Official: Wildwater Kingdom closing after 2016

I suppose it's only a misdemeanor, but I'll never understand this concept of recording and broadcasting criminal trespassing. With such decisions, I reckon potential injury and/or death isnt much the concern either.

Those are some of the best channels on YouTube. Such as TheProperPeople.

These two not only did a lot of poking around, but took a ride down the funnel slide. How they didn't get caught is astounding.

If you think it was astounding that they did not get caught, then check out this.

I drove past WWK this past Weekend coming from Aurora Farms, and from the outside looking in, not much has changed. The Wildwater Kingdom sign on the main entrance was still up, as well as the large sign off Aurora Rd. The lights in the park lit up, presumably to see trespassers. Most interesting was the power leading up to the slide complex was still lighting up the red and green, or stop and go, lights next to the slides.

I would love to get proper permission to go on the WWK land and take legal pictures of the empty park, especially the Sea World remnants that were not available to be seen while visiting WWK.

Best of luck getting permission from Cedar Fair to gain access. I tried multiple times to assist a friend in the Cleveland media to gain access to sea world areas after they closed them even before they closed the Geauga lake side and was refused. Based on the emails and letters I still have her and I were turned down two times in 2005, once in 2006, twice in 2007, three times in 2009, once in 2011, twice in 2013, and one time each in 2014/15/16. Basically stating insurance and safety issues which is understanding. We even tried with legal wavers and it still wouldn't fly. I have considered the options that others have used such as drones or truspassing but it's not worth the possible headaches for me or her.

Why does anyone think any company owning "abandoned" property would allow them to photograph/video their private property?
Especially a news story?

It would only encourage people to trespass and the company would only receive negative perceptions in the release of the media. That's aside from the possibility of lawsuits.

What a couple of dishonest jackasses. These children surreptitiously recorded this employee's voice, and posted it on Youtube after the employee made it clear their interaction was to remain private.

These are the types of "enthusiasts" that ruin everything for the rest of us that follow the rules and guidelines. Yes, I am interested and curious to all the ins and outs of all things amusement park related, but I'm the type to wait until the park executives show us themselves.

XS NightClub said:
Why does anyone think any company owning "abandoned" property would allow them to photograph/video their private property?
Especially a news story?

It would only encourage people to trespass and the company would only receive negative perceptions in the release of the media. That's aside from the possibility of lawsuits.

Even without images she still produced stories regarding the park and future development just using stock images that her production company had on hand. Someone would think they would allow it as a means of helping to control the narrative of said stories to present or at least spin them in a positive or the most positive possible position. Keep in mind our requests started in 2005 when the park still benefited from positive press. The focus of the requests and narritive of course changed as the situation evolved with GL.

Depending on where you live local news in Cleveland still shows images of the park for stories including drone footage at least three times (after the park closed, after demolition, and during the demo of the Big Dipper. So saying no to a request doesn't necessarily stop the story from happening just limits the company's ability to impact it as much as they could.

Sollybeast said:

These two not only did a lot of poking around, but took a ride down the funnel slide. How they didn't get caught is astounding.

This time of year the property really only has a few hourly security guards on property. Even in the old days of Six Flags and GL (04 till 07) December and January the property was a ghost town other then maybe 1 guard in security watching cameras. With the property not opening next year security may not even be there.

When I was there on closing day doing a informal reunion party with a bunch of ex-employees taking a final tour, Mr Sphen told us his last official day was December 31st. I imagine this would be the same for everyone else who didn't get placed at other properties.

Is Mr. Spehn retiring or going back to Cedar Point? He was always a great manager, I hope he didn't get axed because of this closure.

Nor do I, I really enjoyed working under that guy. He was a great person in operations, it'll be a shame if he's done.

He made it sound like he was moving on from CF. Not sure if it was voluntary or involuntary but that December 31st was his last day with CF.

He is done with CF, said he had no interest in driving from his home to CP. he was looking for something to do to avoid annoying his wife.

Splash landing is starting to be taken apart.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc_VMrljCkw
At 42:02 you can see the little slides laying in the wave pool. There's is also some other things being taken apart.

I wonder if it's all headed to Valleyfair

I believe that the slides are visible in the wave pool at 46:02, not 42:02. Regardless, that was a very intriguing video. I'd love to explore like that myself someday.

They are visible at both times. I got some spare time to watch the entire video and splash landing is completely taken apart. It's definitely going somewhere.

I hope that the the funnel slide from either WWK or Knott's Soak City will show up at CP Shores along with the 100' tall slide complex from WWK.