Displaying items by tag: Geauga Lake

The announcement came down last week that Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom would be shutting down after Labor Day. Wildwater Kingdom has been in existence since 2005, not long after SeaWorld vacated the premises.

Was this a surprise? Not to Ann Womer Benjamin, the mayor of Aurora. Womer Benjamin joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to discuss what is ahead with that property as far as development. She said Aurora is working in conjunction with Bainbridge and Cedar Fair on developing the surrounding area into a mix of retail and housing. Though Wildwater Kingdom was a good source of revenue, Aurora will not take much of a tax hit, as most waterpark jobs tend to be seasonal.

The Aurora mayor mentioned she was more upset with SeaWorld and Geauga Lake closing, which closed its doors in 2000 and 2007, respectively. However, she feels the prime real estate can be “redeveloped into something fantastic.”

Sad news for local water park fans. Cedar Fair has announced that Wildwater Kingdom will be closing after the 2016 season.

The Beacon Journal reports the Aurora area attraction has struggled to stay afloat since shutting down its sister park, Geauga Lake, back in 2007 and existing as it's own space.

In a news release, Cedar Fair says they have been working with Bainbridge Township and the City of Auora to "redevelope the entire property into what will best benefit the surrounding communities."

Wildwater Kingdom's last day of opperation will be Monday, September 5.

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On the Web: Ohio.com