Geauga Lake advertised in the 2004 season that the "fun is back". Now, they advertise it as "the park you remembered and so much more." But is the magic of Geauga Lake really back? Will Geauga Lake ever be the same as it was when our grandparents visited, rode the Skyliner and had a picnic by the lake?

Geauga Lake started out in 1887 as a place for fishing, camping, and picnicking. Over the years they added rides, and the amusement park was born. In 1926, the park added the Clipper (also known as the Skyliner). It was billed as the biggest roller coaster ever built, and took riders on a trip out and back
featuring a double dip. The ride is still among the most popular “woodies” of the 1920's that still is in operational existence.

Sea World of Ohio opened later in the century, housing various animals and shows, typical of the Anheuser-Busch company. Shamu, the Sea World mascot, performed a show daily, and a water ski show was available by the lake in a stadium looking out over the physical Geauga Lake and the amusement park on the
other side. A nightly laser/fireworks show also was viewed from this enormous stadium.

Geauga Lake though was really known for its picnic grounds. Then, in the mid-1900's, the park's owner, Funtime, was purchased by park giant Premier, and the focus of the park was changed from family picnic outings to the rides and attractions known today. Rides such as Serial Thriller (Thunderhawk) were
added, and Geauga Lake was becoming famous for its roller coasters.

Not to be outdone, Geauga Lake was given the Six Flags treatment in 2000 when it was renamed and transformed into Six Flags Ohio. Four new roller coasters were added, with another to be ready for the 2001 season. Six Flags Ohio was now being marketed to the thrill seekers neighbor Cedar Point continually draws. Rides such as Batman: Knight Flight (Dominator) and Superman: Ultimate Escape (Steel Venom) were the hit new attractions across the globe, even being showcased on roller coaster-related television shows.
 

Then, in 2001, Six Flags Ohio and Sea World of Ohio merged to become the gigantic Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. It would combine the rides, Water Park, animals, and shows into one destination. X-Flight, one of the world's first flying coasters, premiered for the 2001 season, bringing even more fame to the
new "super-park."

Six Flags, known by coaster enthusiasts for having poor customer service and installing cloned rides at their parks, was turning Geauga Lake into the Cedar Point of suburban Cleveland. Nearly all of Geauga Lake's magic and charm was gone, with few classics such as the Big Dipper still remaining. Gone were the
rides our grandparents and parents knew such as the Rocket Ships, and picnicking was almost completely abolished at the park. The major focus had turned to profit instead of family fun.

However, the unthinkable happened during the 2003-2004 off season. Enthusiasts woke up to a headline reading "SIX FLAGS SELLS OHIO PARK TO CEDAR FAIR". While Cedar Fair would only have one short month to get the park ready to open, Six Flags, as per the terms of the purchase agreement, took all of the animals and moved them to different Six Flags parks around the country. Cedar Fair was forced to close most of the old Sea World property, with the exception of Happy Harbor and the Water Ski Stadium.

Guests were met all season long with abysmal crowds and lines. Walk-ons were common for nearly all of the park's ten coasters, and changes were happening all around. Rides were closed to get some "TLC" (tender loving care) which they did not get while under Six Flags ownership, and shows were quickly added to the open theatres and stadiums. Overall, the park did a nice job for only having a month to remove everything Six Flags related and
subsequently open to the public for the summer.

On November 11, 2004, plans were announced to bring back "the park we remember and now so much more." Rides would get the TLC they needed, Snoopy would begin to frolic his way around the park, new picnic pavilions would be added, and a new water park would be built. This new, large water park is to be built on the former Sea World of Ohio property and in two
construction phases. People were in awe at these improvements, and cannot wait for the 2005 season.