Big Dipper Auction 06-17-2008

Geauga Lakes Big Dipper Being auctioned off to Tom Woosnam of Apex Machinery (yellow shirt). As he states he is currently the representative for teh owner of Big DIpper. It would be interesting to know who the real owner is - wouldnt it? Video courtesy of Storytellers Media Group LTD

[@coasterdadGL]

The entire auction was a setup and a scam. Big Dipper mysteriously disappeared from eh auction list several weeks before the auction, then reappeared with some crazy stipulations. Only one person was to "buy" Dipper that day and it was local convicted felon Tom Woosnam of Apex Machinery.

[@inter_1097]

Bright Sun Films used a clip of this (gave you credit).

[@robophreeq]

That auctioneer was a total jerk. You've got to wonder if he had some sort of private agenda, with the way he was slamming ACE and grassroots efforts to save the Dipper. Just sayin' :) It just breaks my heart to see the first roller coaster I ever rode (back seat) sold away like this. This is where the lies and secrecy surrounding Dipper's future began....

[@johnfoltz8183]

And to not be generous to Dick Knobel

[@joe6096]

Well it's 3:36 pm EST on August 5th, 2016, and the Big Dipper is still standing there on the same site it's been on for 80 years. Obviously this auction was nonsense. Apparently the coaster is still in limbo 8+ years later.

[@robfassi3297]

Ride was just torn down yesterday unfortunately

[@JavMacHer]

they were going to work with you on moving it, not 1 or 2 years - possibly 6 years

[@rickydavis4325]

THAT"S FALSE!

[@johnfoltz8183]

2:18: BTW, The coaster, Phoenix which was originally called Rocket was at Playland Park in San Antonio Texas, not Arizona!

[@AdventureAwaits83]

It's really sickening to hear how the auctioneer acted! and it sits there just rotting away to this day.. BS if you ask me on how it all went down!

[@coasterdadGL]

Its true - auctioneer lied. Former CEO set it all up to make it look like Apex bought it so he could be the fall guy. Sceme baackfired - old CEO is gone, and Dipper just sits in limbo.

[@coasterdadGL]

Dipper could probably be moved but why? The wood has deteriorated over he years and most of it needs to be replaced as it would if it had been running for the last 7 years. If someone wants to recreate dipper simply rebuild it with all new materials. Dippers classic status is in part due to its location, if it is moved (which I highly doubt) is just another out and back.

[@powerkirbybomber6503]

0:46 THATS FALSE! #thatsfalse

[@rickydavis4325]

That is not false young lady, get security or get her out of here.

[@JoeyAnimate]

Let’s make that a meme

[@johnfoltz8183]

They auctioned off both Villian and Double Loop to the same scrap metal company.

[@coasterdadGL]

well - he auctioneer cant - he has since passed away. But he was reading a script told to him by Kinzel

[@jukingeo]

Yes, I know of many that were moved myself. The Screechin' Eagle was a move, the Skyliner at Lakemont was a move. It just seems the Knoebel's Phoenix appears to be the most famous move. I guess mainly because the end result was stellar and the coaster had good exposure due to Knoebels. It would be nice if Knoebels did eventually get the Big Dipper, as you KNOW it will be well cared for. Painting: Wouldn't that preserve the wood longer? Kinda would seem necessary to me.

[@jukingeo]

It is a shame, just about everything in this park is already gone. There was a slight sigh of relief when I found out that the Big Dipper is still standing intact. I wonder what it would take to buy this park with the Big Dipper and save all the SBNO classic coasters out there and move them here. Then you would have one big park will all classic coasters. Something like Knoebel's. Speaking of which Dick Knoebel was at the auction. Looked like he was interested in the coaster.

[@coasterdadGL]

".....they will work with you on removal time, they don't mean a year or two years...." Well Mr. Norton its been seven years - is that what you really meant?

[@johnfoltz8183]

Big Dipper was demolished in the fall of 2016

[@Thunderheadfan5]

With the stipulations, it's no wonder no one else bid. Slamming ACE was completely tacky - and inaccurate. ACE(and/or those involved with ACE) has been, and are still interested in saving this bit of history. Will be keeping an eye out as to how this plays out with Kinzel leaving Cedar Fair. In my opinion, this nice little park was bought with the express desire to close it. I'm fortunate to have made the trip a few times before its demise - hope the Dipper rides again!

[@VideoReviewChris]

I'm not an amusement park expert, so maybe somebody could explain this: 1) Why would the auctioneers not want people to buy the railcars? 2) Why would that lady think that the auctioneers were lying?

[@joedipper4064]

The auction was fixed and only one person was setup to purchase Big Dipper, Tom Woosnam of Apex machinery. Former CEO DICK Kinzel set him up to take the pressure off the park and DICK if and when Dipper was to come down. Tom ended up being a crook and was eventually escorted off the property never to return. The auctioneer knew the whole story and the lady yelling was part of a coaster club that knew the truth. The coaster eventually had to come down when "urban explorer" Lilly posted pictures of her climbing and sitting on Big Dipper. I could go on, but the closing of GL didnt have to happen, it was a combination of Dick Kinzel, the city of Aurora and the economic times.

[@jasonspinelli5171]

This auctioneer is a mean son of a bitch.

[@coasterdadGL]

he is dead - literally

[@nickclark18]

what did he mean "buying it for the cars" please explain

[@TheProDevin]

He meant that if you're only buying the whole coaster for the Roller Coaster cars.

[@vincentmasterbassist6784]

ProDevin why would that matter? And why did he say it wouldn't work?

[@TheHellSpawn000]

The cars of a roller coaster are extremely precise in their construction and also a wood roller coaster is quite rare, as is the car so if you were to obtain a car you get the blueprints also, roller coaster cars fetch a damn good price, the track? Thats nothing, roller coaster track is built to be replaceable, that you might as well sell for scrap, the car is another story the track you can pay from 10 to 25000$ for, the car youre looking at 50 to 100,000$ for. Not to mention a car from the big dipper? A collector would foam at the mouth for just one.

[@ProChoiceJesus]

There have been MANY wood coasters that sat for many years that were purchased, taken apart and moved piece by ever-lovin piece. I was directly responsible for the San Antonio Rocket being purchased and moved to Knoebels Amusement Resort. Painting a wood coaster is not necessary.

[@tonyt1455]

Biggest thing is people he bought the designs and blue prints to the coaster itself along with the naming rights to that pacific build. probably cheaper to build a brand new one then the tear it down and have it hulled to where ever, He took the coasters and that was it with him LOL

[@coasterdadGL]

+tonyt1455 - not sure I am understanding what you just said.

[@tonyt1455]

they bought the Blue Prints of the coaster and the naming rights, they could careless about the standing coaster frame rotting away, the main things needed were the trains original trains to the coaster, It is alot cheaper to buy all new lumber build a new coaster frame then to have the one in aurora torn down and moved to texas and rebuilt, The Thunder bolt at Kenny wood is not all original wood. 98% of it each winter the wood is replaced.

[@WooHoo-itsGaryGnu]

@@tonyt1455 98% of Thunderbolt is not replaced every winter. It took 12 years for them to replace every single bit of lumber. Rollercoasters will see a complete re-tracking before re-framing. Knoebels only rebuilt the lift of the phoenix in 2017 or 2018, don't remember the exact year, and that was a ground up overhaul, otherwise they mainly replaced track or a support here and there over the years. Only two sections of phoenix are really overhauled every year, the turn around above the station just as it drops as it is a high stress point so the track is rebuilt on that outer section every year, the the 3rd air time hill before the brake run as that and the turn around get the most abuse over a season. The trains are refurbished every year and knoebels recently bought a new orange train (within the last 4-5 years) Twister just had its rose bowl helix re-tracked for 2023 season, the lift track was refurbed in 2018, the drop was refurbed in 2014. The turn around after the helix was rebuilt in 2013, and was recently retracked (portions) in 2019 The only original part of the phoenix after it was moved was the transfer table and that was finally replaced around the mid 2010's. As far as what is still original on phoenix from the 1985 build... the tunnel and it's track are 90% original from 1985

[@coasterdadGL]

Dick Kinzel - CEO of Cedar Fair at the time of Geauga Lakes closing. He orchestrated he buying and quick closing of Geauga Lake for no other reason than his ego. He is now retired and living in Florida, new CEO Matt Ouimet seems to e doing a better job but has still not said what will become of Geauga Lake. We hope he sells he property to someone who can bring it back.

[@WooHoo-itsGaryGnu]

it was sold to developers who are building high end homes in a community not known for good paying jobs. The demolition started in late 2021, the SeaWorld side is leveled, 6 flags side is in progress of being leveled

[@joedipper4064]

@@WooHoo-itsGaryGnu The Sea World side is not completely demolished. The waterpark wavepool is still intact as is the 4D theater and the aquarium. Aurora has plans to purchase the land and create a park there.

[@jukingeo]

But it would probably take a mil or more to restore the coaster. After all the time the coaster has been sitting, it probably has to be retracked right off the bat. Then the whole thing has to be painted. The coaster cars probably need new wheels. So it would be major expense. It would take someone with deep pockets that has a love for roller coasters and understands the value behind a historic treasure such as the Big Dipper.

[@coasterdadGL]

You better believe that he had a private agenda! I am sure he and Woosnam both had private agendas. Funny how there were so many stipulations put on Dipper before the bid and all bidders had to be screened first. Then Cedar Fair made up some story about how "It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home" , then the clown in the yellow shirt wins it. Conspiracy? I think not!

[@Meekimotosyoutubechannel]

Hell..I would've bought it for 5,000

[@Clevelandfaninpittsburgh]

Who is kinzel coaster dad?

[@robfassi3297]

Knobels should buy it

[@BHV0810]

0:46 THAT'S FALSE

[@janiechamplin8524]

what the hell did this guy buy it for? just so no one else could, and let it sit and rot away? makes no sense

[@coasterdadGL]

justin c It makes sense when you look at it this way. Dipper was pulled from auction listing at last minute, you had to be pre-registered before even bidding on it, Tom Woosnam a known criminal bids on it, his first words to reporters were "its just a pile of wood", Cedar Fair at the time was getting complaints about them destroying Dipper. It looks like a case of take this off our (CF) hands and let someone else get rid of it. Former CEO DICK Kinzel is crooked enough to have masterminded that plan.

[@icelegacylol]

I would've bought I literally have $20,000 jud sittings in a bank

[@JavMacHer]

I can build you a bigger, better roller coaster - the likes of which you have never seen for that exact amount!

[@JavMacHer]

& mine doesn't come with some jerk auctioneer!

[@detroitjc]

hidden ugenda. and a liar about ace!