http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=93058

CLEVELAND -- Colliers Ostendorf Morris Senior Vice President & Managing Director Cliff West confirmed today that one of the four bidders for the former Geauga Lake amusement park property up for sale just recently has withdrawn its bid.

West said the remaining three bidders each submitted bids on different and separate pieces of property within the park.

"All three are being negotiated with separately for three different pieces of the park," West said. West said the three different pieces make up the entire 551 acres up for sale.

West said the three pieces are: 100 acres on the west end of the park in Bainbridge; the now-closed 150-room Geauga Lake Hotel on an 11-acre parcel; and 440 acres that lies between the 100 acres and the hotel parcel.

West confirmed that one of the three remaining bidders has a signed contract with Colliers to purchase the piece it bid upon but West declined to say which piece and what the bidder's name was.

West added that Colliers representatives are meeting this week with the other two bidders and "it is progressing rapidly ... there should be something to say in the next few weeks."

West said Monday that one of the bidders withdrew its bid on one of the parcels "based upon some information it received about a roller coaster on that parcel that had been sold to someone else" at the June 17 Norton Auctioneers ride and equipment auction at the park.

West confirmed that the roller coaster mentioned was The Big Dipper and that "it was sold to an out-of-state bidder."

West confirmed that The Big Dipper is located on the 440-acre parcel.

On June 17, The Big Dipper, built in 1925, was sold for $5,000 to an undisclosed buyer represented at the auction by Akron-based Apex Machinery's Tom Woosnam.

Since then, Apex has offered The Big Dipper to anyone who wants to buy it, with stipulations. On July 10, the American Coaster Enthusiasts organization declined to buy The Big Dipper, according to a statement on its Web site.

Colliers's Cleveland office is handling the sale of the 550-acre amusement park property for the owner, Sandusky-based Cedar Fair Entertainment.

Cedar Fair closed the amusement park Sept. 21 due to declining attendance and put the acreage up for sale for re-development.

Colliers received four bids for the property by the May 23 deadline.

Geauga Lake Wildwater Kingson, the 100-acre waterpark in Aurora adjacent to the closed amusement park, opened for the summer May 24. Cedar Fair also owns the waterpark.

Who cares to bet that it was ACE that dropped out?

I think it was the person from Ace that said something while the Big Dipper was being actioned. With Cedar Fair still owning the water park I don't think they would want the Big Dipper still running around a mall.

Carole Sanderson works for an architectural development firm in Cleveland that had placed a bid on the property with the intention of salvaging the Dipper. Once the Dipper was sold to another buyer, they withdrew interest.

I note ACE's interest in saving a historical coaster, but Carole is no savior. She always brings high drama.

Shaggy

...not nearly as high drama, though, as one of her predecessors often did!

Terpy, who'd best say no more in this thread about ACE and conventions....and Cedar Fair, for that matter...

...not nearly as high drama, though, as one of her predecessors often did!

Terpy, who'd best say no more in this thread about ACE and conventions....and Cedar Fair, for that matter...

But a comment like that leaves us WANTING more!!!! LOL

Anyone for a Kiser roll?

...not nearly as high drama, though, as one of her predecessors often did!

She at least ranks a close second.

Get me inebriated sometime and I'll spill my guts about my very short (by choice) tenure as a Regional Rep, the death at a park during my first week, the "A List", the nutcase gruesome twosome, the never-ending drama, and the seemingly enthusiast friendly "Seasonally themed" park.

One day I woke up in the midst of all that muck and thought.. "Whatever happened to riding coasters?"

Shaggy

...the nutcase gruesome twosome...

;-)

Shaggy

Does the twosome make and sell park videotapes by any chance?

Not sure, don't follow them.

Shaggy

Seems to be touch of bitterness around here.

I wish I had the inside info you guys do.

I just show up at the park, and start handing out money!!!

Trust me, Mr. Kinzel likes your kind much, much better.

There are reasons that walk thing to The Beast each morning is no longer the province of a single club....and darn good ones.

As for the gruesome twosome, I got up this morning raring to go, feeling good and in the pink, then I had to read that. Ugh.

Have a great day folks, and remember, life is what you make it...that stage of my life is also over for me, Shaggy! There are much more important things in life than A lists...thankfully. No dancing in undies for me, thank you very much.