Geauga Lake Discussion Thread

[ebl]

Who knows? Maybe it'll end up at Knott's or Great America to replace Greased Lightning. Yeah, SFMW---er, SFDK---has V2, but they're not any further apart than SFMM with its Batman--The Ride and Knott's with its Silver Bullet.

 

Eric

[kraxleRIDAH]

^ Is Greased Lightnin's footprint still open at Great America? That's a thought. I don't think it's likely it will go to Great America considering V2 is at Discovery Kingdom, but then again, V2 was altered. I suppose they could pull it off.

[ebl]

I don't think Great America has put anything in GL's old spot. Also, as I said, SFDK is at least as far from PGA as SFMM is from Knott's, so the two parks having similar rides shouldn't be a problem (at least in my opinion).

 

Eric

[RollerC]

I also heard you just made that up.

 

 

Really?

[itsme102]

If this coaster does go to Dorney. I pray it doesn't replace Laser. It's still a very thrilling ride. I'm in the same group as Derek as I grey out on those loops as well. IMO it's a much better ride than Hydra: The Dissapointment.

All other rides aside, I would certainly welcome an impulse coaster.

[kraxleRIDAH]

IMO it's a much better ride than Hydra: The Dissapointment.

 

Haha. That's a funny one. Normally, I cringe at cheese, but for some reason I laughed at that one.

[fergusonat]

My question is...why on earth is Cedar Fair tearing this already lacking park apart? Steel Venom was the only other decent coaster at the park besides Dominator of course

 

[itsme102]

^^ I know that was really cheesy, but seriously, I was expecting so much more out that ride. I can think of 50 better things to put in that perfecly good plot of land. Oh well....

[speedracer]

^ Is Greased Lightnin's footprint still open at Great America? That's a thought. I don't think it's likely it will go to Great America considering V2 is at Discovery Kingdom.

 

Would be great for us that remember how awesome the original V2 was before it's castration. Tidal Wave's (will always be TW to me!) old spot still sits empty, but hopefully CF will be wiser than to put this in GA.

 

GA's gone long enough now without a new coaster, let alone one with a decent capacity and ride length. While this would be a nice addition for a smaller park, GA desperately needs something of more substance than yet another short low-capacity gimmick coaster.

[RollerC]

Because they can? They expect to pass the 700,000 mark this season but with X-Flight out and alot of other unimproved things, they won't. Be sure to catch a ride on it this season because this may be the last season that Steel Venom is there.

[ebl]

^^ That's part of the reason why I haven't been to PGA since 1999. Besides Stealth (about which I've heard more bad than good and never rode anyway), the park hasn't had any major rides put in. So for me, there's no incentive to drive 400 miles to visit.

 

Eric

[speedracer]

^ haven't been in 6yrs myself, no incentive for me either (and I only have to drive 10 miles!).

[BarryH]

If I didn't need to Double Loop credit, I probably wouldn't consider visit Geauga Lake.

[RaptorBoyASU]

Honestly, I think they're just trying to turn this park into the model it used to be successful with. A small regional park, with lower admission, and a kick butt water park.

 

I grew up 30 min from Cedar Point, and we went almost every year. At the same time, we also made trips to Geauga Lake and Wyandotte lake.

 

Why? They had the better water parks, their admission was about 1/2 of CPs (It was $12 when I was a kid vs CP's $28, and when there's 12-14 going, that's a big factor), and it was small enough that you could do the whole park in less than a day.

 

I think this is a move by CF to make the park profitable again. Remove some rides, build up the water park, make it a picnic destination for companies, and improve the guest service by only keeping the best workers you have. And what better way than removing two of the most expensive coasters to operate and maintain.

 

The park was successful back in the 80s and early 90s with just 4 coasters (Big Dipper, Double Loop, and Corkscrew......later RWB). This park is about being a much cheaper alternative to Cedar Point. The water park was always the main draw anyways.

 

I know they're "ruining" the park from a coaster enthusiast perspective. But from a business perspective, it makes a lot of sense.

[kraxleRIDAH]

^ Is Greased Lightnin's footprint still open at Great America? That's a thought. I don't think it's likely it will go to Great America considering V2 is at Discovery Kingdom.

 

GA desperately needs something of more substance than yet another short low-capacity gimmick coaster.

 

I don't see where Great America has the available real estate to put in anything more than a "short low-capacity gimmick coaster." I mean, this park has 8 roller coasters only ONE of which is over 2,500-feet long. That really says something. And in order to build a smaller than average water park, they were forced to dismantle a medium sized flying coaster and if I believe to be correct, that lake behind it too.

[PKI Jizzman]

Wow...bummer....I had planned on going to GL....but now I dont think so to go on an awesome B&M and SLC....Villain looks ok, though. Steel Venom to PKI?!

[downunder]

I was going to GL this year for the first time - bummer, and I reckon the straight drop forwards would be more fun than Wicked Twister's twisty one.

 

All these coasters getting taken out looks like Michigan's Adventure is going to take Cedar Point's Record for most coasters in one park.

[jamesdillaman]

^Sorry for all those GL fans, but that has always been GL's major weakness. They are just sandwitched between 2 far superior parks. GL just can't seem to find a niche, something they can be better at than CP or Kennywood to thrive.

 

Waterpark...

 

 

Niche found.

[Carnage]

All these coasters getting taken out looks like Michigan's Adventure is going to take Cedar Point's Record for most coasters in one park.

 

Not unless they start building roller coasters.

 

IF MiA get's Steel Venom that would be only one more then they had before.

 

Send it to Canadas Wonderland would give PCW 15 coasters to Cedar Point's 17. That would actually bring PCW equal with SFMM.

[speedracer]

^ Is Greased Lightnin's footprint still open at Great America? That's a thought. I don't think it's likely it will go to Great America considering V2 is at Discovery Kingdom.

 

GA desperately needs something of more substance than yet another short low-capacity gimmick coaster.

 

I don't see where Great America has the available real estate to put in anything more than a "short low-capacity gimmick coaster."

 

With creative placement, GA has plenty of available space for any decent sized coaster or other large ride. Besides Whizzer's old spot that's still empty after all these years (where Hypersonic was suppose to go), and all the huge holes around the park from removed rides by Paramount that were never replaced with anything (yet Grizzly still stands! ), they could easily rip out both the outdated Demon and craptacular Grizzly for 1 decent coaster if that's what it takes.

 

If a park 1/3rd the size of GA (like Blackpool for example) can have 4 times the number of rides just by being creative with their placement, so can GA. Paramount was just cheap, no other reason, will be fun to see what coaster-centric CF will creatively do with GA's available space!

[Delirium]

Coming from the perspective of one's old hometown park, i feel this is a smart move for GL. Back in the early 90s, I LOVED visiting the park on a monthly basis. It had a perfect balance of rides and an extremely family friendly atmosphere. During my most recent visit (about 3 years ago) I was disgusted by how bad SF ruined the atmosphere of the park. They took the park and completely drove it to the ground. I don't think there was ever an already operating park that built 4 coasters in one year and its living proof that its business suicide. X-flight needed to go. Sure it sounded like a great ride, but it had way too much down-time and just kept draining money. Im not completely sure on why they are removing SV seeing as it was also one of the more popular rides at the park, but im sure its all apart of CF's master plan to rebuild GL back to its golden days. Sure it may not be a top park for us coaster enthusiasts, but for the small town families in cleveland, its perfect.

 

(But dont get too discouraged, maybe CF is goin to suprise us with the rumored hypercoaster after the park is restored to its former glory!!)

[Ptrick82]

okay, Ive told people this time and time again, with the removal of Mr Hydes, X-Flight, the large plot of land that is left over from hurricane hannahs water park and the rumored removal ofSteel venom look at the gigantic footprint they leave!. Everyone knows that Cedar Fair plans things 3-4 years in advance for all their parks. I wouldnt be surprised to see something fantastic in the near future. Honestly, for this being my home park, I'll take a great hyper for 2 less than stellar coasters anyday

[Jew]

Ha. Flashback initially really was closed frequently due to its location adjacent to Hurricane Harbor, but then was then eventually discontinued from operations due to a combination of factors including its sporadical closures due to its location, low patronage, and tight budget cuts (under Burke's management).

 

And the excuse never changed from "safety." Even when HH wasn't open. But then again, what do I know? I only used to see the ops sheet everyday that always listed it as closed for "safety" even after HH had closed for the season.

 

And Mark Shapiro and Jeff Speed stated in a January 12 conference call with investors that New Orlean's Batman coaster was removed because it only received minor damage and was "salvageable." Repairs are being addressed on the attraction where it is needed and the company plans on reassembling it at another one of its parks as they see fit. So I don't see how those two examples work for your point. They're all true.

 

IIRC, at first they didn't admit to that. All they would say was that it was being disassembled to assess the damage and refurbish it. I could be wrong about that though.

 

As for Geauga Lake, it really is downsizing by removing these two rides. I don't understand how you can't comprehend the fact that X-Flight and Steel Venom are two of the most costliest attractions at Geauga Lake to maintain and operate and for a park the size of Geauga Lake with sagging attendance to retain them, will prevent Cedar Fair from fully restoring the park back to what it used to be before Six Flags was behind the wheel.

 

I don't understand how you can't comprehend that someone out there can have a different, yet perfectly valid opinion of the situation. You always have to be the expert, with little facts to go by (it's good to know you know all about the parks finances BTW, does Cedar Fair know that? You should go be an accountant for them! Or if you can't make it as an accountant for Cedar Fair, you should definitely become an analyst. You clearly know everthing about the amusement business!). But whatever.

 

I still contend that removing two of the newest rides at the park is more than just "downsizing." Unless by "downsizing," we are talking about slowly but surely picking away at the rides until the Water Park is pretty much all that left of the property. Because if the entire park isn't closed, I see the property becoming a regional waterpark with some rides. That's solely my opinion, but if it's ok for you take little or no facts and form an opinion that you make sure is the ONLY opinion allowed to be presented in a thread, I can do it too!

 

The reality is that times have changed since Geauga Lake was "the way it used to be." It does make sense to me that Cedar Fair wants Geauga Lake to go back to being more of a family experience/nicer/however you want to say that, but I still don't see why they wouldn't want X-Flight and Steel Venom as part of that. You do need good roller coasters for the thrill seeking part of the family, and I'm guessing the guest satisfaction ratings (if they even do surveys) for an SLC, Boomerang, and a couple bad woodies can't be all that high.

 

I guess only time will tell. But all I know is I am just as right as anyone else in this thread who is just guessing/sharing their opinion on the future of the rides and the park. What a concept.

[kraxleRIDAH]

My opinion:

 

Company takes out two high-cost-to-operate/maintain roller coasters at a relatively small park with sagging attendance (700,000 guests in 2005). Park still has 8 roller coasters, plenty of family rides, and a solid water park. Company hopes transformation will appeal to families looking for an affordable amusement park option.

 

Your opinion:

 

OMG! They are starting to take Geauga Lake apart and nothing will be left EVER except for the water park and a few rides! How on earth will the park be able to survive by removing TWO roller coasters? They are STILL SO NEW! It makes NO SENSE!

 

Now, which one seems more likely? Don't mind me dramatizing your half because that's exactly what you sound like.

[Ptrick82]

Also, people seem to forget that the two coasters taken out were installed on six flags dime. I mean, its like moving into a house already furnished so even if you don't like that furniture its not too much of a stretch to get rid of it. You can give it to a friend who may need furniture. The thing is though, eventually you'll need to replace that furniture with new stuff. I hope you all followed me on that one haha.