Wyandot Lake
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Wyandot Lake was a water/amusement park located in Liberty Township, Delaware County Ohio. The park was operated by Six Flags and host to over 45 rides and attractions such as a wooden rollercoaster built in 1956 called the "Sea Dragon". In June 2006, Six Flags and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced that the zoo, which is located next to the park, will purchase the park in time for the 2007 season. [1] Six Flags, after purchasing the park just a few years ago, ran into financial trouble shortly afterwards, forcing the sale of a number of Six Flags water and amusement parks. The only observable improvement Six Flags made to Wyandot Lake was the update of the bumper-car ride. The Zoo has announced that they will spend about $20 million in improvements to the park. These improvements will result in Wyandot Lake being closed for the 2007 season. Dust and inconvenience that would accompany the 2007 massive renovations, including an expansion from 17 acres to 32 and a re-worked combined entrance for the park and zoo, also contribute to the zoo's decision to idle the park. Adjacent Powell Road will also be re-routed during this time.
The new water and amusement park, when opened, will be split into a "dry" park and a "wet" park. Admission will be available as a combined entrance fee to the zoo and wet park (estimated at $29.99) while the dry park will have rides individually priced. Zoo only admission will remain at the current $10 per day. The plan is to incorporate an animal theme into the park and its rides, possibly changing the name of the park. In the next ten years there are plans to double the area of the zoo, double the parking lot, and construct a hotel (potentially with an indoor waterpark for the winter months), making this a lucrative vacation spot in the future. [2]
Work has begun, as of October 2006, to remove the former picnic area and clear trees and other out-dated rides. Many of the rides and equipment were auctioned off in order to offset the cost of some renovation. One signature Wyandot Lake waterslide complex was purchased for $500 by The Beach waterpark, located in Mason, Ohio. The extent of the zoo's renovations may even lead the park to take advantage of some of their massive amounts of undeveloped land. Plans for another roller coaster are also in the works, but have not officially come forward. [3]
[edit] References
- ^ Zoo to keep Wyandot Lake afloat, Marla Matzer Rose. Columbus Dispatch, June 13, 2006.
- ^ Out with the old, in with THE MEGAZOO, Matt Tullis. Columbus Dispatch, November 30, 2006
- ^ Zoo Leaders Awash With Ideas For Park, Robert Ruth. Columbus Dispatch, July 7, 2006
[edit] External links
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