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43-491: Wild Waters was a favorite attraction for tourists visiting the Ocala and Silver Springs area, as well as local residents. It was a small park by modern standards but offered a more relaxed atmosphere than its larger competitors. Wild Waters had a special niche; it attracted people wanting to enjoy a more traditional water park experience. It was among the first water parks in the country to use fiberglass flumes, something that has become

86-862: A commemoration of the Haymarket affair and would strengthen socialist and anarchist movements that backed the May 1 commemoration around the globe. In 1887, he publicly supported the September Labor Day holiday as a less inflammatory alternative, formally adopting the date as a United States federal holiday through a law that he signed in 1894. Since the mid-1950s, the United States has celebrated Loyalty Day and Law Day on May 1. Unlike Labor Day, neither are legal public holidays (in that government agencies and most businesses do not shut down to celebrate them) and therefore have remained relatively obscure. Loyalty Day

129-584: A day be set aside to celebrate labor. "Labor Day" was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor , which organized the first parade in New York City . In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday . By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the U.S. officially celebrated Labor Day. Canada's Labour Day

172-507: A few; $ 3 per ride. Alligator Ambush: A newer flume, constructed in early 2008. The ride consisted of an enclosed water flume that exited into a slide funnel (commonly referred to as a "toilet bowl"). After exiting the funnel, riders entered another short tube and then ended in an open chute. In the early 1990s, the park added several new water flumes including the Tornado, the Thunderbolt, and

215-599: A holiday for federal workers. As late as the 1930s, unions were encouraging workers to strike to make sure they got the day off. All U.S. states, the District of Columbia , and the United States territories have subsequently made Labor Day a statutory holiday. The date of May 1 (an ancient European folk holiday known as May Day ) emerged in 1886 as an alternative holiday for the celebration of labor, later becoming known as International Workers' Day . The date had its origins at

258-432: A new children's area with a multistory play structure. The Hurricane Mountain waterslide complex already at Six Flags Ohio was retained and renamed Thunder Falls. The amusement and water park complex would be rebranded as Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom, connected by a floating bridge running through the middle of the lake. The construction project was conducted in two phases, with the first costing $ 16 million and

301-651: A public demonstration of organized labor's solidarity and strength, with the march followed by a picnic, to which participating local unions could sell tickets as a fundraiser. According to McGuire he suggested the first Monday in September as an ideal date for such a public celebration, owing to optimum weather and the date's place on the calendar, sitting midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving public holidays. Labor Day picnics and other public gatherings frequently featured speeches by prominent labor leaders. In 1909,

344-473: A visit to Toronto where he saw parades celebrating labor that May, had put forward the initial proposal in the spring of 1882. According to McGuire, on May 8, 1882, he made a proposition to the fledgling Central Labor Union in New York City that a day be set aside for a "general holiday for the laboring classes". According to McGuire he further recommended that the event should begin with a street parade as

387-607: Is also celebrated on the first Monday of September. More than 150 other countries celebrate International Workers' Day on May 1, the European holiday of May Day . May Day was chosen by the Second International of socialist and communist parties to commemorate the general labor strike in the United States and events leading to the Haymarket affair , which occurred in Chicago, Illinois , from May 1 – May 4, 1886. Beginning in

430-470: Is an accepted version of this page Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements in the United States . Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, trade unionists proposed that

473-544: Is credited for first proposing that a national Labor Day holiday subsequently be held on the first Monday of each September in the aftermath of this successful public demonstration. An alternative theory maintains that the idea of Labor Day was the brainchild of Peter J. McGuire , a vice president of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions , which was a predecessor of the American Federation of Labor . After

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516-481: Is formally celebrated in a few cities, while some bar associations hold Law Day events to celebrate the rule of law . Labor Day is called the "unofficial end of summer" because it marks the end of the U.S. culture's nominal summer season. Of the 7% of Americans who take two-week vacations, many take their vacations during the two weeks ending Labor Day weekend. Many fall activities, such as school and sports (particularly football ), begin about this time. In

559-578: The National Hot Rod Association hold their finals of the NHRA U.S. Nationals drag race that weekend. Labor Day is the middle point between weeks one and two of the U.S. Open tennis championships , held in Flushing Meadows , New York. In fashion, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day when it is acceptable to wear white or seersucker . The source of the tradition lies in part with

602-545: The 1885 convention of the American Federation of Labor, which passed a resolution calling for adoption of the eight-hour day effective May 1, 1886. While negotiation was envisioned for achievement of the shortened work day, use of the strike to enforce this demand was recognized, with May 1 advocated as a date for coordinated strike action. The proximity of the date to the bloody Haymarket affair of May 4, 1886, further accentuated May First's radical reputation. There

645-463: The American Federation of Labor convention designated the Sunday preceding Labor Day as "Labor Sunday", to be dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement. This secondary date failed to gain significant traction in popular culture, although some churches continue to acknowledge it. The popularity of the event spread across the country. In 1887, Oregon became the first state of

688-478: The Twin Twister as part of an ambitious expansion plan. Unlike the other flumes in the park whose frames were constructed of wood and concrete, the new ride's frames were made of steel. In 2006 the Twin Twister, ThunderBolt, and Tornado were all taken out of service and dismantled. This was due to cost-cutting measures, as well as safety concerns. The steel frames of the rides were showing obvious signs of corrosion in

731-534: The United States to make Labor Day an official public holiday . By 1894, thirty U.S. states were already officially celebrating Labor Day. In that year, shortly after the Pullman Strike , the Congress passed a bill recognizing the first Monday of September as Labor Day and making it an official federal holiday . President Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law on June 28. The federal law, however, only made it

774-651: The United States, many school districts resume classes around the Labor Day holiday weekend (see First day of school ). Some begin the week before, making Labor Day weekend the first three-day weekend of the school calendar, while others return the Tuesday following Labor Day. Many districts across the Midwest are opting to begin school after Labor Day. In the U.S. state of Virginia , the amusement park industry has successfully lobbied for legislation requiring most school districts in

817-423: The former Wildwater Kingdom property. In addition to slides and pools, the park featured several other family attractions. In 2010 it added a beach family-fun area, a children's attraction featuring a giant chessboard with movable playing pieces. There was also a beach area overlooking Geauga Lake. Little Tikes Town , a children's area with playhouses and toys, was located behind Thunder Falls. Wildwater Kingdom

860-484: The holiday. According to one early history of Labor Day, the event originated in connection with a General Assembly of the Knights of Labor convened in New York City in September 1882. In connection with this clandestine Knights assembly, a public parade of various labor organizations was held on September 5 under the auspices of the Central Labor Union (CLU) of New York. Secretary of the CLU Matthew Maguire

903-826: The holiday. One reason given for this timing was to allow time for schoolchildren to show 4-H projects at the Fair. In U.S. sports, Labor Day weekend marks the beginning of many fall sports. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) teams usually play their first games that weekend, and the National Football League (NFL) traditionally play their kickoff game the Thursday following Labor Day. The Southern 500 NASCAR auto race has been held on Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina from 1950 to 2003 and since 2015. At Indianapolis Raceway Park ,

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946-410: The humid Central Florida environment. The former name of the children's play area was "Bonanza". It had towers equipped with water cannons that could be sprayed down onto people below. The towers were connected to each other via rope bridges. On the ground next to the towers were bunkers also equipped with water cannons that could be fired at the towers. A fully enclosed flume left from the top of one of

989-436: The industry standard. On August 9, 2016, it was announced that Wild Waters would close permanently on September 5, 2016, (the same day Wildwater Kingdom closed). The park had ended nearly four decades of operation, and was to be cleared for a new entry into Silver Springs State Park. Left abandoned for over two years, Wild Waters was the subject of several urban exploration YouTube videos due to its ruined state. Demolition of

1032-408: The late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, diverse groups of trade unionists chose a variety of days on which to celebrate labor. In the United States, a September holiday called Labor Day was first proposed in the early 1880s. Alternative accounts of the event's origin exist. Descendants of two men with similar last names claim their great-grandfather was the true father of

1075-465: The migration of wealthy 19th century New Yorkers back from their summer-home Newport Mansions and accompanying change back from summer clothes. The traditional last day to wear straw hats moved from around Labor Day (September 1) to September 15. In 1922, the Straw Hat Riot broke out due to gangs snatching the hats of men violating this rule in New York City. The unofficial beginning of summer, and

1118-487: The park and the Geauga Lake name being reinstituted. Demolition of SeaWorld began in late 2004. Cedar Fair made plans to convert the site to a new water park. On November 11, 2004, Cedar Fair unveiled the new park as Wildwater Kingdom, announcing that it would open in 2005 upon the completion of the first phase of construction, which would include attractions such as ProSlide Tornado , an activity pool, an action river, and

1161-589: The same splash pool. Osceola's Revenge had an extra drop, and was therefore rated with a higher thrill level than Bunyan's Bend. Silver Bullet: Wild Waters only speed flumes, they were part of the Silver River Flumes area. Dual speed flumes ran side by side and ended in a large splash pool. Unlike newer speed flumes, the Silver Bullet did not go straight down from the top. The flumes had two dips, with plateaus between them. Mini Monster: A single flume that

1204-401: The second costing $ 8 million. The second phase began the following offseason with plans to be completed in time for 2006, involving the addition of a 38,000-square-foot (3,500 m ) wave pool , an adult pool with whirlpool spas, a swim-up bar, and two more water-slide towers. There were also plans to add an open-air auditorium and reopen a play area called Happy Harbor. However, only

1247-452: The state to have their first day of school after Labor Day, in order to give families another weekend to visit amusement parks in the state. The relevant statute has been nicknamed the " Kings Dominion law" after one such park. This law was repealed in 2019. In the U.S. state of Minnesota , the State Fair ends on Labor Day. Under state law, public schools normally do not begin until after

1290-802: The summer fashion season in the United States, is Memorial Day . In the 2020s, some people have approved of wearing white year-round. There are numerous events and activities organized in major cities. For example, New York offers the Labor Day Carnival , and fireworks over Coney Island. In Washington, one popular event is the Labor Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol featuring the National Symphony Orchestra with free attendance. To take advantage of large numbers of potential customers with time to shop, Labor Day has become an important weekend for discounts and allowances by many retailers in

1333-500: 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 water park's final day of operation was September 5, 2016. The last remaining atttractions were demolished in November 2017. In August 2020, ground was broken for a mixed-use development, featuring 308 residential units, 20 acres of commercial space and 98 acres of park land to replace

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1376-399: The top. This was due to the ride not originally requiring the use of tubes. The finale of the ride was a long dark tunnel before a turbulent splash pool. Osceola's Revenge and Bunyan's Bend: Dual flumes that were part of the Silver River Flumes area. Both flumes began at the same point, but did not run parallel and had different patterns. Both featured many drops and turns, and both ended at

1419-456: The towers, and emptied into the pool below. The Bonanza was closed and demolished in the mid-1990s to make way for the new children's area. Wildwater Kingdom (Ohio) Wildwater Kingdom was a water park located in Aurora and Bainbridge Township , Ohio , United States. Owned by Cedar Fair , the park opened in 2005 as part of the larger Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom resort. The site

1462-467: The water park and all of its attractions began in December 2018. As of April 2019, very little of the park remains. The Hurricane: A large figure eight shaped double flume. Standing approximately 80 feet tall, it was the largest ride in the park. A large spiral staircase took visitors to the summit. There were two flumes, which ran parallel to each other. Riders used tubes to ride, which they had to carry to

1505-587: The wave pool was built. If the second phase had been completed, Wildwater Kingdom would have encompassed 20 acres (8.1 ha) to become one of the largest water parks in the United States. Instead, it was only expanded to 17 acres (6.9 ha). Before Wildwater Kingdom, Geauga Lake had its own water park which operated for more than 20 years. During the Six Flags era, it was known as Hurricane Harbor . Cedar Fair renamed it Hurricane Hannah's following its acquisition of World of Adventures in 2004. Hurricane Hannah's

1548-408: Was September 5, 2016. Wildwater Kingdom was located on the former site of SeaWorld Ohio . In January 2001, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment sold SeaWorld Ohio to Six Flags , who combined the site with Six Flags Ohio to form Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. Six Flags sold Worlds of Adventure to Cedar Fair in 2004, resulting in the removal of all Looney Tunes and DC Comics branding from

1591-406: Was closed permanently after the 2005 season, and it sat vacant and fenced off during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. On September 21, 2007, Cedar Fair announced that the amusement park portion of Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom would not reopen in 2008. Geauga Lake was dropped from the waterpark's title in 2011, and it was marketed as simply Wildwater Kingdom. The original amusement park's property

1634-399: Was disagreement among labor unions at this time about when a holiday celebrating workers should be, with some advocating for continued emphasis of the September march-and-picnic date while others sought the designation of the more politically charged date of May 1. Conservative Democratic President Grover Cleveland was one of those concerned that a labor holiday on May 1 would tend to become

1677-485: Was first known as Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom , and the name was later shortened to Wildwater Kingdom. Its normal operating season extended from late May to Labor Day each year. The park featured 15 water slides including Thunder Falls, which opened as the tallest water slide complex in Ohio. On August 19, 2016, Cedar Fair released a statement announcing the permanent closure of Wildwater Kingdom. Its final day of operation

1720-569: Was part of the Silver River Flumes area. The ride was very short with only a few turns and no dips. It then ended into a splash pool. Wavepool: A 450,000 gallon pool that alternated between calm water and generating waves after a certain period of time. The waves could reach up to four feet tall at the deepest end of the pool. The deck surrounding the wave pool was filled with lounge chairs. " Cool Kids Cove ": A Kids water ride area that included Henry Flagler's Boat of Bounce, Caterpillar Tunnel of Fun, and Silver Springs Kiddie Canoe and Kayaks, to name

1763-405: Was previously the location of SeaWorld Ohio (1970–2000) and later served as the marine life section of the larger Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (2001–2003). Worlds of Adventure was purchased by Cedar Fair in 2004 and the marine life area was converted into a water park for the 2005 season. Cedar Fair closed the Geauga Lake amusement park following the 2007 season but kept the water park open. It

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1806-495: Was put up for sale in 2013. Several years later, Wildwater Kingdom would close permanently as well. Cedar Fair made the announcement on August 19, 2016. In their press release they stated, "Cedar Fair has been working cooperatively with both Bainbridge Township and the City of Aurora to redevelop the entire property into what will best benefit the surrounding communities. After examining its long-range plans, Cedar Fair has determined that

1849-450: Was regarded as Northeast Ohio 's best water park. When the park operated as Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom , the water park was the park's "highest rated attribute". A scene between Kevin Costner and Frank Langella in the 2014 film Draft Day , was filmed at Wildwater Kingdom. See aslo: Template:Six Flags for anything after the merger (2024). Labor Day This

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