GAcoaster Posted November 7, 2007 Report Share Posted November 7, 2007 Press release from Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom: CEDAR FAIR ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTION FOR GEAUGA LAKE SANDUSKY, OHIO, September 21, 2007 – Cedar Fair Entertainment Company announced today that Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom in Aurora, Ohio, will become exclusively a water park attraction beginning with the 2008 season. “After four years of operating Geauga Lake as a combined water park/amusement park attraction, we have concluded that its future should be entirely as a water park,†said Dick Kinzel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. “Visiting Geauga Lake is a 119-year-old tradition in northeastern Ohio. That tradition will continue, but in a new and exciting way.†“Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom has been recognized as one of the finest water parks in the country,†Kinzel said. “Over the past three seasons, we have invested approximately $25 million to create and develop the premiere water park in northeastern Ohio. Since its opening in 2005, Wildwater Kingdom has been the park’s highest rated attribute.â€Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom attractions will include Tidal Wave Bay, a 30,000 square-foot wave pool featuring seven different types of wave patterns; Liquid Lightning, a 60-foot-tall tornado slide; Thunder Falls, Ohio’s tallest water slide complex; an activity pool; an action river; and a multi-story play structure. The park will also provide a catering facility and picnic pavilions for group outings and poolside cabanas will be made available for daily rental.Water parks are very important to Cedar Fair. In addition to parks where the water park is incorporated into the amusement park, the company owns and operates five separately gated water parks: three in California, one in Ohio (Soak City at Cedar Point) and one in Missouri. Kinzel added, “Water parks traditionally draw from a closer geographic market than amusement parks, and we believe Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom will continue to be successful in drawing visitors from the greater Cleveland, Youngstown and Akron-Canton areas.â€Geauga Lake’s 2008 operating schedule, admission pricing, group programs and other operating details will be announced at a later date. However, the water park season is traditionally Memorial Day to Labor Day.As part of the changeover to exclusively water park attractions, a number of the rides at Geauga Lake will be introduced at other Cedar Fair parks. The property not necessary for the operation of the water park is being reviewed for other uses and development. Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.†In addition to Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom, Cedar Fair owns and operates 11 amusement parks, five other water parks, one indoor water park resort, and six hotels. Cedar Fair also owns and operates Star Trek: The Experience, an interactive adventure located in Las Vegas, and operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, Calif. under a management contract. So, it looks like the equipment is being shipped to several parks in the chain. Here's what we know so far: Impulse Coaster: Going to Dorney as Voodoo SLC: Going to Michigan's Adventure as Thunderhawk B&M Floorless: Going to King's Dominion as Dominator Kiddie Rides: Going to Cedar Point Boomerang: Going to King's Dominion for the 2009 season Top Spin: Going to California's Great America as Firefall And, it now looks like the three woodies are up for sale: M&V Used Rides Page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsoxfan0810 Posted November 7, 2007 Report Share Posted November 7, 2007 I can see Cedar Point closing their Soak City and having Wildwater Kingdom and CP be the joint theme-water park for CF in Ohio. Just my thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted November 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2007 I think Soak City does well with all the resort guests who are staying on property. Honestly, I don't see WWK lasting more than another season or two unless things really turn around. Tickets for WWK are going to be about the same price they were for the combined GL/WWK, and if nobody came when there was MORE stuff, I can't imagine them flocking to the place with only half the stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 To see something truly sad, look at the photos of Geauga Lake's partially demolished entrance gate at News Plus Notes. It must be devastating to see if your home park was Geauga Lake. Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 In comparison to the photos above, here are some shots from June 2007 (the last season). Darker days ahead...... A sign of things to come: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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