Geauga Lake to get smaller.

Ever since Kings Island closed for the season in late October, there was some speculation that Cedar Fair's "new" Ohio park would be getting a "new" coaster.

At the same time, it was noted that the faltering Geauga Lake, also a property of Cedar Fair located in Ohio, would be undergoing some restructuring. The park's PR representative, Lexi Robinson had been let go, with folks from Cedar Point assuming her duties. Attendance has been stagnant compared to 2005, even with expansion of Wildwater Kingdom. In addition, the Hurricane Hannah's park lay abandoned, the Belaire Express monorail was shut down, and Steel Venom had a serious mechanical issue later on in the season that shut it down earlier.

This has led to rumors that X-Flight, the park's newest coaster, installed in 2001, would be dismantled and sent to another park. It looked more likely as some electrical fixtures were being removed, especially lighting on the lift hill. It also looked suspicious that a surveying company - from Milford, OH, not far from KI - was spotted in X-Flight's perimeter. At the same time, the surveyors could have been there just for utility work going on along Aurora Rd - and that the electrical work was just upgrades, including installing an on-ride photo system. But ORP work in November?

Today, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and park spokesman Bryan Edwards, confirmed half of the rumors. X-Flight will no longer be operating at Geauga Lake, and will be dismantled and relocated to another park. But which park?

Which park will be getting a used Vekoma flying coaster?
Many rumors have stated that it's headed south for Kings Island, probably next to Flight of Fear. But would they really send a used coaster to a park that is one of Cedar Fair's biggest and highest attended parks? Have they even broken ground yet?
Other possibilities include Michigan's Adventure, which is growing and has not seen a new coaster since around 1999 - a Vekoma flyer might be the type of coaster its patrons have been wanting.
There's even the crazy rumor that it's headed for Great America, which built the world's first flying coaster - but later sent it across the country to Carowinds in 2004. It was removed from GA to make way for Boomerang Bay, which better suited the park's family audience, not to mention the lack of room to grow the park out in Silicon Valley. Now, the 49ers want to build a football stadium next door!

Also, the monorail will be removed over the winter from Geauga Lake. I hate to see any monorail go, but that's what they're doing. Hopefully Jungle Jim's will finally get theirs up - a handover from another park now owned by Cedar Fair.

Stay tuned!