News Archives

April, 2004

Amusement park says 'no' to keeping captive animals

Shortly after announcing its acquisition of Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, Cedar Fair released a statement saying that it would shut down the existing marine mammal exhibits and animal displays at the amusement park, preferring to focus all of its attention on rollercoasters and human entertainment. "It will be a traditional family amusement park and not a theme park," said Cedar Fair chairman Dick Kinzel.

Six Flags will maintain ownership of the park animals and plans to transfer them to its other parks and attractions. Six Flags' Ohio currently houses one killer whale, several dolphins, zebras, tigers, penguins and birds. Shouka, the lone female orca, was born in France before being transported to the U.S. She is now on the move again as plans are underway to ship her to Six Flags Marine World in California along with four dolphins named Jasmine, Sadie, Liberty and Brisbie.

Cedar Fair plans to rename the facility Geauga Lake, which was the park's original name before it was purchased in 1995 and combined with SeaWorld Ohio.