AURORA, Ohio -- Wet footprints splattered along what's left of Geauga Lake's property have evaporated into nothing more than a memory.
When the sun sank Monday, it marked the final time for summer swimming, sliding and splashing at Wildwater Kingdom as the park closed forever.
The day after sister park Cedar Point announced a water park expansion for 2017, it was revealed that Wildwater Kingdom would have its final day of operation on Monday, Sept. 5.
“After examining its long-range plans, Cedar Fair has determined that the time is right to begin this transition and will continue to work together with community leadership in the positive future development of the property,” the company stated in a news release.
In 2005, Wildwater Kingdom surfed into the space once held by SeaWorld on the opposite side of Geauga Lake’s roller coasters.
Cedar Fair acquired the property from Six Flags in 2004, creating Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom.
Fast forward to Sept. 2007… Geauga Lake’s screams were silenced as it closed its gates for the final time, leaving rides like the iconic Big Dipper in decay.
Wildwater Kingdom was the only portion of the park kept open once Geauga Lake was shuttered.
With Wildwater Kingdom's closure, officials say there are plans for future development of the property -- including a possible movie studio -- which you can read more about HERE.
Wildwater Kingdom featured Thunder Falls -- the tallest water slide complex in Ohio, stretching 100 feet into the sky.
The video player at the top of this story features footage from Sept. 5, 2016, the day the park closed. The video below shows footage pulled from the archives on Wildwater Kingdom..
