Which park(s) would you like to see join the Cedar Fair family?

For me, Kennywood, Six Flags Great Adventure or Hersheypark. But realistically, those probably won't happen.

Do you think Cedar Fair would do a better job with these parks or is it to have more to choose from with a platinum pass?

I think Kennywood could use some touching up and new rides and CF could help bring that in. They did a nice job with all the Paramount Parks. While more parks would mean more choices, I probably wouldn't visit them as much as CP since traveling isn't cheap. I was disappointed when they closed Geauga Lake, that's only about 45 minutes away from me. Kennywood is about the same distance in the opposite direction of CP, so I would probably go there. HP was a great park when I was there about 15 years ago. And if CF got SFGA they could reclaim the world's tallest coaster title.

I don't think CF should buy any other parks. CEDAR POINT is the only Cedar Fair Park I have been too. KI is 4 Hrs away from me. Cedar Point is only 25 minutes trip.

I think Kennywood has a decent selection of thrill rides. But more, Kennywood has a healthy respect for historical and variety of attractions. I'd be afraid Cedar Fair would immediately declare Noah's Ark and the like a safety hazard. Cedar Fair was apparently at a loss of what to do with Geauga Lake, in my own opinion, without being in direct competition with Cedar Point. My own solution would have been something like.....Idewild, which ironically Kennywood also owns but markets to families with small children. Cedar Point has evolved to mainly a high thrill park with a kiddie section. When our kids were small we didn't take them to Cedar Point because it was too expensive for not having enough family attractions and we wanted to ride things together. So we went to Idlewild and had a great time in a very lovely tree shaded atmosphere. I would also consider Kennywood a family park as well, though.

Cedar Point is our "home park" because we have a family place in Marblehead but we are also about 45 minutes away from Geauga Lake as we're in Medina county. We did go to Wildwater Kingdom a week ago for the first time. Stores were clearancing out at 70% off their entire selection. There isn't nearly as much there as Soak City and I don't think they've added anything. It was moderately busy but I had a bad feeling there will be an announcement this year. But it has been a very cool summer with the exception of a couple weeks in July.

Cedar Fair seems to be also corporatizing their parks in having very similar, if not the same, things. Boo Blasters on Boo Hill and Windseeker for starters. I liked it better when each park had their own unique attractions.

^ by "an announcement" for WWK, did you mean that you think CF will pull the plug on it? I know this summer has been a little cooler than normal and that will highly impact water park attendance. I haven't been up there in 10 years since it was a Six Flags park. But then again, I think in GL's final years the water rides seemed to be the bigger focus even before CF took over.

None. They have enough debt as it is.

Well since we are pretending here, I would love to see Lake Com pounce as part of the Cedar Fair chain. Just for the fact that Lake Com pounce is the oldest Amusement park in the country.

Thabto said:
^ by "an announcement" for WWK, did you mean that you think CF will pull the plug on it? I know this summer has been a little cooler than normal and that will highly impact water park attendance. I haven't been up there in 10 years since it was a Six Flags park. But then again, I think in GL's final years the water rides seemed to be the bigger focus even before CF took over.

Yes, I don't mean to start rumors, just an ominous feeling I got. The parking lot seemed dead but there was a decent amount of people inside. Just a few things that seemed odd. Soak City has plenty of rafts, we had to wait quite a few minutes for someone to give theirs up on the lazy river. The other option is to pay 12 bucks to rent two rafts, something unheard of at Soak City or a place like Kalahari. The employee there said it was busy and people were using all of them but in my own opinion there weren't enough to go around while Soak city has too much. Bottom line is, why are they making it unpleasant there for the customer? When was the last time they added anything? There are basically only two slide structures. I noticed the clearancing of stores, undated type items like flip flops and towels. Is this normal? We did have a good time there, though.

Since my visit I've been reading more about Geauga Lake and its demise. Lots of factors which I'm sure have been discussed and debated here and I've been forming my own opinions. I don't know if it's a touchy subject here since its forum is closed, I don't know, especially since Wildwater Kingdom does still exist.

I hope they don't give up the ship and do realize it's been a very cool summer. I think it was only 77 on the day we went, we really just wanted to go anyway.

I'd like to see them acquire Darien Lake and Eltch Gardens, but I would have mixed feelings if Kennywood were to be acquired because I fear that Cedar Fair would not treat the park as a national treasure, which in part it is. What a selection of classic rides and coasters combined with hip new stuff. My local people which are one hour away from Pittsburgh are just like Pittsburghers when it comes to it and the sports teams.

Kennywood's once old charm now looks tired and worn. The park has kind of lost it's niche over the past 10 years ago in my opinion. Instead of focusing on their old-time feel, they have tried to compete with Cedar Point, Dorney, and Hershey with their attractions. Kennywood is the nearest distance park to my location, but I would rather make the trip to Waldameer for the old-time park feel with a modern twist.

Geauga Lake

Lake Compounce is owned by Kennywood, too.

And I don't think Kennywood Entertainment owns any of its parks anymore. Just reading on wiki:

On December 11, 2007, Kennywood Entertainment announced that it would be selling all five of its amusement parks to Parques Reunidos, a Madrid, Spain-based company.[1] Since 2009, Palace Entertainment, the American subsidiary of Parques Reunidos, has taken over the role formerly filled by Kennywood Entertainment.

Maybe that's why Kennywood has lost some of its charm or seems worn? At least they didn't start ripping all the old rides out.

Darian Lake

3snoH un=l said:
I think Kennywood has a decent selection of thrill rides. But more, Kennywood has a healthy respect for historical and variety of attractions. I'd be afraid Cedar Fair would immediately declare Noah's Ark and the like a safety hazard.

YES. What a horrible feeling to think about Kennywood becoming Cedar Fair-ized. It's such a different experience than going to my home park, CP and I want it to stay that way. I can't help but think about what Dorney Park was at one time, but now it seems so generic. I still enjoy CF parks, and think they have plenty to offer....but I go to KW, Waldameer and Knoebels for an experience of something similiar to what I once got at CP, but not anymore.

Busch Gardens has been cutting back on a lot of expenditures lately, and you might just get their two parks into the CF lineup - especially since it would finally give CF a Florida property. The former Hard Rock park certainly looks ripe for gutting / relocating rides as well.

On the flip side, having CF purchased or merged into Disney or Universal would infuse a lot more quality, attention to detail, and originality into management - and we would finally see a long term plan especially for the smaller parks already in the chain that seem to always get the ugly ducking treatment.

Hard Rock Park was a flop both times it was opened. It would be a very risky investment even for an expert operator like CF.

I said...

"Hard Rock park certainly looks ripe for gutting / relocating rides"

Think of it like GL 2.0!

CF's smaller parks don't get the "ugly duckling treatment." They get the attention and support they need to continue to be successful.

I can't imagine any circumstance under which Disney or NBCUni would acquire a chain of amusement parks.

SteveH said:
"Hard Rock park certainly looks ripe for gutting / relocating rides"

So you're suggesting that Cedar Fair spend a huge chunk of money to acquire a park that has already failed twice, them move rides across the country, on the slim chance that a collection of recycled rides and attractions will have the appeal to tourists that a Hard Rock-themed park did not?