Auroraadvocate.com - Amusement park razing about done Firm trying to finalize 2 land deals

by Brent Hovey

Reporter

Aurora -- It has been about 14 months since Cedar Fair Entertainment announced the closing of the amusement side of Geauga Lake Park.

Over that year, rides have been sold, moved, auctioned or retired, and buildings have been demolished, as Cedar Fair moves forward clearing the land in preparation for its sale.

The land for sale was divided into three parcels.

Agreements are in the works to sell two parcels totaling about 111 acres, according to Cedar Fair spokesman Stacy Frole.

Frole said details of the agreements, and the buyer, have not been released, but the two purchases total nearly $8 million.

She noted officials have accepted a bid for 11 acres surrounding and including the former Geauga Lake Hotel at Route 43 and Treat Road.

Since August, she said Cedar Fair has been working to sell the remainder of the land, and it wasn't until recently that a purchase agreement was reached for another 100 acres.

Cedar Fair is still looking to sell the biggest part of the land -- some 400 acres.

Frole said most rides have been taken down, but a few remain. Buildings also have been razed and much of the land is barren.

"We're continuing to move along," said Frole. "I believe that going into winter, we're pretty much finished with the major work.

"There still might be limited work done on the north side. That means the people who bought some of the rides can remove them without much interference."

The 1926 Big Dipper roller coaster is still standing, as is the Skyscraper (space needle).

FROLE SAID Cedar Fair has not given the buyers of the remaining major attractions a timetable to remove them.

The Big Dipper was purchased for $5,000 by Tom Woosnam of APEX Western Machinery Movers on June 17. He said he bought it for an undisclosed entity, and citing the many rumors surrounding the purchase, he has refused to release any further plans.

The Skyscraper was purchased for $12,500 by Ralph Plumpton of RP Motors in Akron.

During the dismantling process, workers have filled in the old wave pool and some other former water areas with debris.

Frole explained the crews are doing that so there are no water hazards over the winter. Those areas will be emptied when warmer weather arrives next year.

"We have not or will not cover [those areas] with dirt to hide them," said Frole, adding there haven't been any bumps in the process or at least "none that I'm aware of."

However, there have been noticeable concerns from Cedar Fair along the way.

At a parkwide auction, rides went for much less than expected, including the historic wooden Big Dipper, which is considered an "out-and-back" coaster.

When it came time to sell the nearly 500 acres, Cedar Fair initially didn't get sufficient bids for two of the three parcels and rejected those bids.

Dick Kinzel, president and CEO of Cedar Fair, reportedly told analysts Aug. 21 the two bids were not high enough. "We think the land is worth more," he said.

E-mail:

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