A SHORTENED SEASON
We question the reason why the park had to shorten the 2006 season.

By Coasterdad
Additional commentary by Michael Dery, webmaster

(It's been a few months since Geauga Lake officially announced their intentions for the 2006 season and this upcoming summer has a few surprises awaiting us when the gates open in May.  Both Coasterdad and myself have pretty much remained silent on the issue of ending the season after this year's Oktoberfest but now feel we should share our views on this topic.  Coasterdad's comments kick off this editorial and mine will immediately follow).

    The 2006 Geauga Lake announcement has finally sunk in and I think I can rationally make a comment on this whole mess.  While I support Cedar Fair in whatever they need to do to cut costs, I don't think that cutting back the operating schedule by eliminating the Halloween Haunt was a good idea.

    While many park guests may never know the difference I think that there will be more that will.  This is only going to create a public relations nightmare on the likes of the 2004 season and the removal of the animals.  For a park that needs as much good public relations as it can get this move is not going to help them.  I think at this point I can handle the little in new attractions that have been announced but I hope that they will concentrate on the many little things that need to be done around the park such as more and better restroom facilities, better height measurements at ride entrances, and just general upkeep.

    There was an article I read a while back in the Sandusky Register that really bothered me.  It quoted Geauga Lake's public relations guru, Lexi Robinson, as saying "Geauga Lake does not want to compete with Cedar Point's Halloweekends."  Why would Cedar Fair care as they are still making money on either one?  Could it be that Cedar Fair is worried about Geauga Lake cutting into Cedar Point's attendance now?  Is this the real reason for the 2006 cutback at the park or is it possible that the numbers were fixed because someone does not want us to know the real reason?  It would have been nice to give us some explanation but I doubt this will ever happen as I'm not sure what to believe.

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