Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom

Infobox Water park
name = Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom
caption = Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom 2008 Logo
location = Aurora
location2 = Ohio
location3 = United States flagicon|USA
coordinates =
address =
phone_numbers =
homepage = [http://wwk.geaugalake.com http://wwk.geaugalake.com]
owner = Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
general_manager =
opening_date = 1887
closing_date =
previous_names = "Geauga Lake" - 1888 to 2000 "Six Flags Ohio" - 2000 to 2001 "Six Flags Worlds of Adventure" - 2001 to 2004 "Geauga Lake" - 2004 "Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom" - 2005 to 2007 " Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom" - 2008 to Present
season = May through September
area = 690 acres (2.8 km²)
pools =
slides = 9 at this time (additional ones to be determined)
slogan =

Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom is a waterpark located in Aurora, Ohio, United States, originally founded in 1888 as Geauga Lake.

Geauga Lake had operated primarily as an amusement park. On September 21, 2007, Cedar Fair, the park's owner, announced that the traditional amusement park would close down and that the property would operate solely as a waterpark, beginning in the 2008 season.

Previous names and management

While it is not uncommon for amusement parks to be sold, this property has changed hands a multitude of times.

The park was originally two parks- Geauga Lake and SeaWorld. Geauga Lake became Six Flags Ohio in 2000; the next year, SeaWorld was purchased by Six Flags and the entire complex was renamed Six Flags World of Adventure.

Notable additions and changes

For a detailed history of the park from 1888 to the present, see [http://www.geaugalake.com/public/news/history.cfm The History of Geauga Lake] at the park's official site.

1970: Sea World 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.

January 10, 2001: Six Flags Ohio purchases neighboring Sea World 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 keeps the animals and disperses them to other properties. By opening day 2004, the portion of the park formerly known as SeaWorld is closed.

June 2005: A 20 acre (80,000 m²) Water Park located on the former site of SeaWorld of Ohio opens, under the name of Wildwater Kingdom. The admission price was dropped 10 dollars to $24.95. The annual Haunt (Halloween event) makes 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 convert|325|ft|m wide by convert|220|ft|m long; holds 390,000 gallons of water; and has cabanas, which guests can rent.

2007: The park's 2007 operating schedule has been significantly cut back compared with the schedules of seasons past. The park will now be open 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 now absent from the ride line up. ["Geauga Lake's New Twist", in Crain's Cleveland Business Vol. 28, No.5] The park also goes smoke-free this year, restricting public smoking to designated areas. [http://www.geaugalake.com/public/news/announcements.cfm] New for 2007 are LEGO Racers (a 4D film), and Magician Tim Hill. The park also offers local season pass holders swimming lessons.Fact|date=September 2007

Post-2007 season: The park closes the amusement park side of the park, sending rides to other Cedar Fair parks. The park is now Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom. [ [http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm?current_root=15&mode=story&story_id=133 Press Releases :: Cedar Fair Entertainment Company ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.wildwaterfun.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.aurorahistorical.org/ Aurora Historical Society, has a large collection of GL and Sea World items and history]
* [http://www.geaugalaketoday.com/ Geauga Lake Today] - Celebrating the past, present, and future of a Northeast Ohio institution
* [http://www.seaworldohiomemories.us/ SeaWorldOhioMemories - memories of former SeaWorld Ohio & Six Flags: Worlds of Adventure - Wildlife Side]