And then they show the coaster sitting there abandonned, without the cars. Gee, I wonder who they sold the cars to? Probably gave them to the board of directors and executives to put in their backyards as flower planters. They just totally were out to prove they could give the middle finger to the community -- otherwise they would have land granted the place to make a public outdoors area, like it was originally before the rides. There are very few natural water lakes in NE Ohio where you can swim or kayak. Lake Erie doesn't really count -- it's more like the Ocean. A very polluted Ocean. Selling it to a giant grocery store chain to build parking tarmac and then, when that chain pulls out, we'll see another abandoned mess. At least they could have had the decency to sell to a farm-to-table type market that would have drawn on local farming (which is quickly being stripped and converted into cluster homes).
@@hiromasaki Pretty funny that they refused to sell individual cars to the people at that auction -- the shareholders were not well served by that decision.
@Stellvia Hoenheim So do you enjoy freesh heads&rice?,We tried some just not our cupsa tea...We figured it was for those with non standard peepers.Good talking to you hope you can visit us soon😊
Just a side note, Geauga Lake was just right down the road from another infamously abandoned place that was also covered in an episode of "Abandoned," the Randall Park Mall, which is actually now being turned into an Amazon distribution center
I went there wirh my Grandpa Gus in the late 1940's. To be precise, 1948. He was a carpenter. He went to the contest, "Drive The Nail Into The Log With One Stroke" He did. He got a prize. I got that prize. He was told, "One prize per season." He never went again with me. I never went again with him. Me and my family moved out of state in1951. I miss my Grandpa Gus who died in1973 in his 90's.
I just balled through this entire video my grandma went here when she was little then worked there then my parents worked there through school along with cousins of mine. My grandparents lived so close you could hear the joyful screams of people on the rides! Thanks for the video and making me cry 😭
This video really hit home for me. My father and I used to visit this park together when I was younger. We loved amusement parks and thrill rides. The more coasters the better. He unfortunately passed away a few weeks ago so the timing of this popping up in my recommended feed was bitter sweet.
Jennifer Bureau I’m sorry for your loss. This video came into my recommendations and it reminds me of my ex fiancée. We used to go here every summer with his kids as a family and had the best times. This park ironically closed the same year that we broke up. It’s a bittersweet video for me as well.
Fun fact: some of the trash cans from Geauga Lake can be found inside Michigan’s Adventure ticket booths. 🤣 Y’all don’t know how many hours I’ve spent zoned-out staring at a trashcan.
I say bulldoze all of it and return it to being a public nature spot. No, it doesn't bring in money but it doesn't take as much money to upkeep either.
@@BXJ-mi9mm Who should be required to do that? Besides, if you bulldoze it at this point, you'll destroy the countless future homes of animals and plants. Just try to mitigate any environmental damage as much as possible and allow it to go back to nature as, "cleaning it up" at this point would be more harm than good.
@Tatiana Marissa R By tearing it down now, you will then destroy an already extant ecosystem that currently resides in the park and is growing. By leaving it alone, you leave the wildlife that is already there alone. Not saying there shouldn't be more stringent regulations when it comes to building, but by tearing out the old park at this point will cause more damage to the environment than simply leaving it be.
Jay Sovereign, how was he being a "fascist piece of shit"? She was a heckler, and we don't know the exact context of the video. As far as we know, that might have been the last of numerous outbursts and attempts by her to derail the auction. It was a private event, so they had every right to boot her for acting improperly. You shouldn't jump to conclusions so easily. Unless you're just an immature child who rails against authority in any form?
You are wrong....here is the background on the lady.... JAB91 The lady that shouted is Carole Sanderson. She is the former president of the American Coaster Enthusiasts. ACE was never offered the ride. Two days before the auction, Norton Auctioneers made a statement to the press that the Big Dipper was offered to ACE. ACE contacted the press and explained that it was false. Despite that, the auctioneer again said that the ride was offered to ACE and Carole Sanderson corrected him.
I asked my first girlfriend out and kissed her for the first time on the boardwalk that connected SeaWorld and Six Flags. Seconds later they started shooting off fireworks I think to say that the park was closing. In the years after we had season passes every year. I come across videos like this every so often and it makes me sad that the generations coming after us won't get the know what he had in our back yard here in Northeastern Ohio.
Sad? But, just think, in a few short years, (in 2018, approximately), a Meijer something or another will be opening, for all the future boys and girls to enjoy the hell out of.and spank their ungrateful demon spawn, in. Fun o' plenty.
+BandVines Hey, a VERY familiar amusement park in Erie,Pa still exists and has a few rides Geauga Lake had. It is called Waldameer Park and Water World and is a lot of fun, just like Geauga Lake. I've been to both parks and they are almost identical and Waldameer has Water Slides that are unique to the park. If you have a chance over the summer to go there, I highly recommend it.
Before it became Six Flags and they added all the big coasters (batman, xflight, villian, superman), they had local businesses sponsor the rides. A local supermarket was the sponsor for the boomerang looping coaster. so sad that nobody wanted to buy the Villain and it got bulldozed. that thing was so fast during/after a rain. the big dipper was such a great classic.
It is so sad to see one of my favorite child hood memories in such a state. I have memories of riding the big dipper, get off only to run around and do again with my grandpa. It was and still is one of favorite theme parks and to see it in the state it is in is almost physically painful. R.I.P. Geauga Lake.
The Big Dipper was the first roller coaster that I ever rode... lol, scared the piss out of me. That was at 7 or 8 years old. Some amazing memories of my childhood. Was sad to learn that it was torn down.
Wow! What memories! This is the first real amusement park I was ever taken to as a kid in the late 70s. I also went to Sea World in the 3rd grade; 1976. My first real roller coaster was the Cork Screw at GL and the Double Loop and the Big Dipper were also loads of fun. I loved that place!
The funny thing about this is that the reason it closed is often touted as 'it was out of the way with no real hotels nearby'... The same could be said for Holiday World just a few hours away, yet it does amazing business, despite not being near any major city at all, not being on an interstate, and there really only being 1 hotel and a campground in the area. Geagua lake was closed because Cedar Fair didn't want the competition taking away from Cedar Point, and through a lack of care and respect for the park. Iyt also did't help that they tried to make the park SO big. As a smaller family park, like Holiday World, it could have succeeded. From the sheer size of the place it looks to be as big or bigger than Cedar Point...
when both parks were combined it was the world's largest theme park , and i agree with you look at knoebels they're a small park that does incredibile business despite cedar fair,six flags and hershey park all being close by,
Actually there was a hotel about 5 minutes outside the park. Not huge but big enough. And I believe there was "resort lodging" in the park like up at Cedar Point.
@@jayj.7524 Reading this I thought the person who wrote it is right on! We have Six Flags and Fantasy Island, both less than 40 minutes drive from each other. Went to Six Flags a few years back...parts looked abandoned.... expensive....not kept up ....Fantasy Island is smaller ....well maintained ...much more enjoyable. Six Flags Darien has changed hands several times in the past 20 years seems to have been faltering. Too big ....not maintained....not enough new attractions. Look at Knobel's and Fantasy Island .....clean, well maintained, adding improvements ... that's what it takes to be successful. Bigger isn't always better 😉
I think the whole reason Cedar Fair bought it was to run it into the ground so they could support their Cedar point more. Last year when I was at Cedar point on opening day. There was so many accidents so many rides malfunctioning and every bathroom you walk by smoke like nothing but a giant urinal that’s never been cleaned. So if you ask me that’s the next dump to go downhill. I like Geauga lake a lot better than Cedar point. In my opinion Cedar point was always overrated and still is. So if I ever feel the need to smell urine and have things malfunction I’ll just go to the local Walmart and go the bathroom. It’ll be a lot cheaper on my Wallet.
It wasn’t Cedar Fair it was Six Flags that ruined the park. The park was always a small family amusement park with a water park. Six Flags expanded it to make it a typical commercial amusement park. Spent way too much money into expanding it. Prices were too high for admission and everything else. Plus no easy highway access or hotels nearby didn’t help.
My first coaster that went upside down was the double loop! Also went on my first date with this girl I liked and her family in middle school here. Good times. Sad that it looks like this now...
I grew up about 40 minutes away from Geauga lake, and this still breaks my heart. Now I literally live down the street from it, and no matter how many times I drive-by, it always breaks my heart. I spent so much time as a child there and I have such great memories. It has such a great history, I wish something could be done to re-open it so my children could have the same memories.
Casey M. Same here Casey, I lived in Berea as a kid and I remember those trips in the back of the family car. It was so cool and exciting when we saw the skyscraper and knew we were close by. So sad lots of good memories there. I’m 32 now, wow times change
We have so many abandoned things here in Northeast Ohio. I’d never been to Geauga Lake myself, but my mom grew up going to that park, season passes for her whole family. It’s sad to see the things that people love and cherish fall before your eyes
That was always the best park. So many great childhood memories there. Wolf bobs was my first coaster, I remember riding the double loop a bunch of times with my best friend because there was noone waiting to get on so the operator just kept asking "wanna go again?" and many many more. Thank you for making this bittersweet but wonderful video
I just binge watched all of the abandoned videos and let me just say, I'm so impressed with the updates in intros over the span of the videos. Great Job XD
Been watching your videos for a while but I don't think I've really commented on how much I enjoy this series. I love that there are history lessons given to the areas which adds to how their areas make an impact on them being abandoned. To me, the history of the company/building is just as interesting as exploring them and you've done a great job telling their stories.
This park was a staple of my childhood. I'll never forget the good times I had there. I was able to go as a child, and take my son when I grew up. This really hurts, but its life I guess.
From warren here... Left ohio in 1998 but went here almost every summer of the 80s. Some of my best memories. GM company picnics. I can still smell hear and have flashbacks while watching this. Thank you for that.
The Double Loop was my first coaster when I was like 5. My dad had me put boosters in my shoes so I could ride and held me down during parts because I was so skinny. I remember going so many times after that and It's where a lot of my family grew up. I miss this place so much but I am so grateful for all the memories of me and my dad that were here. It was the place where I rode my first coaster and he rode his last. RIP T-Bone.
That is wildly dangerous but as a father who loves rollercoasters, I can almost see myself doing that for my son when he's old enough...but probably not! 😂 Condolences. Let the memories live on forever! 👍
Also my first coaster! 🥰 Mom said I when I got off I turned around, realized I went upside down, and started crying 🤣 Now I’m a coaster junkie haha Such awesome memories
My dad would do the same kind of things. Though I haven't spoken to him since our falling out I am glad he encouraged me to ride rides and go to concerts.
I live near the old Geauga Lake Park and drive by it all the time. It is awful how cedar fair has left the land. It is an eyesore and they should be forced to clean it up. Also the comment about it making sense why it closed is bull crap because the park was completely supported by local people visiting it for over 100 years and it was small and family friendly and that's the way everyone liked it! We could afford to go there many times a year but Cedar point is so expensive now and farther away so we only go once a year. Cedar fair should have returned it to the local gem that it was and promoted it as a family friendly place and it would have flourished as it did when I was a kid in the 80's and 90's. How could you say a place is not a viable business when it succeeded for so long. That's why no one from around here believes that and we know cedar fair closed it because it was good competition to Cedar point. So sad... If any rich investors are reading this, please buy Geauga Lake and reopen it! All of us that grew up there would be so excited to take our kids there.!
+Meredith Shaw ikr and then you have the waterpark across the lake and u get sad when you see the park from the waterslide towers and I live in Pennsylvania but I travel to Ohio frequently
I rode my first roller coaster here when I was five years old....The Double Loop. I have alot of memories here. Geauga Lake will be forever missed. Thanks for making this video. I appreciate it.
I remember going to this park in the 90s. There was a cool ride where the floor fell out and you stuck to the wall but the thing I remember the most was that the wave pool was terrifying. Instead of just a lot of medium waves coming over time, there would be one huge wave and a very wimpy mini waves that followed. The first wave would knock you on your ass and you would try to recover before the itty bitty waves came at you.
@@bayerhead I used to work at a scrapyard with him. His name is Fred Cramer. I never knew who it was at first til a co-worker told me. He would drive to geauga lake everyday after work which was about an hour drive. He was mentally disabled and used to get harassed all the time. I never understood how he could ride that thing as long as he did
I spent so much time in that wave pool as a kid in the 90’s and I would literally go all the way up as close as I could to the grates where the waves came out. The amount of times I got pummeled by people on inner tubes was pathetic. I can’t believe my mom let me and my cousins just wander by ourselves when we weren’t even 10 years old.
My grandparents used to take us to Geauga Lake when my brother and I were kids. We definitely had fun, but Cedar Point was right across the lake and we would always ask to go there. it took a few years of begging but we finally got to go. Cedar Point was definitely better, but, in this day and age, CP has gotten too big and way to expensive, and not worth the money since you cannot ride every single ride in one day on a weekend due to the egregiously long waits in line. I'm glad CP sets world records, but, I'd much rather have fun in shorter lines and less (but still fun) rides at the less popular parks like Geauga, Kennywood, or Conneaut Lake Park. Less money spent as well. R.I.P Geauga Lake.
Expensive? I don't know about you, but living in Denver, it's cheaper to go to CP. A season pass at CP is worth every penny compared what Six Flags charged you and now it's Eltich Gardens. Current season pass ranges from $79-120. You get A LOT more rides and park at CP. Long lines are expected anywhere; however, I have never complained about waiting in line at CP. Yes, I did wait 3 hours in line to ride Top Thrill Dragster when it opened. You should expect it. I don't know why you are complaining about not riding everything. Hell, I normally can only afford 3 days at CP. I would be calling it a day in Denver after 1 day and still not be satisfied with the money and time I spent in the park. You almost need to plan your time at CP, like you would when you go out on the dreaded shopping trips on the Day after Thanksgiving.
I know what you mean about the price for Cedar Point admission. Sure, it has way more rides than Kennywood, but you can't ride any more of them in a day. Still, it is a nice park! We went to Conneaut Lake summer of 2017, and oh my gosh, how sad. It is such a derelict dive. The new owners are trying, God love them, but it is still a dump. Kennywood has been declining since being bought by Parques Reunidos in 2007. It's bad news when these big corporations are buying parks all over to make maximum profit for their shareholders. They don't care about each individual park, as long as on the whole, with all their holdings, they are making good profit. Nice places with history and character are being lost.
@@Greendragon434 My family went to Conneaut Lake every summer. We lived near Cleveland yet only went to Cedar Point or Geauga Lake a few times. Conneaut Lake was less expensive and much less crowded. virtually no lines. That was back in the seventies.
I grew up in Youngstown. When Idora Park closed down, Geauga Lake became the summer park for everyone in the area. It was affordable and close by. So many good times there even through all their changes..:(
Never visited Geauga Lake, but the story reminds me somewhat of Crystal Beach across Lake Erie in Ontario; at the time it closed (mid-80s) it contained the 1916 "Giant Coaster", which was the oldest operating coaster on earth at the time (and a chiropractor's delight!). In its final years you could go there and find virtually no lines for either coaster (the other was the steel-framed "Comet")...and they didn't care if you took a camera along (this long before the days of cellphone cameras), so I've got pix from all the way round both coasters. The "Comet" was relocated Stateside after the park closed, but the "Giant", as far as I know, was razed. The Geauga name is familiar to me for another, almost-related, reason. In Geauga County there used to be a collection of vintage military aircraft on a former farm property; it had an abandoned look to it but it was a treasured collection. The gentleman who owned the planes passed away in 2010 and most have since gone. Fascinating place, and you'd doubtless have loved it!
August 19, 2016. Today cedar fair announced that it will close wild water kingdom (the water park) for good. The last part of this great park will be gone. Sad time for northeast Ohio. I went to the amusement park when I was younger but I don't remember much. I did go to the water park for years after and have great memories there. Now the entire park is gone and only lives in the memories of the people it touched for generations.
I moved away over 36 years ago but I think this is the same place we went in 1978 or 1979, we drove all the way from Pennsylvania to go there for the day. There was a whole gang of us. If it’s the one that had the corkscrew roller coaster...😵 I rode that with my eyes closed. I am not a roller coaster fan and I got dragged on there. But I survived. We had a great time there that day. Lots of fun memories. But like most everything we boomers grew up with, they go the way the wrecking ball. Part of a different era. Pre-computers, lol. LOVE this channel, Jake, you’re amazing, thank you. 🙏🏻
hmm well I would hope someone steps in to save such a historic ride, in the usa they are just too throw away with our history, and our past, if some had their way even national landmarks in dc would be looted and sold to the highest bidder without care of what it represents.
I went there probably every year from the time I was born, 1977, till it closed. Six Flags fucked it all up. It was just never the same after that. My favorite rides were The Double Loop, Raging Wolf Bobs, and The Rotor (spins really fast, and the floor drops out as you stick to the wall). What a sad thing to happen to such an iconic place. Oddly enough, there was another park abandoned well before Geauga Lake right up the street from me that was called Idora Park. Any how, thanks for the video, and cheers to you!
I miss it and cannot believe it still was unloved so much that it was just another take-out by Cedar Fair. I have been a Cedar Point fan and season pass holder since 1986, but Geauga Lake was the place for family. Cedar Point was for those with money, and they had the attitude of it from the 80s to the mid 2000s. I will never forget the Best Oktoberfest's in Cleveland, all at Geauga Lake....RIP!
I live 2 minutes away from it and have a season pas to wild water kingdom. when ever I was in line I would always look over there and think what happened.
My family would go to Geauga Lake all the time! I have so many happy memories from my childhood there, and it's sad to see it this way. I grew up on Cleveland's east side, so this was closer than Cedar Point for us, more affordable, and you could bring your own food. Would choose it over Cedar Point if given the option. Come on; the water park was part of the admission (CP makes you pay extra for the water park)!
I dont understand how Six Flags Worlds of Adventure wasnt a huge hit. It was a massive park with a ton of content for one ticket price,equivalent to visiting a Disney park but for cheaper. I have very fond memories of Six Flags Ohio and Sea World Ohio as a kid.
SFWoA was technically the largest theme park (in terms of acreage) in the world (and history), at around 700 acres. Larger than any developed theme park in Disney World (largest park Disney's Animal Kingdom at 500 acres), Six Flags' current largest park (Six Flags Great Adventure at 510 acres), and double Cedar Point. And that park literally lasted two seasons when they decided it wasn't selling enough tickets. lol Cedar Fair at least gave it 3 seasons. Consider Cedar Point gave you Cedar Point+Geauga Lake+Kings Island together with a Platinum Season pass. Up until this year you could still get Wildwater Kingdom on the pass. In retrospect, when I had a pass, I hit up Cedar Point 6 times, Kings Island twice, and Geauga Lake once. Never really thought about it until now. It just wasn't as good a park. Both Kings and CP have record breaking or first-of-their-kind rides. Geauga Lake was just a converted Six Flags. It's a shame. I'm just surprised they couldn't keep it on life support for just a few more years to wait and see if people would go, considering the season pass value for people in that part of Ohio/Pennsylvania.
Actually Kings Dominion would be the biggest, it was the 3rd biggest park in the world it only has 400 acres left, as it sold 200 acres to other people, but it sits in open farm land and could always expand.
MoovieDude It failed because of a few reasons. First, Six Flags advertised that is was in Cleveland, when in fact it was nearly an hour away. People traveling didn't want to make that long of a commute from the Airport. There were also few hotels in the area, so it couldn't support a large amount of visitors. Most (not all) of the land surrounding the park was zoned for farm and residential, so building more hotels proved to be impossible. I went there when it was Six Flags, but as cool as the place was, Cedar Point was only about an hour or so away. Cedar Point has some of the tallest and fastest Roller Coasters in the world. After it reverted back to Geauga Lake, it was really sad. You could see the sign scars everywhere, and it never felt the same. Personally, I always preferred Cedar Point, but that's just me. I do miss Sea World. That was a magical place...
Geauga Lake (was) located in Geauga County between Aurora and Bainbridge. It's roughly a 45 minute drive from where I live, in Medina County. A legendary abandoned amusement park is located in southern Medina, Chippewa Lake Park.
Any other locals watch these sometimes to remember? I grew up in Aurora, I watched every single change happen and I worked at the water park as did most of my classmates. This was a huge part of my childhood and now it's an abandoned forest...
I remember going there when I was about 7 years old. Good memories. When you showed the classic Geaugu Lake map, tons of memories flooded back of looking at the map trying to find which ride to go on next.
I'm from Ontario Canada..I am 65 and my kids LOVED this park Our Canada's Wonderland ...has been a money trap since IT BEGAN.. So many times we visited and adore the style of friendship we received. We were welcomed and felt safe My kids still brag about thIis Park.. BTW. I am STILL a Buckeyes fan cuz of the OHIO LOVE Thank you for the truthful memories
Recently, Wild Water Kingdom just closed, too. The entire place has been shut down! My parents have went to Geauga Lake, but I haven't. They were about to take me to Wild Water Kingdom on the closing weekend, but I never went there either. No more water park or roller coasters! Oh well, At least we still have Cedar Point. It's better than nothing.
Great video. I think about the parks I take my kids to while they're young, and envision what it would be like if those parks looked like this or Nara Dreamland in 20-something years. It's an incredibly sad feeling. The passage of time is hard enough in itself, but it's starkly different if the setting of yours' or your children's memories are left in abandoned squalor after all of that time has passed.
I live about 40 minutes from this place and every time I try to get in there are police patrolling it. Eventually it will just become another chippewa lake
I live five minutes away from Chippewa park. My friends and I have gone to check it out a few times but we can't see much through the fencing besides just leftover debris. We would jump the fence, but we're too goody two-shoes for that lol
Thanks for your videos! I read some of the comments, and I thought I'd add something I did not see anyone mention. And that is the 1980's were a special era in some way. I grew up near Geauga Lake, and my Senior Prom was held at SeaWorld (we rented the entire Asian Village where the Pearl Diver's were located). Maybe the 80's seem special compared to how our society has changed; or maybe it's just being a teen. But think about all of the classic 80's movies about High School and that awkward phase of life. The list of great films is long, and teens today (12/7/2018) tell me they love those those films. And you know what? That is what growing up in the 80's was like for me (I graduated H.S. in 88'). So Geauga Lake for me was like living in an 80's movie...free from parents for a while, the adventure and thrill of rides, wandering the park on a constant quest for cute girls, and just tons of fun. But the fact is, Cedar Point is the most Amazing Park in the world, and when Sea World pulled out, Geauga Lake was doomed. So, for those of us 80's kids...a night a Geauga Lake was like living in a John Hugh's film...we just didn't know that at the time. And I'll tell you a secret! With the adrenaline pumping from roller coasters, the neon lights of the park at night, the freedom and safety of being in the park...it was really easy to meet girls and do some kissing and life was that simple.
As someone who has worked for cedar fair, and seen how they've turned around kings island (after buying it from paramount) I can't really hold this against them. They did a great job renovating and restoring kings island. Our carousel is over 100 years old, and we finally got a new antique music box put in it to replace the CD track that was put in after the original broke. They've also done a lot to honor the parks' legacy, like renaming and themeing rides in homage of rides that had to be removed (Son of beast and the bat). They're not a perfect company but, at least in my interactions with them, they do a good job (or try to). Especially in comparison to the way paramount treated the park. It took me a while to adjust but honestly the park is so much better off without all the paramount licensed rides.
O. Scott I grew up close to KI and it hasn't felt the same since cedar fair bought it. A lot of the nostalgia seems to be gone after they introduced all the new "thrill" rides. Give me my antique cars back! Plus I've always hated that people always seem to view KI as lesser than Cesar Point, and now they own it 😒
bigredmachine878 I really like the thrill rides, lol maybe that makes me biased. When I worked there there were a lot of antique cars just rotting in backstage areas. And old hearses from the haunt. That was kind of upsetting, though I don't know if they've been back there since cedar fair took over or when paramount took over.
They have def done a lot of good for the park. Paramount/Viacom wasn't the best owner of it, didn't give the land that Great Wolf Lodge sits on to CF for a good price that they'd buy it, that they could have used it for future development/expansion. among other things they wanted to do that would have been bad. You saw some of the Antique Car's still there backstage? I heard it was sold to a park in the southern USA.
Oh yeah. They may have sold some of them to another park, I don't know. I know they used to have a lot of antique cars on display around the park (before my time, lol) but I did see some old model t's for sure. They weren't in the best condition, but whether that was from neglect after their removal from guest areas or before remains to be seen.
It is so sad how Geauga Lake was treated! The owner didn't want to support the park as it was! That is horrible! I grew up (I guess I still do I'm 16) near there. And I loved it! I went to the auction with my aunt because not to sound snobby but we are very wealthy, I forgot what she bought but she sold it. I miss that park!!!!
Ok this is so old u prob wont read it... But awww man.. Good video!! I hate abandoned vlogs where they just show u a bunch of well abandoned shit with no back ground history... Im frm Youngstown ohio and grew up at the park, my first coaster was the double loop with my best friends mom. Haha.. So i really appreciate all the info, i had no idea it changed hands so many times. So interesting.. Anyway just needed to say that ur vlogs r soo good. It def shows all the hard work u put into them... Great content.
@@MichaelClark-uw7ex ok, it’s not 120 miles (it’s about 230), and it’s not a 6 hr drive. It’s about 3-1/2 hour - 4 hour trip from Mason to Aurora. If you’re getting there in 2 hours, you’re driving a McLaren.
Spent many Summer days at Geauga Lake. My parents employers had their company picnics there. I now live in PA. and found Kennywood, which has that Geauga Lake "feel"to it. Sad to see Geauga Lake look like this.
Boblo Island near Detroit was very sad to see abandoned ! The ride to the Island and back on the steam powered paddle ships was so, fun and romantic in the teen and twenties age groups ! I miss them but, there is a restoration of one of the boats, now under way ! Thx
I lived two towns (in Kent) over since I was a kid in the 80s. I remember when the Rt 43 was backed up 5 miles or more from the park gates to my town. I loved that park, it's where I could ride coasters all day and the season pass was 50 bucks a year. I had a friend's dad who went to that auction trying to win something, anything, to remind him of the park where he went of dates with his later wife, and took his family so many times. At its largest size it had a larger footprint than the Magic Kingdom at Disneyworld.
It's sad to see it go. I'd been to Geauga Lake several times, even during its transition into being Six Flags. I had a lot of fun there, mainly in the water park portion. I just didn't like roller coasters, and didn't feel like waiting in the massive lines for them, but my family and friends loved going too. I guess maybe the recession had something to do with this. It's easy to blame the recession for just about everything, but when the economy goes to crap the first thing to go are vacation spots and higher-end entertainment. Sure, it was still around after the initial hit, but we're still recovering to this day, when it comes to the economy. I don't think we've fully bounced back yet. Man, I still have pictures of old friends and me at the park - the place actually used to have photographers that would stop you at the end of the bridge, and let you get a photo-op, where you can get it developed with a Geauga Lake border around it... and I remember so much about the place. Going there now would probably be hugely depressing for me, lol.
Ive been in both parks. Each time it was winter and we broke in. It was February and my gf and i at the time went there. We climbed over the fence near the front entrance. The fence was not chain link. It was metal poles with styled spikes at the top. It was also 12-15 feet high. I climbed trees a lot, so i was comfortable climbing the fence. I pulled myself up and there was a tree on the opposite side. I pulled her up and we jumped down since there were no branches. There was about 2 feet of snow on the ground so the fall wasnt bad. It was pretty cool, i climbed almost to the top of the big dipper roller coaster, and we walked along the side. It was pretty slippery and the wood looked horrible, but it felt sturdy. The rest of the park is cool. you get a weird feeling-you can feel the energy from the past. Millions of steps walked over your very point. So many experiences have been had there. And several more will be had there. I lost my virginity right after we left. It was an awesome day. Ive also been in wild water kingdom.It was winter again, so the park was closed. My friend and i parked in a neighborhood that was behind wildwater kingdom. And there was what must have been a service road for the park. But there were two fences, one that was 8ft tall and chain link and it had the covers for the gaps. And then a 6 foot chain link exposed with barbed wire at the top. No bigger we are both athletic. We walk about .5 miles up the road and we come in through the back of the park. We went into the wave pool which was empty. We were climbing around on the ladders. We went to the large yellow attraction that is a very large cone shape. We climbed to the top of this and walked into the large cylinder it was pitch black, but dry with only a thin piece of ice running down the middle. We reached where it drops off. It was soo cold, both if our phones were barely working. Our hands were numb. We jumped and slid down the slide into the bowl. We were going soooo fucking quick it was super awesome. After that we walked around a little more and then left. We knew a girl whos dad worked on the security system for the park. He received alerts that an alarm was set off. We never got pulled over it was very Nonchalant
Went there in 1997 when my son was just little with my in-laws for their company picnic. Had a great day, but when we went out to the parking lot to leave our minivan had been stolen, with all the baby stuff, toys and CDs in it. Fortunately we could get a hold of the inlaws to rescue us and get us back to our hotel. Cleveland police found the van emptied but otherwise OK a few days later. Gang of teens and adults was busted at the park a few days later trying to steal other vehicles.
"That is not false young lady, get security, get her out of here." I would have paid a dollar to see Paul Blart, mall cop drag the woman off screaming.
I graduated from highschool in 94. From 90-94, every year, our band and choir went to Guaga Lake for one day. Really loved the place back then, and spent allot of time in the "Wave". I did have a towel from the Turtle beach. So sad.
My family was season pass holders for multiple years i remember the park going through every change you talked about in this video and also went to sea world every year for my birthday as a kid now as an adult i sit back and remember all the great times we had at both parks and wish i could do the same now its a tragedy to see it in its current state i wish they would at least clean it up and do something with the land.
+Zack Smith I have to disagree other than haunt being shit every year they treated the park well we've got great flat rids lots of shows and great coasters if paramount parks still exists the park would be crap
We used to go there every year when I was a kid. I remember riding the Big Dipper over and over again. When it changed to Six Flags Ohio, it was all downhill. Sure, it got a handful of fun steel coasters, but when they stopped playing nice with Sea World it was like they didn't care about the customers. Six Flags is a horribly run company. Six Flags America (just outside of D.C.) has a roller coaster celebrating it's centennial this year and the company didn't do anything to make it look like they cared outside of putting up a couple signs with some history tidbits. The coaster looked like it was in bad shape, and it was kinda scary riding it because it felt like it was going to fall apart at any point. They didn't replace any of the wood, or even bother to repaint the ride. Fuck Six Flags.
I was born in aurora ohio and I still live here today. I really wish it was still opened becuase I had alot of good memory. When I was a kid I lost my hat with a nicle in it and still not found xD
I worked at Geauga Lake for 2 seasons while I was in high school- 1990 and 1991. I worked in the ticket booths during my first summer season and I was one of the ride operators during my second on the Rock n Roll Express! I got to pick and play whatever music I wanted! I loved it there. It was a great time for sure. Sad to remember what it was and now see it in its current state.
I've called Dayton my home for 27 years now, but I grew up about 25 minutes away in Bedford. My first date was at Geauga Lake, and my first summer job after getting my license was at Sea World... This place was so much a part of my teenage life.
Summer 81, I was 14 and went there with my aunt and uncle, and cousins. One cousin was also my age and we took off on our own to wander the park, and ride the rides. There were so many beautiful girls and women there it made our heads spin. Beautiful park. Beautiful females. Two 14 yr old boys. Zero game. It was a wonderful park, one which I thought was better than Cedar Point. Nice memory from growing up. Sad it's gone.
Loved this park. Went almost every summer as a kid. Raging Wolf Bobs was one of my favorite coasters ever, and I still recall the long, lonely stretch of walkway from Grizzly Run, into the forest, to get to the coaster. Always loved standing on the edge of the lake and wondering what was happening at Sea World, or listening to the echo of the Shamu show. Loved going in the wave pool; seeing footage of it in your video really brought me back. The stuff they added with the Six Flags revamp was really cool. I actually went the very last year it was open, 2007, and it was weirdly sad and telling to see all the branding had been removed. I think that year I felt the park's time was up. I'll never forget it.
If you know anyone in northeast Ohio, check in them. They're still not ok. But really though, it was a hard blow to those 2hours+ away from cedar point and it was really fucked how they killed it. I know it was handled poorly by all company's involved, but it was cedar point that made the final blow.
i went to sea world in 1995 i was 6 years old kinda breaks my heart.....cuz I think the water park that took seaworlds spot is also closed now and abandoned...you should do an updated one on this place too
I've lived in Connecticut my whole life; but my father is from Northeastern Ohio. Every summer as a child, we'd rent a minivan, and make the trip out to visit his side of the family. Part of the week-long trip included spending a day, or two, at both Seaworld, and this place. I have many childhood memories of this place. Raging Wolf Bobs was the first rollercoaster I ever rode on. Seeing this video has left me both fascinated, and kinda sad.
So many memories from the 70s 80s & 90s! Work picnics, family trips, took my kids there too. So sad it all had to end. Grew up with this park…more affordable than Cedar Point and closer to home (Akron). RIP Geauga Lake!! 🎢
"Thats false!"
"That is not false, young lady, get security, get her out of here."
That went fast.
And then they show the coaster sitting there abandonned, without the cars. Gee, I wonder who they sold the cars to? Probably gave them to the board of directors and executives to put in their backyards as flower planters. They just totally were out to prove they could give the middle finger to the community -- otherwise they would have land granted the place to make a public outdoors area, like it was originally before the rides. There are very few natural water lakes in NE Ohio where you can swim or kayak. Lake Erie doesn't really count -- it's more like the Ocean. A very polluted Ocean. Selling it to a giant grocery store chain to build parking tarmac and then, when that chain pulls out, we'll see another abandoned mess. At least they could have had the decency to sell to a farm-to-table type market that would have drawn on local farming (which is quickly being stripped and converted into cluster homes).
@@gdeangelkick damn dude... i dont know what to say, that sounds like a lot of ugly shit :/
@@gdeangelkick Last I heard Bainbridge Township has the cars, donated by Cedar Fair when the demolition occurred.
@@gdeangelkick were you drunk or in your feelings? Lol
@@hiromasaki Pretty funny that they refused to sell individual cars to the people at that auction -- the shareholders were not well served by that decision.
We drive past there sometimes, and it's heartbreaking to see all the remnants of our childhood. Oh, well. Nothing lasts forever.
Besides the queen
@Stellvia Hoenheim you are a piece of shit
Very fond memories of visiting this place in the seventies. Seems like it declined rapidly in the 2000's for some reason IDK.
@Stellvia Hoenheim So do you enjoy freesh heads&rice?,We tried some just not our cupsa tea...We figured it was for those with non standard peepers.Good talking to you hope you can visit us soon😊
@Shoenheim r/Imapieceofsh!t
I went there, I loved it very much as a child. Very sad what happened.
ProtoMario :0
ProtoMario FIRST HERE LOLOLOLO HAII
BUT PROTO!!
Oh hey, Proto. Fancy seeing you here
Didn't expect to see Proto here. I wish I could see this stuff for myself, too. So much history, lost.
Just a side note, Geauga Lake was just right down the road from another infamously abandoned place that was also covered in an episode of "Abandoned," the Randall Park Mall, which is actually now being turned into an Amazon distribution center
Jeremy Anderson ugh of course *AMAZON*
Yeah it's really sad! I live close to both of them and it looks horrible
Lmao..seriously..randall mall is eastside ..geauga lake is a long way away..northfield damn near warrensville
Damn
I live down the street from it. It’s fully finished and open now.
I went there wirh my Grandpa Gus in the late 1940's. To be precise, 1948. He was a carpenter. He went to the contest, "Drive The Nail Into The Log With One Stroke" He did. He got a prize. I got that prize. He was told, "One prize per season." He never went again with me. I never went again with him. Me and my family moved out of state in1951. I miss my Grandpa Gus who died in1973 in his 90's.
Wise Ole Geezer Circa 1941 R.I.P your Grandpa Gus 😢
Condolences
I was born in 1973 and loved Geauga Lake as a kid. Maybe I am the reincarnation of your grandpa Gus...
@@agaming8331 I strongly believe in the possibility of reincarnation. You may be correct in your opinion.
At least he had a long life.
I just balled through this entire video my grandma went here when she was little then worked there then my parents worked there through school along with cousins of mine. My grandparents lived so close you could hear the joyful screams of people on the rides! Thanks for the video and making me cry 😭
This video really hit home for me. My father and I used to visit this park together when I was younger. We loved amusement parks and thrill rides. The more coasters the better. He unfortunately passed away a few weeks ago so the timing of this popping up in my recommended feed was bitter sweet.
Jennifer Bureau
I'm so sorry for your loss❤.
Brenda Dog Friend same
lost my pops in feb. know how you feel god bless!
Jennifer Bureau I’m sorry for your loss. This video came into my recommendations and it reminds me of my ex fiancée. We used to go here every summer with his kids as a family and had the best times. This park ironically closed the same year that we broke up. It’s a bittersweet video for me as well.
I would always get season passes because this park was closer to me then cedar point and when I heard it closed I was so sad 😭 💔
Fun fact: some of the trash cans from Geauga Lake can be found inside Michigan’s Adventure ticket booths. 🤣 Y’all don’t know how many hours I’ve spent zoned-out staring at a trashcan.
For the first time in my life I'm intrigued by the journey of a trash can.
@@tylersmith7054 me too it's quite interesting
@@teddysdollistuffswait is it still there now?
Same with the Thunderhawk, that was moved to Michigan's Adventure
It's the same a cedar point
"Visit Ohio! The home of abandoned shopping malls & amusement parks! Our rivers aren't on fire anymore, we promise."
as an Ohioan your not wrong
@@frederickthegreat4801 but we do have cedar point and kings island
@@johnsowa9608 thats true
@@frederickthegreat4801 *you're
You mean the Cuyahoga River?
I say bulldoze all of it and return it to being a public nature spot. No, it doesn't bring in money but it doesn't take as much money to upkeep either.
Nah, just leave it be and allow nature to overtake it all.
@@obesetoussaint6283 They should be required to clean up the mess left behind.
@@BXJ-mi9mm Who should be required to do that?
Besides, if you bulldoze it at this point, you'll destroy the countless future homes of animals and plants. Just try to mitigate any environmental damage as much as possible and allow it to go back to nature as, "cleaning it up" at this point would be more harm than good.
@Tatiana Marissa R By tearing it down now, you will then destroy an already extant ecosystem that currently resides in the park and is growing. By leaving it alone, you leave the wildlife that is already there alone.
Not saying there shouldn't be more stringent regulations when it comes to building, but by tearing out the old park at this point will cause more damage to the environment than simply leaving it be.
@@obesetoussaint6283 Clearing it out would have an impact, but the outcome would be a better environment for organizes evolved to live in those areas.
LMAO THAT CLIP. XD
"THAT'S FALSE!"
"Security, get that woman out!"
Rebecca Evans 😂😂
Rebecca Evans Don't really get why you think someone being a fascist piece of shit is funny...
Jay Sovereign, how was he being a "fascist piece of shit"? She was a heckler, and we don't know the exact context of the video. As far as we know, that might have been the last of numerous outbursts and attempts by her to derail the auction. It was a private event, so they had every right to boot her for acting improperly. You shouldn't jump to conclusions so easily. Unless you're just an immature child who rails against authority in any form?
You are wrong....here is the background on the lady....
JAB91
The lady that shouted is Carole Sanderson. She is the former president of the American Coaster Enthusiasts. ACE was never offered the ride. Two days before the auction, Norton Auctioneers made a statement to the press that the Big Dipper was offered to ACE. ACE contacted the press and explained that it was false. Despite that, the auctioneer again said that the ride was offered to ACE and Carole Sanderson corrected him.
I was leaving info for epicpolyphony
I asked my first girlfriend out and kissed her for the first time on the boardwalk that connected SeaWorld and Six Flags. Seconds later they started shooting off fireworks I think to say that the park was closing. In the years after we had season passes every year. I come across videos like this every so often and it makes me sad that the generations coming after us won't get the know what he had in our back yard here in Northeastern Ohio.
+Ben Ehrhart Now that's a story.
That's an amazing story!
John Shomody ??
Sad but that seems to be a recurring theme across the US not only parks but cites as well.
Sad? But, just think, in a few short years, (in 2018, approximately), a Meijer something or another will be opening, for all the future boys and girls to enjoy the hell out of.and spank their ungrateful demon spawn, in. Fun o' plenty.
I was there 2 years before it closed. Looking at it now, I kinda want to cry...
+BandVines Hey, a VERY familiar amusement park in Erie,Pa still exists and has a few rides Geauga Lake had. It is called Waldameer Park and Water World and is a lot of fun, just like Geauga Lake. I've been to both parks and they are almost identical and Waldameer has Water Slides that are unique to the park. If you have a chance over the summer to go there, I highly recommend it.
Same I grew up in aurora ohio and Im still here. I still havent see inperson past the fence
Yeah me too. It's been part of the community forever
Before it became Six Flags and they added all the big coasters (batman, xflight, villian, superman), they had local businesses sponsor the rides. A local supermarket was the sponsor for the boomerang looping coaster. so sad that nobody wanted to buy the Villain and it got bulldozed. that thing was so fast during/after a rain. the big dipper was such a great classic.
Update: They have plans. Better see it *Before* it's destiny date with a wrecking ball in Winter 2017.
It is so sad to see one of my favorite child hood memories in such a state. I have memories of riding the big dipper, get off only to run around and do again with my grandpa. It was and still is one of favorite theme parks and to see it in the state it is in is almost physically painful. R.I.P. Geauga Lake.
The Big Dipper was the first roller coaster that I ever rode... lol, scared the piss out of me. That was at 7 or 8 years old. Some amazing memories of my childhood. Was sad to learn that it was torn down.
Wow! What memories! This is the first real amusement park I was ever taken to as a kid in the late 70s. I also went to Sea World in the 3rd grade; 1976. My first real roller coaster was the Cork Screw at GL and the Double Loop and the Big Dipper were also loads of fun. I loved that place!
The funny thing about this is that the reason it closed is often touted as 'it was out of the way with no real hotels nearby'... The same could be said for Holiday World just a few hours away, yet it does amazing business, despite not being near any major city at all, not being on an interstate, and there really only being 1 hotel and a campground in the area.
Geagua lake was closed because Cedar Fair didn't want the competition taking away from Cedar Point, and through a lack of care and respect for the park. Iyt also did't help that they tried to make the park SO big. As a smaller family park, like Holiday World, it could have succeeded. From the sheer size of the place it looks to be as big or bigger than Cedar Point...
when both parks were combined it was the world's largest theme park , and i agree with you look at knoebels they're a small park that does incredibile business despite cedar fair,six flags and hershey park all being close by,
Actually there was a hotel about 5 minutes outside the park. Not huge but big enough. And I believe there was "resort lodging" in the park like up at Cedar Point.
@@jayj.7524 Reading this I thought the person who wrote it is right on! We have Six Flags and Fantasy Island, both less than 40 minutes drive from each other. Went to Six Flags a few years back...parts looked abandoned.... expensive....not kept up ....Fantasy Island is smaller ....well maintained ...much more enjoyable. Six Flags Darien has changed hands several times in the past 20 years seems to have been faltering. Too big ....not maintained....not enough new attractions. Look at Knobel's and Fantasy Island .....clean, well maintained, adding improvements ... that's what it takes to be successful. Bigger isn't always better 😉
I think the whole reason Cedar Fair bought it was to run it into the ground so they could support their Cedar point more. Last year when I was at Cedar point on opening day. There was so many accidents so many rides malfunctioning and every bathroom you walk by smoke like nothing but a giant urinal that’s never been cleaned. So if you ask me that’s the next dump to go downhill. I like Geauga lake a lot better than Cedar point. In my opinion Cedar point was always overrated and still is. So if I ever feel the need to smell urine and have things malfunction I’ll just go to the local Walmart and go the bathroom. It’ll be a lot cheaper on my Wallet.
It wasn’t Cedar Fair it was Six Flags that ruined the park. The park was always a small family amusement park with a water park. Six Flags expanded it to make it a typical commercial amusement park. Spent way too much money into expanding it. Prices were too high for admission and everything else. Plus no easy highway access or hotels nearby didn’t help.
My first coaster that went upside down was the double loop! Also went on my first date with this girl I liked and her family in middle school here. Good times. Sad that it looks like this now...
Yeah very sad it looks like it now I just made a documentary on the park and it brought back so many memories
Same here, man! First upside-down coaster, first date, AND first kiss here!
I grew up about 40 minutes away from Geauga lake, and this still breaks my heart. Now I literally live down the street from it, and no matter how many times I drive-by, it always breaks my heart. I spent so much time as a child there and I have such great memories. It has such a great history, I wish something could be done to re-open it so my children could have the same memories.
I grew up just 5 minutes down the road and remember going there all the time lived their for about 3 years this whole story breaks my heart
Casey M. Same here Casey, I lived in Berea as a kid and I remember those trips in the back of the family car. It was so cool and exciting when we saw the skyscraper and knew we were close by. So sad lots of good memories there. I’m 32 now, wow times change
We have so many abandoned things here in Northeast Ohio. I’d never been to Geauga Lake myself, but my mom grew up going to that park, season passes for her whole family. It’s sad to see the things that people love and cherish fall before your eyes
That was always the best park. So many great childhood memories there. Wolf bobs was my first coaster, I remember riding the double loop a bunch of times with my best friend because there was noone waiting to get on so the operator just kept asking "wanna go again?" and many many more. Thank you for making this bittersweet but wonderful video
I just binge watched all of the abandoned videos and let me just say, I'm so impressed with the updates in intros over the span of the videos. Great Job XD
Been watching your videos for a while but I don't think I've really commented on how much I enjoy this series. I love that there are history lessons given to the areas which adds to how their areas make an impact on them being abandoned. To me, the history of the company/building is just as interesting as exploring them and you've done a great job telling their stories.
I remember going to Geauga Lake and Sea World when I was a kid. I loved it. Sad its gone.
+Donna Gilhousen Me too bro, me too.
I would love to go there if it was still open. Looked like there were some pretty awesome rides there
Same here. I thought I was the only one.
This park was a staple of my childhood. I'll never forget the good times I had there. I was able to go as a child, and take my son when I grew up. This really hurts, but its life I guess.
From warren here... Left ohio in 1998 but went here almost every summer of the 80s. Some of my best memories. GM company picnics. I can still smell hear and have flashbacks while watching this. Thank you for that.
The water park is also permanently closed now. :(
serves cider fair
i found out on my bitrhday
I was going to go on the closing weekend, but the schedule changed and I couldn't go.
The Big Dipper is also currently being torn down. :(
and the Big Dipper coaster without the cars was destroyed in October
The Double Loop was my first coaster when I was like 5. My dad had me put boosters in my shoes so I could ride and held me down during parts because I was so skinny. I remember going so many times after that and It's where a lot of my family grew up. I miss this place so much but I am so grateful for all the memories of me and my dad that were here. It was the place where I rode my first coaster and he rode his last. RIP T-Bone.
Yea...i used to get a summer pass there every year..a gang of us would ride our mopeds up in the 1980s...so sad to see it gone😭😭
That is wildly dangerous but as a father who loves rollercoasters, I can almost see myself doing that for my son when he's old enough...but probably not! 😂 Condolences. Let the memories live on forever! 👍
Wow! Same here! My first roller coaster was the double loop! Thank you for reminding me of this
Also my first coaster! 🥰 Mom said I when I got off I turned around, realized I went upside down, and started crying 🤣 Now I’m a coaster junkie haha Such awesome memories
My dad would do the same kind of things. Though I haven't spoken to him since our falling out I am glad he encouraged me to ride rides and go to concerts.
I live near the old Geauga Lake Park and drive by it all the time. It is awful how cedar fair has left the land. It is an eyesore and they should be forced to clean it up. Also the comment about it making sense why it closed is bull crap because the park was completely supported by local people visiting it for over 100 years and it was small and family friendly and that's the way everyone liked it! We could afford to go there many times a year but Cedar point is so expensive now and farther away so we only go once a year. Cedar fair should have returned it to the local gem that it was and promoted it as a family friendly place and it would have flourished as it did when I was a kid in the 80's and 90's. How could you say a place is not a viable business when it succeeded for so long. That's why no one from around here believes that and we know cedar fair closed it because it was good competition to Cedar point. So sad... If any rich investors are reading this, please buy Geauga Lake and reopen it! All of us that grew up there would be so excited to take our kids there.!
+Meredith Shaw ikr and then you have the waterpark across the lake and u get sad when you see the park from the waterslide towers and I live in Pennsylvania but I travel to Ohio frequently
I rode my first roller coaster here when I was five years old....The Double Loop. I have alot of memories here. Geauga Lake will be forever missed. Thanks for making this video. I appreciate it.
I remember going to this park in the 90s. There was a cool ride where the floor fell out and you stuck to the wall but the thing I remember the most was that the wave pool was terrifying. Instead of just a lot of medium waves coming over time, there would be one huge wave and a very wimpy mini waves that followed. The first wave would knock you on your ass and you would try to recover before the itty bitty waves came at you.
the smallest details are still remembered lol
You sir, are talking about the rotor. If you were lucky you got to see the legend himself, Rotor-man.
@@bayerhead I used to work at a scrapyard with him. His name is Fred Cramer. I never knew who it was at first til a co-worker told me. He would drive to geauga lake everyday after work which was about an hour drive. He was mentally disabled and used to get harassed all the time. I never understood how he could ride that thing as long as he did
I spent so much time in that wave pool as a kid in the 90’s and I would literally go all the way up as close as I could to the grates where the waves came out. The amount of times I got pummeled by people on inner tubes was pathetic. I can’t believe my mom let me and my cousins just wander by ourselves when we weren’t even 10 years old.
sounds similar to Action Park
My grandparents used to take us to Geauga Lake when my brother and I were kids. We definitely had fun, but Cedar Point was right across the lake and we would always ask to go there. it took a few years of begging but we finally got to go. Cedar Point was definitely better, but, in this day and age, CP has gotten too big and way to expensive, and not worth the money since you cannot ride every single ride in one day on a weekend due to the egregiously long waits in line.
I'm glad CP sets world records, but, I'd much rather have fun in shorter lines and less (but still fun) rides at the less popular parks like Geauga, Kennywood, or Conneaut Lake Park. Less money spent as well.
R.I.P Geauga Lake.
Right across the lake?!
A. What lake are you talking about?
B. Cedar point and Geauga lake are like 3 hours away from each other.
Expensive? I don't know about you, but living in Denver, it's cheaper to go to CP. A season pass at CP is worth every penny compared what Six Flags charged you and now it's Eltich Gardens. Current season pass ranges from $79-120. You get A LOT more rides and park at CP. Long lines are expected anywhere; however, I have never complained about waiting in line at CP. Yes, I did wait 3 hours in line to ride Top Thrill Dragster when it opened. You should expect it. I don't know why you are complaining about not riding everything. Hell, I normally can only afford 3 days at CP. I would be calling it a day in Denver after 1 day and still not be satisfied with the money and time I spent in the park. You almost need to plan your time at CP, like you would when you go out on the dreaded shopping trips on the Day after Thanksgiving.
And Rip Chippeua Lake (dammit I spelled it wrong) :(
I know what you mean about the price for Cedar Point admission. Sure, it has way more rides than Kennywood, but you can't ride any more of them in a day. Still, it is a nice park!
We went to Conneaut Lake summer of 2017, and oh my gosh, how sad. It is such a derelict dive. The new owners are trying, God love them, but it is still a dump.
Kennywood has been declining since being bought by Parques Reunidos in 2007. It's bad news when these big corporations are buying parks all over to make maximum profit for their shareholders. They don't care about each individual park, as long as on the whole, with all their holdings, they are making good profit. Nice places with history and character are being lost.
@@Greendragon434
My family went to Conneaut Lake every summer. We lived near Cleveland yet only went to Cedar Point or Geauga Lake a few times. Conneaut Lake was less expensive and much less crowded. virtually no lines. That was back in the seventies.
I grew up in Youngstown. When Idora Park closed down, Geauga Lake became the summer park for everyone in the area. It was affordable and close by. So many good times there even through all their changes..:(
Amazing how much growth can creep in to a place after only nine years. Nature always reclaims what was taken from it.
In my fictional world, this place never gets abandoned and still successful
Never visited Geauga Lake, but the story reminds me somewhat of Crystal Beach across Lake Erie in Ontario; at the time it closed (mid-80s) it contained the 1916 "Giant Coaster", which was the oldest operating coaster on earth at the time (and a chiropractor's delight!). In its final years you could go there and find virtually no lines for either coaster (the other was the steel-framed "Comet")...and they didn't care if you took a camera along (this long before the days of cellphone cameras), so I've got pix from all the way round both coasters. The "Comet" was relocated Stateside after the park closed, but the "Giant", as far as I know, was razed.
The Geauga name is familiar to me for another, almost-related, reason. In Geauga County there used to be a collection of vintage military aircraft on a former farm property; it had an abandoned look to it but it was a treasured collection. The gentleman who owned the planes passed away in 2010 and most have since gone. Fascinating place, and you'd doubtless have loved it!
What's the random woman drinking ice tea at 7:17 have to do with this story?
Went there for our senior day (class of 1998). I loved it and miss that place!!! So much gr8 memories!!
August 19, 2016. Today cedar fair announced that it will close wild water kingdom (the water park) for good. The last part of this great park will be gone. Sad time for northeast Ohio. I went to the amusement park when I was younger but I don't remember much. I did go to the water park for years after and have great memories there. Now the entire park is gone and only lives in the memories of the people it touched for generations.
I'm 42 I'm from Cleveland my mom took me to this place at least 20 times I will forever miss that place.
I moved away over 36 years ago but I think this is the same place we went in 1978 or 1979, we drove all the way from Pennsylvania to go there for the day. There was a whole gang of us. If it’s the one that had the corkscrew roller coaster...😵 I rode that with my eyes closed. I am not a roller coaster fan and I got dragged on there. But I survived. We had a great time there that day. Lots of fun memories. But like most everything we boomers grew up with, they go the way the wrecking ball. Part of a different era. Pre-computers, lol.
LOVE this channel, Jake, you’re amazing, thank you. 🙏🏻
THAT'S FALSE!
get security, get her out of here
+Bright Sun Films lol
Seth Jacobs 😂
hmm well I would hope someone steps in to save such a historic ride, in the usa they are just too throw away with our history, and our past, if some had their way even national landmarks in dc would be looted and sold to the highest bidder without care of what it represents.
Seth Jacobs get security and get her out of here
I went there probably every year from the time I was born, 1977, till it closed. Six Flags fucked it all up. It was just never the same after that. My favorite rides were The Double Loop, Raging Wolf Bobs, and The Rotor (spins really fast, and the floor drops out as you stick to the wall). What a sad thing to happen to such an iconic place. Oddly enough, there was another park abandoned well before Geauga Lake right up the street from me that was called Idora Park. Any how, thanks for the video, and cheers to you!
I live 20 minutes from Geauga lake I miss that place every summer
use to go the all time when I was younger
l
I'm in chesterland, where are you?
I live only 15 min away
I live in aurora its pretty sad
I remember going there when I was little. I still have the photos, I went there 6 years ago and seeing how much it’s decaying. It’s heartbreaking.
I miss it and cannot believe it still was unloved so much that it was just another take-out by Cedar Fair. I have been a Cedar Point fan and season pass holder since 1986, but Geauga Lake was the place for family. Cedar Point was for those with money, and they had the attitude of it from the 80s to the mid 2000s. I will never forget the Best Oktoberfest's in Cleveland, all at Geauga Lake....RIP!
I'm from Akron, Ohio and I always thought Geauga Lake was better than Cedar Point. Not a popular opinion but there was so much more to enjoy!
I from around canton :)
I live 2 minutes away from it and have a season pas to wild water kingdom. when ever I was in line I would always look over there and think what happened.
+Datboipizz Kennelboi I almost suggest he do Rolling Acres mall.
+Datboipizz Kennelboi oh we used to shop at rolling acres! it was a vibrant mall in the seventies! gosh I miss the seventies! lol! I had hair!
My family would go to Geauga Lake all the time! I have so many happy memories from my childhood there, and it's sad to see it this way. I grew up on Cleveland's east side, so this was closer than Cedar Point for us, more affordable, and you could bring your own food. Would choose it over Cedar Point if given the option. Come on; the water park was part of the admission (CP makes you pay extra for the water park)!
I used to love going to this place as a kid, so many fond memories...
I dont understand how Six Flags Worlds of Adventure wasnt a huge hit. It was a massive park with a ton of content for one ticket price,equivalent to visiting a Disney park but for cheaper. I have very fond memories of Six Flags Ohio and Sea World Ohio as a kid.
SFWoA was technically the largest theme park (in terms of acreage) in the world (and history), at around 700 acres. Larger than any developed theme park in Disney World (largest park Disney's Animal Kingdom at 500 acres), Six Flags' current largest park (Six Flags Great Adventure at 510 acres), and double Cedar Point.
And that park literally lasted two seasons when they decided it wasn't selling enough tickets. lol
Cedar Fair at least gave it 3 seasons.
Consider Cedar Point gave you Cedar Point+Geauga Lake+Kings Island together with a Platinum Season pass. Up until this year you could still get Wildwater Kingdom on the pass.
In retrospect, when I had a pass, I hit up Cedar Point 6 times, Kings Island twice, and Geauga Lake once. Never really thought about it until now. It just wasn't as good a park. Both Kings and CP have record breaking or first-of-their-kind rides. Geauga Lake was just a converted Six Flags. It's a shame. I'm just surprised they couldn't keep it on life support for just a few more years to wait and see if people would go, considering the season pass value for people in that part of Ohio/Pennsylvania.
Actually Kings Dominion would be the biggest, it was the 3rd biggest park in the world it only has 400 acres left, as it sold 200 acres to other people, but it sits in open farm land and could always expand.
MoovieDude It failed because of a few reasons. First, Six Flags advertised that is was in Cleveland, when in fact it was nearly an hour away. People traveling didn't want to make that long of a commute from the Airport. There were also few hotels in the area, so it couldn't support a large amount of visitors. Most (not all) of the land surrounding the park was zoned for farm and residential, so building more hotels proved to be impossible. I went there when it was Six Flags, but as cool as the place was, Cedar Point was only about an hour or so away. Cedar Point has some of the tallest and fastest Roller Coasters in the world. After it reverted back to Geauga Lake, it was really sad. You could see the sign scars everywhere, and it never felt the same. Personally, I always preferred Cedar Point, but that's just me. I do miss Sea World. That was a magical place...
Geauga Lake (was) located in Geauga County between Aurora and Bainbridge. It's roughly a 45 minute drive from where I live, in Medina County. A legendary abandoned amusement park is located in southern Medina, Chippewa Lake Park.
Because Cedar Point a much more well known and famous park wasn't too far away.
Any other locals watch these sometimes to remember? I grew up in Aurora, I watched every single change happen and I worked at the water park as did most of my classmates. This was a huge part of my childhood and now it's an abandoned forest...
I remember going there when I was about 7 years old. Good memories. When you showed the classic Geaugu Lake map, tons of memories flooded back of looking at the map trying to find which ride to go on next.
I have never been to Geague Lake but the way you say the history of it makes me want to cry. 😭
One of the best parts on growing up in NE Ohio...RIP old friend
crazy remembering my grandpa taking me here at 8
the boardwalk :(
I'm from Ontario Canada..I am 65 and my kids LOVED this park
Our Canada's Wonderland ...has been a money trap since IT BEGAN..
So many times we visited and adore the style of friendship we received.
We were welcomed and felt safe
My kids still brag about thIis Park..
BTW. I am STILL a Buckeyes fan cuz of the OHIO LOVE
Thank you for the truthful memories
My stompin ground from 78' to 84'. I have so many memories! They have all been erased. All the local malls there are gone now. Only memories remain
A brand new Abandoned episode is out right now! ua-cam.com/video/M6MlVDBSmR8/v-deo.html
lol I remember going here a year before It closed because it was cheaper and closer than cedar point.
+Nathan Ardany Tanara oh we do ceade fair are assholes.
Recently, Wild Water Kingdom just closed, too. The entire place has been shut down! My parents have went to Geauga Lake, but I haven't. They were about to take me to Wild Water Kingdom on the closing weekend, but I never went there either. No more water park or roller coasters! Oh well, At least we still have Cedar Point. It's better than nothing.
Kaden Moser
but you are going to get a shopping center.. ooohh. smh
WHAT THERE CLOSING TOO THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!
Great video. I think about the parks I take my kids to while they're young, and envision what it would be like if those parks looked like this or Nara Dreamland in 20-something years. It's an incredibly sad feeling. The passage of time is hard enough in itself, but it's starkly different if the setting of yours' or your children's memories are left in abandoned squalor after all of that time has passed.
I live about 40 minutes from this place and every time I try to get in there are police patrolling it. Eventually it will just become another chippewa lake
Really? Damn I was thinking of driving up there and checking it out
It’s all tore down now. The Big Dipper was torn down last year, along with what was left of the entrance.
I live five minutes away from Chippewa park. My friends and I have gone to check it out a few times but we can't see much through the fencing besides just leftover debris. We would jump the fence, but we're too goody two-shoes for that lol
Look at Six flags New Orleans. Almost 13 years after it closed and it still has security patrolling the ghostly park.
So I wouldnt be able to explore there? Is there really nothing left?
Thanks for your videos! I read some of the comments, and I thought I'd add something I did not see anyone mention. And that is the 1980's were a special era in some way. I grew up near Geauga Lake, and my Senior Prom was held at SeaWorld (we rented the entire Asian Village where the Pearl Diver's were located). Maybe the 80's seem special compared to how our society has changed; or maybe it's just being a teen. But think about all of the classic 80's movies about High School and that awkward phase of life. The list of great films is long, and teens today (12/7/2018) tell me they love those those films.
And you know what? That is what growing up in the 80's was like for me (I graduated H.S. in 88'). So Geauga Lake for me was like living in an 80's movie...free from parents for a while, the adventure and thrill of rides, wandering the park on a constant quest for cute girls, and just tons of fun. But the fact is, Cedar Point is the most Amazing Park in the world, and when Sea World pulled out, Geauga Lake was doomed. So, for those of us 80's kids...a night a Geauga Lake was like living in a John Hugh's film...we just didn't know that at the time. And I'll tell you a secret! With the adrenaline pumping from roller coasters, the neon lights of the park at night, the freedom and safety of being in the park...it was really easy to meet girls and do some kissing and life was that simple.
It was GREAT to work here, and I've yet to meet anyone who doesn't miss this place. 😢
As someone who has worked for cedar fair, and seen how they've turned around kings island (after buying it from paramount) I can't really hold this against them. They did a great job renovating and restoring kings island. Our carousel is over 100 years old, and we finally got a new antique music box put in it to replace the CD track that was put in after the original broke. They've also done a lot to honor the parks' legacy, like renaming and themeing rides in homage of rides that had to be removed (Son of beast and the bat). They're not a perfect company but, at least in my interactions with them, they do a good job (or try to). Especially in comparison to the way paramount treated the park. It took me a while to adjust but honestly the park is so much better off without all the paramount licensed rides.
O. Scott I grew up close to KI and it hasn't felt the same since cedar fair bought it. A lot of the nostalgia seems to be gone after they introduced all the new "thrill" rides. Give me my antique cars back! Plus I've always hated that people always seem to view KI as lesser than Cesar Point, and now they own it 😒
bigredmachine878 I really like the thrill rides, lol maybe that makes me biased. When I worked there there were a lot of antique cars just rotting in backstage areas. And old hearses from the haunt. That was kind of upsetting, though I don't know if they've been back there since cedar fair took over or when paramount took over.
They have def done a lot of good for the park. Paramount/Viacom wasn't the best owner of it, didn't give the land that Great Wolf Lodge sits on to CF for a good price that they'd buy it, that they could have used it for future development/expansion. among other things they wanted to do that would have been bad. You saw some of the Antique Car's still there backstage? I heard it was sold to a park in the southern USA.
Oh yeah. They may have sold some of them to another park, I don't know. I know they used to have a lot of antique cars on display around the park (before my time, lol) but I did see some old model t's for sure. They weren't in the best condition, but whether that was from neglect after their removal from guest areas or before remains to be seen.
Did anyone get a chance to ride the son of beast when it still had the loop?
It is so sad how Geauga Lake was treated! The owner didn't want to support the park as it was! That is horrible! I grew up (I guess I still do I'm 16) near there. And I loved it! I went to the auction with my aunt because not to sound snobby but we are very wealthy, I forgot what she bought but she sold it. I miss that park!!!!
I'm 21 and I went here when I was 5. I live an hour south near Cambridge Ohio in Guernsey county
@@Grimm_IntelYay Cambridge!
Ok this is so old u prob wont read it... But awww man.. Good video!! I hate abandoned vlogs where they just show u a bunch of well abandoned shit with no back ground history... Im frm Youngstown ohio and grew up at the park, my first coaster was the double loop with my best friends mom. Haha.. So i really appreciate all the info, i had no idea it changed hands so many times. So interesting.. Anyway just needed to say that ur vlogs r soo good. It def shows all the hard work u put into them... Great content.
If you are from Youngstown as you say, why would your first coaster not be the Jack Rabbit or Wildcat at Idora park? Maybe too young?
Jack Shaughnessy ummm maybe because Idora Park closed in the 80s. What a stupid comment
I'm sorry your parents left you at a park and never managed to find you so you, but there are worse places to grow up than an amusement park.
@@MCat360 idora park burned down in the 80's
Went there many times it's a damn shame it's gone, Cedar point purchased it and closed it and had it planned that way from the start is what we heard.
I love rewatching! Brings back a ton of memories growing up!
The Six Flags curse strikes again.
Being so close to Cedar Point and only a couple hours from King's Island didn't help.
Not even being owned by cedar fair could help the fact that geauga did not have the infrastructure to support a real theme park.
Geauga Lake was not 2 hours from Kings Island. Probably more like 6 hours away.
@@mattkaustickomments You obviously don't live in Ohio no place is more than 2 hrs away in Ohio
120 miles is not 6 hrs
@@MichaelClark-uw7ex ok, it’s not 120 miles (it’s about 230), and it’s not a 6 hr drive. It’s about 3-1/2 hour - 4 hour trip from Mason to Aurora. If you’re getting there in 2 hours, you’re driving a McLaren.
Spent many Summer days at Geauga Lake. My parents employers had their company picnics there. I now live in PA. and found Kennywood, which has that Geauga Lake "feel"to it. Sad to see Geauga Lake look like this.
+Sean Spring Same thing with my Dad's company. As a kid, I was at Geauga Lake several times in the early to mid-70's. Great memories.
Another great little park in PA is Knoebels, there is literally like a Time Warp back to the 1950s!
Can we order a t-shirt that says "probaby"?
+Sean Loring HA HA HA. Yeah sure
I came to the comment section just to see if someone else caught that. Thank you for not failing me! 😜
Geauga Lake is where I spent many summer fun filled days! It was where all my friends had jobs in high school!! So many good memories there!!
Boblo Island near Detroit was very sad to see abandoned ! The ride to the Island and back on the steam powered paddle ships was so, fun and romantic in the teen and twenties age groups ! I miss them but, there is a restoration of one of the boats, now under way ! Thx
Can you do one of these about kiddieland.
dude yesssss
fuck yea... melrose park 1st ave
Only if Ellis will guest star.
Waldameer Park in Erie PA is starting to re-create Turtle Beach.
Great video as always!
Thanks!
Anyone else catch the “it’s just a prank bro” thing? Holy crap I laughed more than I should have.
I lived two towns (in Kent) over since I was a kid in the 80s. I remember when the Rt 43 was backed up 5 miles or more from the park gates to my town. I loved that park, it's where I could ride coasters all day and the season pass was 50 bucks a year. I had a friend's dad who went to that auction trying to win something, anything, to remind him of the park where he went of dates with his later wife, and took his family so many times.
At its largest size it had a larger footprint than the Magic Kingdom at Disneyworld.
I was lucky enough to visit both parks when I was very young, then again in the late 90's. Lots of good memories. Too bad both had to close down.
I loved this place as a kid!
2019 and watching this. Disney's river country is actually getting removed so let's see if this gets it's revamp
goto50007 Disney’s river country was demolished in 2001, and it’s in Florida, Geaugs Lake is in Ohio
@@Hi-nu6sg River Country was abandoned in 2001 and sat abandoned until last year (2019) when Disney decided to built a hotel on the site.
It's sad to see it go. I'd been to Geauga Lake several times, even during its transition into being Six Flags. I had a lot of fun there, mainly in the water park portion. I just didn't like roller coasters, and didn't feel like waiting in the massive lines for them, but my family and friends loved going too.
I guess maybe the recession had something to do with this. It's easy to blame the recession for just about everything, but when the economy goes to crap the first thing to go are vacation spots and higher-end entertainment. Sure, it was still around after the initial hit, but we're still recovering to this day, when it comes to the economy. I don't think we've fully bounced back yet.
Man, I still have pictures of old friends and me at the park - the place actually used to have photographers that would stop you at the end of the bridge, and let you get a photo-op, where you can get it developed with a Geauga Lake border around it... and I remember so much about the place. Going there now would probably be hugely depressing for me, lol.
I love all the history your videos provide. Thank you!
Ive been in both parks. Each time it was winter and we broke in. It was February and my gf and i at the time went there. We climbed over the fence near the front entrance. The fence was not chain link. It was metal poles with styled spikes at the top. It was also 12-15 feet high. I climbed trees a lot, so i was comfortable climbing the fence. I pulled myself up and there was a tree on the opposite side. I pulled her up and we jumped down since there were no branches. There was about 2 feet of snow on the ground so the fall wasnt bad. It was pretty cool, i climbed almost to the top of the big dipper roller coaster, and we walked along the side. It was pretty slippery and the wood looked horrible, but it felt sturdy. The rest of the park is cool. you get a weird feeling-you can feel the energy from the past. Millions of steps walked over your very point. So many experiences have been had there. And several more will be had there. I lost my virginity right after we left. It was an awesome day.
Ive also been in wild water kingdom.It was winter again, so the park was closed. My friend and i parked in a neighborhood that was behind wildwater kingdom. And there was what must have been a service road for the park. But there were two fences, one that was 8ft tall and chain link and it had the covers for the gaps. And then a 6 foot chain link exposed with barbed wire at the top. No bigger we are both athletic. We walk about .5 miles up the road and we come in through the back of the park. We went into the wave pool which was empty. We were climbing around on the ladders. We went to the large yellow attraction that is a very large cone shape. We climbed to the top of this and walked into the large cylinder it was pitch black, but dry with only a thin piece of ice running down the middle. We reached where it drops off. It was soo cold, both if our phones were barely working. Our hands were numb. We jumped and slid down the slide into the bowl. We were going soooo fucking quick it was super awesome. After that we walked around a little more and then left. We knew a girl whos dad worked on the security system for the park. He received alerts that an alarm was set off. We never got pulled over it was very Nonchalant
Went there in 1997 when my son was just little with my in-laws for their company picnic. Had a great day, but when we went out to the parking lot to leave our minivan had been stolen, with all the baby stuff, toys and CDs in it. Fortunately we could get a hold of the inlaws to rescue us and get us back to our hotel. Cleveland police found the van emptied but otherwise OK a few days later. Gang of teens and adults was busted at the park a few days later trying to steal other vehicles.
"That is not false young lady, get security, get her out of here." I would have paid a dollar to see Paul Blart, mall cop drag the woman off screaming.
They just announced Wild Water Kingdom is closing after this 2016 season
IK 😢😢😢 I grew up there
people voted not to close it can people please vote for it please
I graduated from highschool in 94. From 90-94, every year, our band and choir went to Guaga Lake for one day. Really loved the place back then, and spent allot of time in the "Wave". I did have a towel from the Turtle beach. So sad.
My family was season pass holders for multiple years i remember the park going through every change you talked about in this video and also went to sea world every year for my birthday as a kid now as an adult i sit back and remember all the great times we had at both parks and wish i could do the same now its a tragedy to see it in its current state i wish they would at least clean it up and do something with the land.
"I would expect more from the people who own Canada's Wonderland...
*oh wait*..."
As a Torontonian, this was a fucking amazing line to me
+Zack Smith I went for Halloween haunt and it was pretty shieet
I haven't been in years but last time I went, it was the middle of July and most of the rides were closed for some non-obvious reason.
+Zack Smith The only one that is ever closed whenever I go is usually Sledge Hammer...or Guardian...or Windseeker...okay I see your point.
+Tytan McBride When I went last, Behemoth was the new, big thing and of course it was closed.
+Zack Smith I have to disagree other than haunt being shit every year they treated the park well we've got great flat rids lots of shows and great coasters if paramount parks still exists the park would be crap
We used to go there every year when I was a kid. I remember riding the Big Dipper over and over again.
When it changed to Six Flags Ohio, it was all downhill. Sure, it got a handful of fun steel coasters, but when they stopped playing nice with Sea World it was like they didn't care about the customers.
Six Flags is a horribly run company. Six Flags America (just outside of D.C.) has a roller coaster celebrating it's centennial this year and the company didn't do anything to make it look like they cared outside of putting up a couple signs with some history tidbits. The coaster looked like it was in bad shape, and it was kinda scary riding it because it felt like it was going to fall apart at any point. They didn't replace any of the wood, or even bother to repaint the ride.
Fuck Six Flags.
Did they reopen the big dipper or am I just being trolled?
I've lived in Ohio literally all my life and literally never knew there was ever a Seaworld
Ya I'm from Cleveland and I didn't either lol
+MsxArty I heard of it but we never went because it was a water park
+Grant Turner Down around Akron myself. Didn't even know the place was there. Been here for 26 years now.
+Edward Bell no it wasn't lol. It had whales and shit
I was born in aurora ohio and I still live here today. I really wish it was still opened becuase I had alot of good memory. When I was a kid I lost my hat with a nicle in it and still not found xD
I worked at Geauga Lake for 2 seasons while I was in high school- 1990 and 1991. I worked in the ticket booths during my first summer season and I was one of the ride operators during my second on the Rock n Roll Express! I got to pick and play whatever music I wanted! I loved it there. It was a great time for sure. Sad to remember what it was and now see it in its current state.
I've called Dayton my home for 27 years now, but I grew up about 25 minutes away in Bedford. My first date was at Geauga Lake, and my first summer job after getting my license was at Sea World... This place was so much a part of my teenage life.
It's closed now as of September 2016
It closed in 2007 ....
_Aka Amy_. the water park
Summer 81, I was 14 and went there with my aunt and uncle, and cousins. One cousin was also my age and we took off on our own to wander the park, and ride the rides. There were so many beautiful girls and women there it made our heads spin. Beautiful park. Beautiful females. Two 14 yr old boys. Zero game.
It was a wonderful park, one which I thought was better than Cedar Point.
Nice memory from growing up. Sad it's gone.
I remember my parents telling me about going to here all the time, then the water park closed
Loved this park. Went almost every summer as a kid. Raging Wolf Bobs was one of my favorite coasters ever, and I still recall the long, lonely stretch of walkway from Grizzly Run, into the forest, to get to the coaster. Always loved standing on the edge of the lake and wondering what was happening at Sea World, or listening to the echo of the Shamu show. Loved going in the wave pool; seeing footage of it in your video really brought me back. The stuff they added with the Six Flags revamp was really cool. I actually went the very last year it was open, 2007, and it was weirdly sad and telling to see all the branding had been removed. I think that year I felt the park's time was up. I'll never forget it.
If you know anyone in northeast Ohio, check in them. They're still not ok.
But really though, it was a hard blow to those 2hours+ away from cedar point and it was really fucked how they killed it. I know it was handled poorly by all company's involved, but it was cedar point that made the final blow.
When I was a kid I used to go to geauga lake it was like the poor man cedar point!!!!!
i went to sea world in 1995 i was 6 years old kinda breaks my heart.....cuz I think the water park that took seaworlds spot is also closed now and abandoned...you should do an updated one on this place too
I did go 2 park it was a great park sorry it closed my family enjoyed that park on vacation
I've lived in Connecticut my whole life; but my father is from Northeastern Ohio. Every summer as a child, we'd rent a minivan, and make the trip out to visit his side of the family. Part of the week-long trip included spending a day, or two, at both Seaworld, and this place. I have many childhood memories of this place. Raging Wolf Bobs was the first rollercoaster I ever rode on. Seeing this video has left me both fascinated, and kinda sad.
So many memories from the 70s 80s & 90s! Work picnics, family trips, took my kids there too. So sad it all had to end. Grew up with this park…more affordable than Cedar Point and closer to home (Akron). RIP Geauga Lake!! 🎢