Eight Years ago today; Park River sold Americana

[Gordon Bombay]

For some people it's almost hard to believe that it's been eight years since Park River Corporation (current owners of Cincinnati's Coney Island) announced they would be selling Americana/LeSourdsville Lake. While browsing coasterbuzz tonight I came across this...

From C`Buzz " 1/6/2000 - Park River Corporation and park General Manager John Ellison announce that Americana Amusement Park is for sale, will not open in 2000 unless it is purchased, and may be liquidated."

Many people felt that the park which saw a very tough time in the late 80's and early 90's was in the best of possible hands with Park River Corporation at the helm and the announcement that they were selling it came to many as a shock. The park would be purchased by local businessman Jerry Couch and would not re-open until 2002 once again under its original name of "Lesourdsville Lake''. The 2002 season ended early, halloween and christmas events at the park were cancelled and it was announced by owner Jerry Couch that the park was not likely to re-open in 2003. In 2006 he announced that the park would never operate as an amusement park again.

Since then many have wondered what the fate of Lesourdsville would have been had Park River Corporation held onto the park. I for one wish they had taken the screeching eagle with them when they left and moved it to Coney.

For more information on the history of Americana/Lesourdsville Lake and to see pictures of how the park looked when photographers visited this previous summer please check out the article at my website; Queen City Discovery.

Also, heres a video showing how the park looked when it was open during the Park River/Couch years compared to how it looked when we visited in July, 2007.

[CoastersRZ]

Yep. It is hard to believe that happened eight years ago today. I never visited LeSourdsville Lake, and never got the privilege to ride the Screechin` Eagle. From what I recall, Park River Corp. invested a lot of money in infrastructure improvements to the park, but they never saw enough of a bump in attendance to justify continuing to own the park.

But the park has not died completely in vein. The Tempest ride, manufactured by Grover Watkins, was moved from LeSourdsville Lake to Coney Island on the shores of Lake Como. And in 2007, the Rock-O-Plane was moved from LeSourdsville Lake to Coney to continue to thrill park visitors once again. I have had the privilege of operating this ride in 2007. And the Serpent steel roller coaster is being relocated to Kokomo`s Family Fun Center in Saginaw, Michigan for the 2008 season.

[dare-to-fly]

I got the privelege to visit the park many times in the 90's and was there several times when the park opened in 2002, including the first day they were open. I very much miss the park, and I was blessed with the opportunity to swing by there and take some pictures from the parking lot on Jan 3rd. Wow, the memories! It will be sorely missed by more than just I.

Incedently, there are other rides that have been sold in addition to this list. The Scrambler, and perhaps the Tilt-a-Whirl but I can't remember for sure, were sold to a local carvival group. Calypso is still thrilling riders at Fun Spot Amusement Park in northern Indiana. This is also the current location for the kiddie Ferris Wheel, and the tubs from the flying scooters are being used with the frame from Fantasy Farm.

I really wish that something would happen that would allow those rides that remain to live on. Especially one of the best wooden roller coasters on the planet, The Screechin' Eagle; bar none the best log flume I've ever been on, Raging Thunder; and The Whip, as they are becoming very hard to find.

[CoastersRZ]

I`m actually surprised the Whip wasn`t relocated to another park. But seeing as how there are so few of those rides left, I`d imagine that replacement parts are hard to come by, and likely have to be custom made. But, the Whip is not a very complex ride, and therefor likely does not require many intricate parts.

As an aside, the Tilt-A-Whirl at Coney came from Fantasy Farm after Fantasy Farm closed in the early 1990s.

[Cory Butcher]

I attended LL many times during the 90's it was such a great park. My last memory there involves myself getting an Icee and then walking back out onto the midway to see the Electric Rainbow all lit up against the night sky, midcycle. The park was a very nice place, I remember the old train that was set up in the AK Steel building many years ago, and always wanting to build one in my basement. The place was surely more than an amusement park, but now it must be only a memory.

I miss her dearly!