Geauga Lake Auction: Rides went Tuesday, equipment went today

BAINBRIDGE -- The gavel came down on the remaining Geauga Lake amusement park equipment this morning (June 18).

Starting at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Michigan-based Norton Auctioneers auctioned the rides and the ride-related equipment.

Even the six flagpoles outside Geauga Lake's main entrance are for sale, holdovers from the days when Six Flags owned the park.

Geauga Lake was known as Geauga Lake from 1888 to 1999, then became Six Flags Ohio in 2000. From 2001 to 2003, it was known as Six Flags Worlds of Adventure.

In 2004, it became Geauga Lake again, then Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom in 2005 until it closed last year.

The adjacent water park in Aurora opened May 24 and is called Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom.

The first item on the auction block Tuesday was the ornate fountain in the main plaza just inside the entrance gate at Geauga Lake. It sold for $400

At 10:30 a.m. today, the auction for campground trailers and equipment will wrap up the two-day auction.

All items will go to the highest bidder and there will be no minimum bids.

Some of the rides up for auction included: the Double Loop coaster; two SkipperLiner paddle wheel boats; the Intamin Space Tower; the Chance Pirate Ship; the Eli Scrambler; the Raging Wolf Bobs coaster; the Mack Himalaya; and the Sansel Flume.

There's a history to the Big Dipper, according to the ultimatecoaster.com Web site.

It opened in 1925, after being built at a cost of $50,000, and was first called the Sky Rocket.

In the late 1940s, its name was changed to the Clipper. In 1969, park officials renamed it The Big Dipper.

In 1980, the Big Dipper was completely rebuilt.

Its trains have four cars with three rows each, seating two abreast per row. The sign still reads: You must be at least 48 inches tall to ride this ride.

"The Big Dipper has not been sold and will be part of the auction," Norton Vice-President Denise Kinsey told wkyc.com Friday.

"It was made available to the American Coaster Enthusiasts, an association dedicated to roller coasters, a few weeks ago at no cost, other than dismantling, re-locating, and reassembling. They have not accepted that offer," Kinsey added.

ACE officials say no offer was made. Kinsey said Cedar Fair officials gave her the information.

When reached by phone at the group's annual convention in Atlanta, current ACE president Mark Cole said that, to his knowledge, no one approached ACE about acquiring The Big Dipper.

Removing and reassembling the coaster would be a huge expense, in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Geauga Lake's owner Cedar Fair Inc. owns amusement parks and water parks across the U.S. and the world. It owns Cedar Point in Sandusky and closed Geauga Lake's amusement park because of declining attendance.

Today's auction will see camping equipment, including fire rings, shower stalls, fencing and a wooden bridge.

There are even buildings and kiosks up for auction, including food stands and smaller pavilions.

Miscellaneous park equipment, some with Geauga Lake logos, will also be auctioned, including Geauga lake signs, light poles, nautical-themed props and Geauga Lake uniforms.

Norton specializes in the auctions of carnivals, amusement parks, carousels, theme parks, zoos and unusual collections.