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I want to keep this near the top of the posts for all new members....

1) Contact the Bainbridge Twp Board of Trustees and Zoning. If there is community support to save GL, perhaps the Board of Trustees and Zoning Commission can make it difficult for Cedar Fair to sell the land. If Cedar Fair is struggling and needs to sell, the land is worth more than the park itself. But, if the land is zoned commercial-recreational, the potential buyers may be limited. Perhaps the best chance would be for Zoning and Cedar Fair to strike a deal; allow the sale of some property while retaining some property to remain commercial-recreational. This doesn't mean that CF will retain the rides but, if they have to sell WWK, the available land could be big enough to entice another amusement park operator. Keep in mind it's all about tax dollars, though. The Board may realize that they can collect more tax $$ with a different type of land use.

http://www.bainbridgetwp.com/

Analysis: This will be difficult. Surrounding communities have fought for years to restrict development of GL and Sea World. Also, this is the same govt body that would not allow Sea World to add rides at a time SW was expanding all of their parks in 2000-2001. Plus, it was too convenient that CF announced their plans on 9/21 and the Board of Trustees met on 9/24. They may have had advance notice considering Bill Spehn participated. The next Zoning Commission meeting is 9/27.

2) Contact Aurora mayor, Lynn McGill. Currently WWK resides on only 30 acres. Can the park be expanded to add rides now or in the future? Important for future development if CF sells WWK at a later date. Is Cedar Fair trying to sell land in Aurora, too or just Bainbridge? Remember the park divides two communities and govts!

3) Contact the Aurora Advocate to promote local efforts to save GL.

http://www.auroraadvocate.com/

4) Can the homeowners association that supposedly owns the rights to the lake band together to support saving some of the park?

5) Petitions. We need someone in the community to form the petition and gather signatures. At worst, we need to send the ipetition results to the Bainbridge Twp Board of Trustees, Zoning, and Mayor.

6) Contact the local ACE reps (Scott Short, sshort@aceonline.org, and Jonathen Hymes, jhymes@aceonline.org. Also, Richard Munch is a local ACE member, a Bainbridge Twp resident and attended the Board of Trustees meeting on 9/24. WKYC-3 interviewed him the night of the meeting. Would be interesting to connect with him for thoughts of meeting, local resident reaction, support, etc.

7) Continue to inform the local news channels of your efforts and progress with the above ideas. That's the best option for connecting with the communities for support.

I am not a local resident and do not know of the local support but, without concerned residents, season ticket holders, and adjacent community support, our efforts are probably muted.

I agree! Who else is out there who lives nearby who is willing to do this--start paper petitions and all? I cannot do this by myself...well, I could, but I think it would be largely ineffective. Anyone out there not completely depressed and resigned to the fact that this is inevitable? If so, come forward.

I think we have some great ideas to salvage part of the park around the BD. Anyone local that can pitch this to the Bainbridge Board of Trustees, Zoning, etc?

Perhaps those with the news channel contacts can pitch this potential story with updates from the Historic Registry, ideas for mixed-land use, etc.

I will continue to encourage you to contact these people via email and phone to voice our opinions and desire to retain some portion of GL's history and heritage. We need to pull together with a show of numbers. One individual alone will not influence the twp officials. Please focus your energies on contacting these people and encouraging local residents to do the same.

This article was published in the community newspaper today. You can clearly see the thought process of the local Township and County Auditors. Any development will most likely create more tax dollars. Please continue to contact the Twp Trustees.

[url]
http://www.cleveland.com/chagrinheraldsun/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1190832432193170.xml&coll=4 [/url]

I feel at this point and time contacting these entities without any plan is almost futile. You can't save the whole park. It's gone (with tears in my eyes) . Sad

We as a group have to decide what we want initially. To those who have feelings about what you want to save, be prepared to put in some time & action to help, or don't bother posting about all your grand plans. It doesn't help anything. CF isn't hanging on your every word.

I don't want to hear all of what you think should be done. I want to hear about what you think CAN be done.

THINK REALISTICLY AND BE PREPARED TO WORK FOR WHAT YOU WANT!.

MY REALISTIC GOAL: SAVE THE BIG THE BIG DIPPER & THE CAROUSEL ON GL PROPERTY

IS IT REALISTIC?
MAYBE AT BEST -
I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENING IN CONEY ISLAND & WHAT HAPPENED IN MYRTLE BEACH. - MOST LIKELY IF IT CAN BE SAVED IT WILL BE RELOCATED.
TO ME, RELOCATING IS UNDESIRABLE SCENARIO.

MY REALISTIC GOAL:
GET SOMEONE TO BUY A PORTION OF THE GL PROPERTY (IF GL WILL SPLIT IT UP)

IS IT REALISTIC?
SLIM TO NONE
CF WANTS AS MUCH $ OUT OF THE DEAL AS POSSIBLE, EVEN IF THEY HAVE TO SIT ON THE PROPERTY FOR A FEW YEARS. WHICH LEADS INTO A WHOLE OTHER CATEGORY - (SEE FUTURE POSTS ON THIS) i'M NOT A GREAT SALES PERSON -IF ANYONE FEELS THEY ARE A GREAT SALESMAN, PLEASE STEP UP. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IVE I'VE SEEN VERY LITTLE OF HERE, A LOT OF TALK & LITTLE ACTION. IF YOU FEEL STRONGLY ENOUGH, YOU'LL STEP UP. COME ON PEOPLE !

Please by all means contact Bainbrige & Aurora, but be prepared to be unencouraged by them, THEY ARE NOT SET UP FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
YES MOST WANT IT TO STAY BUT only because they've grown up with it & have watched their children grown up with it & hope to see their grandchildren grow up with it, but a handful & a half of residents don't want it around.

To Bainbridge, any commercial or residential developement means more money in the long run. Bainbridge has only begun to grow in the last 15 years, most of the residents don't have feelings either way, except for those who own homes close to the north/eastern side - the homes where there before SFoA & they were the ones who wanted to expand.

To Aurora, not to much difference $ wise unless WWK closes. The homes along the borders of GL have been there for years. They've dealt with it & the homes that do go up for sale are aware of the downfalls.

What will the consultants tell them?

Sell or sit or develope it themselves.

Since CF's not really in the developement industry, they won't be likely to do this, but in looking at the amusement industry headways, they might just do this, remember DK signed on til 2020 (that's wishful thinking on his part, aye) even though they might have to sit on the property. The amusement parks we know today are dwindleing & will dwindle even further leading into newer technology.

Our best hope for any kind of park there, beyond the dream of CF having a token park there, or to get an indiv. investor. to buy into, would be for them to sell to a developer.

Yah,
I Know,
I'm full of it, but all the research I've done into other parks in this scenario, the buying of parcels, protests & petitions seems to go a lot further with a developer than an owner. Developers on a whole are usually regional & thus more pliable

Hey, DK didn't just sign on til 2020 for shits & giggles,...or even $, he's got a vision & that vision can/will (or he's betting on it )change the amusement parks of the future.

WE can as a united group see this through.

First please everyone, please email or snail mail to B Spehn or D Kinzel, if you don't have their emails, please pm me. Don't threaten or cry about it, just ask them to look at saving the BD & carousel on a parcel of land.

Second, Contact Bainbrige & Aurora & voice your opinion (okay don't voice your opinion) just reiterate how we're coming together to try to save these historical pieces.

I'm game, & willing to put in the time & effort, hey the BD was my first roller coaster (even though dad had to drag me on it the first 6 or 7 times) & the carousel was my first Merry-go-Round, it's a great childhood memory.

WE NEED TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY HERE.

Please only those who are serious about wanting to see the BD & MGR stay, and willing to put in time & effort (that might mean getting out & doing some grunt work) reply.

Toggling between the map and satelite photos on Google, it looks like the Big Dipper's far turn is actually in Aurora. This is interesting because all of the quotes I've seen seem to indicate that Aurora leaders think all of the rides are in Bainbridge.

Eveyone who has the time should send some snail mail letters to the editor, Aurora and Bainbridge, and Cedar Fair and/or Wild Water Kingdom about saving the Big Dipper.

Good news.... I contacted Brainbridge TWP and got a rather liked response I think... here read:

Hello, David, and thanks for your note.

Our Zoning Inspector and Zoning Boards are very much a part of the future of Geauga Lake and it is expected that they will be actively engaged when it comes time to review options presented. It is my understanding that Commercial Recreation zoning is established for most of the property currently, so retaining rides should not be an issue from a zoning perspective. The real question is whether anything like you describe would be in the plans for the future owner/developer.

I would like to see something built there that embraces the history of the park and incorporated into the future plans (ie museum, entrance gates, period piece, etc.). But I believe this idea would be reinforced through a groundswell of public support for that concept. As one trustee, resident of Bainbridge, and land planner, I am more than willing to present this opportunity to the General Manager and to our board for discussion. Perhaps a letter from the board, if they are willing, that speaks to incorporating the history of the park into future development plans would be a good first start.

Again, thanks for your efforts.

Sincerely,

Jeff Markley

Bainbridge Township Trustee
_________________
Geauga Lake I will miss you!

^I’m liking how they are handling the situation.
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If feels to weird to get a straight and honest answer to a question...

Especially after all the BS Cedar Fair fed us.

I emailed the Bainbridge Twp. trustees voicing my concerns about the future of the property and historical parts of the park, particularly the Big Dipper. I was very civil and didn't point fingers at anybody, especially them. I also emailed Congressman LaTourette who represents this district, can't hurt, no response from his office yet.

Response from Trustee Linda White;

[You should contact Cedar Fair. The township has no involvement with
their
move to close the park. It was a business decision by them, anyone who
buys
it will have to follow the zoning.]

I'm not sure what to think, Confused

Allan

I think this is good news. One of the Trustees himself stated that "a groundswell of public support" will go a long way to heping the Board with any rezoning considerations or future development of the site. Remember, without rezoning the land, the attractiveness of this property for a potential buyer is less. It cannot be developed for residential use without the Zoning Dept re-evaluating the current commercial-recreational restrictions. Keep the snail mail and emails coming!!!

You guys realize that you are not bigger than CF and that you guys really have no real say in what is about to happen. I mean you all had to see this coming when CF bought Geagua Lake, I mean the place was a financial diaster and as soon as they got there they took out the parks only attraction .. Geagua Lake was built to compete with Cedar Point and if you think it was sucessful at doing that you are an idiot. It was the most logically, no brained decision CF ever made .. You guys wont be so angery with CF when they sell the land to devlopers and make the countries best water park. I mean once they pour some money into an already solid foundation it will be the best water park ever. You guys need to do some research and know what a bussiness is .. This is the best decision that Dick could have made on his way out .. He is retiring, for all those that dont do thier research before they form ingnorant opinions.

OK... Lets see them build the country's best waterpark.

Then we'll talk.

Last I checked they haven't even finished the darn thing... what happened to phase 2? That was supposed to be finished in 2006 and now it looks like the earliest we'll see it is 2009.

Of course, my money is on the whole place being closed before phase 2 gets built.

I'm just hoping for good news... my only goal right now is to save the dipper...so lets keep trying people.
_________________
Geauga Lake I will miss you!

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