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Whither Conneaut Lake Park Now?


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I hope to get back to Conneaut at some point this year if it stays open. There's something about the park that just draws me to it.

Hendrick, when did Witch's Stew get removed?

The three best rides at the park: Blue Streak (absolutely loved it), The Flying Scooters and Paratrooper.

I'm not sure or they were removed at the end of the season or during the off season, but this article talks about their removal (it's linked somewhere earlier in this thread.)

You forgot the Turtles as one of the best rides. It's such a classic ride, and one of the main reasons I want to go back.

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As far as Witch's Stew, it was operating in August 2014. I spoke to the person who runs the Save Conneaut Lake Facebook page...who visits the park often (lives close by I believe) stated that to their knowledge Witch's Stew is still on property.

Terpy I did forget Devil's Den...it was good, I liked it. The Turtles were also good...but my top 3 stays the same :D

Speaking of 3....when Gator family and I visited in August, we rode the bumper cars....had 3 cars on the floor....from what I could tell, the only 3 operational. They were sad...one wouldn't move until it was bumped from behind with another car. Sad state.

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As far as Witch's Stew, it was operating in August 2014. I spoke to the person who runs the Save Conneaut Lake Facebook page...who visits the park often (lives close by I believe) stated that to their knowledge Witch's Stew is still on property.

Terpy I did forget Devil's Den...it was good, I liked it. The Turtles were also good...but my top 3 stays the same :D

Speaking of 3....when Gator family and I visited in August, we rode the bumper cars....had 3 cars on the floor....from what I could tell, the only 3 operational. They were sad...one wouldn't move until it was bumped from behind with another car. Sad state.

The article was posted in September, and it stated that it was still on the property at that time. I don't know if anything has changed, but ScreamScape did have a link where you could purchase the rides that were leaving. We all know the park isn't in a position to purchase the rides.

We went in August of 2013, and there were only a handful of bumper cars working then too.

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And the saga continues.

Tuesday.

A creditor has asked for what amounts to a preference. The taxing authorities want payments now. They seek a sheriff's sale. Now. Never mind the purpose of a bankruptcy is to gather the assets, determine the debts, make a distribution /in the best interest of the creditors/ and wind up the bankruptcy.

They want the tax issues decided now. Which may, or may not, give them an advantage.

This Tuesday motion, no matter how decided, appears to make long term survival of the park less likely.

http://www.goerie.com/conneaut-lake-park-could-still-face-sheriff-sale

Terp, who is not engaged in the private practice of law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, or any United State, There is no legal advice intended for any particular client contained herein. Consult a competent attorney in your jurisdiction if you have, or think you may have, a legal problem. Bankruptcy law is a particularly specialized area of law. This is a disclaimer.

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More bad news for Conneaut Lake Park's future as a going concern:

* Tax sale delayed six months BUT

* Trustees concede validity of tax claims.

http://www.erietvnews.com/story/28189404/breathing-room-for-conneaut-lake-park

The possibility of no creditor objecting to the debtor remaining in possession just became even less likely.

Terp, who is not engaged in the private practice of law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, any United State or anywhere else. There is no legal advice contained herein. The reader does not enter into an attorney client relationship by reading this post. Consult a competent attorney in your jurisdiction if you have, or think you may have, a legal problem. Bankruptcy law is a complicated area of law, and the reader is advised to consult a specialist in that area if applicable. This is a disclaimer. Prognostications are opinions and not facts.

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A rather different account of yesterday's hearing:

http://www.goerie.com/conneaut-lake-park-hearing-continued

Better news on the asset front:

http://www.goerie.com/financial-statements-show-assets-worth-double-conneaut-lake-park-debt

This makes it somewhat more likely that the park may continue as a going concern.

Terp, who is not engaged in the private practice of law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, any United State or anywhere else. There is no legal advice contained herein. The reader does not enter into an attorney client relationship by reading this post. Consult a competent attorney in your jurisdiction if you have, or think you may have, a legal problem. Bankruptcy law is a complicated area of law, and the reader is advised to consult a specialist in that area if applicable. This is a disclaimer. Prognostications are opinions and not facts.

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  • 2 weeks later...

CLP Update:

Progress continues pretty much as anticipated as we navigate through the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy process. Last Friday we had the opportunity to meet for about two hours with the US Trustee and creditors, including the taxing authorities, to review and answer any questions regarding CLPs submissions to the bankruptcy court to date. It was a good opportunity to introduce a general overview of our plan to satisfy creditors and operate Conneaut Lake Park. We reviewed our position that assets are considerably greater than liabilities (creditors are well secured) and that the sale of surplus property could generate cash sufficient to make a very large down payment on all debt.

During the month of March we will be finalizing our proposed formal Plan of Reorganization for submission to the Court in April. We will try to keep you posted.

But, in the meantime.

There is only about 70 days remaining before Conneaut Lake Park opens for the 2015 Season! As many know, a considerable number of improvements were completed at the Park last year including; painting 9 buildings; tree removal and trimming; roof and awning replacements; beach reclamation and a bunch of debris removal and demolition projects. We expect to make even more improvements this year to include a focus on Camper Land; signage throughout the Park; entrance landscaping; improvements to the Amphitheater and parking, and to Kiddie Land.

We are getting ready to hire between 50 and 60 associates to work at the Park during the coming season as rides operators and managers, concession station servers, and ticket and gift shop employees. We are dedicated to making CLP a valued and enjoyable place to work, and hopeful that we can attract many area young folks interested in serving the public and the Park. Lenny Adams has joined the staff of the EPACC and has begun the work required to ensure that all rides are in operating condition throughout the coming season. While a very tall order, he and others have begun repairing Dodgem Car motors, fabricating Blue Streak brakes and Tumble Bug wheels and assessing other needs related to this goal.

We will be announcing our hiring plan and process soon and hope you may have an opportunity to recommend CLP to a deserving student or friend who would bring value to the Park and benefit by the experience.

Please stay tuned and supportive.

CLP Facebook

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Huh?

Lenny Adams of Adams Amusements? He has been associated with the park for some time.

Have a read:

http://forum.eeticket.com/index.php?topic=1512.7800;wap2

NOTE: The posting of a link by The Interpreter does not necessarily mean he endorses, agrees with, nor disputes the contents thereof. Let the reader(s) decide for themselves.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Conneaut Lake Park trustees terminate Hotel Conneaut lease

CONNEAUT LAKE -- Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park have given Hotel Conneaut managers until the middle of April to get packing.

Park Restoration LLC has not lived up to the terms of its agreements to manage the hotel and lease other park property, said Mark Turner, executive director of the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County. The Economic Progress Alliance manages Conneaut Lake Park for park trustees.

"It basically comes down to lack of payment for rentals," Turner said. "But also, a number of the agreements are based on adequate reporting and timely reporting of gross revenues and plans for improvements, and there are reports that have never been filed."

Park Restoration disputes the allegations. The company has operated the hotel, which is part of Conneaut Lake Park, for six years, through an agreement with park trustees. The company also operated the park's Beach Club, which burned down in August 2013.

See Tuesday's Erie Times-News and GoErie.com for more coverage.

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I wonder if the Trustees CAN even do this. I would think the bankruptcy court has jurisdiction over this matter, not the bankrupt.

Terp, who is not engaged in the private practice of law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, or any United State. Bankruptcy law is complex. Consult a competent attorney in your jurisdiction if you have, or think you may have, a legal problem. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this post, nor is any legal advice for a particular situation herein intended. This is a disclaimer.

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Screamscape's most recent Conneaut Lake Park update, PM'd to this writer by several here, contains an egregious error. It refers to the Trustees "in charge of the park."

No.

The park is a bankrupt in reorganization. At this point, the Trustees are only in possession of the park. For now. Its ultimate disposition is yet to be determined. The Trustees of the park are NOT in charge. The Bankruptcy Court IS. The Trustees' every move is subject to the monitoring and approval of the Court.

And this, you see, is why I wonder if the Trustees even CAN evict the Hotel Conneaut lessee without Court direction and/or approval.

What a mess.

Terp, not engaged in the private practice of law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia or any United State. There is no legal advice meant for any person, entity or editor contained herein. The reader does not enter into an attorney client relationship by the reading of this post. Bankruptcy law is a

complex, sometimes arcane area of law. Consult a competent attorney in your jurisdiction should you have, or think you may have, a legal problem. This is a disclaimer.

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  • 2 weeks later...

That's essentially what it is. I love the little park though. So unique. Where else can you ride a good wooden coaster, exit the ride platform and see a Musik Express half torn down?!?

In all seriousness though, the rides that do run are good. I hope to make it back this year just because of it's experience.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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So, the Trustees want to incur more debt to open for the season:

Conneaut Lake Park Seeks $300k To Open For Season:

http://m.meadvilletribune.com/news/local_news/conneaut-lake-park-seeks-k-to-open-for-season/article_48edcbc6-e8a4-11e4-a7a8-d748c9303026.html?mode=jqm

Look for one or more creditors to strenuously object to this....

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This whole situation confuses me to no end. I keep picturing a flow chart to explain all that happened, and it still doesn't clear it up for me. 

I stopped for less than an hour last fall on my way home from Pennsylvania. If I hadn't have known about this park (thanks to this site) and drove past, I likely wouldn't have stopped. There was one other car in the parking area and there were no people at the front gate. There were fenced areas that looked as though a ride was once contained inside. As for signs or directions, someone had painted the word "Tickets" and an arrow on a fence. After walking around, I felt as though I was in another world. It was very surreal to be in a park that is nearly empty. I rode Blue Streak. There are very few instances that I actually worry that I made the wrong choice in riding a ride. This was one of those. The tunnel was terrifying to me - looking up through the darkness and getting slivers of light around the black plastic (trashbags? tarp?) that covered many of the holes. Hoping that the sagging plastic doesn't break while I'm under it and dump water on me. I sat at the front of the train and saw missing boards...and then felt the train wheels over that track area. I didn't have any desire to ride again. 

 

I can see glimmers of its past. I can see why it holds a special place in people's hearts for the place it once was. But as a newcomer, I see a whole lot of work, money, and effort needed to get it back to a place where it is considered a gem in reality, not just in memories. I wish for the best...but it sounds like quite an uphill battle. 

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