Geauga Lake Amusement Park site is on the sale block, but memories abound of its fun times: My Ohio Remembering Geauga Lake Amusement Park

My Ohio
Remembering Geauga Lake Amusement Park

Leon Bibb
6:05 PM, May 8, 2015

 
 
This story is about remembering one of the fun places of Northeast Ohio -- Geauga Lake Amusement Park.

Geauga Lake Amusement Park, where for years there were squeals of delight voiced by giggling children and adults, is just a shadow of itself.

The Big Dipper roller coaster stands like a giant spider with its arms extended. Yet there is no movement except for the wind-whipped weeds growing through its empty track. Since 2007, there has been no fun at the park which straddles Aurora and Bainbridge in Portage and Geauga Counties, respectively.

"There's a tremendous history here," said Bainbridge Township trustee Jeff Markley as he walked along the edge of Aurora Road, looking at the Big Dipper which was visible above the tree tops. Markley began visiting the amusement park during his childhood. He continued into his adulthood until the owners of the park shut it down.

Cedar Fair, owners of Cedar Point Amusement Park, bought the park several years before. Cedar Fair has put the park on the sale block. Its 550 acres, including a lake, brought visitors for many generations.

"There was a lot of screaming," laughed Markley. "There were butterflies in the stomach when you're going on the 'Whoo-de-do,' doing flips or on the Rotor, getting nauseous," he added.

Marley is unashamedly nostalgic about the old amusement park. He looks through holes in the fence which surrounds most of the property and ponders what could go on the land. Although Bainbridge does not own the land, he said he has been in talks with several movie studios who have expressed an interest in some of the property. Markley envisions an area where movie-makers could turn into needed settings for their movies. "Something like Universal Studios in California and Florida" said Markley.

He suggests a buyer could leave some of the buildings from the old amusement park and work them into movie sets.  Markley and others in Bainbridge government said they would like to see other entertainment-oriented businesses also consider the Geauga Lake property. Markley said there could be a continuation of the amusement park theme in the architecture and landscaping. Of course, Bainbridge does not own the property. The former Geauga Lake Amusement Park is owned by Cedar Fair, operator of Cedar Point, Kings Island, and several others amusement parks, has said little of its plans.  It has not announced it has a buyer yet, but Markley said he could dream of what could be.

Still, he dreams of what was. The park was established as a picnic sight in the 1880s. In 1889, the first ride was added to the setting. It was a steam-powered carousel.  For many generations, traffic was often bumper-to-bumper on Aurora Road as visitors lined to go in a park with all of its amusement rides.

"It was big for families," said Markley. "It was a great entertainment place and then it got bigger when they brought Sea World in."

Sea World moved out several years ago, so what is left of the two old parks are just memories. Some of the buildings are still there, but they are abandoned. What Markley wants to see is businesses which would call upon the Geauga Lake history. "Why not here in Geauga Lake, which was an entertainment district for so long," he said. "What a phenomenal place that could be with a new industry," he added.

The land holds many memories for those who visited the amusement setting. The gateway through which visitors passed once they paid their admissions is still there. Other buildings which were brightly colored remain, although their paint has peeled and the structures show aging.

The Big Dipper roller coaster remains. It is visible from more than a mile away for motorists who drive along the main road leading to Geauga Lake. In the memory of many, they still hear a clackety-clack of the coaster cars headed for the highest point of the ride. They hear the squeals of the riders who take that first plunge. It is just a memory now. But the old amusement park enthusiasts like Jeff Markley still hear the sounds, even if only in memory.

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