WYANDOT LAKE AUCTION Water park’s new owner liquidates old assets Thursday, November 30, 2006 Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

It was the sort of rainy weekday morning that water-park operators typically dread. But it didn’t matter yesterday, as about 100 people gathered at Wyandot Lake to bid or reminisce while much of the park’s rides and fixtures were sold by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the park’s new owner.

The auction lasted 90 minutes and brought the zoo more than $119,000. Half of that was from the sale of the Grand Carousel.

The zoo is refurbishing the park with new features and rides.

"Every night before I left the park, I used to ride the carousel," said a wist- ful Charlie Cox, president of Concessions by Cox, which managed the amusement park on the Wyandot site for the city of Columbus in the early 1980s, before it was converted to a water park.

"It’s kind of a shame to see these rides going for so little," Cox said, motioning toward the large Ferris wheel, which sold for less than $6,000. "I put more into that Ferris wheel in repairs."

John Gannon, the park’s general manager who also will serve in that capacity with the Columbus Zoo, said the prices that many rides fetched yesterday were disappointing.

"Thank God for the carousel," Gannon said. It was purchased by Brass Ring Entertainment of Fontana, Calif. The company’s Dan Hornenberger placed the winning bid of $61,000 by phone.

Robert Kissel, a veteran dealer in amusement-park rides, traveled from Madison, Ind., for the auction but didn’t buy.

"I specialize in carousel horses," he said, "but the horses on this one are fiberglass. People want the original; fiberglass doesn’t have much resale value."

The older, historic carousel that used to sit in the park was moved several years ago to the Columbus Zoo.

A children’s elephanttheme ride sold for $2,700. It would have cost about $75,000 new.

A frog-theme children’s ride and two giant water slides are headed to the Beach water park, across from Kings Island in Mason, northeast of Cincinnati. Ralph Vilardo, representing the privately owned park, was the only bidder on the slides, which he bought for $500.

Manny Gonzalez, chief operating officer for the zoo and a former executive of Six Flags, which sold Wyandot Lake to the zoo, said that any amount the zoo received for the rides was better than having to pay to have them torn down and hauled away.

"The main benefit of this auction is the savings," Gonzalez said. "By saving this money and reusing some things that are still in good shape like the signs, we’ll get a $30 million park for $20 million."

Chris Franz, of Delaware, braved yesterday’s drizzle for old time’s sake, taking one last look at Wyandot Lake’s rides and slides. Franz said he worked summers at the park from 1989 to 2002, starting at age 15 as a food server and advancing to head of retail operations for the park.

"It’s bittersweet," Franz said, "but it’ll be exciting to see what happens now that the zoo is taking it over. It’s always been a great park, but it’s been somewhat neglected. I think it could be a terrific place again."

mrose@dispatch.com

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I think The Beach might be feeling a little bit of pressure from the new Great Wolf Lodge. But for $500 to purchase two slides (minus the relocation costs) and a children`s ride is a steal! I wonder if they plan on having these slides ready to operate for their 2007 season.

So, how large are the slides? Anyone know of pictures of them?

They belonged to Six Flags at a small waterpark in Columbus. They aren't worth getting terribly excited about.....

Well, I looked at it on WIndows Live/Local, and although, I don't know which slides they were, I don't think they got too bad of a deal.

Indeed, for $500, how could they have!

Indeed, for $500, how could they have!

This is true. Wish I'd been there. I coulda bought the slides, it's just, I don't think they would fit in the back of a pick-up truck. And even if they did, I'd have to borrow a truck.

*sigh*

This would've been a great time for "collecting" items for our tuba closet at school. Seriously, everwhere we go we steal, I mean "collect" something to put in the closet. Unfortunetly, half the time, the item never makes it there. Like the alcohol menu from Medieval times, room service menu, horeshoe from band camp, random signs, caribeener(sp) from the clay center...

A frog-theme children’s ride and two giant water slides are headed to the Beach water park, across from Kings Island in Mason, northeast of Cincinnati. Ralph Vilardo, representing the privately owned park, was the only bidder on the slides, which he bought for $500.

Frog Theme ride?

Well I can see where the Beach might appear to be under some pressure, but the GWL doesn't allow people without rooms in the indoor or outdoor waterpark, so I can't imagine people would pay for a room for one night when you can buy the whole family season passes to the beach, and I would imagine still have money.

Kindof along the same note...the life guards around here ought to be getting paid highly considering the extremely high demand for a town like Mason. There is

1. GWL

2. Boomerang Bay

3.Mason Community Center

4.Mason Municiple Center

5. Beach

Thats a lot of lifeguards

I think The Beach might be feeling a little bit of pressure from the new Great Wolf Lodge. But for $500 to purchase two slides (minus the relocation costs) and a children`s ride is a steal! I wonder if they plan on having these slides ready to operate for their 2007 season.

Oh the beach is feeling the cold (no use to say 'feel the heat' since it is good in this case). First Boomerang Bay, then a world class resort with a world class waterpark! I expected the Beach to do something with the resort opening soon.

Somehow, I see "something" as a lot more than $500 of stuff they bought from a former Six Flags waterpark!

"Something" can mean a lot more to the general public, who may be completely unaware that the slides came from another park.

The slides they bought are ok, they give a nice ride and are somewhat long. A good buy indeed for the Beach.

"Something" can mean a lot more to the general public, who may be completely unaware that the slides came from another park.

Or it can mean a lot more to them, especially when they may be completely unaware that the coaster came from another park...

-CombatStupendous89....running for the door.....of his new Geauga Lake condo.

"Something" can mean a lot more to the general public, who may be completely unaware that the slides came from another park.

Or it can mean a lot more to them, especially when they may be completely unaware that the coaster came from another park...

-CombatStupendous89....running for the door.....of his new Geauga Lake condo.

^ Now, that was clever