Photo TR: Geauga Lake 7/23/2007

[sscamatt]

This is the first park we hit on a tour of some midwest parks. We went here in the morning, then drove to Cedar Point and stopped at Memphis Kiddie Park on the way.

 

Got to the park around 9:30am with a very small crowd:

 

Villian from the parking lot:

 

The entrance to the park still has a six flags feel with some addition of cedar fair trash cans:

 

There is a sign that tells patrons that rides have been removed (We got to ride X-flight as Firehawk at Kings Island later in the week):

 

The park was supposed to open at 10am, but we weren't let in until around 10:08. The first ride we rode was villian. This CCI would probably give a pretty good ride but is ridiculously rough and ruined with the Gerstlauer trains that they are running:

 

 

While taking this picture I was told that "picture taking up here is not allowed" What kinda rule is this?

 

Next we rode the Beaver Land Mine Ride. This is the same layout as the one at SFNE, but with a little bit different theming:

 

 

 

Next we rode the Double Loop, just about the standard in old arrow looping coasters:

 

Next we rode the Dominator, the parks B&M floorless:

 

 

 

 

Raging Wolf Bobs was still closed:

 

The HUSS Topspin was also closed today, but we saw maintenance there working on it:

 

The topspin here has some pretty awesome theming, and even a scary lady on a bed to go with it:

 

The Skycoaster at Geauga Lake is really short, it looks almost disproportionate:

 

Next up was Thunderhawk, when I hear the name "Thunderhawk", I think of an old wooden coaster, but nope, it's Geauga Lake's Vekoma SLC. Standard headbanging here:

 

 

Next up was the log flume, just about the least wet I've ever gotten on a log flume, but this is a good thing because I didn't wasn't to get wet. This was the longest line we waited in here, not because of length, but because of the poor capacity the ride was running at:

 

 

Geauga Lake has a pretty nice fountain, but nothing compared to many other parks:

 

On the climbing game you can see Steel Venom in the large picture behind it:

 

Next up was Head Spin, a Vekoma Boomerang with a twist: it was one of the smoothest ones I've ever been on:

 

 

 

The observation tower was closed, this whole section of the park seems to be almost deserted now that X-flight, Steel Venom and the old waterpark are no longer operational:

 

 

Next we rode the big dipper:

 

 

Here is X-Flight's old station:

 

 

And now for pictures of the old waterpark:

 

The weeds are growing in around the slides:

 

 

There are no fences to stop you from walking around the old waterpark, the restaurant in the middle of the old waterpark is still open so they let people walk to it, but it all looks very run down:

 

 

Old lazy river:

 

Old gift shop, when you are walking around this place, you really feel like your in an abandoned amusement park:

 

And then we walked across the giant bridge to the new waterpark side of the park, this walkway is very long and cuts right through the center of the lake, snapped some pics:

 

 

 

 

 

And now some pics of the waterpark:

 

Funny sign:

 

 

They don't make you carry your tubes up with you like some parks:

 

And tucked away in the back corner of the park is Dino Island II. It is a motion simulator ride that is on par with Back to the Future and probably cost the park just as much. The people pictured are about the only ones we saw while we were back here:

 

We left the park around 2pm. You can tell the when six flags owned the park they dumps tons of money into it. With the amount of money being spent on the new waterpark and cedar fair taking rides away I wouldn't be surprised if within the next few years this park becomes only water. Besides, Cedar Point doesn't have a floorless coaster.

 

If you would like to see larger sizes of the pictures, or some other pictures I did not include in this TR: http://www.pbase.com/sscamatt/geauga_2007_07_23

[kewlcoasterdude]

I was driving on hwy 70 in Ohio going towards Columbus yesterday, when I saw a Semi carrying two huge supports. Looks like coaster supports. Anyone know if GL has started removing anymore coasters? The semi could have been heading towards Indiana or Cinci.

[spaceace12]

Pictures don't work on here. But work on the link. Is the park usually this dead, is this a bad CF park?

[sscamatt]

I fixed the pictures, I linked them wrong before.

[spaceace12]

probably didn't want you to take apic in the station because they were going to play on thier cell phones and didn't want to be found out.

[TheRapidsNerd]

Thanks for the TR! Was neat to see this place, especially after living in Centerville for a few years and never even knowing about it.

 

Any ideas why management was skittish about taking off-ride tourist pics?

[mike541x]

Cool Tr. I wanna visit this place when I go back to Chicago next year.

[spaceace12]

Thanks for the TR! Was neat to see this place, especially after living in Centerville for a few years and never even knowing about it.

 

Any ideas why management was skittish about taking off-ride tourist pics?

 

I doubt it was management, more of ride ops not knowing the rules.

[Swoosh]

^No I was chastised by a suit over on the waterpark side for taking photos when I was there. He said that he was in charge of safety at the parks and that it was plainly stated that photos were forbidden in the waterpark and on rides and then he proceeded to lecture me on not taking photos on the rides or on the ride platforms on the ride side of the park. I had already been yelled at once at Big Dipper for taking a photo of the front of the train as it was coming in -- they did so over the PA on the station as well. WTF? It's not like I am taking the camera on board with me.

[spaceace12]

That sucks. Did you see a sign?

[dougstanton]

I was told I couldn't take pictures at SFGAdv. This policy has taken place at some parks. I am good friends with the ride supervisor of Kingda Ka. He told me that you are allowed to take pictures in the park but you can't take pictures of the roller coasters. It is a homeland security issue. Apparently last year there was somebody sitting near Chiller for quite some time taking pictures of it. There was never a train running. When questioned, he said he wanted to study the structure. Apparently, they now look at it as a terrorist plan. I can agree that roller coasters would be a place that terrorists may strike...but not allowing pictures is kind of ridiculous.

[spaceace12]

That is some crazy crap.

[sscamatt]

When questioned, he said he wanted to study the structure. Apparently, they now look at it as a terrorist plan.

 

Yes studying, maybe his dream is to become a structural engineer and he wants to build roller coasters.

[ms13]

Thanks for the photos.

I have to get back there soon.

BTW- Isn't that the old station for the monorail, not X-flight?

[XII]

The HUSS Topspin was also closed today, but we saw maintenance there working on it:

Weird, I was at the park that night and the Top Spin was open.

[sscamatt]

BTW- Isn't that the old station for the monorail, not X-flight?

 

It's hard to tell from the RCDB pictures, but I just figuired it was because it seems to fit perfectly. Did the monorail have dual loading stations?

[kidcoaster]

That Rule is Stupid. Homeland Security Risk my A$$. I wouldn't be surprised if soon they ban Cameras from most parks.

[Zero One]

Yes, that is a photo of the monorail.

 

X-flight's station is gone.

[mcjaco]

^ What he said. That was the old monorail station, not X-Flights.

[John Peck]

The Monorail did not have a dual loading station. It did, however always have a counter service and picnic area underneith.

 

Also, it was not wheelchair accessable.

 

Looks like you had a decent trip.

[Swoosh]

That sucks. Did you see a sign?

 

No there is no sign posted which I pointed out to him. He told me to "not get smart or he'd throw me out of the park"

 

I honestly thought about saying "it would be a bigger punishment to make me stay" but didn't feel like pressing my luck -- not like I stopped taking photos anyway once he was gone -- dude I am promoting your park with my galleries, and trust me, you NEED all of the FREE advertising you can get.

[coastakid]

I was at Geauga Lake that night too! I went with my camp (Thrill Coaster Tours) and we arrived at around 6:30 and stayed until closing. I got all the credits which I thought were all very good

[verticalzero]

Shame they can't use the old waterslides in the New water park area, seems a total waste of money just to leave them to rot, when they can be sold on E-Bay or give them to another Park to use.

 

That is is a daft rule to have in a park, I have a Sony Cell-phone with a 3.2 mega pixcel camera. Don't need to take a normal size with me.

[CoasterNut17]

Nice TR! I also got yelled at for taking pictures while walking down the exit ramps. I had no clue that you could walk right into the old waterpark. Pretty cool! When I was there, I got a picture of Steel Venom's old station, and saw it sitting in the waterpark parking lot. It was fun. Hope you had a good time!

[Swoosh]

Shame they can't use the old waterslides in the New water park area, seems a total waste of money just to leave them to rot, when they can be sold on E-Bay or give them to another Park to use.

 

We were told at Coaster EXT that the slides were supposed to have been sold to some outside company that is in South America or something like that. Anyway, that company was going to come and take them down for free (as in GL not paying for it) but for some reason they were having problems getting insurance and yada yada. Sounded like a comp out to me, but so did most of his speeches at the Q&A