Geauga Lake's Big Dipper: History in an Age of Disposability

August 11, 2008 | Aurora, Ohio | Vetting explained

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"It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home." Cedar Fair Spokesman on the Big Dipper, June 17, 2008 Since the final closing of Geauga Lake amusement park by its owner Cedar Fair in September 2007, the fate of the Big Dipper roller coaster has attracted much attention. As its final day of operation dawned on September 16, 2007, the Big Dipper stood as the 12th oldest operating roller coaster in the world and the 7th oldest in North America, older than all 17 roller coasters at Cedar Point, Cedar Fair's other northern Ohio amusement park. Dating back to 1925, it is one of the last of hundreds designed by John Miller, a prolific inventor whose innovations such as the safety chain dog and underfriction wheel are used on virtually every new roller coaster being built today. When the remaining rides and remnants of Geauga Lake amusement park were auctioned on June 17, 2008, the Big Dipper was the only ride sold subject to Cedar Fair's approval of the buyer. As a Cedar Fair spokesman stated at the time, "It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home." After some auction day controversy, involving a statement by Norton Auctioneers that the Big Dipper had previously been offered for free to the American Coaster Enthusiasts (a claim unanimously disputed by the group's leadership), the roller coaster was sold at auction to Tom Woosnam of APEX Western Machinery Movers of Akron, Ohio. According to Tom Woosnam, he purchased the ride on behalf of an unnamed buyer who planned to preserve it, perhaps as a non-operating "nostalgia piece", although other statements also seemed to hint that it might possibly run again. Cedar Fair was apparently satisfied that the buyer would provide a "good home" for the ride because the sale was approved that same night. With the word that the Big Dipper would be preserved, the public relaxed. Tom Woosnam indicated at the June 17 auction that the plans for the ride would be announced in about a week. The end of June came and went, and no plans were announced. Demolition of the rest of the park began. On July 9, the Aurora Advocate reported that Tom Woosnam had informed it that plans for the Big Dipper would be announced "by the end of the week." The end of July came and went, and no plans were announced. The fate of the Raging Wolf Bobs, another roller coaster purchased by Tom Woosnam at the auction, did become clear, however, as pieces began appearing on ebay. The Raging Wolf Bobs will not run again. Cedar Fair, Tom Woosnam and the unnamed buyer could reap years of goodwill by saving the Big Dipper. Cedar Fair has the resources to relocate it, and in fact has done so with many other Geauga Lake rides. Keeping the ride on site in conjunction with Cedar Fair's Wildwater Kingdom water park (built in 2005 on the site of the former SeaWorld Ohio) or as part of a scaled-down entertainment district remain possibilities. Two other structures that are over half a century old, the park's Ballroom and Palace Theater (originally a Fun House built in the 1940s) could also be incorporated into future development on the site, if they are preserved. Nevertheless, fears are growing that the Big Dipper will become yet another victim of this age of disposability. Cedar Fair has enjoyed very little positive press in the wake of closing Geauga Lake forever after the end of the season without advance notice. As the world awaits the fate of the Big Dipper, rumors of protests and boycotts circulate in corners of the Internet. It is certain that images of the destruction of the ride, or its aftermath, would circulate far and wide. The future of the Big Dipper was the most widely covered aspect of the Geauga Lake closing, and its final fate will certainly attract widespread media coverage. In the meantime, those wanting to see the ride preserved can only hope that Cedar Fair's actions will ultimately be consistent with its statement that "It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home." For more information see: Auction Day: http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/06/landmark_big_dipper_attracts_t.html http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=91687&catid=3 http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news/article/3988291 Post Auction Developments: http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=94444&catid=45&GID=pfon6Fug2Ks08miM/jZh1peRv6rK2SyboW0wmyPT0LI%3D http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/07/michael_dery_remembers_rumblin.html http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news/article/4050292 http://www.wkyc.com/news/regional/akron_article.aspx?storyid=92967&catid=6 Background: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-4020 The author is not affiliated with any of the entities mentioned in this article. Views expressed are solely those of the author.

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