Griffing Airport and Cedar Point

In a Sandusky Register article titled "What's happening at the former Griffing Airport property" they mentioned that Register staffers called Cedar Point and Grifting employees to find out what is happening with the property. Neither company returned phone calls. I wonder if Cedar Point really has plans for the property, nothing was ever announced by the park. But, maybe the Register knows something we don't. There are certainly interesting development possibilities for that property if CP were to buy it.

Pete said:
... maybe the Register knows something

Sorry, but that part made me laugh...

I don't return their calls either. Seriously though, no one there works these two weeks.

I rather enjoyed reading the comments on that article...

You've got EricB noting it's wishful thinking that Cedar Fair or NASA would be interested in the former airport land. I like the randomness of NASA scoping out land on Lake Erie.

You've got bchcrab95 complaining there's not enough growth in the area and that Cedar Point runs Sandusky. SunshineDaydream plays counterpoint noting how clean Cedar Fair properties are compared to the competition in the area, with one of those competitors commenting on what a good corporate citizen they really are.

Um, hello Sandusky Register, Cedar Fair staff are on their Holiday break until next week. But, once they do get your voicemail, I'm sure they'll get a good laugh and return your call and say...no comment.

But seriously, that land is so far away, I don't see what use Cedar Point/Fair could possibly have for that land.

But IF they WERE to purchase it...here is my wild idea's:

Make it another park that has say classic rides from the past (like if they were to buy the GL Big Dipper back). Only problem there is those rides would lose classic status since I am sure the lawyers would require all sorts of restraint/safety upgrades! :-( Oh and a monorail could be built.......um.....yeah have a mini Disney like thing going on in Ohio.

OR
Build something like the CIRCUS CIRCUS Adventuredome in Vegas. Thus, we could get coaster rides in during the winter!

OR

Build/Move corporate office building, build parking garage(s), and build a monorail to park enterance and around perimeter road. This will free up even more land for future park expansion.

Yeah, nothing is quite as inexpensive as a monorail!

The idea of NASA buying the airport isn't preposterous. NASA Plum Brook is not that far away on 250 and I know they have been eager to build a runway. Of course, I expect they would need something longer than what they would get over at Griffing.

I believe there were rail lines out at Plum Brook at one time...and they may have been able to connect with the lines that run through Sandusky and past Griffing. But, with Rt 6 there I don't know how the airport could really utilize those lines...even if they are still there or could be restored.

If Disney isn't going to build any more monorails I doubt that Cedar Point is going to get into that business. It is cost prohibitive, to be sure. That said, I still think Cedar Point is missing the boat on the convention business. Kalahari keeps growing so there is obviously a demand. If Cedar Fair wanted to increase their ability to make money in the off season I just think this is an opportunity that is sitting there waiting for them to act. So, a big convention hotel out there might be a nice asset for them.

I like that idea, Chief. A convention center and more upscale hotel would work very well, especially in the former airport location. The resort could operate year-round, with a new dock constructed to provide an exclusive ferry shuttle for hotel guests to CP. Perhaps a small golf course too, at least a short-hole set-up?

I don't think that would work well at all. It's too much stuff to build for something that is essentially seasonal.

It doesn't have to be CF to buy the property, but another developer. The state built the beautiful and successful Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake that operates year-round: http://www.thelodgeatgeneva.com

Chief Wahoo said:
If Disney isn't going to build any more monorails...

Funny you say that. Rumor around here is that they are building a couple new lines to connect to Downtown Disney. I've seen construction happening that sort of looks like it could be true but it could be anything.

There are cheaper alternatives to monorails like at Disney that are available from ski lift manufacturers. These are cable driven cars (like San Francisco cable cars) that run on elevated steel tracks and operate automatically like elevators.

These are very cost effective because the supporting structure is cheap compared to monorail beams and the cars are unpowered. The systems are like gondola lifts (Sky Ride) that are supported by a steel track instead of a cable. They can run in just about any wind velocity.

Disney doesn't even connect Downtown Disney Springs Island to the parks today by bus, for obvious reasons. I doubt they will any time soon.