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Skyglider Thunder Falls User is Offline Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 757	Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:43 pm    Post subject: · Quote Here is part of a Coasterbuzz post within the past hour by Mr. Putz that seems to confirm that he knows that Cedar Fair is considering moving the Big Dipper (I cut out the personal attack stuff).  According to Mr. Putz: "There are two things going on here. One is a story, one is not. . . . The other thing is a bona fide story, that Cedar Fair is considering moving the ride themselves. . . . there is no official communication from the company on the actual story . . . . I for one would applaud moving the ride to CP. But you know, I'll wait for a press release from the company...."
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BigDipperLover Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 161 Location: Brunswick, Ohio	Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:31 pm    Post subject: · Quote I dont know what to make of this, if anything at all, but I just received an email from someone in the news dept at Channel 5 here in Cleveland. I emailed them about the BD rumor yesterday. The first email I got said that they are investigating the rumor, so I emailed them again asking if anything came about from their investigation, and I got this response. " Right now Cedar Fair is denying that it will ever be moved." Now, I know we are dealing with Dickhead here, but I would think that it would be a good PR move for CF to keep BD alive, even if it is at CP. So why would they be denying it if the plan is to move it? And if the BD is moved to CP and kept alive, would all of the CF haters (including me) let up on the hatred? For me it will be hard to forgive them even if the do keep BD alive. But I think that saving the BD, no matter how is what we should be striving for. _________________ Here's to Mr. Dick getting what is coming to him, and here's to GL never being closed in our memories.
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coasterdad Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 1619	Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:53 pm    Post subject: · Quote Don't forget CF denied rumors that GL was going to close though Bumbling Bill and in newspaper articles. This rumor is too big to ignore, it feels like we have been through this several times already. Take whatever CF says to anyone with a grain of salt as it is most likely a lie. _________________ Greed is what caused GL's demise and that just makes me sick. Lets do what we can to rat out Kinzel - hes a snake. In the end the truth will come out and we will then see whos laughing at who.
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dsloban Thunder Falls User is Offline Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 772	Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:23 pm    Post subject: RUMor BIG Dipper · Quote I don't know what to believe anymore, but I just hope that what ever happens with the Dipper that it will be rode again and not turned into firewood. I wish that they would move it to Cedar Point or Kings Island so it can stay in Ohio!
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Dominator56 Villain User is Offline Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 1211 Location: Akron, Ohio	Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:08 pm    Post subject: · Quote I really don't have mixed feelings on this one. I'd just be happy it had a home. Also I hope if the rumor is true, they plan on taking care of the coaster (new wood?). I'm not sure but I'd go back to CP if they moved my dipper there. Its my favorite woodie at GL.... (next to villian). I mean it would be great for it to stay onsite but I highly doubt that will happen. I think it will be moving. _________________ Geauga Lake I will miss you!
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DominatorDude05 Raging Wolf Bobs User is Offline Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 466	Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:55 am    Post subject: · Quote I found the "press release" or lack there of: --- I told you I would let you know of any news on Geauga – I have an update on the Geauga Lake property. We got word over the weekend that Cedar Fair was preparing for a press conference at Geauga Lake this Wednesday (tomorrow). That was called off and now it will be presented as a simple press release. At this time, we anticipate that they will announce that they will be moving the Big Dipper from Geauga Lake to Cedar Point! We are totally flabbergasted. It appears that this is a knee jerk reaction to all the negative press they have received since they closed the amusement park side of the lake in September. After all, why make this announcement just after accepting sealed bids on the property May 23rd? It doesen’t seem logical, but not much has made sense since the closing. The short of it is they initially tried to sell the Big Dipper (and two other coasters on property) and there was little interest. Please note the emphasis on the word move. There has never been a discussion to keep the ride intact on site. It is very clear that they do not want to leave the ride intact, as part of any mixed use development, which would be the preference. We do not know why they had such a distaste for Geauga Lake, but they are certainly doing a great job annihilating it. The press release will most likely include some type of “we are saving the ride and we are preservationists.” Nothing may be further from the truth, but they will rely on that angle to make this work to the press. For many this is a solution that appears reasonable, but will be the death of the park. That may be what they wanted all along and they finally figured out a way to get the goal, without looking too terrible. I can not anticipate what the public will think of this move. Personally I have mixed emotions because the ultimate goal is to preserve the Big Dipper. But I question if this is just a façade, as to whether they actually will ever rebuild the coaster. For instance, if it is not rebuilt immediately (for the 2009 season), it would be put in storage and provide numerous excuses over the next few years (i.e. rotted wood, no room, no budget, etc) as to why they haven’t rebuilt it. Meanwhile the (Geauga) Property will be developed and the story would simply go away. That is what I expect, although I have not seen the press release. If it’s eventually rebuilt, I believe it will never be the same. Additional safety devices and other updating will be required. The cars are historical – but they would probably go with lighter and more historical rolling stock. Meanwhile it could never compete with anything that Cedar Point operates. It does not fit into the context of the park. Cedar Point’s oldest ride is the Blue Streak – which was built in 1964 in response to both Euclid Beach’s Thriller and Geauga Lake’s Big Dipper (what we call an out-and-back coaster). The Big Dipper would be just a smaller Blue Streak. And it would never get respect, left as a reminder of the park they didn’t want, at an estimated $3-5M cost to move. It would probably be cheaper and easier to donate the land around the Dipper and save face at the same time. That would make them generous and truly preservationists. But that is not in the cards. This is a company that is looking to quickly lower its debt after purchasing the Paramount Parks chain in 2006, so it is not feeling very charitable, to say the lease. It is unfortunate that this is the only solution they felt was worthy. Ironically, they may feel that the coaster was an obstacle for any development on the site, or that they might get a better sales price for the land, without the structures on the property. As you may know, I am working with a group of developers and investors with my architectural firm in Cleveland, to redevelop the park into a mixed-use complex. The Big Dipper, meanwhile has always been part of our plans, and the agents knew this, even as they attempted to sell it over the last four months. Maybe that was the giveaway? For our team, we always felt it was the focus of the redevelopment of the site – the signature attraction that bring the crowds back and returns some normalcy to Geauga Lake. The timing of the announcement is such that it may kill such a deal, which may be the true purpose. If it is a deal breaker for the development team we have lined up, then Cedar Fair has won the battle and we have truly lost the history. The park really needs to stay- even as a small facility. It gives continuation to a community that has grown up around it. Otherwise Cleveland will have lost its last major amusement park to corporate growth. Only last week we discovered that Cedar Fair moved their May 15th Stockholders meeting from Sandusky to California. An insider suggested that the local environment is just too unstable (and full of local stockholders who want real answers to the Geauga lake mess) CEO Dick Kinzel thought he would be ambushed if the meeting was held in Ohio.By the way, Cedar Point’s new theme is “Families Rule at Cedar Point.” The other Ohio park, Kings Island, also has a new premise for 2008: “Our theme this year is history, tradition and nostalgia,” said Don Helbig, Director of Public Relations. “We’re getting back to being a home-grown park. However guests arrive, they’re going to find changes, all of them aimed at restoring the park’s history.” The park opened in 1972. Geauga Lake dates back to the 1880’s. Which has a richer history? Ironically, this was the similar message when Cedar Fair purchased the Six Flags property and changed the name back to Geauga Lake Park in March 2004. Right now no one seems to care about the history, tradition or nostalgia of a little old park called Geauga Lake. Richard Munch _________________ 2008 - Mantis Crew 2007 - Rocket Sled Ride ATL 2006 - Dominator Crew
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CFVIP Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 192	Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:33 pm    Post subject: · Quote Ok so I have a friend who lives in Sandusky and sees Kinzel around once and a while and he did ask if the BD was going to CP, Kinzel said probably not, he didn't go into much other detail. _________________ Cedar Point-The best park on the planet! RIDE ON!
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amusementpark7 Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 122	Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:42 pm    Post subject: · Quote That's pretty interesting/questionable.  You don't really see Kinzel just hanging out somewhere in Sandusky...unless it's up at the church or school. Last edited by amusementpark7 on Mon May 05, 2008 4:45 pm; edited 1 time in total
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coasterdad Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 1619	Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:44 pm    Post subject: · Quote amusementpark7 wrote: That's interesting. ?You don't really see Kinzel around much unless it's up at Church or the school. Thats interesting, how do you know so much about Kinzel? Are you who you really say you are? _________________ Greed is what caused GL's demise and that just makes me sick. Lets do what we can to rat out Kinzel - hes a snake. In the end the truth will come out and we will then see whos laughing at who.
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amusementpark7 Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 122	Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:46 pm    Post subject: · Quote I don't know anything about Dick Kinzel.  I'm just saying I've lived in Sandusky all my life and have never seen him in Sandusky other than at the church or at school
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BigDipperLover Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 161 Location: Brunswick, Ohio	Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:47 pm    Post subject: · Quote CFVIP wrote: Ok so I have a friend who lives in Sandusky and sees Kinzel around once and a while and he did ask if the BD was going to CP, Kinzel said probably not, he didn't go into much other detail. #1.- The Dick would never tell that info to anyone. #2.- You have a friend??  Um, ok.....     _________________ Here's to Mr. Dick getting what is coming to him, and here's to GL never being closed in our memories.
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amusementpark7 Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 122	Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:50 pm    Post subject: · Quote Thank you, bigdipperlover.  That's all I really meant by my post in response to CFVIP.  You don't see Dick Kinzel just out walking the streets and he certainly isn't going to tell some random person about confidential business decisions.  (But coasterdad thought it was some conspiracy)
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CFVIP Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 192	Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:51 pm    Post subject: · Quote Ahh once again BigDipperLover starts some drama. Seriously Coastedad, just ban the trouble maker. 1. Yes he can if he wants too, especially if it's a good friend. 2. Yes I do, you know maybe something you should get. Guess I know why no one likes you. You are such a trouble maker! Amusementpark7- Kinzel belongs to Plumbrook country club where my friend belongs. _________________ Cedar Point-The best park on the planet! RIDE ON!
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cstrwomann Double Loop User is Offline Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 284	Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 10:12 pm    Post subject: · Quote Does ACE still plan on bidding for The Big Dipper at the auction?? Why can't it be moved somewhere else?? I would like to see it stay at GL but if CF decides to sell the land to real estate developers we need a park in Ohio on the East side. Cuyahoga, Lake, Ashtabula, Geauga,  Portage, and Trumbell counties have no parks to go to now. I know I will not drive to CP as much as I did GL.
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Skyglider Thunder Falls User is Offline Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 757	Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:34 am    Post subject: · Quote cstrwomann wrote: . . . if CF decides to sell the land to real estate developers we need a park in Ohio on the East side. Cuyahoga, Lake, Ashtabula, Geauga,  Portage, and Trumbell counties have no parks to go to now. I know I will not drive to CP as much as I did GL. Waldameer at Preque Isle in Erie is actually closer than Sandusky for many of the areas you mentioned.  Smaller park, but they just added a new coaster and remind a lot of people of the pre-Six Flags Geauga Lake. _________________ "It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home." CF Spokesperson Robin Innes about the Big Dipper. Ohio and North America have few structures that rank as high as 12th oldest in the World.  Remember the Big Dipper.
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