Geauga Lake: Worlds Once Adventured
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2024
- An amusement park with 120 years of history behind it shut down seemingly overnight. After being run by more than four companies, Geauga Lake certainly went through its fair share of changes, including some incredible roller coasters. Discover the full story of this park and how Six Flags and Cedar Fair molded it into their own visions. How did it go from the largest park in the world to nothing but a small water park before being completely abandoned? Hear the whole story now with Geauga Lake: Worlds Once Adventured, Episode 2 of Amusement Anthology.
Researched, written, narrated, and edited by Jonathan Baker.
[Chapters]
0:00 Intro/Ohio's Great Parks
1:12 Geauga Lake's Origins
3:25 SeaWorld Ohio
4:28 New Attractions
7:17 Six Flags Ohio
10:43 Worlds of Adventure
13:27 Cedar Fair's Purchase
16:13 The Shutdown
18:37 Abandoned
20:45 Outro/Never Forgotten
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AMUSEMENT ANTHOLOGY DOCUMENTARY PLAYLIST:
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#GeaugaLake #AmusementAnthology #Documentary - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
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I still to this day, 12 years later, absolutely refuse to drive by Geauga Lake. I can count how many times I've gone by there since it shut down on one hand, and each time I have, it infuriated me, so I avoid the area like the plague. What happened to Geauga Lake will forever be a sore subject to people in this area. It NEVER should have gone out like that, smh
Cedar Point an Cedar Fair, have a special place in Amusement park Hell for what they did to Geauga Lake and fans!
Yeah quite an outrage, I mean they removed one of most famous parks in all of history! Uggh, let’s just hope that it can pull a Six Flags and burst out of abandonment like Six Flags bursted out of bankruptcy
You are SO right!! Screw Cedar Fair!!! They are not a "Fair" company at all... SMH
Heartbreaking
@@johnquest1044 it's really not all on Cedar Fair. it's on them yes, but I'd say more so on Six Flags and the city of Aurora itself. painting Cedar Fair as some evil organization for closing a failing park is shortsighted
as someone who grew up in the 80-90's this brings a tear to my eyes. i will never forget the rotar man
Rotor Freddie!!!!
I remember the rotor guy!
Oh my Jesus! I thought I only remembered the Rotor man. His brains had to be scrambled from never leaving that ride lol!
He still goes there every summer, every day. He climbs in the old busted rotor and cries.
Remember how he would hide behind the door so he could keep riding without getting off
I almost cried watching this. I remember going to Geauga Lake several times as a kid, then the Six Flags Ohio park with my school as a teen. nothing compares to 2003 Six Flags World of Adventure. It was by far better than Cedar Point. I remember the jammed pack parking lot early in the morning to the park still going strong at 9:30-10pm at night. Senior day in high school was AMAZING! I remember my sister being hired that summer and my family went like 3 times during that era. I didn't visit Geauga Lake again until 2007 because of college and Cedar Point trips. I remember how much fun my sister had and I applied every summer from 2004-2007. They finally hired me summer 2007. I was beyond stoked until I arrived to a nearly deserted park. Bugs Bunny's cutout was there but no Bugs Bunny. X-Flight gone. Steel Venom? Head Spin? Thunderhawk? Needless to say I was highly let down that summer. I worked in the Happy Harbour Cafe on the Waterpark side. I was so fortunate to ride all of the roller coasters my last day of work August 20-ish. Rumors were swirling of the park closing next summer. Low and behold, they closed. My heart was broken because 80 miles away was another mega park that was doubled the price. I miss that Looney Tune era Geauga Lake.
Damn.
I am sobbing. I miss my home park of Geauga Lake. I wish there was someway to use the land as an amusement park again.
oh that is funny. I remember sitting on the serial thriller in the secondary holding area over the water for like 10 minutes because the loading train had a problem. We had nothing to smoke that day so my buddy pretended to open a bag, break it up, crack open a blunt, gut it and roll one. we pretended to smoke it. somehow we got an imaginary high off of that. lol!
The cool thing about the Serial thriller was three-fold. 1) you could see the ski show across the lake from the first hill and 2) that loop that made it look like you were going to crash into the station house and 3) great view of the fireworks.
suzyjacuzzi6791. Im so sad. Thanks cedar fair.
suzyjacuzzi6791 I miss the Seaworld that used to be in Ohio right across from the park. :(
Killerwhale 6011 I don't think it was Cedar Fairs fault, that area was just oversaturated with parks all owned by the same company. The competed with themselves until they with lost money or closed the "weak link"
I live 20 minutes from this faded palace of an amusement park. I unknowingly attended the final day of operation, they should have announced the closing prior to it happening. I feel happy knowing I attended but it’s the saddest thing ever when you drive by. I was 8 when they closed, but I’ll never forget it
Through my childhood, we went here. It had a special flair, a feeling. Now all that stands is weeds. Cedar Point is nice, but it will never be Geauga Lake.
Cedar Fair Is A Evil Amusement Park Company That Closed Down A Historic Amusement Park Called Geauga Lake That People Once Enjoyed For Almost 120 Years Without Saying Goodbye It Sounded Like Cedar Fair Didn't Want Competition With Cedar Point Amusement Park It Was All About Them Not The Residents Of Aurora Ohio A Slap In The Face F You If You Ask Me. Once Cedar Fair Took Over Historic Geauga Lake It Didn't Take Long For Cedar Fair To Closed Geauga Lake
Michael Guernsey six flags tried to turn it into a park that it was not, it had falling attendance under six flags and six flags expanded to fast and it failed. Six flags wanted it to compete with cedar point but it was never meant to.
It was doomed since six flags started investing to quickly. Cedar Fair bought a mess.
@@10thousandsubswithnovid42 Cedar point and Geiger lake competed in the 60s, 80s, 90, cit that out.
Geauga Lake was more iconic to my childhood than Cedar Point ever was! I knew when Cedar Fair bought it I thought they would shut it down eventually. It still angers me that they did this! I miss that major part of my childhood!
Lucky you, cuz I didn’t go to theme parks when I was a child
Because of the longer distance to travel I was an adult before I started going to CP. GLP was so much closer to Erie PA.
Even though I was still very young when it closed. There are still many memories that I still remember from the park. I honestly wish I had more time to grow up and ride those rides but when I look at the situation the park was in back when it closed there are a few questions that I still wonder what would happen. First off if Six Flags did not sell the park would the park have lasted much longer than it did. If Six Flags built less in their parks in 2000 not causing them to go bankrupt again would the park have ever been in financial trouble to the point it had to be sold. The other question I wonder is what if six flags did not get so greedy in 2001 and buy sea world but instead sold Geauga lake to Sea World. would the park still have more of a family atmosphere therefore the park would still be around.
I felt the same way when I heard they bought it. I just knew they bought it to kill it. When they invested in the water park I had a glimmer of hope they would actually invest in it. But no. They did what I knew they would. B@stards.
Update: Wildwater Kingdom is closed as of September 2017
(LAST UPDATED JUNE 2023)
A few updates for you all on the 7+ years that have passed since this video:
- Wildwater Kingdom closed permanently on September 5, 2016. The property is abandoned, and it has become the target of vandalism and has also been documented by many urban explorers.
- Big Dipper and the remains of the park entrance were demolished in late October 2016.
- On September 17, 2017, an Ohio historical marker commemorating the history of Geauga Lake was dedicated alongside the property on Route 43.
- Firehawk at Kings Island (formerly X-Flight) closed on October 28, 2018 to make room for Orion, a B&M giga coaster. It was demolished in the 2018 off season. There are only two Vekoma Flying Dutchmen left operating.
- In August 2020, the land of the former SeaWorld Ohio parking lot was sold to Pulte Homes, who are redeveloping it into a housing community called Renaissance Park at Geauga Lake.
- On November 7, 2020, Cedar Fair sold all of their remaining Geauga Lake land to Industrial Commercial Properties, who intend to redevelop it into homes, retail space, and restaurants. The new area will be named the Geauga Lake District.
- In February 2021, the land on the former rides side of Geauga Lake was bulldozed to prepare it for construction. As development on the Geauga Lake District continues, very few structures from the original park remain.
- In 2022, construction on Renaissance Park at Geauga Lake was mostly completed. The development occupies much of the former SeaWorld Ohio parking lot. Only one small section of the parking lot remains undisturbed, and the Wildwater Kingdom side of the park is still mostly untouched.
- On December 10, 2022, construction was completed on the main roadway that will go through the Geauga Lake District. The road has been named Big Dipper Blvd.
- On March 21, 2023, demolition began on the former Grizzly Run rapids ride. The grizzly sculpture at the entrance is being preserved.
- On April 22, 2023, the old SeaWorld Shark Encounter building was demolished.
- On June 13, 2023, plans were revealed that would see the city of Aurora purchasing 40 acres of property on the SeaWorld side of the lake. The land would be redeveloped to include a swimming pool (the old WildWater Kingdom wave pool), picnic pavilions, a restaurant in the former SeaWorld Aquarium, and public lake access with a beach and boat dock. At this time, it is uncertain if these plans will become reality.
WHAT?!? I am PISSED they demolished the X-Flight... I thought I would have another chance at riding my favorite ride again in Cinci:/
Rip Big Dipper
@@a-lowrx Another example of Cedar Fair not thinking to give a proper send off... At least they got it right with Vortex.
@@a-lowrx it was there for 11 years. you had your chance
@@speedylloyd Still trash.
my entire childhood lays in this park, breaks my heart.
Mine too having grown up half a mile away from it.
The Evil Cedar Fair Amusement Park Company Did That It Was All About Them Not The People Who Enjoyed The Historic Geauga Lake A Slap In The Face
Spent so many summers growing up at this park. Double Loop was my first roller coaster! It is so sad to drive by it every day and see the remains. The memories with my family there will never be forgotten.
Megan Smiles Double Loop was my first roller coaster 2 I was so scared lol yes that's all we got is memories we used 2 go every summer from the age 8 to 22 I had my daughter in 2006 and that was the last time I went I'm so hurt behind this times have definitely changed 😢😢😢
This is a great documentary. I definitely miss this park. I grew up in NE Ohio about 15-20min away from Geauga Lake. My family always had season passes every year from 1992-2007. I wish I could have ridden the coasters one last time before the park closed. Many people blame Cedar Fair, but Six Flags is also to blame. Within a short period of time, they built the worlds largest theme park ever. The part that was forgotten was local infrastructure. There were NO major highways nearby, just 2-4 lane roads. Also, there weren't very many hotels nearby for guests to stay in. The other issue was that the park wasn't built for massive crowds. The paths weren't very wide and the staff weren't trained well. So there were so many factors that contributed to Geauga Lake's downfall. Wild Water Kingdom just closed down recently and I heard there are plans to completely level the Big Dipper. The reasoning is that urban explorers are constantly caught trespassing. They're concerned over safety as the crumbling wooden boards of Big Dipper might give out causing serious injury or death to explorers trying to climb it. If they do demolish it, I would love to own a piece of the track or wooden boards.
On the staff issue, near the end of the Six Flags era they began shipping in employees from Russia and Eastern Europe instead of hiring locally which the park had always done. You wound up having people working there who had no personal connection to the park beyond a paycheck.
I can just imagine the days if this park still existed. This park along with Magic Mountain would be godly. A park with over 16 rollor coasters and a park that offers 3 different experiences. This park would be an all around destination and would rap up the theme park experience in Ohio.
Wolf Bobs was my fav wooden coaster. I remember riding it the year it opened, and every year thereafter. I miss the entire park dearly, especially having moved about 15 minutes away from it about 2 years ago.
Overtime, how rough did Wolf Bobs become, just bumpy or unbearablely painful?
Very sad to see my hometown amusement park closed. I used to visit it nearly every day during the summer. I still remember when the double loop and corkscrew too was the theme.
Cedar Fair, mostly Dick Kinzel, only dealt the final blow. Six Flags started the process that killed our beloved park. Those of us who lived in Northern Ohio knew something everyone else did not: They were never in competition. Six Flags tried to make Geauga Lake a competitor to Cedar Point, but we Ohioans knew better. They never were in competition. We loved both parks and we were happy to have two great parks in our backyard. That is how they, and SeaWorld, coexisted for so many years. SeaWorld was for education and animals. Cedar Point was a thrill zone for adrenaline seekers, a tourist destination, but even though it had coasters and such, Geauga Lake was just our local park, it was ours.
Of all of the abandoned amusement parks, Geuaga Lake's ruins are the biggest eye-sore of them all.
I miss Geauga Lake. It was nice to travel 40 minutes, spend $39 and ride rides all day. Geauga Lake gave me my love of rollercoasters.
I guess I am the only one who misses the Seaworld in Ohio. Most of my childhood was spent there.
Wish someone would make a video about it, something like this.
Seaworld of Ohio, I miss you. :(
anyone remember The Rotor Man , he was on that ride every year,all day. i would to go to the ride 1st thing each year to make sure he was there. Never failed,
Lmao yes he was always there 2 when we went looking creepy as hell he must got off by riding that ride he must had season passes I wonder if he is still living he probably cried when Geauga Lake closed
Yes!
Yeah I sure do late 80s he was there every year I had a season pass
chris bradick he is still alive,you can see him sometimes (obviously not at the lake )
I do.
1978 at age 13 was the first year my family stopped going to Conneaut Lake Park and we moved up to Geauga Lake! Such great memories. That was the year they introduced the corkscrew (a simpler version of Cedar Point's) and second year for the double loop, a non teardrop looping coaster. What was great about GL is that the last half hour they would allow double rides in a row without having to get off and back on.
At one point there were so many bumper cars on their dogem's you could barely navigate anywhere without swiping another car.
While Cedar Point is by far the better park, Geauga Lake was so close to home that it was awesome! And it was so much less expensive than Cedar Point. I remember all the Packard Electric picnics that we went to. I sure do miss the place.
Honestly at the time I visited the two (a year before Geauga Lake closed) Geauga Lake was the better park BY MILES. Cedar Point was so stale that I have no plans to return. Honestly one of the worst parks I have been to. Anything Cedar Fair touches turns to shit, Kings Dominion was a fantastic park before those morons got ahold of it... Now they turned the Hurler into a ugly RMC steel pile, renamed Rebel Yell, removed Volcano... Its to the point where BGW is now my states best park... And they have such a small ride count to entry price ratio that even they aren't worth going to.
@@chdreturns Your opinions are terrible and you need to rethink your life. Lol. Cedar Point is easily the best amusement park I've been to, though I've only been to 7 or so. I just go for the rides though, I'm not into the theming or any of that crap lol. I do miss Geauga Lake though, but I feel Six Flags killed that. Made it too big. No one could have saved it, including Cedar Fair.
@@steveo7771286 Your opinion is just as bad for calling someone else out and judging the industry off of seven parks.
Pandora lol. That was drunk me, he’s kind of a judgmental asshole. I’m not responsible for what that prick says. 😂
This documentary brought tears to my eyes. Geauga lake was one of my favorite childhood amusement parks. I grew up in Pittsburgh and always had Kennywood, but a trip to Geauga lake was super exciting! I visited The park through all of its ownership changes from the 80s til when it finally closed. I was disgusted with Cedar Fair. I'm in the camp that believe that they closed it to reduce competition. I remember loving SixFlags World ofAdventure. It was the best reInvention of any park in the world ever. And then, I watched it die. But thanks for the memories and this film. It made me feel like a kid again
I never knew this place closed. I am from Canada and visited this park in the summer of 2007. The Villain was one of the roughest coasters I have ever been on. It was amazing. Cannot actually believe it is gone. Great video!
I never got to go to Geauga Lake. I went to Sea World across the pond from it back in the day, and that was amazing.
To me it always seemed like another Kennywood Park, which is also a gem. I saw ads for it all the time on TV. It really wasn't all that far away.
I made it to Cedar Point a few times and kinda passed by Geauga Lake from Pittsburgh. Never stopped in, and now I wish I had.
Another one I never went to was Conneaut Lake Park in PA. I went a few year ago to see the abandoned place. What's left of a coaster and a "Poor Jonah" whale across the street.
I Will Never See Cedar Fair The Same Way Again...
The Residents Of Aurora Ohio Will Think The Same Way About Cedar Fair Also I Don't Blame Them Cedar Fair Is A Evil Amusement Park Company That Didn't Want Competition With Their Beloved Cedar Point Amusement Park It's A Slap In The Face For The Residents Of Aurora Ohio Who Enjoyed Geauga Lake As A Park For How Many Years To Have Fun And Enjoy Themselves For The Day. Cedar Fair Got Rid Of The Animals From Which Six Flags And Seaworld Had Started For The People To Enjoy And Cutting Back The Park That People Once Enjoyed As Historic Geauga Lake
@@michaelguernsey9685 Cedar Fair never would have blinked an eye at Geauga Lake if it wasn't Six Flags building it up to compete. Prier to Six Flags, Geauga Lake competed with Kennywood, and even at that point it was friendly competition.
@@michaelguernsey9685 They're both to blame, Six Flags more so for trying to make it a Cedar Point killer (and failing at it).
Lmao the amusement park industry.... so brutal Also you can blame six flags if you want to play the blame game.
@@ThyPandora I think they just followed the book of all there other parks and no one wanted nothing to do with it then cedar point bought them out of mercy almost in my opinion
Living in Twinsburg, I had a summer pass. At 44 years old, I will never forget the memories of my childhood at Geauga Lake. I wish I had had the chance to go one last time
I used to come to Aurora for this park for YEARS from Buffalo, NY with my family. This park ruled. Batman Knight Flight was my first coaster ever!
Went to Six Flags: Worlds of Adventure in summer 2001 as a 10 year old after a day-long baseball camp at NDCL. Rode my first major roller coasters there with my friends, the last being X-Flight at night after a 1.5 hour wait. After that, I was able to conquer all the coasters at Cedar Point. Thanks for the memories.
Luckily I got to go for the 2001 and 2002 seasons, when the park was at it's peak. I could tell something wasn't right though, as during the mid-season in good weather, none of the park's best rides had any wait times at all. The parking lot was bare during the middle of a nice summer's day, and we felt like we had the park almost entirely to ourselves. The sell off and closure didn't surprise me, there's no way it was profitable with attendance so poor. Villain, Superman, and Batman were the best, I also enjoyed Serial Thriller, Double Loop and Big Dipper. I really didn't like X-Flight, though. Sadly, the rest I never got to ride.
I can't remember what year I went exactly, I think 2000 or 2001, (x flight was there for sure) and it was Six Flags Ohio. It was packed. I drove in from Buffalo with two other friends. So I was amazed at what happened just a few years later.
@@floridamaddoggit was probably before 9/11...Everytime I went there I'd always hear rumors of how the place was going to shut down from employees, and customers
I like how you used sonic music in the background!
Fantastic video. I live 10 minutes from Kings Island and had no idea this park even existed till my son told me today in 2021. Looked like it was 1 of the best amusement parks ever. What a shame
I'm sitting here ugly crying over an amusement park. This documentary was great! I remember so much of this park and all the rides and food and fun to be had. My family were season pass holders from when I was born in '91 until the park closed. So much of my childhood was spent in that park. I will NEVER forgive Cedar Fair for what they did. I don't care who's fault it was that the park was on the decline, to close it without giving us one last season to say goodbye is unforgiveable in my mind. I don't care if it was a last minute decision, reopen the damn thing and give us a few weeks or a month at least! I was an avid roller coaster fan and even though cedar point is only an hour away, I have never been because Cedar Fair will never get one red cent out of me for closing it so abruptly.
If you like amusement parks so much you should try and get over what happens and give cedar count a try. The park is amazing these days. Can’t cry over business decisions please I hope you find peace.
And dude...another SPECTACULARLY amazing video. I'm not gonna lie...I was almost in tears by the end. I pray nothing like this ever befalls Kennywood...but anyway, keep up the amazing work, John. :) Hope to see you soon.
I'm so glad you added your photos. RIP, Raging Wolf Bobs. I never got to ride you...
Thank you for this and to everyone that posts old videos! My mom took me over to Sea World and Geauga Lake and Cedar Point was a different trip, mid to late 1970s as I was 8-10yrs old. Seeing this demise of property angers me- I didn't know the history and it started out similar to Kennywood in Pittsburgh- a stop off from the railroad. I wish it was like it used to be, my kids would've enjoyed going to places I went to. Your area of OH deserves to have Geauga Lake back for families!
I used to love this park!!!! It wasn’t as big as Cedar Point but the nostalgia couldn’t be beat!
Post your Geauga Lake stories in the comments! Did you go when it was Six Flags Ohio or Worlds of Adventure? Or did you go before that when it was owned by FunTime? This park had a history of 120 years and I'd love to hear of everyone's experiences. Hope you all enjoy the video!
I went every year from the year I was born until the year it closed. 1991 to 2007. My first coaster was the Mind Eraser and I would spend hours upon hours on Grizzly Run and The Roadrunner Express! Such wonderful memories for us locals.
Hey I just came from your killed by Katrina video it's cool I love it
We use to go there as a end-of-the-year school trip. I remember we always sat in a pavilion near the Double Loop, and I thought I could never ride it! Lol This was when Fun Times owned the park, around 91' and 92'. Eventually, we switched locations to Cedar Point. I came back once in 2002 when it was Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. It was pretty incredible! Other than people getting stuck on the Batman upside down on the loop for over an hour. But still I remember the bridge that connected the two sides of the park and thinking this was incredible. Not Cedar Point, but still pretty cool. Two years later I was back when Cedar Fair owned the park, and though it was okay, it still wasn't as cool as Six Flags. You could tell that they had changed the names, and it was hard to adjust to the new names. It's just sad that it's gone… Still, Cedar point was, in my opinion, a better amusement park.
I went to Geauga Lake once or twice when I was a young kid, probably a year or two before it closed. I don't remember the experience, but I actually remember going to Water Kingdom a year or two ago, looking out towards the lake, and seeing a large roller in the distance. Later on, I figured out what the island out by the lake actually was.
BTW, there was another video I saw a video that contained footage of Geauga Lake's current condition and the video also used clips from an old Geauga Lake commercial, and one of the coasters in the commercial seemed to resemble one of Cedar Point's roller coasters, Corkscrew, just with a different color scheme. I also found out that a lot of the coasters from Geauga Lake were auctioned off and/or relocated. I was wondering if the Corkscrew was one of the relocated rides from Geauga Lake.
...Nevermind; I just got my answer (4:35)
This is such a well thought out, thorough accounting of the park's history. My eyes were welled up by the end, but I appreciate you taking the time to put this together. So many memories were made within those gates.
Geauga Lake was a huge part of my childhood. heck, my parents spent their honeymoon at SeaWorld, lol. It's heartbreaking to know how this all ended, but I'll always cherish the memories. Thanks for sharing. I can say I've ridden almost every single ride ride shown! Many are on my lists of all-time favorites❤
I never thought that I'd be applauding at a TH-cam video so willingly! Awesome video, I love your content!
Thanks so much! That means a lot!
Broke my heart when it closed. Ripped me open when they finally had to demolish the Big Dipper. That was the absolute best coaster. I wanted to take my daughter there as a kid like I had, but they closed it when she was 4mo old. 😭
I worked there in 99 right before Six Flags took it over. I was 16 at the time and the whole city had high hopes for this "transformation".
Once cedar fair bought it we knew it was over. They promised to leave it open but obviously that was b.s.
We had a bunch of family owned businesses in the area that were built because of the traffic this park brought in. Once it closed, they closed. The worst part is Cedar Fair assured people it would remain open.
Geauga Lake is a great representation of what's happened to Ohio in the last 60 years.
It wasn’t just cedar fairs fault. I do think they tried to keep it afloat, but I think the majority of the damage was dealt by the previous owners. It simply got too large. From what my dad said it was a thing of beauty back in the day. And said it was something to go to sea world in Ohio and then across the lake. I just think poor management and close proximity to other parks screwed it. It will be missed but the rides salvaged from it live on, from the dominator to the geauga lake eagles. The rides still give joy and happiness to new riders. It could’ve been worse
Absolutely! I went to Geauga Lake, Sea World, Six Flags, WWK.... all iterations of that park. Once the expansion started in the late 90s, the makeup of the park started to change. That area, while decently accessible for us locals, was not easy to get to for people out of town. There's nowhere close to the amount of hotels, restaurants, etc that Sandusky has. It simply didn't have the surrounding infrastructure to support such a large park!
Plus, I distinctly remember many people chose Geauga Lake because it WASN'T Cedar Point. It was cheaper, closer, less traffic, shorter lines. Once Six Flags solidified that they were competing with Cedar Point, many people chose Cedar Point. Let's also not forget that's when Millennium Force and Top Thrill were added. And Cedar Point was now cheaper than Six Flags 🤷♀️
It's a shame how it all happened, truly. But blame can be spread around since the 90s over what caused its downfall. Driving that way is so depressing now 😞
@@ktbear21 Only got to see what was left of it when it was Wild Water Kingdom. All I've known from GL was the left-over parts and the stories my dad told me over the years. He went back in the 70s and 80s, pre-Six flags and when it was still 3 separate parks. Said it was a great place to go in the summer, and he got to see whales in Ohio (as cruel as that is, it still is crazy you could do that at one time). It's a shame, if Cedar Point wasn't in the region and GL was potentially located 10 or so miles closer to Cleveland it would have never been in the position to be ravaged like it was. I honestly think it could have been the Midwest's best amusement park by fair, it had so much room to grow and build up on. But like you said, there was no surrounding area to support a behemoth like that.
But its memory still lives on in many enthusiasts and I doubt it'll fade anytime soon.
Visited the park as Six Flags Ohio and liked it but was unimpressed. Some good rides but the layout of the park wasn't great. I'm not a fan of Six Flags parks. They don't keep up their parks and tend to commercialize the feel of the park too much when compared to Cedar Fair. Just to clarify, Cedar Fair bought Six Flags WOA 2 years before buying Paramount Parks, which includes Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. I don't think it was Cedar Fair's intention to buy Geauga Lake to close them at the time of purchase. Things change and they are a business. I'm happy to see lot's of the former rides living on at other parks. One last note, I visit Cedar Point regularly and my home park of Kings Island and I am happy to say that Cedar Fair isn't treating KI any differently than it's "premier" park. Kings Island has never looked better. Thanks for the flashback!
I visited as a kid, before Six Flags. It wasn't the biggest park I had been to but it was my favorite. It had a unique character that seemed less commercial and more fun. I was saddened to hear of it's passing and the missed opportunity to share it with my own children.
What a legend of a park, this place has kinda become mythical at this point because of its size and age. I lived on the other side of world at the time of this parks existence so visiting would have been impossible but if I could go back in time, I would go here in its prime.
We always went to Cedar Point, still do. One year we randomly when to Geauga Lake in July 2006. It was so much better. So sad it closed the next year and I would never get to go again.
I spent many, many hours at Geauga Lake, and Sea World, as a young person, them as a parent, sharing it with my son's. We had our company picnics there, alternating between the two parks, and made so many wonderful memories. When all the sales began happening, I knew it was the beginning of the end, and, sadly, I was right. I refused to go to Cedar Point after this closed, and have kept my word, and will never go there again. Great job on the research and video. It helped me say goodbye to an old friend.
One of the best videos I've seen on TH-cam. Extremely well put together thanks for making it
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Geauga Lake was undoubtedly one of the best amusement parks in the country. Such a shame what happened to it.
Why did they ignore the.fact that they needed extensive hotels and resort properties in order to support the massive investment in the park.? The successful parks worldwide always have places to stay so you can spend multiple days in the park at your own pace. The lack of infrastructure and places to stay eliminates the ability to attract t audiences from outside Ohio.
They tried to develop the area, but they ran into zoning troubles. The land around the park is mainly residential, not commercial so the hotels and resorts couldn't be built.
+estherdestiny that's too bad. The number and variety of roller coasters there were really awesome and I think it would have become a great destination for travelers.
Yeah how dumb was it that you had to leave the parking lot and cross route 43 to get to the main gate?
The Inn at Six Flags isn't the only hotel SF has operated; they have Great Escape Lodge too.
***** SFOT isn't the flagship; that would be Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Any Planet Coaster players down to work on a Geauga Lake remake? We will need landscape architects to work on the actual landscape and the scenery, park layout designers, building architects to design stations and other various park buildings, I know I'll be down to work on the roller coasters and maybe we can get 1 other person (preferably players with realistic layout experience).
FroZteeCoasterZ i'd be down but it wont be easy to get referance photos for it and would be a HUGE project and would take many months and possibly more than one in game map
Yeah I'd love to
Hows this going??
I’m all up for it
Ex-carney by trade!!! Hello
Outstanding video brother! I have so many fond memories of Geauga Lake and always found it really sad that it just disappeared. Thanks for the video, because of people like you, the wonderful park that once was will never be forgotten. Kudos.
Great to see the finished video - will watch it in full when I get a chance - nicely done!
I grew up going to Geauga Lake a great memory for me heck yeah when Cedar Fair purchased it most of us knew Geuga Lakes days were numbered its ashame for us in Cleveland the 20 minute or so drive was much better than the hour drive to Sandusky all of us Northeast Ohioans loved our Geauga Lake
What a wonderful job of annotating the history of this great park. I went there many times as a youth and adult, the last time with a coworker who was bringing his daughter and 4 of her friends. We enjoyed the coasters mainly, but we also found time to go to "The Wave" pool, which fascinated me by how it worked. I just had to swim underwater (past the marker you weren't supposed to cross) to see the operation of how the water was turned loose. Everywhere you walked, all you saw were smiling faces. It was a wonderful park, and close enough to avoid a 2 hour ride and the mega bucks it cost to go to Cedar Point. I have NO DOUBT that Cedar Fair bought this part solely with the intention of closing it to eliminate competition. For that reason, I've not been back to Cedar Point since Geauga Lake's closing, and I doubt I will ever go back there, no matter how many new rides they add. Their avarice has earned them *many* a detractor in the form of former Geauga Lake fans. I'm left with my memories of the place, and of Euclid Beach, a park I went to as a youngster, now also long gone. Recently I watched a TH-cam video shot by a couple of camera drone pilots, who over flew the old Geauga Lake amusement park, with appropriate "dirge like" music playing behind it. I actually found tears coming out of my eyes after watching that one. Once again, thank you for your efforts. I have a small YT channel and know how much work goes into the production of a quality video. Regards ....
I did go in 2001 to check out the millenium force. and went back in 2004 for the top thrill dragster. wow so 12 years has gone by.
watching this has brought back sooooooo many memories!!! I worked at this park in 2003-2004 when I was in high school!!! Caught the bus from Bedford ( lived on Northfield Road) and loved working out there during the summertime. People really came alive at that park. It is sad to see it in it's current state...
I loved this park, and miss it terribly. We would go all the time because we lived on the East Side and it was more affordable. Some of my happiest childhood memories are tied up in this place. When Rainbow Island opened, it was the last year for me to ride kiddy rides. I ride all of the coasters, and I was 10 when Raging Wolf Bobs was brand new. My brother and I rode it a tin of times. I never got to go back before it became Six Flags. Thank you for this video. It brought back a lot of memories.
Indeed a true legend of parks!! I grew up going there as a kid and remember all it's glory days threw my years growing up into a adulthood.. once revered as the largest amusement park and family destination for all!! I will never forget geauga lake and the memories i had there and hopefully one day someone will bring it back again on that land. Until then I'll hold those memories for ever in my heart!! Thanks for this video it brung back many memories for me.
Wonderful video, tragic story of a park I've always loved. My husband and I used to go to Geauga Lake for our "Halloween Date," and our favorite coaster was always the Batman Knight Flight. Once when we were there, it was cold and raining on and off. Practically had the park to ourselves, and we got to ride the coasters multiple times in a row because there were no lines! Best amusement park experience ever!
This was an excellent documentary! I first experienced Geauga Lake in 1994. I was so impressed with its layout and the quality of thrills it provided. I was surprised, amaze, and excited when Six Flags took over. The transformation made Geauga Lake another Ohio destination among the ranks of CedarPoint and Kings Island. I was not eble to get back to Geauga Lake until the summer of 2007. Though it was post its Six Flags identity, I still found the park to be impressive and very entertaining. I personally fault Cedar Fair for mishandling this historical landmark. There were so many other options they could have considered against the fate they planted. I don't look at the franchise the same. I pray that someday, someone will recapture the vision of this treasure and restore it to glory.
Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.
I went when I was like 2 and a half and I can't remember anything from the park. My dad used to work there and he tested the Big Dipper. This video clears up a lot, so thanks.
I don't think it's right to blame just Six Flags or Cedar Fair for the downfall of Geauga Lake because they both contributed in their own way. Three major amusement parks in Ohio (Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Geauga Lake) would generally be hard to handle, no matter what company they are/were owned by. Not only that, but as said in the video, the park simply got too large for its own good. Thinking about Geauga Lake gives me nostalgia and memories, but I don't want to dwell on it closing with sadness or whatever. I'm glad that it was there, it made many people happy, and it made me happy too.
Geauga Lake--gone but never forgotten.
I absolutely loved this place growing up in the 80's and 90's.
I miss Geauga Lake so much. Growing up in Pittsburgh we had so many options. Kennywood, Geauga Lake, Cedar Point, Kings Island, and then when we would go visit my dad in Virginia we would go to either Busch Gardens or Kings Dominion. Geauga Lake was my favorite by far. Its a shame what happened. I remember the last time we went after cedar fair had bought it, it was nearly empty and I got to ride all the rides non stop all day.
18:55 Man I used to love that Cheese-on-a-Stick. Such great memories there over the summers. It was a closer drive than to Cedar Point.
We had a lot of good times there.. I remember going to Wild Water Kingdom after Geauga Lake closed and it was so sad to see the Big Dipper over there left to rot. My family always went to Geauga Lake rather than Cedar Point, but I'm glad that Cedar Point is still around at least
I miss Geauga Lake. We had some good times there. At least we still have Cedar Point and King's Island.
Saying you at least have Cedar Point just squirts "salt in the wound", because Cedar Fair unjustly closed Geauga Lake.
They literally closed an amusement park with development space, when Cedar Point itself, had (has) no extra development room.
Anytime they add an attraction to Cedar Point, they have to retract an attraction at Cedar Point.
The secondary attractions could have been added to Geauga Lake.
This was totally worth the wait! Best video on Geauga Lake yet! Can't wait for the AstroWorld Video! Subbed!
Thank you for such a wonderful video and documentary. It was very informative and very well put together. I always wanted to go to Geoga Lake and Sea World from the time that I was little. I am 52 years old and never did get to go but your video at least showed me what it was like as well as the attractions that many people loved and enjoyed for many decades.😊
My favorite memories growing up along with my children. I’m feeling very nostalgic and sad watching this.
Man the way it looks now is just sad (an eye sore if you will). Greed definitely closed this amusement park down.
exactly. only the big dipper is still standing.
***** yup.
ThaPepsiAddict is it really gone now? Let me check some recent pictures of it.
Great documentary. I moved to northeast Ohio in 2013 and never went to Geauga Lake. I drive past it all the time and was always curious about the story. Thank you for sharing.
GREAT VIDEO!!!!! We went in the early 2000's with my young children. It was then the 6 flags theme park. We would get season passes and go for 3 or 4 days. The season passes would pay for themselves! We went for 3 years and it was great, even though the last year was the year before it sold to cedar fair. The best part of it at that time was the split park which was perfect for a family with small children. On one pass we could do the animal and the ride side. My kids loved the batman show that was performed on the lake at that time. Thank you for the video, brought back some great memories!
This was my first amusment park ever. Roadrunner and Raging wolfbobs were my 2 first roller coasters ever. I live about 45 min for there still. Its very sad. This vid accessed some DEEP memories as a kid. Thank you.
Update to present-day (June, 2021): Sadly after much effort to save it the Big Dipper was demolished in October, 2016. In August of that same year Cedar fair (learning from past mistakes) announced that Wildwater Kingdom would close for good at the end of the season. This gave people (such as myself) a chance to plan one final visit. It closed for good on September 5, 2016. On August 15, 2020 a new housing development broke ground on what used to be the SeaWorld/Wildwater Kingdom parking lot, with the houses being ready for move-in as of March, 2021. In October 2020, Industrial Commercial Properties bought the rest of Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom and will be building a commercial business development. As of leaving this comment, the entire land has been cleared and is ready for redevelopment.
As a kid, we used to load up the buses, usually during the 3rd week of June. It was to celebrate Brecksville Day. And off we would go to Geuaga Lake. Always had a blast. (1969 - 1973) The haunted house, cup and saucers, wild mouse, dodge cars, and of course, the fun house. With it's giant indoor wooden slide, giant rolling barrel, and the spinning floor. So many memories for so many people 😇
You've done an amazing job on this video considering there was so little material to work with! Well done!
Excellent film, loved it ! :-)
This was really good! Thanks so much for making this! The nostalgia just flooded me dude! I remember my mom taking me and my brothers for the first time back in August 1997 when I was 11. I rode the Mind Eraser like 6 times. When it became Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, I worked there for two summers in a row: 2002 and 2003. After watching your documentary, I didn't realize that 2003 was the last year they operated under Six Flags, so I feel kind of lucky. I loved working on both sides of the park when they were combined and taking the path or floating boardwalk between the two. Six Flags provided a lot of summer jobs for high schoolers and I'm really glad I have those memories. I even saved my employee photo badges from both years. Good times!
Sad to see what actually happened to Geauga Lake. My family and I visited when I was a child, then returned when I graduated high school. We always had a wonderful time, driving from Cincinnati (a four hour drive) we didn't visit often. I do remember the vibe had changed from childhood: less people were there. However, the good memories were just restored. I really enjoyed your documentary!
The best video on Geaugua Lake I have seen ever! thank you! :D
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Geauga Lake truly held a special place in everyone's hearts.
Just subbed, amazing work!
Would give anything to ride The Big Dipper and The Raging Wolf Bobs again. The Big Dipper will always be my number 1 favorite wooden and air time coaster.
I was 10 years old when I rode my first roller coaster... The Double Loop at Geauga Lake. It was a rainy afternoon in 1996, the breaks were wet so it was the quadruple loop I suppose. Then on to Raging Wolf Bobs, Mind Eraser and the Texas Twister. Mr. Hyde's Nasty Fall was new that year and the line was like an hour long.
I remember going to Sea World in 1994 and they had a "Baywatch" themed show at the park. It even featured the voice of David Hasselhoff over the PA. I was so excited like "IS KNIGHT RIDER HERE?!" He wasn't though, true story.
Geauga Lake and Sea World were special places and alot of is have some great memories there. The parks may be gone but we will always have those memories.
Great video btw, excellent research.
Some of my few good memories as a child. I loved going there every year my grandmother who would pay for and gather the family to go to Geauga lake. I am sad to hear of its demise.
I used to go to Geauga Lake when I was a kid this was before it was Six Flags worlds of Adventure I always had fun when I went there and rode the Big Dipper. watching this video brought back a lot of memories of me as a kid having a lot of fun at this park. This great amusement park will truly be missed. I know I will miss this park. And I know that there are others out there that will miss this park too.
I grew up going to Geauga Lake every summer. It launched my lifelong love of/fascination with coasters, and amusement parks in general. I have vivid memories of riding the Big Dipper and Corkscrew with my father and brother. I have vivid memories of deeming the Double Loop too scary, I'll ride the Big Dipper and Corkscrew instead thank you very much. It was a big deal to me as an 8-year old in 1988 when Raging Wolf Bobs opened. I remember it was in the back corner of the park so there was nowhere else to go should you consider chickening out at the last second. Oh, and the Dodgems! Also, Rotor Man.
I worked there in 2000,01 as a ride op of Big Dipper...times I'll never forget....
It's 6/10/23. I'm watching this for the 1st time! I'm crying!! I live 45 minutes due north in Lake County & I was born in '75. Crap! I can't see the keyboard!! I LIVED at this park from like '83-'93 in the summers!!! It was the TRUE meaning of childhood fun!! Today they are starting to build a housing development. It really does hurt not to be able to take my son to it! Now he wants Cedar Point but I've been there a few times and it's.....tiring!! So I think we'll try Kings Island IF they're still open. We also had Euclid Beach Park but that closed about 7 years before I was born. Euclid is only 20 minutes from me so I suppose Euclid Beach is to my mom and aunts like Geauga Lake is to me. Don't worry!! I'm gonna make it a point to have my mom tell my son about Euclid Beach & I'll tell my grandkids all about Geauga Lake!! I WON'T LET THESE MEMORIES DIE!!! 😁😜😜✌💖✌💖✌💖✌💖✌💖✌💖✌💖
Lucky enough to have had this park be a staple of my summer evenings during my teen years....experienced this park from 96 until around 2002... best park I've ever seen, and I lived like 5 minutes from it....
Aurora or Bainbridge? I grew up a block behind the walmart plaza in the Geauga Lake neighborhood of Aurora.
That was really interesting. Such a shame its gone as I love theme parks. Thanks for posting.
I was just at King's Dominion this past weekend, the first ride I went on was the Dominator. I had no idea the coaster had such a sad past, but I'm so happy it lives on a King's Dominion.
I grew up around this park. Loved the park. I found it easier to enjoy over Cedar Point. Last I was there was Jan 2015 to climb the abandoned Big Dipper - very eerie to see the contrast of childhood memories and crumbling forgotten
I would love to buy this property and transform it into a park with world class thrill rides again.
You could build a green space with an Olympic sized swimming pool and name it "Geauga Lake Park". ;D Come full circle to its humble beginnings.
Some really great times and memories. My Dad's company picnic was held there every year. I still have a picture of my sister and I posing with Geauga Dog. The entrance sign behind us says that admission was $5!! Loved the Big Dipper!!
Wow... This place was amazing!
Dude, 12:48 I have been telling people about that ball pit battle tower craziness for forever. I could never find pictures of it, nor was it in any of my home videos. That was my favorite part of the park as a kid!
Wow, that was freaking great man! Keep up the good work!
Hope we can get a history lesson on my home park Great Adventure some time.