We all saw it coming I guess, but it's still crappy because it didn't have to be this way. After years spent in an ill-advised (and failed) head-to-head competition with Cedar Point, Geauga Lake Park recently announced that 2007 was its last year as an amusement park. Locals reacted with anger, hurt, and sadness. There's a petition. But none of that will change what has already happened. I work about 10 minutes from the park, and a quick drive-by reveals ride cars in the parking lot and cranes removing sections of roller coasters.The loss of Geauga Lake is about losing a part of our childhood. We grew up visiting the park faithfully every year. It was there for us back when Cedar Point was all run down (early 1960's). It was there for us as Euclid Beach wound down and closed (late 1960's). It was there for us when Cedar Point outgrew us and became a big-ticket attraction. In those days Geauga Lake knew it was a family park, it was modest, fun, reasonable. It was like an old friend. We would beg our parents to stay later so we could run around to the gate to ride the Dodge 'Em or whatever one more time. Later we would watch with satisfaction as our own kids did the same thing on the same rides.
During the late 1990's nearly all the nostalgic rides were removed, including some purchased from Euclid Beach. Rides, benches and trees were cleared to make way for new roller coasters. The park forgot about families in its bid for stardom. And the gamble failed. The money was gone. It's faithful ridership was gone. The park was sold to Six Flags, which continued to strive for star status rather than family park. They bought and merged with Sea World of Ohio. Suddenly people who used to take a day to see each park, staying in Streetsboro hotels overnight, could see most everything in one day. Attendance dropped (mathematically!) by half a year after the merger. After this blunder, the park was sold again, and it never regained its health.
So goodbye to the Flying Scooters, the Rocket ride, the Calypso, the Big Dipper (Clipper), the Giant Slide, the Whip, the Bug, the Wild Mouse. We have our photos, and our memories.
You can search the Web for more info, but if you want text and old pictures, I recommend GeaugaLakeToday.com.
