New Geauga Skateland Geauga Lake Park, Geauga Lake, OH. You can tell with the trusses matched to the next photo, see below where the fire destroyed the rink. Here are a few people dancing at the time. Source: American Parks Book Collection.
New Geauga Skateland Geauga Lake Park, Geauga Lake, OH. After the fire destructed several building including this one that housed the roller rink. You can tell with the trusses matched to the previous photo, see above. Source: American Parks Book Collection.
New Geauga Skateland Geauga Lake Park, Geauga Lake, OH
Geauga Lake Park Geauga Lake, OH (Amusement park)
Geauga Lake Park Geauga Lake, OH (Amusement park)
New Geauga Skateland was part of Geauga Lake Park, Geauga Lake, Ohio. That was a roller rink in an amusement park. This was one of the Trolley Park but not owned by a Trolley company or an interurban company. Just a line that ends at the park.
Before all this park began, it goes further back to 1817, A log cabin is the first structure built near the lake. More in depth of this part, check out Wikipedia.
Geauga Lake opened for picnics and swimming in 1872 then by 1887, it began as a local recreation area by Geauga Lake as Geauga Lake Park. Two years later, the first amusement ride was added, first ride, a steam-powered carousel. Later on, the first roller coaster was built in the park in 1925 which was known as the Big Dipper.
Geauga Lake closed for the season on 05 September, 2007 but on 21 September 2007, Cedar Fair, the operator and owner of the park, stated that the park would be permanently closed for good. However, the water park continued to operate as Wildwater Kingdom for 9 more seasons then closed it permanently.
In 1887, Alexander G. Kent built his first 75-room luxury hotel called the Kent House. The following year, they had a steamboat to ride around the lake and had a dance hall on top of the boat.
Geauga Lake was originally known as "Picnic Lake" or "Giles Pond.
New operator and owner, William J. Kuhlman expanded the park in 1925. At that time, Geauga Lake Park built the Big Dipper, the largest wooden roller coaster at its time, 2,800 feet (850 m) long and 65 feet (20 m) high. Geauga Lake Park Olympic-sized swimming pool was built, and it stayed in operation until the mid-1960s. On Sunday, July 11, 1926, Olympic medalist Johnny Weissmuller set a new world record in the 220-yard free style swim in the pool in front of 3,000 spectators. Johnny Weissmuller was an actor most noted playing the title role, Tarzan. I believe it was a promotional event when the pool was first opened and have Johnny swim the pool.
Several recreational activities were added such as dance hall in 1920 as well as bowling alley, race track, and more. But it was not until 1941 that they expanded again by adding a new dance hall to replace the old hall and the old hall was converted to a roller rink.
At that point, the park's dance hall and ballroom were major draws, with big band music performed by Guy Lombardo, Fred Waring, Artie Shaw, and other big names of the time.
In 1942, a tornado hit the park, injuring six, destroying buildings, and damaging the Big Dipper. The park reported $50,000 in damages, but it quickly rebuilt.
But in 1952, a fire destroyed the park's bowling alley, theater, dance hall and roller rink with damages estimated at $500,000. At that time the park became strictly a seasonal amusement park, beach, and swimming area. The pool was closed and razed in the early 1960s, but lake swimming continued.
They also had a baseball diamond, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, an athletic field, spacious picnic groves, 100 rental row boats, the country's largest shooting gallery,
The park continued beyond 1952 until it was sold a few times. Wikipedia has a good Excel graph to show ownerships and the mergers. Yes, they merged with SeaWorld Marine Park. But they sold it and eventually with the final name as Wildwater Kingdom, the last remaining part of the park that closed on 05 September 2016
Today it is a new resident, and commercial (retail) development. The very last part of the park still stands though. The steel roller coaster steel beams still standing and is part of the scenery park at the entrance. It has streets named after things or rides of the park. That is great. I know of an apartment complex that has the amusement park name. The Suburban Park Apartments in Manlius, NY. There are some parks and even rinks that have names after. Empire Plaza was named after Empire Skates East in DeWitt. I do not know else they kept name for a rink for a new development. They may have kept the rink name in the new developments. They may have a street called Skateland Way but who knows.
Strangely, there are so many links and information about the park but maybe a line or two did mention about the roller rink-- Wikipedia and the book. Nothing else!
All of this information below is based on the converted dance hall that was built in 1920 into roller rink in 1941.
The Interior.
It was beautiful interior. It was all non-painted, hardwood Maple floor that was in Log Cabin style. Perfectly made for the roller rink. The photograph shows it clearly seen above. Free-Span clear of any posts for skaters. At one end was the band shell where bands played. Originally for dancing, they converted to a roller rink because they built a new dance hall in 1941.
The Exterior.
N/A.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, hardwood Maple Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1920. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: 9 April 1952 - fire.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: Originally 100 AC. (may have fluctuated through the years through buy outs and selling. High as 700 Acres at one point.)
Lanes: N/A.
Swimming Pool: 110' x 300' with the deepest depth at 14'.
Park Ownership:
1872 to 1887 - Sullivan Giles
1887 to 1923 - Alexander G. Kent
1924 to 1945 - William J. Kuhlman
1945 to 1968 - Carl Adrian, Harvey Schryer and Charles Schryer.
1969 to 1995 - Funtime Inc.
1996 to 1998 - Premiere Parks
1999 to 2003 - Six Flags Inc.
2004 to 2016- Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (some of the land are still in Cedar Fair Entertainment Company's ownership due to unable to sell).
Name Changes:
1887 - Nick named as "Picnic Lake" or "Giles Pond"
1888 to 1995 - Geauga Lake Park
1996 - Geauga Lake An American Classic
1997 - Geauga Lake The Great Escape
1998 to 1999 - Geauga Lake An American Classic
2000 - Six Flags Ohio
2001 to 2003 - Six Flags Worlds of Adventure
2004 - Geauga Lake Family Amusement Park
2005 to 2007 - Geauga Lake Park & Wildwater Kingdom
2008 to 2016 - Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom
Operated: (Overall)-- Spring 1872 to September 2007, 05 September 2016.
Geauga Lake Park: Spring 1872 to September 2007 (Several names changes, this is overall) (waterpark Wildwater Kingdom closed in 05 September 2016.)
The real park actually started on 30 June 1925 to September 2007.
New Geauga Skateland: 1941 to 9 April 1952.
(Note: starting with first operational business, not the latter).
Reason for Closure:
New Geauga Skateland: 9 April 1952 fire.
Geauga Lake Park: Cedar Point made profits at their other parks but not able to turn profit at Geauga Lake Park.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open of the rink, why closed the park, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Olympic medalist Johnny Weissmuller - Swim meet at new pool at the park.
Wikipedia - Geauga Lake Park
Wikipedia - Wildwaters Kingdom
Cleveland - New development. A YouTube talking about the park using drone. PDF Version
Worth Point - Sticker.
Roller Coaster Museum - Geauga Lake Park.
Geauga Lake Park: The Funtime Years 1969 -1995 - Entire book about the park. Pages 13 and 21 mentioned the rink.
Facebook - Geauga Lake Rotor Man.
Clevescene - 63 photos (ads are included) of the park from 1926 to 1983.
Roller Coaster Freak - Not updated since 2008.
Date of issue: 28 November 2021,
For Office Only: 3.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
Before all this park began, it goes further back to 1817, A log cabin is the first structure built near the lake. More in depth of this part, check out Wikipedia.
Geauga Lake opened for picnics and swimming in 1872 then by 1887, it began as a local recreation area by Geauga Lake as Geauga Lake Park. Two years later, the first amusement ride was added, first ride, a steam-powered carousel. Later on, the first roller coaster was built in the park in 1925 which was known as the Big Dipper.
Geauga Lake closed for the season on 05 September, 2007 but on 21 September 2007, Cedar Fair, the operator and owner of the park, stated that the park would be permanently closed for good. However, the water park continued to operate as Wildwater Kingdom for 9 more seasons then closed it permanently.
In 1887, Alexander G. Kent built his first 75-room luxury hotel called the Kent House. The following year, they had a steamboat to ride around the lake and had a dance hall on top of the boat.
Geauga Lake was originally known as "Picnic Lake" or "Giles Pond.
New operator and owner, William J. Kuhlman expanded the park in 1925. At that time, Geauga Lake Park built the Big Dipper, the largest wooden roller coaster at its time, 2,800 feet (850 m) long and 65 feet (20 m) high. Geauga Lake Park Olympic-sized swimming pool was built, and it stayed in operation until the mid-1960s. On Sunday, July 11, 1926, Olympic medalist Johnny Weissmuller set a new world record in the 220-yard free style swim in the pool in front of 3,000 spectators. Johnny Weissmuller was an actor most noted playing the title role, Tarzan. I believe it was a promotional event when the pool was first opened and have Johnny swim the pool.
Several recreational activities were added such as dance hall in 1920 as well as bowling alley, race track, and more. But it was not until 1941 that they expanded again by adding a new dance hall to replace the old hall and the old hall was converted to a roller rink.
At that point, the park's dance hall and ballroom were major draws, with big band music performed by Guy Lombardo, Fred Waring, Artie Shaw, and other big names of the time.
In 1942, a tornado hit the park, injuring six, destroying buildings, and damaging the Big Dipper. The park reported $50,000 in damages, but it quickly rebuilt.
But in 1952, a fire destroyed the park's bowling alley, theater, dance hall and roller rink with damages estimated at $500,000. At that time the park became strictly a seasonal amusement park, beach, and swimming area. The pool was closed and razed in the early 1960s, but lake swimming continued.
They also had a baseball diamond, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, an athletic field, spacious picnic groves, 100 rental row boats, the country's largest shooting gallery,
The park continued beyond 1952 until it was sold a few times. Wikipedia has a good Excel graph to show ownerships and the mergers. Yes, they merged with SeaWorld Marine Park. But they sold it and eventually with the final name as Wildwater Kingdom, the last remaining part of the park that closed on 05 September 2016
Today it is a new resident, and commercial (retail) development. The very last part of the park still stands though. The steel roller coaster steel beams still standing and is part of the scenery park at the entrance. It has streets named after things or rides of the park. That is great. I know of an apartment complex that has the amusement park name. The Suburban Park Apartments in Manlius, NY. There are some parks and even rinks that have names after. Empire Plaza was named after Empire Skates East in DeWitt. I do not know else they kept name for a rink for a new development. They may have kept the rink name in the new developments. They may have a street called Skateland Way but who knows.
Strangely, there are so many links and information about the park but maybe a line or two did mention about the roller rink-- Wikipedia and the book. Nothing else!
All of this information below is based on the converted dance hall that was built in 1920 into roller rink in 1941.
The Interior.
It was beautiful interior. It was all non-painted, hardwood Maple floor that was in Log Cabin style. Perfectly made for the roller rink. The photograph shows it clearly seen above. Free-Span clear of any posts for skaters. At one end was the band shell where bands played. Originally for dancing, they converted to a roller rink because they built a new dance hall in 1941.
The Exterior.
N/A.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, hardwood Maple Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1920. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: 9 April 1952 - fire.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: Originally 100 AC. (may have fluctuated through the years through buy outs and selling. High as 700 Acres at one point.)
Lanes: N/A.
Swimming Pool: 110' x 300' with the deepest depth at 14'.
Park Ownership:
1872 to 1887 - Sullivan Giles
1887 to 1923 - Alexander G. Kent
1924 to 1945 - William J. Kuhlman
1945 to 1968 - Carl Adrian, Harvey Schryer and Charles Schryer.
1969 to 1995 - Funtime Inc.
1996 to 1998 - Premiere Parks
1999 to 2003 - Six Flags Inc.
2004 to 2016- Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (some of the land are still in Cedar Fair Entertainment Company's ownership due to unable to sell).
Name Changes:
1887 - Nick named as "Picnic Lake" or "Giles Pond"
1888 to 1995 - Geauga Lake Park
1996 - Geauga Lake An American Classic
1997 - Geauga Lake The Great Escape
1998 to 1999 - Geauga Lake An American Classic
2000 - Six Flags Ohio
2001 to 2003 - Six Flags Worlds of Adventure
2004 - Geauga Lake Family Amusement Park
2005 to 2007 - Geauga Lake Park & Wildwater Kingdom
2008 to 2016 - Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom
Operated: (Overall)-- Spring 1872 to September 2007, 05 September 2016.
Geauga Lake Park: Spring 1872 to September 2007 (Several names changes, this is overall) (waterpark Wildwater Kingdom closed in 05 September 2016.)
The real park actually started on 30 June 1925 to September 2007.
New Geauga Skateland: 1941 to 9 April 1952.
(Note: starting with first operational business, not the latter).
Reason for Closure:
New Geauga Skateland: 9 April 1952 fire.
Geauga Lake Park: Cedar Point made profits at their other parks but not able to turn profit at Geauga Lake Park.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open of the rink, why closed the park, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Olympic medalist Johnny Weissmuller - Swim meet at new pool at the park.
Wikipedia - Geauga Lake Park
Wikipedia - Wildwaters Kingdom
Cleveland - New development. A YouTube talking about the park using drone. PDF Version
Worth Point - Sticker.
Roller Coaster Museum - Geauga Lake Park.
Geauga Lake Park: The Funtime Years 1969 -1995 - Entire book about the park. Pages 13 and 21 mentioned the rink.
Facebook - Geauga Lake Rotor Man.
Clevescene - 63 photos (ads are included) of the park from 1926 to 1983.
Roller Coaster Freak - Not updated since 2008.
Date of issue: 28 November 2021,
For Office Only: 3.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.