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Taking a plunge can buy coaster

But prices of Geauga Lake rides are scream

By David Giffels Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Saturday, Nov 10, 2007

If you've ever dreamed of having the Big Dipper in your backyard, and money's not an issue, your chance has arrived.

The wooden roller coasters from the defunct Geauga Lake amusement park are for sale. They will be marketed next week at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions trade show in Orlando, Fla. This is the industry's premier event, with 25,000 people expected to attend.

 

A company called Martin & Vleminckx Rides, based in Canada, will market three Geauga Lake roller coasters: the Big Dipper, Raging Wolf Bobs and the Villain.

The future of the coasters — especially the 1925-vintage Big Dipper — has been an issue of intense discussion since the September announcement that the Aurora amusement park is closing.

Cedar Fair Entertainment, which also owns Cedar Point in Sandusky,
has said it plans to remove Geauga Lake's rides, making 400 acres available to develop or sell. The company plans to continue operating the adjacent Wildwater Kingdom water park.

The Big Dipper is described in an informational Web site as an ''all wood coaster with original nostalgic trains and ready for dismantling.''

At the bottom of the Web page is the imperative, in red capital letters, ''Must be sold!!!''

Chuck Bingham, a Martin & Vleminckx vice president, said Friday that interest has been intense since his company announced Wednesday it is handling the sale. ''You have no idea how many calls I have received,'' he said. ''One guy said, 'I wanna put it in my back yard. How much is it gonna cost me?'''

Bingham declined to give specific prices, but he said his firm's costs would involve dismantling and transporting a coaster from the park, with an additional fee to re-erect it.

And yes, he confirmed, the price is out of the range of the average citizen.

David Giffels is a Beacon Journal columnist. He can be reached at 330-996-3572 or at dgiffels@thebeaconjournal.com.

 

If you've ever dreamed of having the Big Dipper in your backyard, and money's not an issue, your chance has arrived.

Get the full article here.


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