Greg Scheid has spent the past 45 years helping people to have fun, whether they were riding a roller coaster at one of the amusement parks he managed or working under his employ.
Now See Rock City has tapped Scheid to serve as its chief operating officer, a role that will draw on his decades of tourism and hospitality leadership.
Scheid comes to SRC after a career in theme park management with Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, and its parent company, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. Holding various leadership positions at each organization, Scheid became regional vice president for Cedar Fair in 2016, managing six theme parks throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Scheid then began his own consulting firm in 2018 and collaborated with private equity firms and financial analysts in the regional theme park industry.
Amusement parks have shaped Scheid’s life in ways other than his career. For example, he met his wife, Tracy, while working at Cedar Point. The couple have two children, Hannah and Matthew, who they raised in Sandusky and Mason, Ohio, as well as Allentown, Pennsylvania, before relocating to Chattanooga this year.
Here, Scheid responds via email to questions about his past work, as well as the challenges that lie ahead for him as the chief operating officer of Chattanooga’s geological and botanical wonder, SRC.
As a kid from Toledo, Ohio, who spent many happy hours at Cedar Point – and who thought the Blue Streak roller coaster was the greatest thrill on Earth – I’d like to know which attraction at the park was your favorite and why.
“Ouch! Picking a favorite ride is tough, as there are so many amazing, one-of-a-kind rides at Cedar Point. But I’ll go with the Magnum XL200, which was the first roller coaster in the world to top 200 feet in height and started the coaster wars for years to come in the industry.”
How did you come to a career in theme park management?
“I worked at Cedar Point at age 15 cleaning hotel rooms, and then moved to the Games Department through college. After college graduation, I was offered a year-round position in Games and worked my way to regional vice president of multiple Cedar Fair parks. I never saw myself staying in the theme park space, but 40 years later, I can say it was a great career.”
What was your greatest challenge as you managed six theme parks for Cedar Fair?
“I had six great general managers who worked for me at these parks, but there were always unique challenges at each park such as ride capacity, food and beverage capacity, and seasonal staffing.”
Why the shift to consulting in 2018?
“After 40 years, it was time for others to take the lead and initiate a new viewpoint on the parks. Also, in a selfish way, I wanted to spend time with my family after devoting so much to my career. Consulting allowed me to work from home and work my own schedule.”
What attracted you to See Rock City?
“I told my wife many times that I’d return to the workforce only in an ideal situation. After being contacted about the position at See Rock City and meeting with Doug Chapin, I felt this opportunity was a perfect fit.”
What are your first impressions of Chattanooga?
“I’ve been here for only one week, and am already impressed with the southern hospitality and mountain vistas.”
What’s something you’ve learned about SRC’s longtime owners, the Chapin family, that surprised you?
“Being a golf nut, it was a shock to learn the history of Tom Thumb golf, which we all now know as putt-putt. Who knew this family fun game started right here on Lookout Mountain?”
What does the COO of SRC do?
“Anything Doug Chapin asks!”
What opportunities lie ahead for SRC and what role will you play in bringing them to fruition?
“As SRC continues to grow, I’m in a position to assist in all aspects of operations, with the ultimate goal of creating memories worth repeating for both the guests and our employees.”
Tell us about the volunteer work you’ve done.
“I served on the advisory board of A Kid Again, a charity that offers events and activities for families of children facing life-threatening illnesses, as well as the Warren County, Ohio Convention and Visitors Bureau. I also proudly served in a governor-appointed position with the Ohio Tourism Board.”
Last question: Tell us about how you met your wife, Tracy, at Cedar Point.
“Tracy and I were introduced to each other by her best friend, who also worked for me. Our first meeting took place in the Surf Lounge overlooking the beach at Cedar Point. Thirty-two years later, we now look to start the next chapter of our life in Chattanooga!”