Trip Report: Geauga Lake

Aurora, Ohio - 07/27/1997

"Welcome, Cleveland Clinic Foundation!"

Well, two years ago, it was Giant Eagle at Kennywood. Last year it was Giant Eagle at Idlewild, and the Chrysler Corporation at Geauga Lake. Three weeks ago, it was Saturn Owners Appreciation Day at Cedar Point. And this time, it was the Cleveland Clinic Foundation at Geauga Lake. This group had to be every bit as large as the group of Saturn owners at Cedar Point, but Geauga Lake does not have the capacity to handle that kind of crowd.

I arrived shortly after the park opened, happy that I had spent the night in Beachwood instead of Conneaut Lake. I got an early start which involved rides at both ends of the Big Dipper, then rides on the Double Loop and Raging Wolf Bobs. Both of the wood coasters have had track work done since I visited last season. I didn't notice new track, but what I noticed was that the track was not bouncing...my suspicion is that the track bolts holding the laminations together were tightened...And there may have been some new wood in there that I missed. In any case, the Big Dipper was giving the smoothest rides I can remember from it, and the Raging Wolf Bobs isn't bouncing anymore, just shuffling. I still think the whole problem with that ride is that PTC's trailered train isn't designed right, and I can't help but wonder what would happen if the axles were moved back a bit on those cars. Honestly, I kind of like the Raging Wolf Bobs. Tip: The smoothest rides are in the first seat, and either seat of the last car. The worst rides are over the axles, including the back of the first car, except in the last car.

The Double Loop gives as smooth a ride as ever. No headbanging at all, as there are no significant lateral forces on this ride. It can be rough on the shoulders, though, coming out of the second loop because there is a violent mega-airtime pop at the top of that hill.

I did not ride either the Mind Eraser or Mr. Hyde's Nasty Fall. This old Rocky Point Park Freefall has been painted hideous colors (orange and green), and was operating. The disappointing thing was that the Rocket Ships (Traver Circle Swing) are still sitting behind the Raging Wolf Bobs in a pile. I asked about them at Guest Relations, and was told that there are still plans to reinstall the Rocket Ships, but that no one quite knows when this will happen.

What has happened at Geauga Lake is the complete remodeling of the main midway to the right of the main entrance. For you who are not familiar with Geauga Lake, the park is built to curve around the shores of a lake, with the main entrance more-or-less in the middle. To the right is a row of shops and games, which then widens out into...well, I'll get to that in a moment. Suffice it to say that it is a large ride area bisected by the Big Dipper. At the end of this area is kiddieland, followed by a kids water play area. The other side of the Big Dipper yields additional rides, with the waterslide area squeezed in next to the lake. From the front gate (Why do I refer to the 'main entrance' when it is the only entrance?), walking straight in and bearing slightly to the left takes you through a huge games area, then past a slightly-Frontier-themed area with some rides in it (including the Double Loop). Not wandering through the sort-of-themed area takes you past Grizzly Run (the Rapid River Ride) and up the hill to Raging Wolf Bobs. A large picnic grove is located to the left of the front gate, beneath the Double Loop.

Now, the big change this season at Geauga Lake (besides the installation of Mr. Hyde's Nasty Paint Job) is the complete remodel of the ride area I failed to describe earlier. This area has been themed to an idealized 1950's small-town business district. Eateries around the perimeter are themed as diners and filling stations; the entrance to Mr. Hyde's Nasty Paint Job looks like a movie theater (complete with neon and a marquee, with a 'ticket booth' beneath the marquee...the film playing is "Mr. Hyde's Nasty Fall"); there is a classic car and a balloon tired bicycle parked on the midway...and a couple of eating-tables are built to look like classic automobiles. It really is quite nice...although, admittedly, most downtown squares are more likely to feature a statue and a cannon than a Yo-Yo and a Tilt-A-Whirl.

I managed to ride most of the rides I wanted to ride early on. Then the crowd built dramatically. You know how close together people stand while waiting in line? They were standing that close together on the midway. Happy that I had ridden all the coasters, and a little irritated that Geauga was still practicing single-train operation in spite of lines extending into the midways, I left the park and went to Cedar Point, which was far less crowded. Who knows? Maybe I'll even do a trip report!

Geauga Lake's ride complement is as follows:

Next trip: Holiday World
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--Dave Althoff, Jr.