Geauga Lake Amusement Park
Geauga Lake Amusement Park, located in Aurora, Ohio, was purchased
by Cedar Fair in 2004 and is now called
Geauga Lake
& Wildwater Kingdom.
It was announced that beginning with the
2008 season, Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom will become exclusively a
water park attraction.
Geauga Lake theme park was home to 8 roller
coasters ranging from a classic woodie, The Big Dipper, to Dominator, the
world's longest floorless roller coaster.
Weather was partly cloudy with temps only in the high 70's when I visited Geauga Lake Amusement Park in 1997. Crowds were virtually non-existent with more parents and young children. As a result, lines were pretty short for nearly all the rides.
Big Dipper
The Big Dipper, built in 1925 is a Miller Out &
Back coaster well worth the stop at Geauga Lake. It was one of the smoothest
wooden coasters I've ridden. The Big Dipper is an
ACE "Coaster Classic" and was the 7th oldest operating
roller coaster in the US.
There was good air time over the many dips and
humps (up to 65 feet) of this classic coasters 2,600-foot track. While the back
seat provided the most air time (it seemed like I was being ejected from the
seat throughout the ride) the front seat still had good air time and provides
the best view. My only complaint with these cars were the tight lap bars which
I found very uncomfortable.
View more photos of
Big Dipper.
Front seat POV (including 1/2 ramp up) from "The Big
Dipper"
at Geauga Lake Park - 09/10/2006 From:
BellaCroix.
With the closure of Geauga Lake by Cedar Fair, enthusiasts and
preservationists are concerned was the future of the venerated park's classic
Big Dipper roller coaster, which is the country's seventh oldest roller
coaster. American Coaster Enthusiasts has made saving this coaster a high
priority. Members of ACE's Executive Committee have begun a dialogue with
government officials, business leaders, and Cedar Fair executives, hoping to
come to an agreeable solution to save this highly regarded
coaster.
Founded in 1978, ACE is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated
to the preservation, promotion, appreciation, and safe enjoyment of roller
coasters. With close to 7,000 members in 50 states and 12 countries, ACE is the
largest amusement park enthusiast organization in the world.
Double Loop
The Arrow Double Loop (1977) gets my vote for
headbanger at Geauga Lake.
This looping thrill ride sends passengers
through two consecutive loops after plunging down a 95-foot lift hill at 36 mph
on 1,800 feet of solid steel track!
Its short ride was welcome after
sitting in these most uncomfortable hard seats. I rode the back seat and since
I value my back, I didn't ride again.
The Double Loop does
have the distinction of being the first roller coaster in the world that
contained two consecutive loops. View more photos of
Double Loop
Raging Wolf Bobs
Raging Wolf
Bobs
(1988) - Summers Twister.
I found this 80-foot tall wooden
coaster with its 3,426 feet of twists, turns and dives to be rather rough,
especially in any seat other than the front. The back seat really throws you
around and the narrow seats with a divider made it very uncomfortable.
Head Spin
Mind Eraser (1996), now
called Head Spin is a Vekoma Boomerang. This is not unlike other
Boomerangs at other parks where you rocket forwards and backwards through 360
degree loops at speeds up to 45mph. All in all, this is a rather smooth ride
and again, the trip backward is better than the forward trek.
Roller Coasters added at Geauga Lake since
my visit in 1997:
Thunderhawk (1998) is a unique suspending
looping coaster.
Dominator (2000) is billed as the world's longest
floorless coaster.
Villain (2000) is a world-class wooden coaster
climbing 120 feet and reaching speeds of 60 mph.
X-Flight (2001) was moved
to Kings Island in 2007 and renamed,
Firehawk.
Other Links
