Time for a Soak City Expansion?

I think there is plenty of room for expansion in Soak City. The west side contains the biggest kiddie pool I've seen, along with the large rapid river...meaning slides could be built that meander through these attractions. Plus, someone said earlier, the last part of camper village can be used, which is a good chunk of space. Lastly, a remodel of the east side could be designed to add more than what is there currently.

Soak City was once a superior waterpark, but has really taken a back seat in the last 5-6 years in variety and new attractions. Hey, maybe since 2008 is the 20th year anniversary, we'll get some much needed improvements. I know, I'm looking too far ahead and 2006 isn't even here yet :)

*** Edited 3/22/2006 4:43:24 AM UTC by net***

I think that soak city should be moved off point, and the room be used for park expansion.

Soak city is a seperate gate anyway, and the park and soak city could use more room to expand.

Soak City and GLP's waterpark don't compete. Waterparks are almost purely for the locals and, in CP's case, for resort guests. People aren't traveling in large numbers just to try out a waterpark. Like it's been said a few times through this thread, waterparks are popping up everywhere. And many of them have cutting edge attractions, even in indoor waterparks. There isn't a reason to travel across state for any waterpark, unless that's your thing, which it isn't for most people.

That being said: SC does desparately need to be updated. And while a theme isn't needed per se, better decor and environment would be appreciated. Especially by those who need a little shade from time to time.

I wouldn’t say it desperately needs it. Look how long it has gone now without anything new (other then Splash Zone), and it hasn’t lost business. Soak City doesn’t really compete with any major water park, because the next closes is at GL. Like what was just said, Soak City’s main focus it Resort guests and locals. If they add something new, like a slide, its not going to get people from all over Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania to come and ride it. Its just going to be something new for the regulars to try. How many of you went to Soak City after Splash Zone opened? Probably not to many because you have played in one somewhere else.

There is nothing wrong with Soak City right now, it has just taken a back seat to Cedar Point for a while. Like net said, after 2007 is when I think we will see some new stuff and or a re-vamp. People on a website like this will always look for the negative, so they have a reason to want something new, but there really is no negative. It’s a water park that has lots of slides, is larger then most, and isn’t losing business. What’s wrong with that? The lack of flowers, bright colors, or to much cement on the midway isn’t going to push people away.

*** Edited 3/22/2006 5:48:45 AM UTC by 99er***

All I want to add is that when I went to SC last summer, it was empty... we were the only ones there, no joke.

I think the weather played a role on how empty it was though...

That will do it. But if it’s a hot sunny day in July, Soak City is packed to the brim.

We are resort guest three or four times a year,and we always go to the resort pools.We might have been in soak city 4 times over the last 10 years,and it's that way for allot of the resort guest mainly because there are water parks all over.I have also heard different resort guest making negative comments about having to pay extra ticket price just to get in the water park.But on the most part people staying at the resorts aren't worried about soak city,you can go to a good water park without coming to CP and staying at one of their resorts.

While a new slide or two and some nice landscaping and color won't bring in attendance just for SC from the surrounding states resort guests will be more likely to spend some one more night at the resort for Soak City because it isn't the same as it used to be, there's something new to try, something new to slide on.

Overall they need to lower their prices or get something new. I don't want to pay $30 when I can go to some place closer and better for $20.

Then don't go. Soak City might not be up to yours, or anyone else’s standards on here but there not exactly losing guests. If its not broke, don’t fix it. Look how long it was between the last Soak City addition and Splash Zone. The lack of anything new didn’t turn people away or lower attendance did it? Some of the people on here are talking as if Soak City needs to build something new to keep the crowds coming, well they don’t. The crowds are fine for Soak City right now.

And im not saying that they need to expand. I was saying my opinion, and that is why I am not visiting.

I would have to totally disagree with the comments about Soak City not really attracting resort guests. Every year that I go down (and stay more than a day) the family and I always end up going to Soak City. Plus, the girls that I end up talking to at SC say that they're staying at the HBs, or somewhere on Point. Soak City is highly conveninet, ie close to the hotel/beach/park, and for people that do stay the two days and buy the ride & slide combo, SC is very inexpensive; essentially a free bonus. Sure, SC isn't the best water park around, but it is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the park. So, I believe SC is doing just fine, although a few new rides and some general improvements would be nice.

-S. Eagle

99er, it isn't looking for the negative. An update doesn't mean millions in rennovations and all the brand spanking new water park attractions out there. It means having a waterpark that doesn't look tired and worn out.

And i think we agree that the waterpark by itself doesn't bring too many people to the resort or park. But that doesn't mean you neglect it either. If CP wants to have a top notch resort with top notch attractions and have people feel like their money is well spent they need to live up to the standards of the industry. And since there are waterparks all around (and a brand new one in Aurora) CP will be compared; and i think not so favorably. Is it a deal breaker? No. But it is a piece of the whole pie that isn't up to par... And if they want to go around telling everyone that they are the best park in the world then they have to live up to the boasting.

IMO.

And I agree that it needs some improvements as I said in an earlier post. But what I am trying to say is that what they have now is fine for the price. Soak City has a large number of slides, more the what most water parks have. Yet the cost of admission is still right around the same you will find for most water parks. Unless you compare to water parks that are included with amusement parks. It might look tired and worn out, but its not. You can’t really compare WWK to Soak City. One is new and the other is old. Of course Soak City will look worn out and bland, it would be like comparing Mean Streak to Hades. Soak City still has more slides and attractions then WWK. Most water parks don’t update often, or at least they didn’t until the past couple of years. Look how long it took PKI to update their water park. And if Six Flags haden't of sold GL, do you think their water park would look like WWK does now? You should compare Soak City to an older water park like The Beach. Its still old school down there.

gener said: If CP wants to have a top notch resort with top notch attractions and have people feel like their money is well spent they need to live up to the standards of the industry.

I agree. But right now and from when the last time Soak City was updated, they are doing fine. When was the last time you heard bad news about Soak City lacking in fun? They have plenty that keeps people coming back. Now if you were to not update Cedar Point for five or six years, you might lose some business. But its not that way with a large water park next to the worlds largest amusement park. If Soak City were on its own somewhere else in Ohio, then not updating it would greatly affect it. They (Cedar Point) don’t see the immediate need to jump into the water park race because there is no need to for them. They have set it on the back burner for now. Like someone said on the last page, after Cedar Point gets some more spotlight with the new attraction in 2007, then I’m sure we’ll see a major Soak City addition, or at least a new attraction. Their just focusing on Cedar Point right now.

*** Edited 3/24/2006 10:59:32 AM UTC by 99er***

What they really need at Soak City are restrooms next to the bar. It's very inconvenient to walk to the front of the park when nature calls. There is a grass field on the east side of the bar pool that would be perfect for two small restrooms.

I got to "There is a grass field...." and almost had to wonder where you were going with that.

Hey Pete, you could submit a comment card about this stating that you would love to quit peeing in the pool...

MrScott

Where would you rather spend your money, a water park that shows it's age and looks almost as bad asthetically as the old concrete donut baseball stadiums or a newer water park that is bright, colorful, and not only is fun, but looks fun? I would rather spend my money at the more colorful, better looking water park, which is exactly what SC isn't. The main colors, faded blue, black, and gray. That doesn't catch my attention, at least in a good way. Now a bright, vibrant-looking water park will catch my attention and hold it. I could never stop looking at Boomerang Bay as we drove by it like three times when I went to PKI, because it caught my attention and held it. Mainly because it was bright and it looked fun. Now SC does look fun, it just doesn't look as fun as it should.

I'm not calling SC a horrible water park, but just think about it. Where do people spend their money? Someplace colorful and eye-catching, or someplace that has dull colors and no vibrance? Obviously the place that looks better will get the business. People will notice the difference between water parks like SC and WWK, and they won't care that it is almost 20 years old. They want the same atmosphere wether the park is brand new or not. Soak City just doesn't seem to "radiate" compared to the newer, usually tropical themed, water parks (In my opinion).

Then go to Castaway Bay if it upsets you so much.

MrScott

It doesn't upset me, I was just stating my view. I'm not much of a water park person anyway.