Big Dipper - Geauga Lake (POV)

[@mjparlay]

Thank you for this memory. Still my favorite woodie. I miss this coaster and park very very much.

[@davidjellis]

Real shame isn't it!

[@angiearbogast5424]

So thankful this video exists. This was my favorite wooden coaster besides Gemini at Cedar Point. This coaster wasn't very big, but so much fun. I loved how the safety bar would give a little and you'd slightly lift off the seat. Geauga Lake was a beautiful park. So many memories...

[@davidjellis]

I loved the ride...one of John Miller's finest. Technically Gemini is a steel coaster (but with a wooden structure) but I know what you mean. I visited Geauga Lake three times, and every time the park had a different name!

[@RickyIcecubes]

​@@davidjellisWorld's oldest hybrid coaster

[@davidjellis]

Not really - Coney Island Cyclone is possibly a contender for that one - 1927 @@RickyIcecubes

[@astrofrk]

I have ridden 117 coasters, this was my first (1975) and the one with the most airtime. The Big Dipper would MAKE you Love it! Seeing it and all of Geauga Lake go was heartbreaking.

[@ashleydibacco3755]

My whole life I've lived about 10 minutes from Geauga lake! I'm so sad it's been gone, and now wildwater kingdom is gone also! Super sad about all of it. I got to see the coaster everyday on my home from work. It's now gone, but at least we have the memories. Great video!!! Please keep it up forever! That way we can all still take it for a ride! Thanks.

[@davidjellis]

Thanks - a real shame the videos are the only way to ride them now :-(

[@jamesmdean1987]

I bet the airtime on that coaster was unreal. Out of every wooden coaster video on KZbin this one highlights the airtime the most. Those bunny hops at the tail end of the ride...good Lord.

[@davidjellis]

A classic John Miller design, with drops to ground level...produced wonderful airtime. Really miss this coaster, it was like riding a piece of history. Real shame it was torn down.

[@marykayreese8850]

I remember riding the Big Dipper again and again. It never got old!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@davidjellis]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@biggdave104]

This was my first roller coaster when i was 4 years old

[@davidjellis]

I am sure it was the first coaster of many people...so sad to see it standing and rotting away!

[@biggdave104]

Yeah it's sad seeing a classic coaster that was built in the 1920's getting treated that way.

[@Coaster_Universe]

James C Everything but parts of the structure and all the cars are fine. I talked to a guy that works for the person that owns the Big Dipper and all the main mechanics still work fine.

[@davidjellis]

Rct3andCP Good to read that...maybe some hope it could conceivably get saved?

[@CoasterChannel-fb8ee]

James C same! Big thunder mountain railroad was number 2

[@quietforests]

I've been on coasters all over the country . . . and this one will always hold a special place in my heart. LOTS of air-time . . . :)

[@Walter_Sobchak_43]

My very first coaster! It transformed me from a little boy who was terrified of coasters to the man who nowadays has his arms up the entire time on any and everything. Thanks for this video.

[@davidjellis]

Thanks for the comment - a real shame the coaster was lost. It was a fine and truly classic woodie.

[@Walter_Sobchak_43]

@@davidjellis Agreed. Losing it and Geauga Lake was like losing a close friend for me.

[@davidjellis]

I felt the same...@@Walter_Sobchak_43and I am certainly not what you would call a local!

[@edwardgaines6561]

It's 2020. I just had a dream where I worked at Sea World as a vendor (Yellow Shirts.) so I just had to come here. Thank you so much for bringing back the memories. I feel sad knowing how much time had passed. Oh, and my favorite ride was the Villain, and maybe the Raging Wolf Bobs.

[@PatrickRyan150]

The Villain was my favorite too.

[@edwardgaines6561]

@@PatrickRyan150 Good, good! After 9PM, 1 hour to closing time, you could get back in line over and over again!

[@ItsDannyRobbins]

Directly from the ACE website: In 1920, The Geauga Lake Amusement Company headed by William Kuhlman bought the Geauga Lake property and began to develop the grounds back into an amusement park adding several rides and building a new dance hall in 1921. In 1925, the largest addition added would be a new John Miller-designed wooden coaster called Sky Rocket. At a height of 65 feet, the coaster featured a track length of 2,680 feet. The out-and-back, slightly curved layout of the track featured several airtime producing hills. Its fourth drop included one of John Miller’s signature features that many of his coasters were known for, a double-down dip. Sky Rocket continued to thrill guests coming to Geauga Lake through the Great Depression and World War II. The Schreyer family acquired the park in 1945 after the death of William Kuhlman and continued to operate and invest in the park. In 1947, the coaster would be renamed Clipper and receive two new trains from National Amusement Device. At the dawn of the 1960s, Geauga Lake began to feel the struggle of competition and changing times. Four members of Cedar Points management team who had helped revitalize and rebuild struggling Cedar Point into a leader of the amusement industry in the 1950s bought the park and ventured out on their own. As part of a multi-million dollar, ten year revitalization of the property, the immediately began restoration of the historic Clipper roller coaster and re-christened it, Big Dipper in 1969. The coaster was completely rebuilt in 1980 and rebuilt yet again in sections from 1989-1994. The park was sold to Premier Parks in 1995 which then bought the entire Six Flags chain of theme parks in 1998. Geauga Lake was renamed Six Flags Ohio in 2000, then rechristened once again in 2001 as Six Flags Worlds of Adventure after Six Flags purchased neighboring SeaWorld of Ohio and incorporated the two parks into one giant mega-park. Financial hardship due to the park’s rapid expansion ensued and the park was sold to Cedar Fair in 2004. Renamed Geauga Lake, Cedar Fair tried to downsize the park back into a family amusement park. Attendance plummeted as the Wildlife side of the park (former SeaWorld) was shuttered and transformed into a waterpark in 2005. The ride side of Geauga Lake was permanently closed in 2007 and most of its rides moved, sold or demolished save for Big Dipper. Big Dipper continued to stand with hope that one day it may be resurrected or moved. Eventually, it too was demolished during the week of October 17, 2016, forever ending an era. Big Dipper is the only ACE Roller Coaster Landmark that has been demolished. *Big Dipper's Landmark status was approved by ACE's Executive Committee in September 2009, while it was standing but not operating. As it never reopened, it was never ceremonially dedicated.

[@retrochristmas7329]

God I miss this ride. My all time favorite Rollercoaster. When we would go I would ride this over and over and over. I wish I had the money to buy this place.

[@davidjellis]

Sadly the coaster is long gone - I miss it too, great ride.

[@pinkfreud62]

My fave, too.

[@randystallard8079]

Some of the very best memories of my life, from a very young kid myself riding it, to riding it with my kids, really pulls at my heartstrings, can't emphasize enough, make those memories in every way possible, you'll never regret it and will always cherish those memories...❤😇✌

[@davidjellis]

Totally agreed - I still miss this classic coaster

[@timothykaczmarek5871]

This was by far one of the GREATEST roller coasters ever. ❤

[@davidjellis]

I miss it - and I live many thousands of miles away!

[@PatrickRyan150]

Many great rides on the Big Dipper. Thanks for posting!

[@davidjellis]

It was a real shame what happened to the park - and this coaster especially

[@EddVCR]

Big Dipper was one of my very first roller coasters! It was great fun. Thank you for uploading this video so people can continue to remember this fun roller coaster. The “Welcome back, riders, how was your ride?” was poignant.

[@davidjellis]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@msredboot7]

felt like i was really on it! Miss Geauga Lake for sure, some great times!!

[@davidjellis]

+msred boot Yes, it was a real shame when it closed down and a bigger shame this coaster still sits there rotting away!

[@ArrowThrills]

Six flags should buy geauga lake again

[@edwardgaines6561]

It makes me mad how Geauga Lake just up and closed abruptly in 2007. 😡

[@pjbottoms8095]

Thank you for posting. This will alwaus be my favorite wooden coaster of all time. I preferred the very baxk seat for the extra "lift" gling over the hills. Wish they could have preserved it

[@ohiohoney]

I agree - rode that a gazillion times and loved every minute!

[@timothykaczmarek5871]

And thanks to Cedar Fair for killing that park for no reason aside from corporate greed

[@theoneandonlyrustyshaklefo6256]

Could you imagine how much of a roller coaster destination state Ohio would be if this place still existed?

[@davidjellis]

Ohio still has plenty to offer, of course, but it's a real shame Geauga Lake closed.

[@bardledoo4023]

It would be as popular as your mom's house

[@timothykaczmarek5871]

That's a stupid comment you idiot

[@juliandale8006]

Welcome back, riders, how was your ride? *complete silence*

[@davidellis5507]

LOL - Nice one - but very sad!

[@evoandy]

Nobody wanted to tell him it was like riding down a staircase in a shopping cart.

[@johnfoltz8183]

@@evoandy Shopping Cart: The Ride

[@HEYitzED]

I loved this ride! Lol.

[@eternaltime425]

Sums up the vibe the park had after Cedar Fair took over

[@ectovisionparanormal]

This bring back so many great memories! From my first rollercoaster ever to dates in high school! Thank so much for sharing this!!

[@davidjellis]

Glad it brought back great memories :-)

[@tractionalofficial4232]

Such a shame for this park being closed down. RIP Geauga Lake, 1889-2007

[@davidjellis]

Agreed - very sad - visited the park 3 times and each time it had a different name!

[@tractionalofficial4232]

I went there 2 years before it was going to close. However, I did not expect Dominator to go to my home park after the park closed! Very fun ride both in Ohio and Virginia.

[@davidjellis]

Yes, it's a pretty decent coaster

[@frogsnack7072]

Always over too quickly- favorite ride of my life!

[@billkeithchannel]

That is why when you get off, you get right back in line.

[@donbeck8835]

That's what she said! Haha I'm kidding but when I was a kid, this was my first rollercoaster

[@jamesreese4170]

I really miss this park. It was a nice alternative to Cedar Point, with its cheaper admission (especially pre 6 flags), and shorter lines. Often during the week you could get off a coaster run back around to the entrance and be on 2 or 3 trains later.

[@gabriellalucarelli3830]

This made me so emotional ugh. My first roller coaster :( I live 5 mins away and this place was a huge part of my life, I even had season passes to the water park until it closed that summer. All the way from when I was born to 21 I had season passes :(((( so sad

[@PatrickRyan150]

Remember Fatica's Italian Ristorante across from the park? I think that was the name of it.

[@budjeepman]

My first roller coaster ride back in 1967. This was a awesome park. My favorites were the Fun House, the Flying Aces and a couple years later I got the nerve up to ride The Mouse! lol

[@davidjellis]

Thanks for sharing!

[@chancewaldron24]

Miss this and the headspin ride at Geauga Lake

[@nicholashilton2514]

While X-Flight was my first Rollercoaster I’ve ever ridden, this was the second and will always hold a special place in my heart. I know people love newer, smoother steel coasters, but this will always be my favorite. Nothing like those old rickety woodies!

[@TravelingMan63]

I rode this coaster many times as a kid. I remember when there was a double dip hill on the third hill (1:10). It was removed and replaced with a straight-a way.

[@bodsnvimto]

Once you finally got going, it seemed very similar to our Blackpool Big Dipper IMO. Not just the layout but the range between occasional roughness and wonderfully enjoyable experience on a good day.

[@davidjellis]

Agreed - this was a very good coaster - such a shame it was lost.

[@jamesreese4170]

Agreed. They are very similar, even the trees close to the track on the bunny hills.

[@PatrickRyan150]

Yes, both classics too. It's a real shame they didn't save it

[@cj27887]

This was my first coaster at 7 years old. Super nostalgic!

[@iangraham6351]

Two of my daughters are big enough for this now. I wish the coaster and the park were still around.

[@davidjellis]

so do I :-(

[@AkronKid330]

Memories! Wow. So sad they took this away.

[@PianoShapedObject]

This was my first coaster and my older son's first coaster. I wish the park had stayed open long enough for my younger one to have at least one ride on it. He loves wooden coasters.

[@ohiohoney]

My favorite ride growing up ❤

[@TheRealBigT1984]

Cool video, brings back memories. This was the first "big kid" coaster I ever rode, and rode with my Dad and Uncle, I had to be 8 or 9 at the time. It scared the hell out of me, it was very shaky and violent. A few years later, when I was 12 or 13, we went there after Mind Eraser opened up. Was a cloudy and somewhat rainy day, which kept the crowd down on a weekday. My brother, Dad, and I rode this ride 26 times by the time the day was over. Rode Mind Eraser 10-15 times, and the Double Loop a good 15-20 times. Was a magical day and was able to zip in and out of lines all day.

[@davidjellis]

Many thanks for sharing your memories...that sounded like a fantastic day to ride the coasters :-)

[@TheRealBigT1984]

@@davidjellis it was, we had a ton of fun that day. Side note, I live in Charlotte, NC. Haven't had a chance to go yet, but turns out the Mind Eraser from Geauga lake was sold off to Carowinds in Charlotte, since they are part of Cedar Fair, who ultimately ran and closed Geauga Lake.

[@davidjellis]

@@TheRealBigT1984 Yes it opened at Carowinds in 2009 - I never bothered to ride it on my visit to Carowinds in 2010 as I had already counted it at Geauga Lake :-)

[@robfassi3297]

Blows that they tore this down. I hope they still have the blueprint

[@robfassi3297]

+TheArtyFarty because it has been sitting abandoned for 10 years it would of been extremely expensive to dismantle it carefully without damage ship it and have it refurbished and rebuild. I honestly think knobels should of got it and relocate it just like how they successfully did it to the phenoix. It's a shame because it was made by John Miller. He was a pioneer in old wooden coasters and are slowly going to get extinct

[@AleesaDellaRobbia]

They might but in a way its still sad since theres no historical relics of it. Of course the track was replaced many, many times but they kept the old brakes and everything in the station before..

[@timothykaczmarek5871]

That ride definitely could have been dismantled and relocated somewhere else. With the advanced technology of today and the ride wasn't cemented or bolted down, it DEFINITELY could have been relocated.

[@andystevenson5067]

That “welcome back riders how was your ride” man!!! I miss this park so much

[@AleesaDellaRobbia]

Bless you for this footage!! It took me SO many years go be able to ride the bigger dipper. The last year it closed I could ride it so we rode it like 6 times in a row. Bruises everywhere! Unfortunately the ride is gone now. I wish I could have ridden more but my growth was stunted so I was never tall enough for the big rides. Even Raging Wolf Bobs was closed the year I wAs finally tall enough. At least I rode this one though!

[@davidjellis]

Glad you got to ride this - very sad it's all gone now

[@randywest6653]

Big Dipper at Geauga Lake in Aurora, OH and Randy West one favorite wooden coaster and Randy West Miss Coaster Forever.

[@miumiuchique]

Aww, my first big coaster ❤

[@kgd1950]

Loved the Big Dipper and also the Wild Mouse!

[@TonyKimtheamusementparkfan]

Was it rougher than The Villain?? It looks like there is a good amount of track work that was done~

[@davidjellis]

It was a really decent ride for its age - far nicer than Villain.

[@angiearbogast5424]

Much better than the villain. This ride was so much fun to ride. I just looked up how old it was. First opened in 1925!

[@timothykaczmarek5871]

The Villian hurt, especially while the 'trick track' feature was at the bottom of the second drop.

[@DanJonesShow]

Loving air time before I even knew what air time was. One of my first coasters ever.

[@shawnadmire5309]

Right in the feels. Man I miss this place so much.

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

Double Loop was my first coaster, but Big Dipper was my second. 7 year old me thought they were the greatest.

[@davidjellis]

I loved the Big Dipper - such a classic coaster - real shame it has gone. Your 7 year old self was right!

[@teddym2808]

I went to Geauga Lake twice in 2001 and both times this was closed. I would have rather ridden this than the much bigger but awful Villain. What a shame no one will ever get to ride this little gem again. I am surprised a smaller regional park didn't take it TBH.

[@davidjellis]

That's a real shame it was closed on your visits - I agree, by far the better coaster compared to Villain...really sad the coaster wasn't saved...was heart-breaking seeing it being bulldozed.

[@The444traveler]

Memories.😢 That was a surprisingly smooth ride for such a tattered oldie at Geague Lake.

[@TNTDynamiteTNTNikki]

My mom tells me how much she misses this ride!!! It was her favorite

[@nerdiisage]

This was my first big roller coaster and I’m so sad I’ll never get to ride it again! I went from the road runner to this and I kept flying up out of the seat, my step mom had to hold me down lol literally terrifying but so fun!! I remember being so scared she almost didn’t let me get on because I was having an anxiety attack but I did it anyways!!

[@davidjellis]

Pleased it brought back fond memories - I agree, so sad it has gone

[@keithsutton8317]

It wasn't the biggest but it was a great coaster. My first wooden coaster

[@MP-in4or]

I miss this park and this ride. I will never forgive those who destroyed it. Greed, as usual, did it. This ride gave so much joy to so many for it to be treated the way it was at the end. Americans don't value anything except their own pocket book. Just imagine the heart, the love, the invention, of this ride. And for that dream to be destroyed. Just sick!

[@davidjellis]

totally agreed.

[@mjproebstle]

Whoa…! This was the first 'big' roller coaster that I ever rode as a kid back in the early 70's. I was about 10. It was later in the afternoon, and I had been working my courage up all day to ride. Eventually, I overcame my anxiety, and got in line for the ride by myself. My folks and little sister meanwhile headed to get some refreshments, as they were not really roller coaster riders, and my sister was not yet tall enough. The line was short, as soon I found myself and the train latched onto the greasy never ending chain with a jerk, and being towed up the incline to the top! It was a particularly memorable ride, as the safety bar that was supposed to lock across our laps didn't, and the kid that I rode with had the ride of our lives! Luckily, the coaster didn't have too much negative G, and I was able to wedge my feet underneath the front of the car, my knees under the bar pivot for leverage, while hanging on to the loose end of the bar with my arms. The kid I shared the last car with was a bit larger than me, and I thought he was going to fly out, but we managed to hang on somehow and survive the harrowing experience! I'll never forget the look and the feeling of mutual fear that we gave each other, as we plummeted down the first hill screaming joyously from the sheer fun of the ride, only to have our tones quickly change to shreaks of terror! I'm sure that no one in the immediate vicinity could tell the difference. When it was over, lacking the vocal capacity to speak after having expelled every last gasp of breath that had briefly occupied our lungs during what we thought surely would be the last fun-filled minutes of our lives, the kid and I exchanged congratulatory but relieved glances to each other as we exited. After I gathered myself for a minute to recover from the combination of vertigo and sudden near-death induced nausea, I caught up with my parents. They asked me how the ride was, and I played it cool and said that it was 'real fun'. It was a loooong while before I rode that coaster again!

[@davidjellis]

Thanks for sharing that amazing story - that must have been some first ride :-) Hopefully it didn't put you off them...and well done for 'playing it cool' :-)

[@mjproebstle]

***** No problem, glad to share! Needless to say, my first big coaster did not deter a life long passion for continuing to seek the thrill of the hill. Although, on my next ride and to this very day riding along with my kids, we wear the seat belt and double check the safety bar every time, just in case :)

[@davidjellis]

mjproebstle sound advice!

[@hugthemouse]

Nice. Maybe you could make some videos about the history of coasters...

[@KarinaPopcorn]

As of October 17th, there is no chance of any future rides. Demolition has begun of the Big Dipper. I'll be honest though... I'm somewhat relieved it's finally demolished. Maybe there won't be so many flame wars, arguing, and name calling in the community with its demolition removing any "hope" of the park coming back... Besides, there still is the Ballroom that is left standing, so I'm sure they can still organize a museum at the minimum. If not, they could probably do something similar to the Idora Park Experience. Just... I hope this ends this 9-year drama that surrounded this park.

[@kevinthompson6986]

This makes You Truly Hate SF's and Cedar fair

[@ArrowThrills]

Six flags should buy geauga lake again

[@Fahrenheit4051]

Isn't it in storage somewhere? If so, it's probably being stored indoors, away from the elements.

[@beatpoetdj]

Lots of memories, went there all the time as a kid and worked there in college for a summer, we'd ride it every morning before the parked opened before we opened up the other rides.

[@keithsutton8317]

This had some of the best airtime ever

[@davidjellis]

Indeed - classic John Miller design 🙂

[@mrdezi22]

This was the first rollercoaster I ever rode! Shame it met such an undeserving fate.

[@davidjellis]

Indeed :-(

[@timothykaczmarek5871]

As did Geauga Lake Park as well 😢

[@coasterdaddy7123]

I miss Geauga Lake so much! Wonderful memories there! Do you care if I use your footage in a possible future video about the park? I will give full credit and link your channel!

[@davidjellis]

I am happy for you to use it (with the credit and link) if it's NOT being monetised. Please note that occasionally my MCN will claim copyright where people have used my footage, but as this is not one of my most viewed videos it should be low risk..

[@coasterdaddy7123]

@@davidjellis ok thank you very much! I am not monetized. Pardon my ignorance, but what is an MCN?

[@davidjellis]

They companies that manage multiple KZbin channels - I have one that manage any media requests etc support.google.com/youtube/answer/2737059?hl=en-GB

[@coasterdaddy7123]

@@davidjellis I may end up not using the footage after all just to avoid any negative marks on my channel, but thanks for posting these great pov's of long gone rides!

[@davidjellis]

I will leave that decision with you...I don't expect my MCN will pick it up as they generally only monitor my most viewed videos. Pleased you enjoy my videos though!

[@SpOoNmAn365]

Sad. This was my 1st coaster being a 10 yr old in '84. When i was old enough, i started getting seasons passes every year. F cedar fair. Im shocked they havent ruined my 2nd fav park yet, Kings island.

[@CountryLivingBuddyRoads]

Great video I grew up going there often loved that place

[@davidjellis]

Thanks - had mixed feelings about the park and its management generally but loved this classic wooden coaster

[@josephbear3980]

Big diaper was my frist roller coaster I miss it

[@TonyKimtheamusementparkfan]

Sounds like the airtime was strong on this ride :)

[@pinkfreud62]

There was. Which made it a fave for me!

[@PatrickRyan150]

Yeah, great air time, a real classic. It's a shame it's gone

[@robertwittman1951]

Dude, I was there in 2005 or 2006 for a family with some of my mom's big Italian family. We were on this beaver roller coaster ride and this was one of my personal favorite rides and we all went across this wooden bridge to Wildwater Kingdom and i saw this water coaster called Liquid Lightning. Oh. My. Good. God. I had a gigantic blast. I was around 8 or 9 at the time. Also, that was the first time i saw the 1990 version of Stephen King's "It". I watched for 1 minute. I was afraid on the way back to Pittsburgh.

[@davidjellis]

LOL - thanks for sharing your memories :-)

[@ohiohoney]

Oooooooooh how i loved that ride... must have ridden that 100's of times :-)

[@davidjellis]

such a shame it was demolished and not saved or sold

[@BDImaniac]

It actually looked like a really good wood Coaster with some decent air. Unfortunately I never got to ride it

[@davidjellis]

It was indeed...and it is such a shame to have lost it

[@ArrowThrills]

Stupid cedar Fair they should have got back lash

[@triplej755]

This looked like it had good air time. RIP and F.

[@GiuseppeGaetanoSabatelli]

Really sad seeing this ride in disrepair sitting at the closed park for years. My first coaster was the Little Dipper at Memphis Kiddie Park in Cleveland, named after this Coaster. The Little Dipper is currently the oldest operating Steel coaster in North America, the Big Dipper was the oldest operating Wood coaster in Ohio, 7th in North America. I just can't believe the entire park just disappeared. (EDIT: That's what I was told, but I guess there's a lot of Allan Herschell Little Dippers! They're from 1952, and this wasn't renamed The Big Dipper until 1969!)

[@davidjellis]

Thanks for the stats! It is indeed very sad, this was an excellent coaster!

[@billkeithchannel]

There is also a classic little dipper kiddie ride at Conneaut Lake Park in Pennsylvania.

[@kevinthompson6986]

Ive heard That Steel coasters Eventually Fall in disrepair

[@davidjellis]

All coasters do if they are not looked after...steel tends to take longer but it happens.

[@funkybenzoyl1301]

Sooooooo sad this one is gone! 😭

[@davidjellis]

agreed :-(

[@slish438]

In all its simplicity the Big Dipper was what a good wooden Rollercoaster should be.

[@davidjellis]

so very true!

[@jimeagle1155]

What a great coaster. Not a huge fan of out-and-backs, but this was definitely one of the best. Along with the Idora Park's Jackrabbit. Sucks they are both gone.

[@davidjellis]

Agreed - although I missed out on the Jack Rabbit...this one was a real gem and I agree it really sucks it was lost!

[@tanks7774]

I loved this ride! Thanks for bringing back all the nice memories!

[@davidjellis]

You're welcome :)

[@jukingeo]

As I posted above, the Raging Wolf Bobs is completely gone as is most of the other rides. I think you might be correct in that the Big Dipper is the last coaster left on the property that is fully intact. Sheesh, I just have read too much bad news this week. First the Miller classic, Screechin' Eagle from the defunct Americana park was torn down. Then the Raging Wolf Bobs, and now I fear for this coaster, another Miller classic. Soon all of Mr. Miller's work will be lost forever.

[@brownsbacker2712]

Always was sore after a day at Geauga Lake them old wooden coasters was a lil rough riding.

[@davidjellis]

I didn't find this one rough...lively maybe, a little bumpy in places, but never uncomfortable.

[@brownsbacker2712]

@@davidjellis indeed that’s what I was trying to say. Lol

[@jukingeo]

I been to a few Geauga Lake Park sites, including the Wiki and the news I read there is shocking. Just about all the rides are gone, either removed or demolished. The Raging Wolf Bobs was demolished. I just can't believe that. The Big Dipper however, is still standing. I hate to say it, but it looks like a miracle would have to happen for this park to open again. I don't get Cedar Fair's move in deciding to destroy this park and THEN offer it up for sale. Was the park that bad off?

[@HEYitzED]

Diaval They didn’t want competition for Cedar Point. Cedar Fair bought it just to close it.

[@mrlukeh3155]

If I were to reopen this park I would make a remodel of this roller coaster in the exact same spot

[@davidjellis]

If you do...I will fly over there and ride it!

[@ember-x9o]

This roller coaster was the most painful experience as a kid lol I miss it

[@SUPERSPORT22000]

Thanks for the vid. That park was loads of fun.

[@davidjellis]

Glad you enjoyed it :-)

[@Nikela1986]

Cool videos! Thank you bringing the memories back. Did you do a video on the Mind Eraser coaster? Did you like that ride?

[@davidjellis]

No I didn't do a video of Mind Eraser (that was I believe the Boomerang that now resides at Carowinds) - as Boomerangs go it was ok.

[@BackSeatJunkie]

***** lol when you ride one boomerang you've ridden them all....basically. lol

[@zombiegoddess1524]

My first roller coaster ever @ 9 years old in 1995. I Still remember the wall of gum next to it 🤣🤣

[@randywest6653]

Randy West Miss Geauga Lake in Aurora, OH on Randy West one favorite Amusement Park in World and R.I.P. Geauga Lake EST.1887-2007.

[@jvilo80]

I wonder what year this was filmed..

[@davidjellis]

2006

[@arandomguy4637]

When was this video shot?

[@carlycruise]

Why didn't you use a gopro with steady cam

[@davidjellis]

when this was filmed the GoPro digital camera was only then being invented...the footage is from 17 years ago!

[@ryanr2885]

The city should have bought it and made the ride an independent attraction, like the Cyclone it Coney Island.

[@pinkfreud62]

That would have been great! Since there's so much land there that is valuable & will be developed, they could have moved it to a new area and created a park around it with picnic shelters, ball fields, fitness track and a playground. Maybe a concession stand, too. And made the ride affordable by single tickets or an all day pass. I know I'd still be riding today.

[@brycefourn2001]

The Big Dipper is the ONLY coaster standing at the now-defunct Geauga Lake. (RIP Geauga Lake)

[@ColinTalboo]

It's so sad, I live really close and have memories of coming and riding this nonstop 😥

[@davidjellis]

Very sad state of affairs

[@HEYitzED]

They tore this down too in 2016.

[@ArrowThrills]

Cedar Fair why would you tear down a classic ACE LAND MARK, cedar Fair should have got back lash by the public

[@steveo7771286]

@Don Anderson Hey now, Geauga Lake was my home park and I will always miss it, but will always love Cedar Point too. Just because it's a bit pricy and is run by complete assholes, doesn't make it any less awesome. Born in the 80s, I have a lot of childhood memories at both places.

[@pearsooo6972]

still like to know why Geauga Lake and SeaWorld closed

[@davidjellis]

A lot of people have asked the same question - was a complete surprise to everyone

[@delang65]

Such a great coaster a shame they couldn’t have saved it

[@davidjellis]

Totally agreed - very sad loss

[@rama30]

This should never have been mulched.

[@denisewarner329]

thanks for the final ride

[@davidjellis]

Shame this is the only way to experience the coaster now

[@twistedcheese1]

I really don't like cedar fair. They care too much about CP and not about any other parks

[@kevinthompson6986]

yeah i'm scared They changed Carowinds Name back to Just carowinds Like Geaugalake Did under CF

[@hyperspace7122]

I used to think that since they added 2 new coasters in CP the last 4 years (not counting rougarou), but that doesn't mean they aren't good lol. Look at Canada's Wonderland, they put a giga coaster in that park, same with carowinds and kings dominion. If you look at is optimistically they're doing a pretty good job with their parks right now.

[@damocoaster8451]

What about their neglected parks?

[@gregmagrum7044]

Six flags does the exact same too....

[@somesortofthing8282]

They want to make money

[@angiearbogast5424]

This was built in 1925. Such a shame it wasn't saved.

[@davidjellis]

I was moved to tears when I saw video of it being bulldozed

[@jukingeo]

Yes, I can hear that in the video. Almost every hill a couple people go "Whoa". So it would seem like it is a good 'floater'. I checked out the auction video for this coaster and noted that Dick Knoebel was present. So it does seem like he must have been interested in the coaster if he was going to go all the way out there. He didn't put a bid in though. I heard what happend to the Screechin' Eagle (also a Miller coaster) and I don't want to see this coaster suffer the same fate.

[@MaxAndSarahVlogs]

Whoa!

[@DeadPandaddy]

Max Maretka lmfao

[@antoinetownsend4198]

Geauge Lake Big Dipper

[@kermishemel763]

Nice footage. Sad to see this gone. I've been on this ride before and it was decent.

[@josephhrabak2696]

Best part of the ride was the 45 turn at the bottom of the second hill, at night, with no lights.

[@benjaminsmith3386]

Such a shame what happened to Geauga Lake. So many memories there growing up

[@davidjellis]

I agree entirely Benjamin...I have visited there 4 times over the years (under three different park names!) and it is a shame to see what happened, especially to this classic ride.

[@michaeltabor9596]

Miss the place The should have kept small & simple water park was good. But then sold two six flags who wanted to compete with Cedar point & the downfall began!