Somebody flew a drone over Geauga Lake and the footage is depressing

[jcgoble3]

From the "DiJi Aerial Media" YouTube channel, shot on February 6, 2016:

 

[Creed Bratton]

This makes me really sad.....I can't say that it makes me sad because the park is no longer there but for the fact that I missed my chance to go visit....if that makes any sense. 

I literally had the opportunity to go twice when I was a kid (I wouldn't have got to enjoy the thrill rides as I wasn't tall enough) but my family wasn't into amusement parks then nor did they want to extend our day trip to Sea World to include Geauga Lake. I sat in the stadium watching the ski-show but my eyes would wander across the lake to the rides.

[thegajone]

The Big Dipper

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[McSalsa]

Man, that video is sad- especially with that music choice. Seeing what for so long was once a beloved family amusement park (and briefly a corporate mega-park near the end) in this state...at least when you see some of the footers, you know a few of the rides like Dominator still exist elsewhere, but for others fate wasn't as kind...

 

And Big Dipper, its fate still unknown, is still standing there. It may be intact but considering how rusty and beat up SOB looked after 3 years of SBNO, I don't even want to ask what shape Big Dipper is in after 9. At this point, the odds of it ever re-opening anywhere are super slim. Which is tragic considering it is Ohio's oldest standing roller coaster opening in 1925. If it is finally demolished, 1952's Little Dipper (ironic name) at Memphis Kiddie Park takes that title.

 

And what's also sad is that the decaying corpse of the park is still there to remind us it once existed- nothing has replaced it yet. Even a shopping center or something there would be easier on the eyes than this.

[PyroKinesis]

There is a duo on YouTube called "The Proper People" who like to tour abandoned places (of questionable legality, of course), and post great HD video.

 

Of course, since they live in Florida, flyovers with drones will probably be the closest we get to anything of that variety.

 

Not that there is much left to explore at Geauga Lake...

[The Interpreter]

As for the Meijer, one must wonder if a certain township's demands are going to eventually cause Meijer to walk:

http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news%20local/2016/02/03/Aurora-mayor-remains-positive-about-Geauga-Lake-development

[Creed Bratton]

While I like Meijer and all, I don't think building a brand new store on the parking lot is the best idea. If Aurora is anything like my town, there are empty storefronts that are begging for something to be done with them. I'm wondering if there is better area in Aurora for Meijer to be built in. They could certainly renovate/build on to existing buildings. Part of me would rather see the property go back to a natural state vs. mixed use. The other part of me still would rather the area to be opened into a small park again.

[The Interpreter]

Cedar Fair will never allow that property to be an amusement park again--large, small or medium.

[Creed Bratton]

I know, just my wish.

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[themuska11]

Cedar Fair will never allow that property to be an amusement park again--large, small or medium.

So if someone wanted to purchase the land with the intentions of turning it into an amusement park, Cedar Fair would decline the offer?

[The Interpreter]

Absolutely, unless the buyer was willing to pay far, far more than fair market value.

See also Meijer, who will only buy property there if much of the rest of the property is restricted from competitive retail uses.

[PyroKinesis]

I mean, that's attractive, right?

 

Hey, let's go shopping next to the dead amusement park.

[RollerNut]

Absolutely, unless the buyer was willing to pay far, far more than fair market value.

See also Meijer, who will only buy property there if much of the rest of the property is restricted from competitive retail uses.

Sounds like Big Dipper needs a rich enthusasist.

It almost seems to me that they purposely leave the Big Dipper there for some purpose. To me the poor thing looks like a very slow healing wound(as in natural slowly taking it back).

[bkroz]

This footage is must-see for anyone (mostly the Facebook crowd) who circulate petitions to re-open Geauga Lake.

 

Re-open what?

 

There's barely a shed standing. Literally any salvageable material at all is gone. It would be no easier to build a theme park there than it would be to open a fitness center and spa. 

[PyroKinesis]

I mean, it took a year to build Hard Rock Park.

 

Took almost as long to close for good and be used on NBC's Revolution.

[westcoaster]

Wow

[Hoeter]

Never got the chance to visit Geauga Lake. 

 

Hardly a building standing, and then The Big Dipper sitting there.

 

Truly sad.

[shark6495]

I mean, that's attractive, right?

Hey, let's go shopping next to the dead amusement park.

I thought the Meijer would hide most or part of the abandoned park? Plus I mean fences can be put in of course.

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[kingsislandfan1972]

Depressing indeed, I remember going here when I was little, we would go here then we would head over to Kings Island in the same week.

[RailRider]

Business aspects taken out of this comment and I will reflect with rose colored glasses.  

 

I always loved Geauga Lake and then Six Flags Worlds of Adventure.  Such a pretty setting and a neat concept.  I wish it would have succeeded like they planned, but it like so many other parks ultimately failed.  This video is almost as depressing as walking from Opryland Hotel to Opry Mills and passing the remnants of Opryland

[BeeastFarmer]

I never went to Geauga Lake or any of its' incarnations.  In my optimistic mind set, I hope that the land will be redeveloped and Cedar Fair will restore the roller coaster and open up a very small, nostalgic park that would appeal to the locals and heal some of the wounds.  I don't see that happening, but one can always hope.

[Gabe]

 

Absolutely, unless the buyer was willing to pay far, far more than fair market value.

See also Meijer, who will only buy property there if much of the rest of the property is restricted from competitive retail uses.

Sounds like Big Dipper needs a rich enthusasist.

It almost seems to me that they purposely leave the Big Dipper there for some purpose. To me the poor thing looks like a very slow healing wound(as in natural slowly taking it back).

 

A rich enthusiast, who will likely run for the hills after learning more about the coaster's current ownership.  No amount of money is worth that kind of headache.  The current owner is well enough off financially to keep playing the waiting game.

[The Interpreter]

The terms under which Mr. Norton, God rest his soul, auctioned the coaster created this mess. Who crafted those sloppy terms is a good question. A deadline for removal? What?

[Beasttamer]

This reminds me of Six Flags New Orleans in the way it is abandoned here is a video of a drone flying over it in case you wanted to see

 

 

[Creed Bratton]

Sad! I find it interesting they showed how the folks got out of the park at the very end.

[Outdoor Man]

Was a death knell to be a "Six Flags park" in the last 10 years.  

See: 

• Astro Land
• Worlds of Adventure
• Jazzland/New Orleans
• Kentucky Kingdom

Interesting how all met very different circumstances to arrive at the same fate.  Am I missing any?

Let it be said, however, that Six Flags today is a much different organization.  

 

As for GL.  If there wasn't a giant lake separating the water park from the dry side they probably could have justified a small ride park built around Big Dipper a la Zoombezi Bay.

[malem]

The original waterpark was right next to the dry side, before they demolished the former SeaWorld side & relocated the waterpark there. Only to demolish the rest of the main park a few years later.

[The Interpreter]

Astroland was in New York City...around the Cyclone. Six Flags had no connection to it. It closed in September, 2008.

Perhaps AstroWorld was meant?

[shark6495]

I find the video of the Jazzland/New Orleans more haunting than GL. Mainly because so much of the parks structure is still there so it seems so much more haunting.

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[dare-to-fly]

 

 

Absolutely, unless the buyer was willing to pay far, far more than fair market value.

See also Meijer, who will only buy property there if much of the rest of the property is restricted from competitive retail uses.

Sounds like Big Dipper needs a rich enthusasist.

It almost seems to me that they purposely leave the Big Dipper there for some purpose. To me the poor thing looks like a very slow healing wound(as in natural slowly taking it back).

 

A rich enthusiast, who will likely run for the hills after learning more about the coaster's current ownership.  No amount of money is worth that kind of headache.  The current owner is well enough off financially to keep playing the waiting game.

 

I know a bit more than I'll say on this topic, but here are two comments that I'd like to make.

A.  The coaster's current ownership is mysterious to pretty much everyone except the "owner's representative."  It depends on how rich the enthusiast is and how much of a risk he or she is willing to run.

B.  At least as of a few years ago, Cedar Fair did realize what they had on the property and did indeed care enough to not just knock it down.  If anything, they are the only ones that have kept at least a glimmer of hope alive.