CoasterXtreme Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 POWELL, Ohio - About 10 months before the scheduled opening of the new water park at the Columbus Zoo, the park's name is spouting a problem. After six weeks of voting, Zoombezi Bay was chosen by the pubic to be the water park's new name, 10TV's Brittany Westbrook reported. "We wanted something that had zoo in it because it's all part of the zoo complex," said Jerry Borin with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. "We wanted it to be a bit exotic sounding." SLIDESHOW: Images Of Park, Construction While the park's name was chosen without a hitch, naming its Web site may present some difficultly. After seeing the park's name in a newspaper Thursday morning, a Columbus man purchased the Web site address ZoombeziBay.com for $8.95, Westbrook reported. Even though the zoo owns Zoombezi Bay as a trademark, it won't be able to use it as the name for its Web site. To obtain the rights, the zoo would have to buy the address from the man, or make changes to the newly-chosen Zoombezi Bay name. "I wonder why someone would want to do it," Borin said. "We created it; the public voted for it - why not let the public have it?" The man who purchased the Web site address refused to appear on camera for 10TV's report, but said he was willing to sit down with the zoo to negotiate. He said it's the first Web site address he's ever purchased. Borin, meanwhile, said the zoo had no intentions to pay the man more than what he originally paid for the address. He also said the zoo didn't have plans to change the Zoombezi Bay name. "As I understand it, we have some legal protection," Borin said. "No one can try and sell it to us for some high amount of money. I'd be happy to buy it back from the person for what he paid for it. We'd be happy to own it. But no, we're not going to change the name" The water park, which is currently under construction, will feature a new wave pool, slides and entrance, Westbrook reported. According to Borin, the wooden roller coaster and Lazy River attraction will remain in place. Stay with 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterXtreme Posted July 13, 2007 Author Share Posted July 13, 2007 Park rechristened Zoombezi Bay Former Wyandot Lake to reopen in May Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:36 AM By Suzanne Hoholik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH <p>Zoo officials approved the name selected by voters and this logo for its water park.</p> Zoo officials approved the name selected by voters and this logo for its water park. The voting is over, and the new name of the water park next to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is (drum roll) -- Zoombezi Bay. "This has gotten the most votes," said Tom Heiby, a board member and chief executive at Clary Communications. "The public has spoken." Zoo officials bought the financially troubled Wyandot Lake water park last year from Six Flags for $2 million. The public was invited to vote on the zoo's Web site for a new name. Zoombezi Bay beat out other names in the running, including Kisawa Waves, Katoomba Lagoon, Kahuna Island and Tahiti Tides. Jerry Borin, executive director of the zoo, said at least 3,000 people voted for Zoombezi Bay. The zoo board approved the new name and logo at its monthly meeting yesterday. The 17-acre water and amusement park is closed this summer and undergoing a $20 million renovation. It will reopen next May. In the meantime, there probably will be some advertising to promote the park and familiarize zoo patrons -- especially kids -- with the name. "It says water park right away," Heiby said of Zoombezi Bay and the logo. "It's going to give us a lot of opportunity, from a marketing standpoint." shoholik@dispatch.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cortney Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Its never going to be the same as it was! No matter what they do. I was so upset to see it being torn down when I was there in February and watched the memories of Wynadot Lake be taken away forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterXtreme Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 Well it will be really nice. A lot better than when six flags owned it at least they will keep adding things and the up keep will be better. You will just have to make some new memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersNSich Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 The guy buying the ZoombeziBay.com name isn't the only case of taking advantage of a domain name that someone else might want... KingsIsland.com for a while has been one of those "squatting" sites that people may visit in error or by misspelling a name. Right around when Cedar Fair was dropping the Paramount name from the park, someone from Toronto (?) took over KingsIsland.com for his internet/data service business. As of now, the site is again held by a squatter. I have a feeling also that KI doesn't want to refer to their website as "PKI.com" much longer. As for Wyandot Lake, I went once in 2005 and enjoyed the place. It had a nice, unique atmosphere where dry amusement rides were mixed in with the water park attractions, and some of the slides were great too. The wave pool was deep and intense, so I'm sure I'll miss the old place. But what the Zoo is giving us is certainly progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzarley Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Its never going to be the same as it was! No matter what they do. I was so upset to see it being torn down when I was there in February and watched the memories of Wynadot Lake be taken away forever. wow... how did you react when they closed the old COSI and moved to the new one? But seriously, in the long run this will be a very good thing. (And, I'm very pleased that the Zoo realized the historical significance of the John Allen designed "Sea Dragon" and saved it in the new park.) I'm sure the Zoo will do a top notch job with Zoombezi Bay. (Of course, I still miss the old COSI of my youth on Broad St., even though rationally I know that the new one is far superior ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoaster Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 It sounds like a trip up North is in order next year!! YEH!! Sounds like the park will be so much fun: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby_Doo Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I really enjoy going to Columbus Zoo its so clean I might have to plan another trip the problem is from dayton it takes forever to get there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welchce Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 That's very interesting about the website. I mean if you knew before anyone else did what the name was going to be, why wouldn't you purchase the website then? It makes no sense. It takes a guy several hours later for them to realize they forgot to buy it. But anyway, if you go to http://www.zoombezibay.com/ it redirects you to the Columbus Zoo's home page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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