history did not happen we wouldn't be having this discussion, and Geauga Lake would probably doing very well on its own, thank you very much. I still believe Cedar Fair simply lack the vision and ambition to do what is right in the long run.

^ The truth of the matter is, if Cedar Fair didn't do it, somebody else would have. Other than that short time of CF ownership, Cedar Point and Geauga Lake's histories are pretty much mutually exclusive.

Besides that, this is a Cedar Point fansite, so most of us are going to be a little partial.

Cedar Fair had the vision for Geauga Lake. Several things conspired against that vision:

Poor Ohio economy.

Purchase of Paramount Parks.

Underestimation of the effects of Sea World on Geauga Lake attendance.

Bad public relations moves at the onset of Cedar Fair ownership.

Those are pretty much the bullet points.

Delbert said:
I can't believe that people on a fan site can be so callous about the complete and utter destruction of a beloved 119 year old park.

I don't think anyone is happy to see it go. Being upset is perfectly understandable. At the same time, I think it's fair to challenge emotional statements, conspiracy theories, and the like. That's not being callous.

I have been very blunt about my opinions on the closing but it doesn't mean I am not deeply saddened by it. Honestly, I have shed some tears because that park holds so many wonderful memories for me. And, the rumored fate of Big Dipper has me pretty heartbroken too.

But, all that doesn't mean that I don't understand what conspired to lead to this fate.

That's the funny thing about it, is that none of us are happy about it, but we're also not willing to let our emotions lead us down the black helicopter route. They made poor decisions, we know this. It doesn't mean we can't accept the reality of the situation.

Sure, it sucks that GL is closing its gates and becoming a waterpark.

I have many, many fond memories of spending an entire day with my family there picnicking, playing in the Wave and on the waterslides, changing in the old bathhouse, getting dinner at the sitdown restaurant near the Dipper (the one what was most recently Beachcomber's), and then spending the night riding the rides until we were too tired to stand up anymore.

Unfortunately, those days have been long gone for a while. Ever since the place "grew up too fast", it just hasn't been the same.

I'll never be happy that it is gone, but I understand, and at least I have the memories of the place that I do, which will be with me forever.

-Josh

I'm glad that most of us can at least agree on that. There's not an amusement park on the planet I'd want to see torn down, and Geauga Lake one of the least of all. I'm saddened I'll never be able to take my daughter there again, and that her memories of it will only be fuzzy, vague early childhood memories.

I think when you care about something or someplace like that, it never really leaves you. (Cue Celine Dion.)

Delbert said:
I can't believe that people on a fan site can be so callous about the complete and utter destruction of a beloved 119 year old park. If memory serves me correctly a certain park on Lake Erie was so unprofitable that they had to scrap their 1 and only rollercoaster just to make ends meet. Thankfully in 1956 whan a real estate developer bought the property people did speak up and the park was saved.

Of, course if that bit of history did not happen we wouldn't be having this discussion, and Geauga Lake would probably doing very well on its own, thank you very much. I still believe Cedar Fair simply lack the vision and ambition to do what is right in the long run.

Yep, believe it. Some aren't so nice on here Delbert. You'd be better off going over to GeaugaLakeToday where everyone is nice over there and no one gangs up on you if you don't agree with them.

I think PointBuzz is a great community, but to each their own. It sounds like you've found another community that is a better fit for you and that's great. So why continue to create accounts here to troll?