What should Geauga Lake build in the future?

I just really want CF to clean up the old waterpark area. That is a very nasty section of the park. That makes the park look trashy or at least that part of the park. I agree with the person about the food choices in the ride side. The food is sub-par.

I agree, the blacktop does look trashy. I feel like I'm at a county fair or something. I also think landskaping would help a lot too.

Move Headspin and Thunderhawk to MiAdv. Kill the monorail. Move some of the flats to the path behind RWB. Build a sky-ride across the lake or some sort of train or updated monorail to transport guests. Assuming they ever get the large crowds back that is. I would really love to see this park make it.

I would pretty much never advocate tearing out major rides without replacing them, especially roller coasters. Even the GP will notice negative changes like this, and vote with their feet accordingly. Think about this: would you rather visit Geauga Lake with X-Flight, Villain and Thunderhawk, or without? I thought so. Even if a ride is crappy, it's still better than not having anything but a grassy knoll. Personally I only ride X-Flight once a year, just on principle. Would I prefer a better ride? Yeah. But I'm glad it's there. And I suspect that this holds even more true with the GP, who are less discerning about whether Dominator is better than Steel Venom, etc. To them it's a ride...big, colorful, impressive.

I don't think GL will be getting any major dry rides in the next three years. They'll be lucky to get a used flat like Calypso. I see Cedar Fair continuing to build up the water side, making that the focus of the park. It fits a simple formula: CP: steelies, KI: woodies and themed rides, GL: water rides. The ride side will be lucky to hold its own in the interim.

As for what I'd personally like to see put in, I'd say a spinning mouse or some type of novel dark ride.

No, I'm not saying to remove the rides because they are crappy.

I'm saying remove them because there's way too much crammed into the tiny little space that place takes up.

Back in the day, there were 2 distinct amusement park experiences in the area, both positive. One was a "family day", usually a picnic or a company event, and the other was the place you went with your church or school groups to ride "the big rides".

Unfortunately, in the late 90's, someone thought it was a good idea to try and compete with the park that had the big rides, and started taking the quiet little family place in that direction. The biggest problem was, it was all thrown together in the cluster - that we all know as Geauga Lake. What we see now is exactly the downfall of a lot of businesses, rapid expansion. They blew up so fast, no one even knew what hit them. Poor planning and design, and a not-so-keen eye on future growth, is responsible for all of this mess.

I love seeing Snoopy tied in with GL now, and I love what they're attempting to do with the place, however I just don't see myself being all that interested, or having a good time, until some of the mess that was left behind is dealt with.

Anyone think the park would have been better under Six Flags if they did the massive ride additions AFTER they purchased the Sea World side?

I agree sunfire.

Ensign Smith said:
IThink about this: would you rather visit Geauga Lake with X-Flight, Villain and Thunderhawk, or without?

I'd rather have it without. I rarely ride those coasters, and don't see a need for them. As much as people think I've been bashing the park, I think it it going in the right direction by focusing on the water park. There are two far better amusement park within a 3 hour drive from GL (Kennywood and Cedar Point), and only one decent waterpark (yes, I think Soak City is pretty good).

The waterpark is where GL shines, and where they should focus their investments. My idea for a revamp would be to tear out Crap Corner completely, and move the front gate back to under the Big Dipper. That would create a wonderful atmosphere, and it would move the parking lot back to its old location. It would also allow for more expansion on the Bainbridge side, next to the shopping center (where there wouldn't be noise issues), if the demand was ever there.

Keep up the good work with the water park, and shrink the rides side. That is the park's key to survival!

-Sam

I don't think they should just give up on the ride's completely. I do think the waterpark is great but I do like the variety of coasters as well.

Yeah, you can say that Headspin is nothing special now, but it has its' place in the park. I think it fits in because it's not a major coaster, but not a junior coaster either. There needs to be some that are in between. Why get rid of Thunderhawk? I have had nothing but excellent rides on it. Lots of fun. The main problem with it is the trains look terrible.

I respect your opinion on the park, Sam, since you know a lot about GL. I just don't want to see any of the coasters go. If not for the coasters, I don't think there is enough to do on the rides side anyway. Last year on my first visit, I went exclusively on the rides side and had rode every coaster and major flat I wanted to and was done by six or seven. I felt no reason to stay any longer. Usually, I like to get night rides in on coasters, but I'm not sure if any of them are even worthy of staying for like I do the Beast.

e x i t english said:
No, I'm not saying to remove the rides because they are crappy.

I'm saying remove them because there's way too much crammed into the tiny little space that place takes up.

Back in the day, there were 2 distinct amusement park experiences in the area, both positive. One was a "family day", usually a picnic or a company event, and the other was the place you went with your church or school groups to ride "the big rides".

Unfortunately, in the late 90's, someone thought it was a good idea to try and compete with the park that had the big rides, and started taking the quiet little family place in that direction. The biggest problem was, it was all thrown together in the cluster - that we all know as Geauga Lake. What we see now is exactly the downfall of a lot of businesses, rapid expansion. They blew up so fast, no one even knew what hit them. Poor planning and design, and a not-so-keen eye on future growth, is responsible for all of this mess.

I love seeing Snoopy tied in with GL now, and I love what they're attempting to do with the place, however I just don't see myself being all that interested, or having a good time, until some of the mess that was left behind is dealt with.

Ironically these "people" were once Cedar Point employees. So I feel that the Funtime ERA was the best pre-CF. *** Edited 9/14/2006 9:03:16 PM UTC by Villainboi***

I agree.^

I think stripping out major rides just to make the place look a little less 'cluttered' does not make business sense. If you want better atmosphere, plant a few more trees, get rid of some redundant games, put up more fountains and stuff. A nice face-lift goes a long way. The new picnic shelters were a good move. Personally I wouldn't mind some sort of quiet path with some decent landscaping and benches somewhere.

But don't rip out your big attractions -- they were GL's bread and butter once upon a time, and they may yet be again, someday. I do agree with Avalanche Sam that the waterpark route is probably the best way for GL to go, for now. But with the plethora of impending indoor waterparks and every little podunk park seemingly sporting a waterslide section, Wild Water Kingdom is not going to be enough to carry GL in future decades.

I just don't see Geauga Lake as a Rides park anymore. When you have a park with some of the world's best coasters an hour and a half away and a park with some of the best classic rides about two hours away, I don't see people going to GL just to ride the rides (except for people like us).

They are nice to have, and can be somewhat of a draw, but instead of having 10 coasters, with half of them being either mediocre or in only fair condition, why not have five great coasters, and the region's best waterpark?

In my opinion, the waterpark IS the park's future. Cedar Fair is not going to have them compete against their flagship, and anyone who thinks it should is out of their minds.

The park is badly in need of some concrete, paint, and just basic infrastructure, but it is not in need of any more major rides. While I am not the biggest fan of Cedar Fair (like I once was), I think they are at least doing SOME things right, and one of those things is shifting Geauga Lake's focus from rides to waterpark!

-Sam

I am just wondering has the Steel Venom opened yet because it is one of their best rides

It will not re-open until next year.

VillainBoi, I was actually talking about the Premier Parks ownership, not the ex-CF FUNTIME owners.

Sam, I agree, I've always seen GL as a Waterpark, though.

Bring Sea World back. :)

I think you meant to say "Bring sexy back" as in, have a JT concert in the snoopy ampitheatre.

edit: typo ::shakes fist a tim::

If I come to the carribbean, I'm bringing Jen.

*** Edited 9/15/2006 2:26:09 AM UTC by e x i t english***

What's an "amipthetre?"

If I wanted to bring sexy back, I'd just invite exit to the Caribbean. :)