Update 2:40 pm: Cedar Point, Kalahari open in two weeks

Update 2:40 p.m.: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced today that amusement parks and water parks will be allowed to reopen June 19. The announcement comes about 24 hours after the Kalahari Resorts and Cedar Fair filed lawsuits asking a court to end the state health department's shutdown order. Kalahari opened its resort in Wisconsin May 27, and both companies have submitted extensive plans for keeping guests safe from infection, They were expecting an announcement from DeWine earlier this week and filed the court actions after DeWine didn't make the announcement on Thursday. Check back here for updates or get the Register's Weekender edition on newsstands Saturday and Sunday for more of this story. Click here to subscribe Update, 10 a.m.: Erie County commissioner Pat Shenigo said he's hopeful a decision will come soon about the date Cedar Point and Kalahari will be allowed to open. "This is obviously critical to our area businesses that we get these attractions up and running, safely, soon," he said. Check back here for updates or get the Register's Weekender edition on newsstands Saturday and Sunday for more of this story. Click here to subscribe Update, 9:15 a.m.: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine could announce the reopening of both Cedar Point and Kalahari at 2 p.m. today. If he does, it would come less than 24 hours after both companies filed lawsuits demanding answers from DeWine and state health department director Dr. Amy Acton on what was needed to facilitate resuming operations. For now, DeWine is keeping mum. "Due to the ongoing litigation, Gov. DeWine respectfully declines comment at this time," governor's spokesman Dan Tierney told the Register this morning. "I would encourage you or an assigned reporter to monitor today's 2 p.m. briefing with the governor." The Register sent DeWine a list of questions this morning about an announcement, which was expected on Thursday. Check back here for updates or get the Register's Weekender edition on newsstands Saturday and Sunday for more of this story. Click here to subscribe Breaking news, posted today (Friday) 8:15 a.m. SANDUSKY — Kings Island and Kalahari Resorts both filed lawsuits in Ohio courts demanding they be allowed to reopen, according to local officials. Kings Island, an amusement park operated by Cedar Point's parent company Cedar Fair, filed the lawsuit in Warren County. Kalahari Resort, headquartered in Dells, Wisconsin, filed in Erie County, where it operates Kalahari Resort in Sandusky. The lawsuit in Erie County is 147 pages. "These companies are ready to safely open. Their businesses are vital to the economies of our local communities," Shenigo said. "Hopefully, these ongoing discussions with Gov. DeWine and his team will result in a solution, soon." Shenigo ticked off the following statistics from a 2018 study: • Tourism attracts about 11 million visitors to our region annually • It provides 14,000 jobs in our region, with $350 million in wages • It generates $250 million for our region alone in taxes Statewide, tourism is a $46 billion industry employing 429,000 Ohioans and attracting 222 million visitors annually, according to a 2018 study. Shenigo said he understood the frustration both companies have with the delays in getting a response from DeWine to their reopening proposals. "The state does not seem to recognize tourism as the major, important industry it is," he said. "We're working to change that." The Kalahari lawsuit names Dr. Amy Acton in her official capacity as the director of the Ohio Department of Health and the Warren County Health District as defendants, according to news accounts. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was expected to announce reopening dates for both Cedar Point and Kalahari on Thursday, but he cut his news briefing short and did not follow through. DeWine was not immediately available for comment on the lawsuits. The Register sent him a list of questions early today. Todd Nelson, who owns Kalahari, and Cedar Fair officials could not be reached for comment. Check back here for updates or get the Register's Weekender edition on newsstands Saturday and Sunday for more of this story. Click here to subscribe