After the closure, Cedar Point began looking to sell the landscape once used by the amusement park, but few buyers were interested in such a massive piece of land.

Any plans for the development of the park fell through, leading to Cedar Fair retracting its offer. Later, the land would once again be put up for sale–and this time, Cedar Fair was more willing to sell the land in various parcels.

In 2010, the historic Big Dipper coaster was put up for auction (on eBay, of all places), but failed to return a single bid. The century-old coaster was left to rot and was overtaken by the elements until it was finally demolished on site in 2016. The same year, Cedar Fair announced that Wildwater Kingdom would not be reopening for the 2017 season. On September 5, 2016, Wildwater Kingdom joined Geauga Lake as another of Ohio’s lost amusement parks. Following the closure of Wildwater Kingdom, the lake now sat entirely abandoned. Similar to its neighbor, Wildwater Kingdom sat abandoned for some time before demolition began in late 2017.

Both sides of the former Geauga Lake theme parks had been stripped of valuable assets and most of the remaining buildings were demolished. All that remained were bare foundations and pavement reminding explorers and curious travelers of what once stood. For a handful of years, the lakeside remained untouched and unused, enticing urban explorers nationwide to sneak past the fence and see for themselves what remained of this once-great park. 

Plans for development have been tossed around for years, with a potential Meijer superstore in the works. This plan eventually fell through, along with a large retail and residential project that was denied by the city of Aurora. 

In 2017, a commemorative plaque was erected outside the fence, honoring the historic park that once called Aurora and Bainbridge Township home. The plaque briefly details the development and growth of the area and its expansion into a grand amusement park during its heyday.

As of 2023, a new development project from PulteGroup is in the works. This ambitious residential development will occupy the area that was once Wildwater Kingdom’s parking lot and will feature street names paying homage to the previous inhabitant. Some examples are “Dipper Way” and “Carousel Court”.

The legacy left behind by what was once the world’s largest amusement park has impacted thousands of nostalgic fans who look fondly back upon their trips to Geauga Lake. Even I, who grew up in a different state and have never set foot in the park, vividly remember watching commercials promoting Geauga Lake–particularly the “it’s gonna be fun!” commercial from 2004–and wishing I could take a trip there with my family. This memory was so specific to me that it encouraged me to look up whatever happened to that amusement park I remembered hearing about in my youth–and when I finally did, I was fascinated.

Needless to say, Geauga Lake played a role in my blossoming interest in amusement parks and indirectly inspired me to continue studying and writing about abandoned parks. In a way, I suppose this article is my way of paying homage to Geauga Lake. 

When I mentioned my findings to my dad, he reacted with surprise and even a bit of sadness as he then reminisced about his childhood friends who had taken regular trips to Geauga Lake. He hadn’t even known it had gone out of business. 

With its rich history and long lasting legacy, Geauga Lake impacted thousands of families nationwide during its many years of operation, either directly or simply through word of mouth. While researching for this article, I stumbled across dozens of comments on old YouTube videos or Facebook pictures recounting personal stories and memories about the park, or passionately debating who was responsible for the beloved park’s demise.

It really is inspiring to see such fondness for a historic park that drew the short end of the stick. Although the story of Geauga Lake is bittersweet, it continues to live on in the memories of a very dedicated community.