Geauga Lake amusement park, SeaWorld Ohio and Wildwater Kingdom used to occupy roughly 750 acres near Aurora, Ohio

NEED TO KNOW

• The former site of a SeaWorld and Six Flags park in Aurora, Ohio, has been converted into a brand-new community destination
• The first phase of Aurora Park at Geauga Lake opened on Oct. 25 and features a new open-air plaza, lake views and watercraft rentals
• Future plans include a public beach, amphitheater, sports courts and an accessible play area in 2027

A decade after its gates permanently closed, the abandoned 48-acre site once home to SeaWorld Ohio and a Six Flags amusement park has reopened to the public as a community destination.

On Sunday, Oct. 25, the City of Aurora, Ohio, opened the first phase of Aurora Park at Geauga Lake, a brand-new gathering place located on the historic site. 

“What a great day this will be for Aurora and Northwest Ohio,” Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin told local outlet WKYC ahead of the event. “Following years of decline and abandonment, this beautiful property will again be open for public enjoyment, thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen!”

The property’s history dates back to 1888 when it first opened to the public, with a steam-powered carousel added the following year, according to the city. The park initially operated as a picnic and swimming park before expanding to include roller coasters, thrill rides and family entertainment. In 1970, SeaWorld opened its SeaWorld Ohio amusement park along Geauga Lake on the opposite side of the amusement park. 

In 2000, Geauga Lake’s owners, Premier Parks, changed the name of the property to Six Flags Ohio. A year later, Six Flags purchased SeaWorld Ohio and combined the parks into Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, a 750-acre megapark. However, it remained open for only a few years. 

In 2004, Cedar Fair, the former owner of Sandusky’s Cedar Point amusement park, bought the land. It restored the Geauga Lake name to the amusement park, but much of the former SeaWorld park was no longer available. The next year, the company transformed 17 acres of the SeaWorld property into the Wildwater Kingdom water park. 

Geauga Lake went on to close in 2007 and Wildwater Kingdom shut its doors in September 2016. 

The city of Aurora subsequently purchased about 48 acres of the land with $5.3 million in cash in late 2024, according to local reports.  Revitalization began in early 2026 and Sunday marked the public debut of the first nine acres. 

As guests enter the park, they’ll find SeaWorld and Wildwater Kingdom’s former ticket and turnstile buildings converted into an open-air plaza and gathering space. There’s also large grassy lawns leading to the Lakefront Terrace, which offers views of Geauga Lake. Visitors can also enjoy kayaks and standup paddleboards at a self-serve rental kiosk. The site houses plenty of seating, picnic areas, restrooms and public parking as well. 

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The mayor says there’s plenty to “be nostalgic about.” 

“We restored two of the SeaWorld gatehouse pavilions. We have a rocket ship from Geauga Lake Park. We have the Raging Wolf Bob’s car from one of the roller coasters. We have a big Geauga Lake sign,” Womer Benjamin told WEWS. 

Future plans for the site include converting the existing wave pool into a regular pool as well as adding a rock climbing area, an amphitheater, sports courts, a public beach and more. Womer Benjamin anticipates an accessible play area incorporating a ride from Wildwater Kingdom to be completed in 2027. 

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