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By Coasterdad (Ed. note: This article originally appeared on our former site, SFWoA: An Unofficial Guide, but felt it should be reposted as we feel that it is a timely subject today. What Boardwalk Shores did for Geauga Lake in 1983, Wildwater Kingdom will do for Geauga Lake in 2005 and 2006). After looking at the 1983 map I noticed a lot of interesting changes going on at old Geauga Lake Park that year. It looks as though 1983 was a pivotal year for the park as that season brought about some big changes that affected the way the park is today and marked the end of the Golden Years for Geauga Lake. While my earliest recollection of the park is around 1966, it is interesting to note how much of the old Geauga Lake from that era and earlier was very close to disappearing. Geauga Lake was a picnic park and picnicking by the lake on a hot August afternoon would only be a memory after the 1983 season. The new water park expansion at the time carved out a large chunk of what was once the lakefront area, a favorite place for many where you could picnic and enjoy rides while partaking of the views of the lake. One especially fond memory for me was spending many hot Saturday afternoons at the shelter that overlooked the lake. Also by 1983 a new main gate was constructed in its current location, replacing the former main entrance under the Big Dipper's second hill. Many of the classic rides had already been removed, rides like the Wild Mouse, The Bug, Flying Cages, Cuddle-Up, the Bump-Bump, Fun House, Round-Up, Caterpillar, Paratrooper, Miniature Train, the dark ride/pretzel, and the Bayern Kurve. Soon to be removed or relocated were the Rocket Ships, Flying Scooters, Rock-o-Plane, Giant Slide, and Super Cat. As already mentioned, the biggest change in 1983 would be the first phase of the water park, dubbed Boardwalk Shores. The eastern end of the park near the lake would become home to Neptune's Falls, originally opening with four body slides. The Undertow was a water racing slide that was removed to make way for the then new Hook's Lagoon in 1997. Boardwalk Shores also featured a small kiddie pool and a sandy beach at the far east end of the park where you could actually swim in the lake! One unusual feature of the beach was the relocated Giant Slide, which let riders plunge into the water. The kiddie pool, beach, and slide would only last for a few seasons.
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