windshawne

Who is the guy on the right? He looks exactly like someone I worked with at the park-they say everyone has a twin, but who knows??

This is a good point, and one I have not considered. I don't know if any park has a plan in place for that scenario. Then if the park denied the person to board, then they get sued. Lawsuits like this are what get parks shut down. There's a point where its no longer worth it.

This is why I wish my wife would learn to text - it is so much easier to coordinate in the park via text (no missed calls while on rides, no trouble hearing over the background noise, no misunderstanding). And yet she doesn't, but I digress I'll have to admit it took me a while, but I prefer it. Any noise around me at all, and forget it, I don't understand the conversation. It's frustrating. But yeah, Verizon gave me a signal on Matanuska glacier in Alaska-I'm impressed.

The summer of '85 I believe my pass was $30-35, and season pass holders entered by big booth. I don't remember the parking situation at all.

No issues with my verizon. My biggest problem is hearing, but that has nothing to do with my signal.

It's a sad situation; however, I don't see redevelopment as being a smart thing to do. The flooding and storms are going to happen again in the future, and maybe they ought to just demolish what's left and let nature take over. I'm surprised it hasn't been declared a hazardous site due to the mold growing in that place-that in itself can cause serious health issues. They need to get those buildings out of there to discourage trespassers. I've noticed the kids that have posted on you tube were not wearing respiratory protection, just gloves-and some don't even do that. Very bad idea.

While her heart may have been in it, the effort was not there. There was nothing insulting at all. The effort was poor, at best. Just look at the website and updates (or lack of updates). it comes off as internet spam. What judgements were passed without facts? The effort was not there, and the project failed. You can call it "passing judgement"- I call it the brutal truth based upon the facts given (or not given) by the fundraising website. If you have more "facts" that have not been released, please enlighten us. Being an enthusiast does not entitle one for fundraising. Where can I acquire the ability to tell how hard someone works simply by looking at their website? Perhaps not a direct reflection of how "hard" somebody works, but definitely an indicator of how seriously they take the project. And couple that with the fact that donors were not directly contacted or thanked after making their donations, and it's easy to see a lack of planning and foresight in their efforts. Nobody is doubting their intentions. They made the classic mistake of applying emotional justification to a business decision without the necessary planning, procedures, or protocol. They claimed to own the ride when they didn't. They didn't even make the full, agreed upon, down payment. They lost any ounce of credibility with me when they proclaimed "the ride could run today if it had power." The ride had been sitting for several years, and the trains were sitting, exposed to the elements, in the exact same spot on the midway where they were on the day of the auction. Did you donate to the project? Did you completely miss that both Kat and Harold had no reason to believe they didn't own the ride at the time of the down payment, as per their agreement with Mr. Woosnam? Did you ever inspect the Big Dipper for yourself? Do you know how well its trains can handle the weather? Do you know for a fact that they've just been sitting all alone, by themselves, with absolutely nothing protecting them? Have you seen the land the ride's on? Have you talked to--or even met--Kat? Save for the last (and maybe the first) question, can any of us answer any of those with "yes"? And yet, the apparent majority here seem to know all about it and have the full evidence to be so sure that Kat is running a scam that got started carelessly on a whim with a random stranger she found online. What gives any last one of you the right to judge the true motivations behind the project or its leaders? I didn't donate to the project. I did read that Kat and Harold had reason to believe the ride was theirs. I haven't ever even been to the Cleveland area, let alone Geauga Lake. I have absolutely no insider information on the Save the Big Dipper project or the ride's . But I do know this: I have met Kat and talked to her multiple times. And she shared some of her coaster passion with me, of which she has a huge abundance. I don't know why she apparently didn't send a thank you to each person that donated, but I do know she had a drive to save a classic John Miller ride. It's exactly the sort of drive that inspired historic coaster funds like the National Roller Coaster Museum, etc. Whether you thought the ride was worth saving or not, Kat had a vision where the ride lived on to thrill families for years to come. And she was working to fulfill that dream, even in spite of some personal issues that required more attention than the Big Dipper project at times. She was doing what she could, and people like He Who Owneth TPR (who I'll not name, because he'd probably like that) worked in the name of a "joke" to knock the plan to the ground. Kat stuck her neck out for her dream, which takes a lot of nerve, in case those of you who are content to cut her down left and right comfortably behind your keyboard weren't aware. Those are my words, which came from talking to her over the length of fall quarter--not hers. And you know what? I supported this project when it started, and if it somehow manages to continue (a miracle, I'm guessing, now, as Woosnam seems to be double-crossing Kat and Harold) I will gladly donate at least $25 to the project and post my PayPal receipt here for all to gawk at. I won't say the project was perfect, because it wasn't. Thank-yous to donators were absolutely called for but apparently never showed, and I feel the legitimacy of the project could have been fleshed out more through photos and videos. I am just getting sick of how torn apart every last fricking detail of this project is getting by judgmental cynics and downright know-it-alls who know nothing at all, including He Who Selleth His Home Videos For Too Much Money, when all the project is doing is exactly the same thing a lot of people wanted when Geauga Lake was closing--saving the rides! Call me naive or immature for typing all that. Whatever. I'd rather be naive and happy than a miserable, judgmental "realist". Alex, who finds himself less of "a coaster enthusiast" (if there even is such a thing) and more of "a person who likes roller coasters" with each day this garbage rolls on! Where's the "like" button for this post??

I haven't been to the movies since Gran Torino was released-before that, I couldn't tell you when I went last. My trips are limited to work and home now. My boss' wife just had her hours cut-boss is stressed out. My health plan has gone to hell, and meanwhile, so has everything else. Going to an amusement park or anything for that matter is the last thing on my mind. So yeah, I think this is going to be another tough year. I wanted to go to Wonderland this summer, but its looking like that won't happen. But hey, I might be able to get up there, but not afford the trip back. Wouldn't that be interesting

When gas hits $5/gallon, I will throw in the towel. I am barely ekking by now. At that point, it is no longer worth it to work or try-and I will be stepping off the hamster wheel.

At least they tried. It's sad, but what can ya do?

It was one of my favorites. Taking it out was a mistake.

Wow-and thats my favorite. I'll try not to remember that this summer

Oh, double gross. That's worse than the other.

I would gladly bike to work if that was an option-we all know that can't be done in our society. Irresponsible drivers, horrid weather-those two problems make it impossible for me. No, once it hits upwards of $4 a gallon, we're in trouble. Working a part time job didn't help-increased my transportation costs without solving the extra money issue. I dunno-gonna have to think about this one.

Well, here's what's gonna happen to me. I won't be able to afford to drive to work, and then I'll get fired. Now, shame on me, I drive a subaru forester-258K miles, 1998 model. So I'm being told to get a hybrid or a smaller car. That doesn't quite make sense to me. Trade a tired suv for a car payment and higher insurance rates? Dunno if thats the way to go either, and the financial part will probably come out about the same. The last few weeks with all my close encounters with deer, driving a small car just doesn't appeal to me at this point. Just gonna watch and see what happens. I KNEW the recession wasn't over.

My pay was above minimum wage while working at the park, but the wage froze for 3 years. I guess the only consolation of all this is I didn't sell my soul to get ahead.

Same ole story all across the country-companies get driven in the ground, and the ceo's continue to get raises. I can't read this stuff anymore (as I struggle to stay afloat.) My latest bout with my lungs just cost me 150 bucks-after insurance. This is a world I can no longer relate to.

This guy sounds like a real winner....not

I received an invitation to return, but at this point I can't make any commitments for the weekends due to my regular job. We are currently doing overtime, and hey, I'm not 20 anymore and can't keep that pace. The offer was nice though.

My daughter was diagnosed with autism at 14 months, so I have been there. Yes, it has been a strain, but, she is still my daughter and I have no problem playing the hand dealt to me and making the most of the situation. There were many times it would have been much easier to throw the towel in, but that would have just hurt my daughter, and my family, in the long run. I am confused on how what happened a century ago has anything to do with the decisions made today. Just because things were handled differently then, does not justify a bad decision today. And yes, some people have been falsely accused for things. But again, what does that have to do with a mother leaving her son alone in a theme park, and then lie about it? We don't know the whole story now do we? I am sorry your daughter has autism, and I commend you for making the decision to stick it out. I have two family members who were not that fortunate, and were left to deal with it alone. One family member falsely accused-I could tell you horror stories of what she went through, and what the so called "authorities" did to try to get their names in the news. Let's just say I have no love for media of any type, nor do I give two ****** about childrens hospital cincinnati and dayton. Good luck to you-I do hope that in fighting for your child you are not put through what my family member went through and the permanent psychological damage that was done to her kids because of it. Say what you will, I'm done with this thread. It's stirring up memories I don't want to have at Christmas.

So after all these years, she just happened to crack at a theme park, but still had sense of mind to lie about it? I'm sorry, but that is pretty thin. Don't pass judgement til you've been there. A century ago this would have not been an issue and a lot worse happened. In the early 90's when the country decided it was a good idea to dope up all the kids on ritalin, I know of people wrongly accused of abuse and financially ruined in the courts from false accusations. Marriages were destroyed-you talk about a bad situation for the kids. I hope you never have to deal with this situation.

I'm not defending the mother at all, but I have first hand knowledge of what its like to care for a child with a disability. My cousin had her son at 16-born normal and healthy. Within a few hours he had an aneurysm which left him paralyzed, unable to speak, a complete invalid. My cousin has provided excellent care for him all these years-he is now 23. When younger, it was easy to handle him for baths and such, but now at that age he is a full grown man with a brain of a 2 year old. He bites and scratches her daily when she tries to provide basic care for him. It's easy to prevent injury with a small child, but remember this is a full grown 23 year old man and he has injured her numerous times. When he turned 18 she had to petition the state to retain custody of him-what a crock. I have seen him have seizures-they happen daily. She has had to fight the schools to provide needed services for him-most of the schools he has attended are unprepared and unable to care for him-but the state requires he goes to regular public school. He will never talk, walk hold a job or do things most of us take for granted. She will have to care for him like a baby for the rest of his life-he has already outlived what they predicted which is a reflection of her care. Back to this situation. Again, I am not defending the woman, but imagine how overwhelming all that is. Maybe she just cracked and walked away? Maybe we should be grateful she didn't leave him in her house in a bedroom or something and just disappear. At least he was in a public theme park where she could get assistance even if she went about it the wrong way. I know I could never handle a situation like this and my cousin has all the respect from me. Think about how that would be-for life. This could go on 30-40 years, changing diapers and such on a full grown man, and getting injured daily.

Wow. This is becoming uglier than I ever imagined it could.

I don't like these types of "perks". It encourages line jumping.

Well said. In my family we no longer exchange gifts due to the times, and it has taken me a long time to break that tradition. The dinner we have and conversation is more enjoyable to me than any material gift I could receive. In the past year, I have come to realize how short life is and that every moment should be cherished. That is my "gift".