CLEVELAND, Ohio – Based in 1887, Geauga Lake changed into the arena’s biggest amusement park in 2001. The park has been dormant since Wildwater Kingdom closed in 2016, however it could make waves once more quickly.
Town of Aurora is making plans to shop for Geauga Lake and the previous SeaWorld belongings in an acquisition the town is looking an “alternative of an entire life.”
Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin introduced an offer to council Monday night time to procure Geauga Lake, with 40 acres of lakefront land that used to be as soon as the previous SeaWorld belongings.
“This can be a legacy acquire for the folks of Aurora,” Womer Benjamin stated. “It’s the potential of an entire life to ensure our citizens lake get admission to and a vacation spot this is going to be one of the most gemstones of Northeast Ohio.
Town would pay roughly $4.5 million to Commercial Business Homes for the land with hopes of growing the valuables right into a public park with a pool, seashore, boating and different facilities. In November 2020, ICP received the remainder 377 acres that had as soon as been the house of Geauga Lake Amusement Park and SeaWorld Ohio.
“The lake has been a leisure enchantment of the neighborhood for many years, and to lose get admission to when the parks closed used to be indisputably disappointing,” Womer Benjamin stated. “To reinstitute lake get admission to coupled with a park and leisure facilities will strengthen the whole neighborhood and allow the general public to revel in a wonderful house of Northeast Ohio. Moreover, as a substitute of housing gadgets we will be able to have greenspace.”
Town will spend $1.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) finances, with the rest of the cash used for the purchase popping out of the town’s funds.
As a part of the settlement, ICP would construct a “Lake Loop” path or boardwalk across the lake. The corporate pays for a “really extensive portion” of the demolition price of one of the closing buildings.
Womer Benjamin stated one of the buildings from SeaWorld Ohio, together with the aquarium, could also be stored and used within the town’s plans. The aquarium could also be redeveloped as a cafe or an identical facility.
Website paintings at the belongings is anticipated to start out inside of one year after demolition is done.
“Whilst now we have some preliminary conceptual plans for the valuables, we intend to be considerate and planned in its construction. We think to take on this challenge in phases however are keen to offer public get admission to once somewhat imaginable,” Womer Benjamin stated. “There are nonetheless many selections to be made and extra to come back in this thrilling alternative.”
