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VGplay Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 48 Location: Akron, Ohio	Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:39 am    Post subject: Funtime's Last Years · Quote I was just thinking, why exactly did Funtime sell to Premier back in 1995? Geauga Lake had just had a hit with Texas Twister, though I'm not sure about Wyandot Lake and Darien Lake. I remember hearing something about bad customer service in 1995, were they slipping and as a result attendance dropped? Were they having financial issues? It seemed they were smart with their money, making smaller but quality additions. Or did Premier just make an offer too good to refuse? I'm interested because all I really have heard is how well Funtime ran the park. If that's true I don't know why they would sell. Thanks.
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kevster Big Dipper User is Offline Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 894	Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 3:17 pm    Post subject: · Quote They sold because they felt that Pemier gave them a buyout offer that they couldn't pass up. It's just like why Google bought YouTube, because they felt like it was a good deal. Why did Ben Wallace join the Cavs, because he had a better oppertunity then what he had.
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carioque41 Double Loop User is Offline Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 295	Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:24 pm    Post subject: · Quote Yeah, but when Funtime had it, I know I had the best of fun times... how apt a name!
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Dominator56 Thunderhawk User is Offline Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 1052 Location: Akron, Ohio	Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:37 pm    Post subject: · Quote I will really miss how funtime ran the park. It was the best of times. Everything following after lead to our current situation. _________________ Geauga Lake I will miss you!
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BellaCroix Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 110 Location: Bedford, Ohio	Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 8:47 pm    Post subject: · Quote I know when I worked at the park in the Funtime era it was a great place.  Even the "Ties" at the front gate were generally nice - sure there was the "Men's earring" and "Men's longhair" rules but honestly, management was wonderful even to the ancillary shops. I stuck around to see Premier's ownership and was not impressed. Funtime was the only company that understood what GL was, what the spirit of the park was, and who the guests were.  After them everything started changing.  I'm not saying there wasn't some great things the subsequent owners did (with the exception of CF) but those things weren't in keeping with what Geauga Lake was. _________________ Positions Held: Ancillary: Front Gate Photo (Cameras In Action) Games - Arcades/Coin Op Ancillary: Antique Photo (Kamman's Art Shoppes) Big Dipper Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNMH9Z8NMFc
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Rollercoaster Kev Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 9	Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:27 pm    Post subject: · Quote From what I remember reading back in the day on the old refreshinglook.com boards I think that Funtime sold all three parks as a package deal.  Also if I can remember correctly people said that busch wanted to buy GL but didn't because if you were to buy GL you would have also had to buy WL and DL along with GL because they were the parks in the Funtime chain. _________________ -Kevin
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brenna Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 1	Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 8:14 pm    Post subject: Funtime, Inc. · Quote What was great about Funtime, Inc.?  The owners.  Plain and simple.  Three men, who each had their own strengths, and absolutely loved what they were doing.  Earl Gascoigne handled sales and marketing and served as President of Funtime, Gasper Lococo as one VP oversaw Park Operations and Dale VanVoorhis, the other VP, was in charge of Finance.  They were an awesome team!
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Dominator56 Thunderhawk User is Offline Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 1052 Location: Akron, Ohio	Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 1:51 am    Post subject: Re: Funtime, Inc. · Quote brenna wrote: What was great about Funtime, Inc.?  The owners.  Plain and simple.  Three men, who each had their own strengths, and absolutely loved what they were doing.  Earl Gascoigne handled sales and marketing and served as President of Funtime, Gasper Lococo as one VP oversaw Park Operations and Dale VanVoorhis, the other VP, was in charge of Finance.  They were an awesome team! Not only were they awesome, they knew what they were doing with the park.  If only they could of kept the park under their ownership. _________________ Geauga Lake I will miss you!
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DLoop1 Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 1	Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:20 pm    Post subject: · Quote I have to admit, I'm not technologically savvy so I apologize in advance if I don't do this correctly, but are there any former employees, from the late 70's to mid-80's out there.  I spent seven summers of my life at GL and would love to re-connect with some of you all!!  Started as a mid-way sweep, then to kiddie land rides, then ride-op, mostly on the coasters.
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MikeJames6 Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 155	Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:13 pm    Post subject: · Quote In a great dream, I could picture Funtime taking over the park again and then seperating the two parks.  Let Cedar Fair run WWK and Funtime could keep all the leftover rides and run this side again. They already have a bunch of waterpark stuff still that Cedar Fair never took down.  (OK I just woke up)
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