bkroz Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 The idea that there are people standing on the derelict sidewalks around the park holding signs that doubtlessly say "Save The Big Dipper!" is laughable. Not that I don't agree, but c'mon. Those people - probably incited by a Facebook group - have no idea what they're asking for, or even who they're asking it of. At this point, it's just become an intangible concept to people, not a real plan. If you asked them who they were hoping would see their protest, I bet most would say "Cedar Point." 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 and this should be a lesson to businesses everywhere. If you are going to end something, end it. Permanently and quickly. Letting it bleed out only makes you look worse. Look the park was probably not bought to be destroyed. However, somewhere along the lines it was decided that it would be. You either destroy everything (yes even the gate and the Dipper) or find buyers. If there are no buyers to purchase the land or move the rides, you raze them too. Sell it as a redeveloped land as quickly as possible. Or something. By leaving it in its state, with demolished buildings but a gate. With no real sense of a part but with some rides still standing (sort of) it makes people angry. Angry people organize. What is an idea (man it would be nice if GL would reopen) now has an object to attach to (the gate or the Big Dipper). Now the organized mass has a rallying cry and something to point to to save. Its tangible. The company now has lost. It sold the ride, but cant move it (or willing to pay to do). They cant sell the land the ride is on because who would want to buy something they cant dispose of (or want to pay to dispose of). People in Northeast Ohio look at the park and are reminded of what could have been. Those that still visit the Water Park dream and remember the days of the full park. This stirs anger. Man oh Man..... 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 How about instead of protesting what happened a handful of years ago, this group reach out to other parks to see if they want to buy it?? Perhaps then they will find out that nobody, except them, wants it. The horse is dead. Beating it will not make it come back. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Job 1 would be figuring out, with certainty, who has the right to sell it. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabe Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 To my knowledge, the Dipper is still owned by the same anonymous person who it was originally sold to. Various activists/enthusiasts have tried to buy the coaster over the last several years, to no avail. Change is not imminent with regards to the coaster. You'd need to find a good business willing to operate next to a seasonal waterpark, or find a way to bifurcate the land such that if the former dry side were rezoned to some sort of residential, residents wouldn't be bothered by the waterpark. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph88 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 ^ Putting new residences close to parks is a recipe for disaster. Because eventually someone WILL find a reason to be bothered just to sue (despite the fact that the park was obviously there first and they choose where to live). More restrictions will be put on the park. Etc. etc. So fingers crossed that won't happen or the waterpark will be gone too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtk1378 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 It's probably owned by the same company/person that owns kingsisland.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 ^ Putting new residences close to parks is a recipe for disaster. Because eventually someone WILL find a reason to be bothered just to sue (despite the fact that the park was obviously there first and they choose where to live). More restrictions will be put on the park. Etc. etc. So fingers crossed that won't happen or the waterpark will be gone too. Consider Cedar Fair has ONE stand alone waterpark. One. For now. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PyroKinesis Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Wonder what the attendance figures are like for WWK. Obviously enough for them to keep it open, but not enough for them to bother adding new slides or attractions. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyano Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 According to several Facebook groups, investors have been given 45 days to look over the land and The Dipper 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 According to several Facebook groups, investors have been given 45 days to look over the land and The Dipper If that is true, great. But I question the accuracy of the report. Why 45 days? The ride has been sitting for 7+ years, suddenly now there will be a "45 day" window?? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 If its true... Maybe the land has some interested buyer... maybe the land has some interest for future development... maybe.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyano Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 according to Cedar Fair, the land has 10 interested bidders, this i don't think is true because it's taken 7+ years for them to find buyers 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150531/NEWS/305319981/meijer-is-sizing-up-former-geauga-lake-property?X-IgnoreUserAgent=1&X-IgnoreUserAgent=1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuskin Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Well that's.....interesting. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabe Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 For those wondering what the proposed Meijer will look like, see the relatively new Meijer in the "Center of Cincinnati" development just off the Norwood lateral. The township may not want a big box store, but if they're the only taker and the tax $ is needed, choices must be made. Think of the cross-marketing potential-spend $20 and get a free ride on the Big Dipper 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 “Cedar Fair does not want to be here, and Meijer will pay a lot of money to be here,” Markley said. ... Wham, Wham, Wham.... nails are being driven in to the casket of any future Amusement Park on that side of the lake.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCandyManCan Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 They won't market Big Dipper and Meijer. They operate supercenters to sell supermarket groceries and general merchandise. They have no experience in operating amusement park rides and structures, nor will they start now. Big Dipper's fate was sealed years ago given it's lack of relocation, lack of maintanance, and unwilling to settle and sell with the new owner. The ride is unfortunately probably in such a state of disrepair, it's worth next to nothing at this point other than maybe some photographs, a quick tour, and it's demolition. The cities don't like each other and fight all the time, the city has two lane roads and didn't develop as quickly as the park did, and fought left and right with the companies of the past including the current owner. See how Cedar Fair had to threaten to sue to get this deal moving. If they had to go to those levels, they have a deal, they have buyers, they're wanting out. This marks the end of the Geauga Lake amusement era folks. Sad indeed, but it's been dead since 2007. Time to get your last pictures and looks and turn away and not return. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIBeast Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Wonder if CF has been looking for potential buyers of the water park? (considering it's the only one they operate) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PyroKinesis Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 It would have been something, though, if they built a Meijer around the station for Big Dipper. So once you get your groceries and $5 generic t-shirts, you could go for a ride without leaving the store, and head home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCandyManCan Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 I would believe so honestly. Look at other parks they operate on the smaller side, such as Dorney. Even those parks have had upgrades recently albeit even if they are hand-me-downs. Geauga Lake's upgrades have been to the extent of more beach chairs, towels, and I believe a food venue. Not one bit of capital expansion has happened since the park operated solely as a waterpark. Seeing videos of city officials and whatnot over the years and how it looks like the city only wanted to use the land as park & recreational even with Cedar Fair claiming they had bidders for senior centers, sports complexes, etc. I think they finally ticked off Cedar Fair enough and now they're done. They want to sell and get out and refocus elsewhere. Plus who knows what attendance is like. I'd love to drive up just to take a gander and see the park. The last time I was there (2010 I believe) it was quite dead, and I finished every activity and ride in the park by mid afternoon. We left early given that it got boring. The area Meijer looks to acquire is I would guess the massive parking lot. It's flat, just needs fixed, and then the concrete torn up or fixed where the box will go for the building. I don't see them grabbing into the park area itself, but it's possible. I just did a recent check in both counties looking at the parcels, permits, & other information regarding the land there. The land is cut up and not just under one parcel. It's worth taking a look at. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 I believe the land was chopped up a few years back with the idea of selling smaller plots of land? The article did say that the parking lost is where the Meijer would go. Also CF and Meijer will build a new road to accommodate future expansion.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCandyManCan Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Not exactly, it's been split up like that for years. You can view the sale information, the parcels were sold that way all the way back to the Funtime era, then to Cedar Fair in 2004, and rebranded under Geauga Lake LLC in 2013. The parcels have remained that way since way back when 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCandyManCan Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Sorry to post again being the last poster. There was one drone video over the park in 2014, I'm just now seeing this one, it's much more in depth and better video. Goes to show there isn't anything worth saving, it's time to just sell it and move on. Also, theres this walkthrough done early this year showing from the ground how bad the state of disrepair the park is, notably Big Dipper. There really isn't a use salvaging the thing, nor probably a way. It'd be better to build a new one somewhere honestly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1m6gaVx1DY 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyano Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 lol, if this comes true, i think in a few years it will just become an abandon store front Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 I do not. Meijer knows what it is doing. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freaks76 Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Boy, that's one rough looking place. Just goes to show ya how quickly things can go to waste. And people will protest anything on Facebook. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyano Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 Oh I got some word that voters in Arora spacificly ruled out big box stores like Meijers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkrider68 Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 The Big Dipper is looking eerily like another Big Dipper I watched rot for years at Chippewa Lake. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoaster Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 I woke up today had to have a 2nd cup of morning joe and could not believe the prospects of a Meijer. Love the whole philosophy of Meijer family owned n ran Sam Walton could not even by them. Really this us bad for the site. Maybe Paramount would build Erie Wood a east coast Hollywood studio and fun area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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