Teen breaks into Geauga Lake and gets pictures ON the big dipper

Shawn Meyer said:

See this goes to show you that a decision needs to me made soon about the fate of Big Dipper. They just need to demolish it so people like this girl don't get hurt...

She said she likes to explore abandoned places. If Dipper wasn't there she would just find some other abandoned property to get hurt on. There's an abandoned "castle" walking distance from my house that they have to chase people out of occasionally.

No taker on the "they bought it to close" theory here. If Company A buys Company B intending to put B out of business, then it buys B and shuts it down; it doesn't pour in millions of dollars, manpower and infrastructure over several years.

In researching an article on the park that ran in ACE's magazine this year, I did come across a number of articles that made it pretty clear that many of the locals didn't like the park being there.

Putting on my speculating hat, I think that had the park just been left to chug away, it would still be open.

I say they just charge admission the way it is now for a tour site and they would make a profit.

Urban exploration, or urbex is very popular among photographers and photo enthusiasts. Geauga Lake is perfect for that crowd just like any other abandoned property.

I have so many mixed feelings about the closure of Geauga Lake. I loved that place and it was my favorite place to go during the summer. When I was a kid, Mind Eraser was the biggest ride there (I believe 1996). That era was great. The Wave wave pool was my favorite, along with Turtle Beach, Big Dipper, the Mirage, and the monorail.

When I heard about the closure, I was mad. The property could have been given a chance by another company who may have been willing to come in and give it a shot. That's where I get mad at Kinzel. They also said the attendance wasn't up to par, however, in 2007, I went quite a bit during the summer and I will say that the ride side was very packed each time compared to years prior.

What strikes me as odd is that they are willing to pay security to watch over property that has ZERO hope of reopening. I understand it's to keep trespassing to a minimim, but do something about that eyesore of a dump you left behind, and there won't be an issue.

It really breaks my heart seeing a park that holds so much nostalgia and memories now in shambles.

I thought they had a non-entertainment clause on the property, which is why no one attempted to reopen a park there.

I'm also convinced that the Paramount purchase (and debt) was the "reason" for closing a park that saw more business than Michigan's Adventure.

She has some interesting pictures but she sure falls into the dumb criminal category. Posting her name and mug on Buzzfeed sure makes it easy for Cedar Fair to prosecute her. I'm thinking there is a good chance they will make an example of her to discourage further exploration of the park by others.

The line where she is not revealing how she entered the park to discourage trespassing made me laugh, I guess it is "do as I say, not do as I do".

At this point, how much would it cost to just dismantle, refurb and rebuild it at CP to save a little face? They can market it as a classic and also show that they really did care after all. I know we already have have Blue Streak but would that be awesome to have 2 fun out and back woodies?

^Unfortunately Cedar Fair does not own Big Dipper, it was purchased by an unknown buyer during the auction. Also Big Dipper is dilapidated and probably worth nothing at this point moving forward. Years of abuse, foliage, and weathering, I'm surprised nothing broke while they scaled the ride.

Did anyone see my question at the end of page 1 yesterday? Please somebody answer me.

The blueprints may be in his posession, or even down at the local drawing office of that county, not sure. However it shouldn't be an issue as seeing a park down here (Stricker's Grove) has replicated a coaster from Coney Island in Cincy. It's a blueprint copy. That's a more legal question though,as I'm not sure what all the current owner of Big Dipper holds. All I know for sure is he owns the structure and everything related to it.

clevelander said:

At this point, how much would it cost to just dismantle, refurb and rebuild it at CP to save a little face? They can market it as a classic and also show that they really did care after all. I know we already have have Blue Streak but would that be awesome to have 2 fun out and back woodies?

I thought that would have been a great addition to the CP beachfront area. Granted, we did get Gatekeeper a few years later and no one is complaining. But an operational Big Dipper (with the same trains) on the old Disaster Transport site overlooking the lake would have been a nice tribute to the ride, park, and Ohio history. But Gatekeeper is pretty good too.

If it was going to happen, it would have been announced with the GL closure and been a 2008 or 2009 addition and the ride would never have been sold. I still think if in the closing announcement, they had done this, things would have gone over a little better with the way GL fans perceived Cedar Fair. At this point (despite what some of the butthurt extremists say on the GL Facebook fan page) the ride is likely a total loss, and it would be a recreation more than anything. What upsets me a little is that Cedar Fair did not at least store the trains somewhere indoors and away from the elements, and recent pictures I have seen show that they too would be a total loss due to years of sitting out in the Ohio elements. Which is one of those situations where I just sigh at some of the decisions Cedar Fair made (and continues to make) with the park and land.

Cedar Fair has no say in what happens with Big Dipper.

Oh goodness. I can't back this up, but I thought I read somewhere that the person who bought Big Dipper had a certain amount of time to figure out what he was going to do with it. After a few years of it still sitting on CF property, I thought the deal was that he forfeited his right to own BD, and it goes back to CF. I very well may be incorrect since I don't know what the details of the auction was. I just could have sworn I read that somewhere.

Shawn Meyer said:

Let's say that the owner of the Big Dipper decides to have the Big Dipper demolished. Would the owner have to be contacted for another park to duplicate a replica of Big Dipper to be built at another park? For example Holiday World?

As far as I know, anyone can build a "replica" at another park, so long as they do not claim it as an original.

For what it's worth: Bay Beach did buy the plans -- and rights to the name? -- of Zippin Pippin, and Knoebel's did the same for Twister.

I can see how some people may find some nostalgic value in Big Dipper, but I never thought it was that great of a ride. Villain on the other hand was a great ride, and I would love to see a replica of that built at CP.

Pete said:

I'm thinking there is a good chance they will make an example of her to discourage further exploration of the park by others.

I think that would be a very poor PR move.

Sorry Pete. I have to quote Dr Perry Cox on your comment about Villain.

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. You're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong.

Villain was a backbreaker at the bottom of the first drop.

Villain pre 2004 was awesome! Unfortunately it got too rough so quick. Big Dipper on the other hand was just content air time and an overall fun ride.