Geauga Lake - Notable Additions and Changes

Notable Additions and Changes

1970: SeaWorld Ohio opens

1983: The park opens Boardwalk Shores, the first water park to be included in an amusement park for one price.

1996: Geauga Lake is sold to Premier Parks, which later goes on to purchase Six Flags.

May 5, 2000: Six Flags Ohio opens for the first time under its new name. Four roller coasters are added Beaver Land Mine Ride, The Villain, Batman Knight Flight, and Superman Ultimate Escape

January 10, 2001: Six Flags Ohio purchases the neighboring SeaWorld Ohio for $110 million.

March 10, 2004: Six Flags sells the park to Cedar Fair, who changes the name back to Geauga Lake. Six Flags kept the animals and dispersed them to other properties. By opening day 2004, the portion of the park formerly known as SeaWorld was closed.

June 2005: A 20 acre (80,000 m²) Water Park located on the former site of SeaWorld opens, under the name of Wildwater Kingdom. The admission price was dropped 10 dollars to $24.95. The annual Haunt (Halloween event) made its final run this season, and is not continued the following seasons.

June 2006: Wildwater Kingdom opens its Caribbean-themed wave pool, Tidal Wave Bay. This wave pool measures 325 feet (99 m) wide by 220 feet (67 m) long; holds 390,000 gallons of water; and has cabanas, which guests can rent.

2007: The park's 2007 operating schedule is significantly cut back compared with the schedules of seasons past. The park was opened from Memorial Day to Labor Day with Oktoberfest acting as a bonus weekend following the official closing of the park. X-Flight, Steel Venom, and Bel-Aire Express are removed from the park before opening. The park also went smoke-free in response to the November 2006 passage of a smoking ban in Ohio. New for 2007 were LEGO Racers (a 4D film), and Magician Tim Hill. The park also offered local season pass holders swimming lessons.

Post-2007 season: Cedar Fair closed the amusement park side of the park, and sent some rides to other Cedar Fair parks. Other rides were auctioned in June 2008 and a few were scrapped (Double Loop, Villain, Haybaler). The water park remains as Wildwater Kingdom.