SeaWorld Ohio
| Slogan | The ocean is closer than you think! |
|---|---|
| Location | Aurora, Ohio, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°20′54″N 81°22′09″W / 41.34839°N 81.36919°WCoordinates: 41°20′54″N 81°22′09″W / 41.34839°N 81.36919°W |
| Owner | SeaWorld Entertainment |
| Opened | 1970 |
| Closed | 2000 |
| Previous names | Sea World of Ohio |
| Operating season | March–October |
| Area | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| Rides | |
| Total | 0 |
| Roller coasters | 0 |
| Water rides | 0 |
Sea World Ohio was a park in the SeaWorld chain of marine animal theme parks. The park opened in 1970 directly across the lake and less than one mile from Geauga Lake Park in Aurora, Ohio, USA. The small lake separated the two parks. Wildwater Kingdom, a small waterpark built by Cedar Fair in 2005, occupied the property until it closed in 2016.
Sea World Ohio opened to the public in the spring of 1970. The Ohio location was the second SeaWorld park to open in the chain, following SeaWorld San Diego which opened just six years earlier. Sea World originally looked into Ohio because the company believed their San Diego park was an attraction for total families, and wanted an area where parents do things with their kids. Their studies continued to show the Midwest as a potential location. Also, the area between Detroit and Pittsburgh is within a days drive of half of the country's population. Sea World considered placing their second park near Youngstown, Ohio, but was persuaded to move north toward Cleveland by Funtime Inc., owners of Geauga Lake Park. Funtime saw the parks working together to become regional destinations. Sea World Ohio was located approximately 20 miles southeast of Cleveland, Ohio in the Western Reserve city of Aurora. The marine park shared the lakefront of Geauga Lake with Geauga Lake Amusement Park, which only boasted two rollercoasters at the time. Shortly after opening, Sea World Ohio was recognized as one of mid-America's most interesting and unique entertainment centers. The park gained over one million visitors between Memorial day and Labor day weekend each summer. The Ohio park also featured the same shows, exhibits, and attractions as the Florida and California Locations.
After the success of Walt Disney World in 1971, SeaWorld viewed Orlando, Florida as perfect location for another park. The company added the third park to the chain, SeaWorld Orlando, in 1973. SeaWorld San Antonio was later built in 1988.
SeaWorld Entertainment never added a rollercoaster or flat ride to the Ohio park. The first rollercoaster in the chain was Great White, introduced to SeaWorld San Antonio in 1997. The Orlando and San Antonio parks added several rollercoasters, but Sea World Ohio and San Diego did not. Sea Word Ohio had an agreement with Geauga Lake not to compete. The two parks actually complemented each other and worked together on many promotions. Also, though both parks were only a mile apart, they were in separate townships. The city of Aurora placed height restrictions on the property that made Sea World Ohio incapable of adding a tall rollercoaster.
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Wikipedia