Brandon Elliot
Editor


Geauga Lake vs. Six Flags Worlds of Adventure
The transition from a Six Flags to Cedar Fair chain proves a bad park can be turned good

As I stepped into the park that had undergone several regimes, I already noticed a few new positive additions that made the park far more enchanting than my previous visit. To start off, I got a friendly and welcoming greeting from each and every employee that I had passed. One said “hello, how are you?,” as he ripped my ticket. Another remarked a quick “have a great day,” as if trying to subconsciously slide it through me, noticing I was paying attention to a third employee, who was taking my photo as I entered. I knew at once that this was going to be the start of a great day at Geauga Lake Amusement Park. And, it wasn’t just the employees, for I found much more layered between coasters and kiddie rides. It was the sincerity, zeal, and utter determination of the park’s management itself going to work for its guests. I was in a Cedar Fair park.

Double Loop opened at Geauga Lake in 1977 as the park's first major new coaster since Big Dipper's debut in 1926.

As I walked past the hedge cut-out of a friendly man holding park maps, I noticed new paint work had been done, new signs had been placed up, and the main entrance plaza was clean for once. My nose was the abnormal sense at the time, as it started to notice the sweet funnel cakes on the midway. Carmel-dipped apples, ice cream, coney-era hot dogs, and the familiar sense of cotton candy lined the path in all directions. I looked down, amazed at how easily I could walk around the path without trampling in some trash. In the distance, people were laughing, enjoying themselves on a family outing to the amusement park. I quickly referenced the park’s new slogan: “Geauga Lake, where the fun is back!” Six Flags had been overthrown by a rival corporation after only 3 years of operation. And yet, it seemed like the park had been under a mind-controlling spell for almost a decade.

To put it nicely, my previous trip to Geauga Lake proved satisfactory. I say this, however, with my own slight marginal error. For it was the bias I place on the day’s experience based on the fact that it was cloudy and even rained a few times. I knew from the beginning the day would be hard to get through. In addition to being undoubtedly one of the most crowded days of the season, it was also the rainiest. Nevertheless, I attempted to grit my teeth and try to have a good time. After all, I’m at a great amusement park, right?

Six Flags-branded clothing has literally been erased with permanent marker. New "Geauga Lake" merchandise is starting to take over the sales racks.

It was 2003 when I had my first trip to the park. Still known as Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, the park seemed free of any kind of escapade. I walked in and handed my ticket to the restless Six Flags employees. Cringing, I tried not to make any sort of contact in fear I would get a glimpse of a trapped soul, wondering where and what he was doing. I marched on, kicking pieces of garbage from the middle of the path as I accelerated towards coaster alley. (Coaster Alley is the west side of the park, which houses some of the park’s finest attractions).

Batman: Knight Flight, Villain, and Raging Wolf Bobs, were just some of these titanic monsters awaiting the screams of oncoming guests. Batman was my first choice of the day. I felt the Bolliger & Mabillard-designed masterpiece would be the ideal choice for a “warm-up” ride.

As I stepped up to the entrance, however, I was angered to find a single rope across the path. The simple chain link guard and a nearby Six Flags employee was the only thing between me and this amazing looking attraction.
“Sorry man, but the ride is closed right now. Technical difficulty.”
Technical difficulty? It’s such a reliable ride, not to mention quite possibly the most popular ride in the park.
I had to check this out for myself. I walked further down the path, past the marketing gimmicks the company pulled. Batman t-shirts with pictures of inverted roller coasters on them, a Batman vs. Superman coffee mug, and several Six Flags hats and t-shirts with the clever letters spelling out “It’s playtime!”
When I got further down the path, near the sky coaster, I could see inside the station. Sure enough, it was completely deserted. I had expected such a thing. I could remember back to the numerous occasions at my previous home park, Six Flags Magic Mountain, where rides would constantly be shut down simply because the park lacked maintenance staff to inspect it in the morning, or simply because there wasn’t an efficient ratio of employees to rides to make everything run smoothly. I now realized Batman would be open later in the day, even if I was agreeing with what the Six Flags employee had told me. I knew the ride rotation would switch, another ride would close, and Batman would eventually open. Without hesitation, I grabbed a few snap-shots of the nearby cobra-roll element, and started walking towards the Villain.

On my way to the Custom Coasters International-designed scream machine, I looked around as if in sudden approval of a Six Flags theme. I was, however, disappointed again. As I crept further into the frontier-themed area, I noticed many of the shops and restaurants were either abandoned or being used as a Wal-Mart-inspired theme to sell Six Flags merchandise. The old shop that housed a blacksmith was now a subway; the main leather shop had been converted into a tattoo parlor, and numerous soda machines and photo-booths covered the tarmac. But, I strolled on in remorse of what once was, and stepped into the Villain queue. When I got to the station, there was no line.
Ok, maybe my day isn’t going as bad as I had thought.
I quickly claimed my spot in the first row and pulled the lap bar down without hesitation. No more than a minute later, three operator thumbs signaled the train’s departure, and I was off on my first ride of the day.

Despite the cliché out-and-back design, the Villain had its ups and downs- literally. I had gotten enough air-time to satisfy my enthusiast needs, and the g-forces had left my head under the impression that it was still on the ride. I felt happy that I finally got on a ride at the park. With that, I took a few more snap shots of the coaster, and moved on.

Superman: Ultimate Escape, now known as Steel Venom, still sports the Superman red and blue colors.

Clearing my way through the now staggering density of park guests, I tried desperately to get through. I was forced to go around the main path, and I stepped in some disgusting mud-filled mildew as I banked to the left of a pylon where it was less crowded, by a restroom. I could see Superman: Ultimate Escape, and X-Flight in the distance. My new goal for the rest of the day was to get rides on the big four. (The big goal consisted of X-Flight, Superman, Batman, and Big Dipper). X-Flight was still the park’s most recent addition; Superman: Ultimate Escape was an Intamin Impulse coaster which always provided a quick thrill; Batman: Knight Flight was the park’s B&M coaster; and Big Dipper was the oldest ride in the park, dating back to 1926 and now known as an ACE Coaster Classic. I knew with speed and determination, I would be able to get past all of the crowds, trash, and ugly midway games, and over to my coaster-sanctuary, where I could rest on a lift hill.

As time went by, it rained on and off, and I continually had to stop what I wanted to do in order to accommodate the environment, other guests, or even park employees. One employee even told me I couldn’t take any off-ride photos of the Mind Eraser, the park’s Vekoma boomerang. Appalled, I turned around the next corner, and snapped a few more shots.

I thought sitting down to have a snack would improve my now negative attitude. Unfortunately, I failed to see my prototype Six Flags pricing method, and ordered a $6 dollar burger without initially noticing its outrageous price. Still in a bad mood, I requested water in substitution for a $4 soda, and that’s when it happened.
“I’m sorry, but we’re not allowed to give out water.”
“That’s impossible,” I remarked as my head felt itself capsizing over the idea of my request being shot down. “Water should be free, especially on a hot day like this. Don’t you guys have courtesy cups?”
“Yes sir, but they are only for park employees. There is a drinking fountain back near the park entrance.”
Oh the nerve of him. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Complimentary water was always an option, but I guess I was wrong.
Obliging to his response, and only because I still had some form of happiness in me from riding some other attractions, I backed off and ate my burger, despite having no fries nor anything to drink.

Later that day I had eventually gone through 2 rolls of film and 150 digital photographs. I had enough of the park’s bureaucratic conduct, and I certainly didn’t want to be stuck in such a hell-hole for another minute. I left with my photos for the site and a disappointed attitude towards the Six Flags chain with their lack of ability to run a theme park. I was completely unimpressed.

When I came back to Geauga Lake after it was bought out by Cedar Fair, I decided to give the park another chance. After all, it was now under the management of the same company that runs some of my favorite theme parks around the country. Dorney Park, Cedar Point, quite obviously, and of course one of my home parks, Knotts Berry Farm.

I walked in to find everything completely different from what I thought it was. I immediately ran to Batman to get in line. Unfortunately, I noticed when I got there the name was changed to “Dominator,” which I thought wasn’t as catchy, but the ride was open when the park opened, so I was just happy to get on. Friendly employees escorted me through the queue and I got on without any wait. What a rush the ride turned out to be! Especially after the apprehension of waiting all that time to finally get on, it really did make it well worth it. After snapping a few shots, I did my normal line up, and my day sounded set.

Trash cans: Now property of Geauga Lake. Philosophy: Crack down on park littering!

All around the park, the trash was gone as well. Hundreds of trashcans with the new Geauga Lake logo are scattered throughout the park. I thought it was interesting how an extra few bucks could clean up the park so well. If you build it, they will come, and the trash was stowed away properly by guests, simply because there were plenty of trashcans to go around. Heck, there were so many trashcans it almost got annoying!

I decided to eat at the restaurant on the midway near the entrance plaza. It was no Black Angus or Outback Steakhouse, but it certainly did make my wallet happy. Cedar Fair also implemented a new menu set with combination meals (something Six Flags needs to learn how to do), as well as free refills on the drinks. For $6.49, I was able to buy a meal for what Worlds of Adventure would have charged a pretzel for.

X-Flight's operational status is still rather slow as it awaits for the go on operating multiple trains. Hopefully the Cedar Fair management will change all that.

To sum things up, the Geauga Lake change had Six Flags running for budget cuts all along. I think the Six Flags execs were probably just as happy to sell it as CF was to buy it because they knew they were getting property off their hands. (Operational costs were probably bugging them as well). The newly acquired park fits nicely into the Cedar Fair family, and I think over the years, the major renovations that were originally planned should take effect and make the park even nicer than what I had experienced. Swamp land around Dominator could be removed and replaced with grass, Raging Wolf Bobs will get the refurbishment it so desperately needs, and Steel Venom (aka Superman: Ultimate Escape) will be repainted to fit in and “escape” the Six Flags stigma. Heck, maybe X-Flight’s operational budget will go up…but let’s not be too greedy. Let’s face it, though, that ride desperately needs to operate 2 trains.

Overall, the parks’ management is seen as the primary cause of the park’s feel and environment. Even the coasters ride differently as you know you’re riding a Cedar Fair coaster vs. a Six Flags ride. Sea World is now permanently closed down, and the Worlds of Adventure name is lost. One thing is for certain, though, the Adventure is definitely back.