I am a regular reader and poster on some GL forums and I have read a few things lately that have spiked my interest. More than one person has posted about a "surprise" coming to the former ride side of the park. According to reliable sources CF will NOT be selling the land for future condo or real estate development and that there will be a surprise in store that should make everyone happy?

Let me know what you think or what you've heard

Hmm, I doubt you see the land not all sold off. Maybe some of it will stay and there is a Zoombesi Bay of sorts looked into. Something along the lines of a revenue intensive low operating expense Family Entertainment Center was what I felt would be well suited to the area in addition to keeping the water park.

The thing is, Cedar Fair has acknowledge all over the place that Geauga Lake was losing money, and thus its closure. Sure bringing some more GL back would help with the naysayers, create some free publicity, and create a little goodwill for the area however, that just doesn't seem like enough to get CF any more profitable.

I don't see it happening...I hope it does, maybe they have intentions on keeping the Big Dipper, I just can't see past the fact that GL was closed. Usually management doesn't change a decision like that, not after everything has been demolished anyways. I guess we'll see.

Cedar Fair will do whatever is more profitable with the other side. Maybe the surprise they are referring to is that the Big Dipper will somehow be protected. I know Sen. Brown (D - Ohio), was trying to push for protecting it as a historical land mark. Remember, it still could just be a rumor, the few times I've posted over there I feared for my life after I even mentioned the rumors of X Flight removal and the closure of the rides side, they swore it wasn't true...

^^^ Sounds like some wishful thinking of some GL fans who may still be in denial.

CF: "Surprise--we're not really closing GL. In fact, we're builing a new 300' B&M Giga coaster! Fooled ya!!!"

I have a business acquaintance that makes regular trips past the park enroute to a cluster of companies in the general vicinity and he made mention that there was a lot of "traffic" going in and out of the park area for the off season and that they seemed to be local contractors. He's not in the business and no where near anything official but speculated that they were commercial real esate professionals assessing what options could happen there / consulting potential investors for "non-park-related activity."

My guess is that GL fans in the Aurora area see vehicles going in and out of the lot hope for some miracle announcement to come- and what they are seeing has nothing to do with restoring any part of the grounds. He has said that in recent weeks flat bed trucks carrying entire kiosks "intact" came out of the park. He said it looked like the carnival was leaving town.

Report: Geauga Lake Never Made Money for Cedar Fair:

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=82992

SANDUSKY -- In a financial report released Thursday, Cedar Fair LP officials said it will likely cost at least $60 million to complete shutting down Geauga Lake's amusement park.

Cedar Fair officials say they will re-locate as many of the rides as possible.

Their main hope is to sell the 690 acres where the amusement rides were located in a closed bidding process at the end of March for re-development as retail and/or residential....

[emphasis added]

I don't know could be interesting to see, even if they do just save the big dipper.

I don't know could be interesting to see, even if they do just save the big dipper.

I may be wrong, but didn't they have the Big Dipper up for sale?

Yes, they did, and as far as I know, still do. . .

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2...ront/477561.txt

yes but its possible they are working in conjuction with a company who is buying the land and wants to save part of the park?

As I have posted before, it would surprise me greatly if a condition of the land sale isn't included to prevent the lands sold from being used as a park that might compete with Cedar Fair's other properties. Perhaps an exception might be made for a small plot of land if someone were able to operate The Big Dipper at its current location, perhaps not.

Cedar Fair wants to maximize its revenues, both on the sale of the property and in ensuring that they are not putting a competitor in business to vie for customers of its parks, particularly Cedar Point.

That all being said, much could be gained by allowing The Big Dipper to somehow continue operation. Do I think that is impossible? No. Do I think it likely. Sadly, no.

That all being said, much could be gained by allowing The Big Dipper to somehow continue operation. Do I think that is impossible? No. Do I think it likely. Sadly, no.

i agree completely...it would be a great move on CF's behalf and may even make some critics who are upset about GL calm down a bit...but it looks VERY unlikely to happen...

maybe a small park Mainly indoors? to go with shopping and housing,

maybe that's what the dry side of gl holds in store.

That is sad, Im just really curious to see whats going to happen, supposedly bids on the land are due March 23rd i believe so I guess we'll be finding out fairly soon