The Rotor Man?

When I was little (I'm now 23) there was a guy at Geauga Lake that rode the Rotor nonstop from open to close. He stood behind the door when riders would exit and enter. He was there for years, and had a season pass. He seemed to be mentally challenged to some degree, and very shy. Does anybody else remember this guy?

Yes I remember him. They didn't make him get off either. I don't know if this next part is true or not but, I was told he was a school teacher an that he was there every day during summer vacation.

Yea I remember him too. When they got rid of the rotor he went over to the haybayler and rode that nonstop.

It seemed like he was always trying to hide behind the door in between ride cycles; as if they were going to kick him off if they found him.

This guy makes me smile.

Fred is a good guy. He takes a little while before he'll talk to you but once he opens up. He's a really nice guy. He's seen ALOT of history at that park.

Fred is a good guy once you talk to him he will talk your ear off i met fred about ten years ago he was very shy then after l had chatted with him he would talk to me all time i just recently seen him at conneaut lake park back on may 27 he was riding the blue streak ,l asked him why he wasn't at Geauga Lake he replied and said that he had bought a pass got a map, saw they removed the fairy boats so he was upset and returned his pass and told me that he would not be returning to any park in ohio because cedar fairs own them , he has a pass a conneaut lake park and will be traveling to other parks in PA

What's does he have against Cedar Fair?

MrScott

Their wooden rollercoasters.

;)

Even Shivering Timbers?

MrScott

OK, so not ALL their woodies.

I operated the Rotor in the late 80s/early 90s and knew Fred quite well. He was harmless. He wasn't hiding behind the doors so much as he was keeping out of the way so as to not disturb anyone getting on or off.

You could often find Fred wearing a yellow rain poncho...even if it was sunny outside. People, usually kids, tended to make smart a$$ comments about him but he was a fixture at the park.

Fred is rumored to be at Conneaut now riding Blue Streak all day.

Last year he spent alot of his time on the Ferry Boats. Probably why he won't come back.

I don't understand how everyone just accepts this guy and is OK with it. I'm not trying to judge the guy, but I wouldn't call this normal behavior, regardless of how swell he might be.

Jeff,

Almost every park I've been too has someone like this. GL had Fred "The Rotor Man" .. CP has John "Mr. Skyward".

Yeah, and he's not particularly right either. What's your point?

I completely agree, and like I said before about some of the "power-enthusiasts", they're like little kids. They seem to think that everyone at school will think they are really awesome because they spent their summer ridding the paddleboats or something.

I'm not saying they're not nice people, but there's just something just off in their heads.

-Josh

I'm not saying he is "right" but I think he is harmless. My mother is a behavior psychologist. She has dealt with some pretty sick people over the years.

If this guys "abnormal" behavior is riding the Rotor all day then society has one less thing to worry about.

Yes, but what happens when these outlets are taken away from these people? Does society then have something to worry about?

Jeff was just pointing out that if you saw these people outside of a park and they were walking all over town pushing a shopping cart you would think differently about them.

Just because they are in a amusement park does not automatically make them harmless.

-Tambo (who knows Mr. Skyward from the late 80's at Daly's Pub)

I don't think most people "pushing a shopping cart" are dangerous. They make a lot of people feel uncomfortable, but they aren't dangerous.

I knew Fred for six years and he probably only talked to me for a total of one hour in all that time. But, I certainly didn't fear him. Heck, a one legged man could have outrun the guy.