Geauga Lake, once one of the largest amusement complexes in the world by acreage, has been back in the news recently. In a $5.3 million deal, the City of Aurora officially acquired 48 acres of the historic property, including the iconic spring-fed lake. This purchase marks a major step toward revitalizing the once-thriving amusement park site, with plans to convert it into a large public park. The vision for the area includes a beach, pool, non-motorized boating, and a variety of recreational amenities, aiming to breathe new life into this cherished landmark.
I’m not going to get into Geauga Lake’s long and tragic history (that is wonderfully recapped here). But it is fun to look back and think about different “What If” scenarios. What if Six Flags hadn’t added five roller coasters in two years? What if the park had used Holiday World’s business model and offered free parking and soft drinks? A new idea struck me recently:
What if Geauga Lake had been purchased by LEGOLAND instead of Six Flags or Cedar Fair?
LEGOLAND History
The first LEGOLAND theme park in North America opened in Carlsbad, California in 1999 and quickly became a success. LEGOLAND California targeted families with young children, focusing on interactive and imaginative play rather than roller coasters or large-scale thrill rides. The park features themed areas like Miniland USA, where famous American landmarks are recreated with millions of LEGO bricks, as well as family-friendly attractions like the Coastersaurus. Its appeal lies in the hands-on experiences, from driving schools where kids can navigate mini-cars to creative workshops where they can build with LEGO bricks. The park’s success has led to expansions, including the addition of the LEGOLAND Hotel and the SEA LIFE Aquarium, making it a multi-day destination.
When considering what a LEGOLAND takeover of Geauga Lake might have looked like, it’s worth looking at the example of LEGOLAND Florida, which took over Cypress Gardens in 2010. Cypress Gardens, once a historic botanical garden and water-ski attraction, struggled to stay relevant in the competitive Florida theme park market. When LEGOLAND acquired the property, they preserved many of the original gardens and even some classic attractions like the water-ski shows, while introducing their signature family-friendly rides and LEGO-themed areas. This blend of old and new allowed them to respect the history of Cypress Gardens while creating a unique offering for families with young children.
LEGOLAND Geauga Lake
In 1999, no one knew the success the LEGOLAND brand and theme parks would one day have. But for a minute, let’s pretend the LEGOLAND creators could go back in time, retaining what they know now. If LEGOLAND had purchased Geauga Lake (and SeaWorld Ohio) instead of Six Flags, the park would have taken a very different direction, focusing on a family-friendly, LEGO-themed experience rather than the thrill-ride approach Six Flags took. Here’s how things might have turned out:
Geauga Lake map 1999, https://www.rollercoasterfreak.com/Geauga_Lake/Brochures/1999_pg_map.jpg
Rides and Attractions
Let’s start with the coasters. Between 2000 and 2001, Six Flags added five roller coasters to Geauga Lake. In this alternate reality, that’s not happening. In fact, even though they were just added in 1996 and 1998, the Mind Eraser Vekoma boomerang and Serial Thriller Vekoma suspended looping coaster (SLC) would be sold off, as their thrill level would not match the new direction for the park. The Big Dipper and Raging Wolf Bobs wood coasters would be kept along with the Double Loop (at least until it reached the end of its service life). High-thrill rides such as Time Warp, Texas Twister, and Mr. Hyde’s Nasty Fall could have been sold too to help offset the cost of new rides.
LEGOLAND parks are known for their emphasis on attractions aimed at younger children and families, rather than intense thrill rides. Instead of adding extreme roller coasters like Six Flags did, LEGOLAND would have focused on building themed areas and attractions that cater to kids aged 2-12, with interactive play areas, gentle rides, and family attractions.
From the SeaWorld Ohio side, the Bermuda Triangle motion simulator, 4D theater, and Happy Harbor climbing structure would all be reused with a new LEGO City: Deep Sea Adventure theme. Eventually the submarine ride from LEGOLAND California would be added here as well.
SeaWorld Ohio map 1999, https://imgur.com/a/7mMFrle
LEGOLAND Geauga Lake’s Themed Areas
A LEGOLAND version of Geauga Lake could have featured themed lands seen in all the other LEGOLANDs. The entrance area and Ferris wheel would be part of Bricktopia. The area around the monorail would be LEGO City and the go kart tracks turned into the Driving School attraction. The existing waterpark could have been rebranded as Pirate Shores. The Raging Wolf Bobs and Grizzly Run rapids ride would be incorporated into a LEGO Castle or Kingdoms area. Double Loop would be part of NINJAGO.
LEGO Ohio Stadium
A major draw could have been a Miniland USA, showcasing Ohio landmarks, including Ohio Stadium and even Cedar Point recreated in miniature with thousands of LEGO bricks. This would be located on the SeaWorld side of the lake in place of the removed animal habitats.
Events
LEGOLAND parks often integrate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning through LEGO-building workshops and interactive exhibits. This would have aligned Geauga Lake more closely with educational field trips and local school programs, offering activities like robotics challenges and building competitions.
It could have also offered more job opportunities for the local community through a longer operating season, as LEGOLAND parks sometimes extend into the shoulder months for special events like Brick-or-Treat at Halloween or Christmas Bricktacular during the holidays.
LEGOLAND Geauga Lake Resort
No LEGO resort is complete without a LEGOLAND Hotel. This one would have an indoor pool so it could be open year-round (at least on the weekends).
On the SeaWorld Ohio side of the lake there would be a new SeaLife Aquarium that could pay homage to the history of SeaWorld Ohio. It could house penguins and sharks among other smaller species but not orcas, dolphins, or seals. The aquarium would be a separate ticket and would be open year-round.
Overall Impact
LEGOLAND Geauga Lake would have provided an additional tourist destination in Ohio, potentially increasing family tourism in the region. Families visiting from out of state might have paired a trip to LEGOLAND Geauga Lake with visits to other regional attractions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or Pro Football Hall of Fame.
While Six Flags’ thrill-centric model struggled to compete with nearby Cedar Point, a LEGOLAND approach might have positioned Geauga Lake as a unique regional destination, complementing Cedar Point instead of directly competing with it. The family-friendly and educational focus could have appealed to a broader audience, especially families with young children, creating a niche in the Midwest. The park would likely have had a slower but steadier growth, focusing on creating memories for younger children and families, rather than chasing the thrill-seeking market dominated by Cedar Point. However, the success of such a venture would have depended on LEGOLAND’s ability to draw consistent visitors from across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and beyond—markets that are not as densely populated as those surrounding other LEGOLAND locations.
With the opening of LEGOLAND New York in 2021, the Lego brand has shown to be very strong. There are now ten LEGOLAND theme parks around the world. What are your thoughts? Do you think LEGOLAND Geauga Lake would have been a success? Let us know in the comments below.
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