westcoaster Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 Channel 9 Wcpo Cincinnati reported at 6pm that Americana or Lesourdsville Lake will be No More. The rides will start being sold and the land devoted to Couches campers. The roller coaster the screechin eagle and heck even the serpent would be great for Kings Island . And Coney Island should buy the classic whip and the Ragin Log Flume rated the best in the world at one time. Wow what a sad day today in Cincinnati Amusements: To Better days and keeping the rides in Cincinnati: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoaster Posted May 18, 2006 Author Share Posted May 18, 2006 Fond childhood memories of a Tri-state amusement park will be all that's left now that the decision has been made to close it up for good. The owner of Lesourdsville Lake, formally Americana, says the Monroe amusement park will likely never open again. Most of the rides will be sold and the site will be used as a recreational vehicle dealership. Lesourdsville Lake first opened in 1922 and was renamed Americana in 1978. Americana closed in 1999, was sold to RV dealer Jerry Couch in 2000 and reopened in 2002 as Lesourdsville Lake. But it closed quickly because of financial trouble and has been closed ever since. It's not known what will become of the land Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZosoBeast Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 One good thing to come out of this so far is that Strickers Grove has purchased the "Electric Rainbow" super round up ride. This thing is HUGE and I cant wait to see where they are going to plop this thing at Strickers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPKI Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 I agree this is sad news. I never did get to visit this park, but from what I've heard it had one of the best woodies and log flumes around. I was just thinking about if they brought Serpant to KI.........the new BAVARIAN BEETLE, lol! Hopefully they'll at least find a way to get the Eagle relocated, but it doesn't sound hopeful right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKlockster Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 Eagle isn't going anywhere. It will either be torn down, or kept where it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 And you know that how?? Personally, I would LOVE to see Coney Island buy the Whip. Coney is always touting its "Classic Rides" and the Whip is about as classic of a ride you can get! Also, the logflume would be a nice addition to Coney, but probably out of their price range. Another flat ride from Americana would be nice. Keep in mind that when Park River Corporation sold Americana, they relocated the Tempest from Americana to Coney Island, where it is still running today. Also, when Fantasy Farm closed (the park that was next to LeSourdsville Lake, the rides were auctioned. Coney Island ended up buying their Tilt-A-Whirl and their Sky Fighter children`s ride (the latter of which has since been removed from Coney, before my time working at the park). ZosoBeast, how big is Americana`s Round Up? As big as the one at Coney? The one at Coney is also a Super Round Up and has room for 42 riders per cycle. It is ashame that this classic park has to close. Hopefully, the classic wooden coaster won`t be lost either! With the park`s close proximity to PKI, it is no wonder that the park couldn`t financially compete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Eagles a classic a very sad day, but we all knew it was coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvesterofyoursorrow Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 One good thing to come out of this so far is that Strickers Grove has purchased the "Electric Rainbow" super round up ride. This thing is HUGE and I cant wait to see where they are going to plop this thing at Strickers. That ride was HUGE. I rode it when I was pretty young, I dont remeber much but its one of the best roundups I've been on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKlockster Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 And you know that how?? Because Jerry Couch said that Screaming Eagle, the Log Flume, and the Merry Go Round are not for sale. That means he is either going to demolish them, or keep them. Obviously... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Sorry, I hadn`t heard that he said he was keeping them. I knew they weren`t on the for sale list. If he is smart, he will keep them and not bulldoze them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 in the article he is quoted as saying "I'm not going to let the merry go round go" and he says "the screeching eagle and log flume arent going anywhere" "it would take thousands to get the eagle running again". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reon Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I agree with CoasterRZ. CONEY NEEDS SOME NEW FLATS! Not that I'm arguing with what we have...I just would prefer to not let them go to waste... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 And yet another wonderful, quirky, family park is gone. Sigh. I will miss the Eagle, the wonderful flume, the Coffelt's fudge, the Rock-O, the big mouthed fish, the Serpent, the wonderful ride ops, the neat Fascination parlor, the Wallendas (yes, THE Wallendas), the train at the entrance (with REAL coal cars and a crossing guard!). I loved Americana. It is the place I first met Jeff, who would later do marketing at a certain larger park in the area... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I've actually never been to American or Fantasy Farm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoor Man Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I haven't been to pki yet this year so I can't comment on certainty- but in my own little sarcastic bit- I know that Americana had it's share of "carnival" rides... maybe NU could clean house and exand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 That is so sad! Both of my parents' companies had their company picnics at Americana in 1986. Those were the only two times I ever went there, and it was pretty fun. Raging Thunder was their new 'star' attraction that year, and the old wooden rollercoaster looked like it was falling apart (some of the wood on the supports were actually broken and dangling as the ride was operating!) I remember riding their version of the flyers, some rocketship hydro, a 280° theater thing, and the Electric Rainbow many, many times. I couldn't imagine it ever closing (because it was cheaper and more accessible than KI). 20 Years has gone by alarmingly fast. Watching it turn into an RV dealership to me is like watching PKI turn into a trailer park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Maple The Tree King Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 watching PKI turn into a trailer park. With some of the people who come there, you might actually think that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrill_Biscuit Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 watching PKI turn into a trailer park. With some of the people who come there, you might actually think that. I said "Trailer Park", not "Flea Market"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deidre1976 Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 And you know that how?? Because Jerry Couch said that Screaming Eagle, the Log Flume, and the Merry Go Round are not for sale. That means he is either going to demolish them, or keep them. Obviously... Maybe he will keep them as a pay per ride kinda thing, Like our beloved RCT game?.....he would only need a few operators and would make a lot of cash on the side. Just an Idea! But we don't know what shape they are in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Despite the fact that it would take "thousands" getting the eagles going again, I still think that a lot of parks could afford them. It would even be nice to see PKI get them (although from what I understand they're un-snappable). In all of the negativity, let's take this time to appreciate that fact that despite the fact that Cincinnati amusements are at a loss, we still do have a wonderful park that continues to grow and change every year. You can claim you love or hate it, but if they didn't continually change, this would be the fate of our dear park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 And don`t forget, the park that spawned Kings Island is still in operation! Coney is coming off the heels of one of its best seasons (at least in the rides department) since all the major rides were moved to KI in 1972. Coney is home to many classic rides, that used to reside at KI and have long since been removed. (Trabant, Round Up, Super Slide). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deidre1976 Posted May 20, 2006 Share Posted May 20, 2006 I hope some one local gets the Whip, that is a great ride! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted May 20, 2006 Share Posted May 20, 2006 I think that Coney Island would be the perfect park to add the Whip. A classic ride at a classic park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 20, 2006 Share Posted May 20, 2006 Bodda, the Eagle that he was talking about that would take thousands to get running again was the Screechin' Eagle...the wood coaster...not the flying scooters.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoaster Posted May 20, 2006 Author Share Posted May 20, 2006 (edited) Unfortunately yes the Screeching Eagle would be great but costly to move, but who knows! Also the whip must go to Coney island at any cost!!! And yes Americana/Lesourdsville has a newer scooter ride. Same concept but not antiques like Kings Island`s or Holiday World's was!!!!! wait we must do!!! Edited May 20, 2006 by CoastersRZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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