Aurora Park at Geauga Lake opens Sunday, Oct. 25, with a rebuilt pier and the old SeaWorld gate pavilions restored. There are no rides or whales, but a beach could come next.
For the first time in years, you can walk back onto the land where Shamu used to splash Ohio.
The city of Aurora will open Aurora Park at Geauga Lake on Sunday, Oct. 25, on part of the old SeaWorld Ohio property. The city announced the date Oct. 12, Inside the Magic reported, citing FOX 8.
It won’t look like the park your parents remember. There are no coasters, no dolphin shows and no killer whales. What’s there is lawn, a lakefront pier and a few buildings that survived from the theme park days.
Here’s a look at what’s coming, from News 5 Cleveland:
When does Aurora Park at Geauga Lake open?
The grand opening runs 1 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 25 at 1100 Squires Road in Aurora, with a ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m., Disney Fanatic reported.
The city plans family-friendly activities that day, and food and drinks will be for sale.
“What a great day this will be for Aurora and Northeast Ohio,” Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said in the city’s announcement.
“Following years of decline and abandonment, this beautiful property will again be open for public enjoyment,” she said. She thanked “everyone who worked so hard to make this happen.”
What’s at the new park?
This first section includes a new welcome plaza, landscaped lawns and a renovated Sunset Pier that looks out over Geauga Lake, according to Inside the Magic.
The best part for nostalgia fans: the former SeaWorld ticket and gatehouse pavilions have been restored. If you went through those gates as a kid, you’ll recognize them.
Aurora officials have also talked about adding memorabilia from SeaWorld Ohio and Geauga Lake to the park, Inside the Magic said.
Will Aurora Park get a beach?
That’s the plan, though not yet. An accessible adventure playground is next, along with a rental kiosk for kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, Inside the Magic reported.
A public beach on Geauga Lake is one of the city’s top priorities. Womer Benjamin has said she hopes it can be finished within two years.
Later phases could turn the old wave pool into a regular swimming pool, minus the waves. Sports courts, an amphitheater, a rock-climbing area and walking trails are also on the wish list.
The full vision could take five to eight years to build, the mayor told Cleveland 19 in February.
How much did Aurora pay for the old SeaWorld land?
About $5.3 million. The city bought Geauga Lake and 48 surrounding acres in December 2024, Inside the Magic said.
Crews broke ground in October 2025, News 5 Cleveland reported. A $12 million bond is paying for the first phase and the big infrastructure work, mostly through existing income tax revenue, according to Cleveland 19.
Womer Benjamin has pledged not to raise taxes for the park. “We’re going to pay it as we go,” she told the station.
The opening also slipped a bit. Earlier plans aimed for summer before the date moved to October, Disney Fanatic noted.
What happened to SeaWorld Ohio?
SeaWorld Ohio opened on the shore of Geauga Lake in 1970. It was the company’s second park, with killer whale shows, dolphins and other marine animals, Inside the Magic said.
Ohio winters made for a short season, though. In 2001, SeaWorld sold the park to Six Flags, which merged it with the Geauga Lake amusement park next door. The combined Six Flags Worlds of Adventure covered about 700 acres and was billed as the world’s largest theme park by area.
Cedar Fair bought it in 2004 and closed the former SeaWorld side. Geauga Lake’s rides shut down for good in 2007, and the Wildwater Kingdom water park closed in September 2016.
How old is Geauga Lake?
Older than you might think. The original Geauga Lake park dates to the 1800s, and its famous Big Dipper roller coaster opened in 1925, Disney Fanatic said.
Some pieces are gone for good, though. The old SeaWorld aquarium building was deemed unsuitable for preservation, and its demolition was approved this year.
Still, on Oct. 25, people can stand on that shoreline again. For a lot of Northeast Ohio families, that’s a pretty big deal.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
City of Aurora (Oct. 12, 2026), the announcement and the mayor’s statement
Inside the Magic, Chloe James (Oct. 17, 2026), the first phase and future plans
Disney Fanatic, Chloe James (Oct. 17, 2026), opening-day details and Geauga Lake history
Cleveland 19 (Feb. 17, 2026), the bond and timeline
News 5 Cleveland on YouTube (Sept. 10, 2026), the video
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