coasterdadGL

Just to clear up a few misconceptions that I have read here about the Big Dipper Town Hall meeting. We are not going to be selling anything on our own to make money, we in now way plan to profit from this event. With that being said we have agreed to let the Aurora Historical Society sell their holiday ornaments again with no profits going to the organizers in any way. The organizers have a broad network of state and federal officials, media representatives and other community leaders with whom they have been in contact since late 2007. The word that has gone out to this network about the April 25 town hall meeting has consistently been exactly what we described -- a positive event not intended to criticize Cedar Fair or the Big Dipper owner in any way. The organizers will stick to their word and would not dream of risking their credibility with elected officials, the media and others by delivering a sneak attack on anyone. It will be more than simply stuff purchased from Tradewinds on display. Displays will include videos of the park, old signs, items from the park and many pictures. We have also scheduled for nationally known amusement park historians and authors, Charles Jacques and Jim Futrell to speak about the history of the Big Dipper and Geauga Lake Park. As well as what the site could be developed into. The full press release is posted below. Aurora, Ohio – April 7, 2009. Celebrating the history of Geauga Lake amusement park and its 1925 Big Dipper roller coaster, as well as expressing support for the Big Dipper’s preservation, will be the subject of a town hall meeting on Saturday, April 25, 2009. The meeting is free and will take place at noon in the VFW hall at 1033 North Aurora Road in Aurora, across Route 43 from the Geauga Lake ballroom. At the end of Geauga Lake’s final season in 2007, the Big Dipper was the 12th oldest operating roller coaster in the world and the 7th oldest in the United States. The 84-year-old structure is also the oldest intact roller coaster in Ohio. The Big Dipper is one the last remaining coasters created by the prolific designer, John A. Miller, whose inventions and safety features are still used today on new roller coasters. Although John Miller designed several hundred roller coasters, only a handful still exist. When Geauga Lake’s rides were auctioned in June 2008, the Big Dipper was purchased by an anonymous buyer who has yet to announce plans. Nationally known amusement park historians and authors, Charles Jacques and Jim Futrell, will speak about the history of the Big Dipper and Geauga Lake Park. Other speakers will discuss places where new development has incorporated historic roller coasters, like the Big Dipper, into retail and entertainment venues. Geauga Lake photographs, artifacts and memorabilia will also be on display. Event organizers hope that options for keeping the Big Dipper at Geauga Lake as part of the future development there will be considered by Cedar Fair and the Big Dipper owner, should a viable plan to do so emerge. Event organizers also believe that this is about much more than a roller coaster. Rather, it is about potentially developing something on the vacant land around the Big Dipper that will create local jobs, bring customers to surrounding businesses and generate taxes for the local communities. While the Big Dipper is an important part of Geauga Lake’s past, it can also be part of its future as well.

Oh wait - I did wait for X-Flight. It was less than an hour, about the time you should wait for an average gimmick ride like that. Oh wait, you have to wait 5 hours - have fun! Steel Venom - sucks that it’s gone but oh well. Something will replace it eventually. It probably won’t be used and most likely we will not have to wait 5 hours.

WOW - FIVE HOURS??!! That’s longer than even I expected - that’s practically half the day waiting for one ride! No ride is worth that kind of wait, especially Firehawk. This is only the beginning kids. Why anyone would wait 5 or more hours in line is beyond me. Have fun with your used ride, Ill wait two hours for Maverick, at least it’s really a new ride.

Well at least you are right about one thing – I have never worked for GL or worked at XF. Although I am not sure what this has to do with anything. Have you ever worked on XF or Firehawk? Haw many times have you ridden XF while it was at GL. I think I can say that on the many many rides I took on XF I pretty much know how it works. This makes me more of an expert than you or anyone else here who has not ridden it. With all due respect and I do mean this with all sincerity - what makes you an expert regarding Firehawk? My opinion is just as valid as whatever you will say. But again May is coming soon and one of us will be right.

I apologize - I didnt see your response. Also with all due respect I have seen XF in operation many many times. KI ride ops might be the greatest ops in the world but guests are guests and Firehawk is not easy to load quickly. I am sure they will do the best they can but the ride is what it is. Anyone remember King Cobra?

Even though my credibility may be lacking according to certain individuals I know for a fact SOB lines on opening year were among the longest lines I had ever seen for a coaster. You might not have been there so you wouldn’t know. Lately though the line has been among the shortest - I wonder why. * CD – whose credibility may be upped a notch by the end of May

I was simply answering a question and backing it with facts that maybe someone had not seen. But hey - like you said, only time will tell.

Yes and these are the facts I based my opinion on: Firehawk can do 650 guests an hour when running at peak efficiency with two trains running (1430 with three trains but that never happened). I recall when FOF and SOB first opened the lines were ridiculous (3+ hours) and these rides are rated at 2000 and 1600 guests per hour. Peak efficiency means that all guests sit down and there are no problems. With the nature of Firehawk not all guests are able to figure out how to get them selves situated and will need ride op help, thus slowing down efficiency. But what do I know - time will tell.

I disagree. Firehawk lines will be among the longest lines KI has ever seen! Waits were 2+ hours on a busy day at GL and busy day at GL is no where near the amount of guests KI gets on a busy day.

Deal - but ill be through the ride twice while your still waiting!

Hahaha - GL only lost ONE great coaster. Ill be riding Maverick while you are waiting in line for Firehawk!

Face Off is an older ride and I don’t think it pulls the numbers it used to. XF had a two hour wait at GL on busy days with 2 trains running. KI has almost three times the guests that GL ever got, you do the math. XF can only do 650 guests an hour (1430 with three trains – but that never happened) when running at peak efficiency with two trains. I recall when FOF and SOB first opened the lines were ridiculous (3+ hours) and these rides are rated at 2000 and 1600 guests per hour! While KI ride ops are great I don’t think it has anything to do with the efficiency of the ride ops – the ride is just a capacity nightmare. But you guys will see soon enough.

Very true, opinions do differ and opinions do change. Its cool that XF (Firehawk) is one of your favorites, although it was never rated as a popular coaster on any list I have seen, although I may have missed one. I am just glad that I am also close to CP and they are getting a real honest to goodness new coaster instead of someone else’s hand me down.

One you have ridden it you will see it’s just an OK coaster. The part you might not like much will be the four hour wait!

You are quite observant Reclaimer! I AM bitter and I will always be bitter at how CF is treating guests of not only GL but all their parks. I guess you don’t get it, but you eventually will. No matter how good KI ops are that thing will stack like crazy and I will be the first one to remind you the day after it opens. It is Cincy's time to fly but it will take a three plus hour wait!