The Rise and Fall of America’s Biggest Theme Park

For over a century, Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, was a beloved amusement park.

It all started back in the late 1800s when Geauga Lake was simply a train stop with picnic setups and boats for rent. The park evolved through the years; its first ride, a steam carousel, made its debut in 1889. However, the first real thrill came in 1925 with the construction of the Big Dipper roller coaster, which kept adrenaline junkies entertained until the park halted operations.

In 2001, Geauga Lake acquired nearby Sea World after it shut down, expanding its area to about 700 acres. At that moment, it became the largest theme park in the world.

But just a few years later, in 2007, the fun abruptly ended. After multiple ownership changes and attempts at expansion, the park closed down. Now, some hope exists for a revival of sorts, as the City of Aurora acquired the land intending to transform it into a public park.

Let’s take a nostalgic trip down memory lane and explore the major points in Geauga Lake’s history as reported by the Beacon Journal.

A look back at Geauga Lake in Ohio: The Big Dipper’s Key Debut in 1925

Here’s a timeline summarizing the key moments of Geauga Lake:

1887: The northeast section is referred to as Picnic Lake or Giles Pond, becoming a popular camping and fishing spot.
1889: The park introduces its first ride, a steam carousel.
1925: The Big Dipper, the park’s first roller coaster and the longest wooden coaster at the time, opens its doors, towering 65 feet high and stretching 2,800 feet long.
1939: A dance hall and ballroom are constructed.
1969: Funtime Inc. acquires the park.
1977: Ohio makes history with the opening of the Double Loop, its first looping steel coaster.
1978: The Corkscrew steel coaster debuts, thrilling many.
1984: The Wave pool, which features six-foot waves, welcomes visitors for the first time.
1988: Geauga Lake celebrates a century of fun and introduces the Raging Wolf Bobs wooden coaster.
1995: Premier Parks Inc. announces its acquisition of Geauga Lake.
1998: Premier Parks expands by taking over Six Flags Theme Parks.
2000: The park is rebranded as Six Flags Ohio.
2001: Six Flags owns SeaWorld Cleveland, which gets renamed to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure.
2004: Cedar Fair purchases the park, reclaiming the Geauga Lake name.
2005: The old Sea World transforms into the Wildwater Kingdom water park.
2007: The ride area of Geauga Lake ceases operations.
2016: Wildwater Kingdom also shuts its doors.