Geauga Lake Amusement Park, located in Aurora, Ohio, was purchased by Cedar Fair in 2004 and is now called Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom. It was announced that beginning with the 2008 season, Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom will become exclusively a water park attraction.
Geauga Lake theme park was home to 8 roller coasters ranging from a classic woodie, The Big Dipper, to Dominator, the world’s longest floorless roller coaster.
Weather was partly cloudy with temps only in the high 70’s when I visited Geauga Lake Amusement Park in 1997. Crowds were virtually non-existent with more parents and young children. As a result, lines were pretty short for nearly all the rides.
The Big Dipper, built in 1925 is a Miller Out & Back coaster well worth the stop at Geauga Lake. It was one of the smoothest wooden coasters I’ve ridden. The Big Dipper is an ACE “Coaster Classic” and was the 7th oldest operating roller coaster in the US.
There was good air time over the many dips and humps (up to 65 feet) of this classic coasters 2,600-foot track. While the back seat provided the most air time (it seemed like I was being ejected from the seat throughout the ride) the front seat still had good air time and provides the best view. My only complaint with these cars were the tight lap bars which I found very uncomfortable.
Front seat POV (including 1/2 ramp up) from “The Big Dipper”
at Geauga Lake Park – 09/10/2006 From: BellaCroix.
With the closure of Geauga Lake by Cedar Fair, enthusiasts and preservationists are concerned was the future of the venerated park’s classic Big Dipper roller coaster, which is the country’s seventh oldest roller coaster. American Coaster Enthusiasts has made saving this coaster a high priority. Members of ACE’s Executive Committee have begun a dialogue with government officials, business leaders, and Cedar Fair executives, hoping to come to an agreeable solution to save this highly regarded coaster.
Founded in 1978, ACE is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, appreciation, and safe enjoyment of roller coasters. With close to 7,000 members in 50 states and 12 countries, ACE is the largest amusement park enthusiast organization in the world.
The Arrow Double Loop (1977) gets my vote for headbanger at Geauga Lake.
This looping thrill ride sent passengers through two consecutive loops after plunging down a 95-foot lift hill at 36 mph on 1,800 feet of solid steel track!
Its short ride was welcome after sitting in these most uncomfortable hard seats. I rode the back seat and since I value my back, I didn’t ride again.
The Double Loop does have the distinction of being the first roller coaster in the world that contained two consecutive loops. View more photos of Double Loop
On June 17, 2008, the Double Loop was sold at auction with a majority of other rides at the former Geauga Lake amusement park. It was bought for the price of $25,000 by Cleveland Scrap and later demolished.
Raging Wolf Bobs
(1988) – Summers Twister.
I found this 80-foot tall wooden coaster with its 3,426 feet of twists, turns and dives to be rather rough, especially in any seat other than the front. The back seat really throws you around and the narrow seats with a divider made it very uncomfortable.
On June 17, 2008, Raging Wolf Bobs was sold for $2,500. The ride started to be demolished in 2011 and slowly took until the early Spring of 2014 to be completely gone.
Mind Eraser (1996), now called Head Spin is a Vekoma Boomerang.
This is not unlike other Boomerangs at other parks where you rocket forwards and backwards through 360 degree loops at speeds up to 45mph. All in all, this is a rather smooth ride and again, the trip backward is better than the forward trek.
The ride was moved to Carowinds in 2009, where it is now called Carolina Cobra.
Roller Coasters added at Geauga Lake since my visit in 1997:
Thunderhawk (1998) was a unique suspending looping coaster. Now open at Michigan’s Adventure.
Dominator (2000) was billed as the world’s longest floorless coaster. Now open at Kings Dominion.
Villain (2000) is a world-class wooden coaster climbing 120 feet and reaching speeds of 60 mph. It was demolished and sold to Cleveland Scrap for $2,500 in 2008.
X-Flight (2001) was moved to Kings Island in 2007 and renamed, Firehawk.
