What should Geauga Lake build in the future?

I'd love for them to take out Mind Eraser, or whatever its called now. Its placed in a horrible spot and I feel it takes away from Steel Venom's presence.

Instead of building a new coaster, they need to get the ones they have in better condition. Steel Venom seems to always have problems. Villain is running rougher than any woodie that I've ever ridden, and that is including SOB. They need to fix that ride before I ever ride it again. It used to be a great coaster. The ride itself would benefit from adding PTC trains as well.

I really think they need to do a better job at marketing the park. Half the people I work with when I told them I am going to Geauga Lake thought that all of the rides were gone and the whole park was nothing but a water park. And I live and work about 30 mins away from the park. A lot of the GP I have talked to about the park also thought the same thing. A lot of people are under the assumption that once Six Flags skipped town, they not only took the animals but the rides as well.

As poorly run as SFWOA was, It did offer something that the other parks in Ohio did not. There is nowhere else around here where you can feed animals, go on waterslides and roller coasters all for one admission. There really was something for everyone and I think that is lacking now. Like CF has said, the really underestimated the draw the animals really were. Everytime I went to the park, I spent at least 2 hours just enjoying the animals, and I used to go 10-15 times a year. When I went this year for Coaster EXT, I really had to force myself to stay the entire day because I was bored. When I needed a break from riding, I would head to the animal side, eat at the BBQ place that really really needs to come back, take in an animal show or two. Feed the sea lions. Watch the dolphins, walk through the aquarium, get my girlfriend a pearl from the divers ect.

Aside from the people that worked there, I really think I used to enjoy the park much more than I do now.

I think CF needs to figure out a way to create a niche at these individual parks. The layout at Geauga is very poor, although it looks pretty cool when approaching your first time from the highway. I don't think they should rip anything out, since losing rides never gives you fans and doesn't create more business. See what CF has done to WOF in ripping out two of the most popular rides over there. People are not happy and still talking about it 10 years later.

I think the water park is a great niche, but I'm wondering if shows or something more family oriented might bring people out more. I believe GL and CP are both weak on the quantity of shows they have. The other option is to do more themed rides as in indoor, dark rides, scare rides, or whatever. This might even allow them a longer potential season past when CP closes.

One thing I miss from WOF is the concerts they use to bring in every few weeks prior to being purchased by CF. They were usually has beens, but it was still fun to go out and see them. I think a focused concert series would draw people from the surounding areas, yet wouldn't really compete for CP dollars.

I actually really like the concept of SFWOA. Too bad CF doesn't do animals. I loved the wildlife side.

I think that Geauga Lake needs to build a racing coaster similar to Gemini. I enjoy the atmosphere of Gemini (when they are properly staffed to open both sides that is) as well as that rather large drop towards the end where it looks like you're going to go head first into the scaffolding.

See, the problem is that too many are viewing this from a "what does Geauga Lake have to do to keep/bring in more enthusiasts?"

That would be bad business. Even the parks that "cater" to the enthusiast community (Knoebel's, Holiday World etc...) really only make that a small, small fraction of their SOP.

I understand the thoughts of "what can they do for us?" because, when you're used to going to events or dealing with PR geared toward coaster lovers, it's easy to only know that side of amusement parks. I'm not saying it's a crime by any means, but it's a small fraction of how the business truly operates.

I agree that dark rides would be a great addition to GL. I wonder if there's any scraps of CP's pirate ride left that can be sent that way?

What I have noticed about GL when I visit is the differences between the employees from GL and CP. When I worked at the point we had high standards. No sitting around. We had to move fast. No crowding around the controls. Man! I go to GL and there are employees without their shirts tucked in, no checking lapbars until they finish telling a story to the control person. Things like that. Michigan adventure is a little better as far as the employees. How are the other non-paramount CF parks employees. Quick? I think the employees at GL aren't working with the same high standards that CP does. For crying out loud, I was written up when I was the TL @ blue streak for opening the ride 2 minutes late.

Not sure if your comments were directed at me exit, but my suggestions were from a GP point of view and not an enthusiast. My suggetions were first to add better food choices, waterpark expansions, clean up old water park and place a new ride there (not necessarily a coaster) and then, if attendance is up and after all that other stuff is done, then consider the possibility of adding a new coaster.

The only coaster I ususally see with barely any line is Head Spin. Maybe it could be moved to a better spot, but I don't see removing it all together.

Yea,

I forgot to mention food. The food choices are really bad. I would rather pack a lunch than eat in the park. The basic choices in the park are...

hot dogs

chicken fingers

pizza

burgers and fries

tacos.

And thats about it.

Back to the rides.

How would you expect them to bring more people to the rides side of the park, if they do not add anything new to it every once and a while? The only new thing that I can think of that cedarfair has added to the ride side is the 3 point chalenge.

I also dont think that the park is "cramed together", but I do think it is a poor design.

As far as the service in the park goes, it has improved a lot, but still needs some work. An example is this.

We were standing in a long line for cotton candy a few weeks ago, and when we finaly got up to the window, we then knew why the line was so long. The workers were all talking on there cell phones and not really paying much attention to the job at hand.

There was another worker there, but she was just leaning up against the counter looking at the time on her phone because she just wanted to go home.

I really like geauga lake, but there is still much improving that has to be done. And I dont think that taking the rides out will solve that problem. You have to remember that water parks will do only as well as the weather. So if its too cool to go into the water park, you can go and ride some rides.

And dont forget...not everyone likes waterparks, just like how everyone dont like coasters.

Nah, it really is crammed together. Someone tried to compete with Cedar Point and jam it all into a plot of land the side of Frontier Trail.

Fury, nothing was directed at you, but more at the comments like "how will they ever get people to the rides side if they don't add new stuff?". The answer to that is easy. Make it enjoyable to be over there again by un-cluttering everything, and bring back some of the charm that old time GL used to have.

The point is that there's so much going on in such a small area, that was never intended to be built up the way it is. It's got no "flow" to it anymore. It's like looking at someone's living room that has 4 couches, 2 recliners and a plasma TV strung all over, and no matter where you sit, it still sucks.

Really, bringing back The Wave would make my day, but that's just nto going to happen. :)

They did bring back the wave....look at the new wave pool.

And you said it youself..

The point is that there's so much going on in such a small area, that was never intended to be built up the way it is. Really, bringing back The Wave would make my day, but that's just nto going to happen. :)

Poor design. Its not that the attractions that they have are bad, its just where they are built.

If you guys think that ripping out a bunch of rides is going to help the park, your crazy. Thats like if cedarpoint tore out iron dragon, disaster transport and mine ride, because the lines are not 2 hours long.
*** Edited 9/15/2006 4:10:19 PM UTC by crazy horse***

If you dont like cramed parks, then I suggest you stay away from indiana beach. I dont care if the park is cramed or not, just as long as I have a good time.

I never said it was anything less than poor design. The park cannot and will not be like Cedar Point, and like it or not, if that means freeing up some space by relocating some of their coasters to other parks, I'm all for it.

Indiana Beach is great, the stuff that's crammed there actually seems like it belongs. Geauga Lake, ehh.. not so much.

I'm in the camp that removing rides is not going to help GL at all. Cedar Fair already upset the people of that town a couple of times already and it's only been 2.2 seasons they have had control? I wouldn't think it would be wise to tick off the locals. They made them mad at first for getting rid of the Sea World side, then with the whole fiasco of not going to honor free tickets given out to the kids for reading, even though they eventually did. I just really think that removing a bunch of rides is not going to do anything but make the locals mad.
*** Edited 9/15/2006 7:01:03 PM UTC by Coasterfury***

exit, that was a really good analogy about the living room with all the chairs and couches. It fits exactly. But there has to be a better way to de-clutter the place than by tearing out marquee rides. I for one think planting more shade trees would break up the sight lines and make the visual perspectives fit the environment better. (Wow was that a wonky sentence.) Except for the walkway around the lake and a little bit of the western-themed area, there simply aren't enough trees, enough greenery, to make the place seem pleasant.

The problem is, some of their marquee rides aren't so marquee when you're advertising it as a family atmosphere.

They're just tacky and they fit in better under the "looney" atmosphere that Six Flags presents as a chain. Mind you, I'm not complaining about Six Flags because that's too cliche in this community, I'm simply saying that their cartoony style doesn't match at a cedar fair, or other park.

See, I miss the days where the "big" rides at Geauga Lake were the (black with red and yellow trains and no pre-lift tunnel) Double Loop, Big Dipper and Corkscrew. The atmosphere was different back then.
I realize that it's never going to be the same, but at least they're trying.

A day at Geauga Lake used to revolve around grilling, picnicing, and spending time in "The Wave" - Say what you want about Tidal Wave Bay, but it's no "The Wave". I used to get so excited when I went there for a company picnic where I knew we would spend all day in the water park (which, btw had more to do back then too..) and would ride the rides until long after dark, all the lights would be on, and you could see the Sea World fireworks show from across the lake. I remember leaving, sad and worn out and anxiously waiting the next visit.

Now, I'm there, annoyed, and gone in 3 hours or less. The waterpark is coming along, but there needs to be way more to do. The ride side is just so, cluttered and nothing like it used to be.

Change is good, but when it's that rapid and not done very well, it just pisses people off.

I agree with the statement about the animals. There was a really nice blend going on in Northern Ohio when there was the mega-thrill park, the family ride park and the animal park. There was actually a reason for a family to visit all three because they were all different. Once Six Flags came in, they destroyed the balance. First they tried to compete with CP, then they kicked out Sea World. Sea World was a key component to the equation - and not just beacuse of the animals - but because of the brand association with "Sea World."

Once it became Six Flags, people just assumed it was all rides and no amimals. Maybe CF should rebrand the park and advertise it as "new?" Maybe that would help eliminate the stigma the park has. I know no one in my family would go because of its reputation back in the day.

How quickly people forget.

First off i can't say how much Avalanche Sam is off base. First the market hasn't changed in the past six years, certainly not enough to change the fact that GLP held their own and can do so again.

Yes the park has serious design issues, but it always had those. Yes the park is seriously worn in certain areas, but again it always was a little rough around the edges.

The real issue here isn't just one or two things, but i think one can narrow it down to three major factors.

1) The culture of GLP as a work place was lost completely during the 2001 season. The park was flushed of all talent that had been a part of the successful years leading into the purchase of Sea World. The management staff running the park had a minimum of 8 to ten years at that park. And seasonal supervisors generally were working on a same tenure. This was a place that sucked people in and didn't let them go. People chose to work their even when they had better offers in the real world. People chose to work at GLP instead of finishing college. It had managers that made people want to run though walls. That is gone now. And CF needs to find a way to replace it.

2)In 2000 SFI decided to rise all price points to be in line CP. This priced the park outside of its main market as the affordable park in the region. Yes the park was aiming to compete with CP, and maybe if things turned out different it could have happened. But the truth of the matter is that the park imploded in 2001 and the product went down the tube, but the prices stayed as high as before. Now you have an over priced product that most people really don't want.

And regardless of how some people want to remember the past, SWO was not a concept that was winning Ohioans over. Sea World was a sinking ship when it was sold and there is no reason to believe that would change if the best company around couldn't hold onto its share. The years leading into the last season at SWO was a steady decline in attendance. Add in that they were loosing money and it's a simple equation. The point is that animal parks just don't have the draw in our region. And it's a tough prospect running an animal park in a seasonal market in the first place.

3)The park turned its back on the things that made it successful. Affordability, the waterpark, season pass holders and (the big one) company/group picnics. The bread and butter. With the company picnics the food department more than doubled its gross revenues. It was a responsible way to "give away the gate" and get the people in to spend more money on games and such.

Bottom line is that there is no reason to scale back this park. There is reason to return to proven models and methods that created a park that the locals think about with fondness.

And i think the park would have been better had it never purchased Sea World. They (SFI) would have been better off letting it get sold to developers.

Don't forget, there are a LOT of families and companies that REFUSE to do anything at Geauga Lake after the union fiasco when the water park was being constructed. You can't mess with unions like that and expect to recover all that quickly. All the more reason to rebrand the park something else.

Like exit said though, one of GL's biggests draws was the company picnics. Since a lot of those are gone, attendance has declined.

gener, CF has already admitted that they underestimated the draw of animals at that park. Sea World Ohio may not have been as popular or drawn in as much money as their other year-round parks, but it definitely wasn't going bankrupt. The main reason they sold is because Six Flags forced them to. Sea World's land contract said they couldn't build coasters because it would directly compete with Geauga Lake. Since they had no intention of ever building coasters back then, they had no problem with that. But, when they changed over to the "Adventure Park," they needed coasters. Six Flags wouldn't let them, so they bailed on the park. There was a really great article on this somewhere, but I can't seem to find it now.

I know I am going to get burnt at the stake for this, but I must preface this comment with the fact that I am huge supporter of Cedar Fair..and I know that all good things come with time.

However.....I did take advantage of the Cedar Point passholder appreciation day where I could get in and I could also bring a friend for free. Granted I went Sunday and it was raining lightly (drizzle) on and off all day, but I don't think that has influenced my evaluation.

I took my sister as the "friend" and I should start off by saying that she is nowhere near the coaster maniac I am, but she knows a great ride when she sees one. We both went in knowing that Cedat Point has spoiled both of us, and we knew not to expect a mind-blowing experience, but just to had a lot of fun on some decent rides, and enjoy a family atmosphere. I believe that we spent a total of about an hour and a half, and we were so disappointed with Geauga Lake, we left and went to Cedar Point for the remainder, where she had to pay admission to enter.

I won't even go on about the fact that we only got 1 ride in and that was on X-Flight which sent a total of 5 successful trains in an hour and managed to break twice before we got on,.....then broke again for the very next train sent after we unloaded. There were only 3 coasters running while we were there (around 1pm), and as earlier stated, the ride-ops were unkept, impolite, and clueless. There couldn't have been a thousand people in the entire park that day.

My main purpose for this post, however, is how both of us were horrified at the condition of the park in general. The area under x-flight is over-grown with weeds mixed in with the rocks they have as decoration. There was an area painted blue on the blacktop for some purpose (unknown to me due to its condition) which was all cracked and faded. And also as earlier stated, there really is a lack of trees and "greenery" Yes....the blacktop is very very trashy and the edges are peeling away.....concrete is the definite way to go (although it would cost about as much as the park is worth to do). Food selections were poor, and there really is no effort to impress guests....entheusiast or not.

I used to go 10 years ago when it was a better than average park, and to see it this way absolutly breaks my heart. Even though it is a little further than half way to Cedar Point for me, I don't believe I will ever return and subject myself to the aggrivation of that place.
*** Edited 9/16/2006 2:36:42 AM UTC by 1 cedr pt***