As rides slide, it’s splash for cash at Geauga Lake
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| CHRONICLE FILE |
| The Headspin rollercoaster, along with all the other rides at Geauga Lake Amusement Park, have closed for good.
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Park opens season strictly as a water attraction
When Cedar Fair officials decided to bid farewell to the roller coasters and other rides at Geauga Lake at the close of the 2007 summer season, they figured some would assume the Aurora attraction’s water park was gone as well.
To prove it’s not, they’re offering a brand new season pass to the park’s Wildwater Kingdom that will cost $44.95 for adults, and $34.95 for both juniors (for those under 48 inches tall between the ages of 3 and 61) and seniors (62 and older) for the 2008 summer season.
The pay-one-price package includes free parking and a commemorative beach towel for anyone who buys a pass before May 1.
“With the closure of the ride side of the park last year, we thought some people might have the misguided belief that the entire complex is closed,” said Bryan Edwards, Cedar Point public relations manager. “We really want to let people know this place is still open.”
Geauga Lake is owned by Cedar Fair, the parent company of Cedar Point.
The decision to offer season passes was also based on the strategy by company executives to try and build up the stronger half of the park.
“The better part of the property is on the old Sea World side, and we’ve invested millions of dollars to upgrade it,” said Edwards. “We noticed last summer and even before then that the longest lines were on the water park side. Everyone wanted to go there.”
Given the region’s continuing economic woes — which often makes money for vacations or other fun outings a low priority — Edwards acknowledged the price of season passes was set to “make it affordable to as many families as possible.”
A single-day pass will cost $23.95, which makes the season pass even more attractive.
“If you go more than twice, you’ve paid for a season pass anyway,” Edwards said. “And you have unlimited visits plus free parking, which is a huge perk.”
Gary Slade, publisher of Amusement Today, a magazine that covers the amusement park industry, termed the Wildwater Kingdom season pass “a very fairly priced offer for this size of waterpark. It will be interesting to see if it pays off.”
Figures were never released, but Cedar Fair officials readily admitted the amusement ride portion of the park never came close to meeting expectations in terms of attendance.
Cedar Fair purchased the Aurora attraction in 2004 from Six Flags, another amusement park giant that struggled to make the park a profitable venture.
“In the years Cedar Fair owned Geauga Lake, it never once turned a profit,” said Jennifer Lovesee-Mast, publisher of Theme Parks Magazine.
Both Slade and Edwards predicted Wildwater Kingdom will draw the vast majority of sun worshippers and waterslide lovers from the immediate area.
“The market is Cleveland, Youngstown, Akron and Elyria,” Edwards said. “If they’re coming outside of this region, they’re coming to Cedar Point.”
Pass-holders will get perks such as entry into Wildwater Kingdom 30 minutes ahead of the general public and half-price rentals of private cabanas.
Contact Steve Fogarty at 329-7146 or sfogarty@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by April 4th, 2008 in Local and State.
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I think Ceder Fair is getting smarter. The price for a season pass has gone down by half. Now you can get a season pass to all parks including water parks and parking (use to be $70.00 alone) for the price of $150.00 You could not get a pass for just the park and parking for that last year.
Makes you wonder if they think the gas prices will play a part in attendance?
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