Glaciated Alleghany Plateau in Geauga County1

• Approximately 130,000 to 300,000 years ago, several northeast Ohio counties were covered by glaciers (area shown in brown on the map)

• As the glaciers retreated north, they left behind a patch of land called the Glaciated Alleghany Plateau

  • The land consisted of many natural lakes, including what is now known as Geauga Lake, which is a kettle lake

    • Kettle lakes are holes or dips in the land caused by retreating glaciers

Beech Forests

• The land and species began to change with the glaciers' retreat

  • Beech Forests formed

• Silt Loam Soil covered the land, which is extremely rich in nutrients

Elk

• Vegetation and water drew in animal species

  • Animals: elk, panther, wolf, bear, wild cat, and beaver

Geauga Lake Present Day3

• Tribes grew corn, squash, and beans

• Lake is kept pristine and untouched

Driving Route to Geauga Lake Park2,4

• Human-use pressured lake and resulted in fewer natural qualities

Aerial View of Western End of Geauga Lake in 19682

• Trees removed & concrete infrastructure installed

  • Concrete replaced nutrient-rich soil, which is required for wetlands & repair of land

• Lake was polluted & contaminated

Nature is Rebuilding the Location

• Algae problems in the environment due to stormwater runoff from the lake

• Problems underneath the concrete infrastructure & surrounding land include: chemicals, dangerous solvents, & herbicides

• Nature is beginning to leave its mark on the area

• Hope for balance between humans and nature with redevelopment plans

Glaciated Alleghany Plateau5

• 130,000-300,000 years ago: Illinoisan Glaciation formed Geauga Lake, which is a kettle lake

• 9500 B.C. to mid-18^th century: Region inhabited by Native American tribes

• Late 18^th century: Native Americans uninhabited the land and white settlers moved in

Erie Railway Map & Postcard with the Big Dipper2,6

• 1817: Joel Sullivan Giles bought farmland near the lake on the northeastern side for $4.002,7,8

  • The Erie Railway was built near his property

  • Soon after, the Erie Station (which later was replaced by Pond Station) was established in the area

• 1870s-1880s: Recreational Area in northeast2,7,8

  • Giles took advantage of the railroad built & established recreational grounds and dance halls for people’s entertainment

• 1888: Alexander G. Kent built Kent House, a luxury hotel2,7,8

  • Later named Hotel Grace

• 1889: 1^st amusement park ride added7,8,9

• 1925: 1^st rollercoaster, Big Dipper7,8,9

• 1942: A tornado tore through the park & damaged attractions, including the Big Dipper7,8

• 1952: Fire engulfed many attractions of the park, including the dance hall, roller rink, and theater7

Aerial Views of the Theme Parks10,11 & Shamu Performing for Crowds12

• 1969: Funtime Incorporated bought the free-entry amusement park & began an expansion of the amusement park on the western side7,8

• 1970: Sea World Ohio opened across the lake on the eastern side7,8,9

• 1970: Geauga Lake is fully surrounded by amusement and water parks2.7,8

  • Park switched from free entry to pay per ride/entry park

• 1983: Beginnings of the Boardwalk Shores waterpark expansion7,8,9

• 1995: Premier Parks acquired Funtime Incorporated & expanded the amusement and water parks7,8,9

• 1998-2000: Premier Parks acquired the Six Flags brand & the amusement park became known as Six Flags Ohio7,8,9

  • The Six Flags brand was struggling & took the deal to be bought out

• 2001: Six Flags Ohio - on the western end of Geauga Lake - acquired Sea World Ohio - which was located on the eastern end of Geauga Lake - and combined the two separate parks into the single largest theme park in the world, called Six Flags: Worlds of Adventure2,7,8,9

  • Sea World wanted to get out of the north because of the limited seasonal operation

  • Previous Amusement Park called Wild Rides

  • Previous Sea World called Wildlife

  • Previous Waterpark called Hurricane Harbor