Ride On_17 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 It's such a shame what has happened to this park that had so much potential. I wonder that if Ouimet would have already been CEO, whether Geauga Lake would have been closed. Kinzel's decision to close this park is my biggest dislike of him. Now it's just an empty, weed filled area with decrepit buildings and decaying rides. Living only 45 minutes away I wish it could have remained open. Sadly I only made one visit to the park when I was young, and the only coaster I went on (and that I was tall enough for) was the Big Dipper. This was also my first roller coaster, so I am very sentimental to this ride, and it pains me seeing it just sit there in the abandoned park. I don't even like going to Wildwater Kingdom since I can't help but look across the lake and think of everything that it could be--but probably never will be again. Anyway, here's Geuaga Lake in its former glory, an amusement park that unfortunately fell victim to the chopping block. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanofFirehawk Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 This nearly brought me to tears, and when I say nearly I mean wept like a baby. And this wasn't the first time I've seen that video. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ride On_17 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 I doubt it, but do you think it will ever reopen again? Not even by Cedar Fair, but I'd love for there to just be another amusement park there and for the Big Dipper to be restored instead of just sitting there rotting away. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanofFirehawk Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 It would be awesome but I don't think Cedar Fair would ever do this, but possibly a competitor, though I doubt six flags would either, they already tried that. Maybe someone like SeaWorld Entertainment or Universal or some other one. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfanatic83 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 I started the video not realizing it was 42 minutes long. I'll save it for a rainy day 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PyroKinesis Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Big Dipper was my first coaster as well. Rode it with some friends during a 5th grade field trip to the place. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ride On_17 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 I also remember being so upset that I wasn't tall enough to ride Superman Ultimate Escape, the suspended impulse coaster. I had loved Big Dipper so much that I wanted to try the rest of the coasters, but to my despair I was too short for most of the ones I wanted to ride. I also am sentimental to the park since on that same visit I was with family from Scotland that I rarely get to see. I have good memories of going on rides with them. Probably the best was with my older cousin from Scotland who I rode the Himalaya with. We just laughed the whole time as we were pushed into each other. The more I'm talking and thinking about my short yet awesome memories at this park, the more I miss it. I just wish I couldn've spend more time there. My dream would be for it to be reopened. One can wish... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 The land where the amusement park is now is being subdivided and offered for sale in smaller lots. Once that happens, the perhaps theoretical one in a million chance of the dry park reopening will be completely gone. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ride On_17 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 Well that just sucks. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 I would question if BD could even be rehabbed at this point. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 And that's a terrible shame. There are few John Miller coasters left. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 I'm tellin' you all, from the heart: Cherish now! Look around and enjoy fully the things you love. RideOn_17, thanks for posting this! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ride On_17 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 You're welcome! I thought someone bought BD a while back? Maybe I'm wrong but I thought it was sold...But it doesn't seem like it since it's still there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBEW_Sparky Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Id like to say that, had there not been a dick kinzel, there is absolutely 100% no chance that GL would have closed.... but then I think about it and realize that gary story would have simply had a the same "I have a bigger, ahem, ego" contest with whoever would have been in control of CP/CF at the time. Regardless, both are equally detestable in my eyes, and to say I have a "small attachment" to GL would be like saying the Hatfields have a "slight disagreement" with the McCoys. That park means/meant more to me than I can even describe here with words. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBEW_Sparky Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I am by no means a Madonna fan..... but this is an incredibly fitting sentiment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjBksLgXZG8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 You're welcome! I thought someone bought BD a while back? Maybe I'm wrong but I thought it was sold...But it doesn't seem like it since it's still there. The buyer was a dismantling\moving company who intended to resell it. Who has title to Big Dipper now and what's to become of it is very much an open question. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ride On_17 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 I really hope someone does something with it. I think it would be even sadder to see that coaster go down in dust than the announcement that Geauga Lake would be closing. It would truly be a shame if nothing is done with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 since the wood is probably not the greatest on the BD, if someone would want to buy it, would they just buy it to inspect it, take any working parts and then rebuild it somewhere else? How does that work with relocating a wooden coaster? I know with a steel, they can almost take all of the parts, but with a wooden one, it would seem that its cheaper to dismantle and build anew... am I com. wrong on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBEW_Sparky Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 From condition reports that I have heard about, that is precisely what would happen with Big Dipper at this point. It would unfortunately be a replica built at another location, Big Dipper in name only, with possibly/probably only the trains being the remaining original components. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stashua123 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We are very lucky that Kentucky Kingdom didn't meet this downfall. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedevariouseffect Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Wow, I really miss that park, and what I would do to see what it looks like today & take a stroll through it... I still hate that double loop was just sold for scrap, same as villain. Very underrated and very great rides 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Double Loop was the last Arrow coaster that was entirely assembled by welding. It could not be salvaged. As for Villain, I am told it could not economically be moved. Cedar Fair moved everything it could from the park, at least if there was any way it could fit their business plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedevariouseffect Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I know it wasn't...but just...grr..that was my first ever park and many of my first ever big rides. It's like your first car or first big date, ect. You'll always remember them and have memories about it 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCrypt Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Double Loop was the last Arrow coaster that was entirely assembled by welding. It could not be salvaged. As for Villain, I am told it could not economically be moved. Cedar Fair moved everything it could from the park, at least if there was any way it could fit their business plan.What year did Double Loop open? RCDB says it was in 1977, but I read Magnum was welded together during construction. This would mean Double Loop was not the last Arrow to be assembled via welding.I'm so confused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortex Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Id like to say that, had there not been a dick kinzel, there is absolutely 100% no chance that GL would have closed.... but then I think about it and realize that gary story would have simply had a the same "I have a bigger, ahem, ego" contest with whoever would have been in control of CP/CF at the time. Regardless, both are equally detestable in my eyes, and to say I have a "small attachment" to GL would be like saying the Hatfields have a "slight disagreement" with the McCoys. That park means/meant more to me than I can even describe here with words. If it had not been for Cedar Fair the park would have been close sooner as Six Flags pulled out. If Six Flags did not build the park up so fast in one year it would be open today. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 TheCrypt: I may have left out in my mind that it was the last looper so constructed. My source back then was SFWOA PR. Even then, they may have been mistaken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCrypt Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 It seems I have been mistaken. Magnum appears to be pieced together without the help of welding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TombRaiderFTW Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 If I'm remembering things correctly, Magnum was the last Arrow coaster to have track bent on site. Maybe that's what you were thinking of, TheCrypt? I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm pretty sure I would have loved Geauga Lake. It seems like it had an eclectic collection of rides that really offered something unique. Unfortunately, I never knew it existed until after the dry side closed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ride On_17 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 At least KI has one of the coasters that used to be there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 ...and ironically was intended to be at Kings Island to start with. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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