The Interpreter Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Sigh. http://www.meadvilletribune.com/breakingne..._142112941.html Published May 22, 2007 11:29 am - CONNEAUT LAKE PARK CLOSED Conneaut Lake Park will be closed, effective immediately. The announcement, certain to come as bad news to many local observers, was made this morning following a meeting at the park office. Although an anonymous donor had indicated interest in supporting the park on Monday, the support was to be a loan, not a donation, park officials later learned. However, previous decisions had been made to not accept any more start-up loans for the 115-year-old amusement park. Leroy Stearns, court-appointed custodian, said he will seek a petition to have the custodian removed from directing any further park operations. Although previously there were plans for a farewell concert this weekend, that has been canceled, as has the DoWopp Weekend that had been scheduled to start Friday. All employees have been laid off, park officials said. Money from a recent token drive will be used to pay bills instead of as start-up funds for the 2007 season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Truly sad. At least they took a shot at reopening it. I know a lot of parks close for good very unceremoniously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I live near CLP and while it is a sad story for such a quaint family park, it really is not a surprise. For the past 13 years the biggest story of the park has been-"Is it going to open this year?". The park did not open in 1995, and has barely opened the other years. Sometimes the whole park would open, sometimes it was different parts of the park etc. It has actually gotten to the point where most in the Meadville/ Erie/ Grove City area had no idea if the park was open or not. The park as a whole is $2.5 million in debt, so loans are out of the question. The area around CLP does not have the population to support the park, and those traveling 50+ miles never knew if it was open, so they would arrange other plans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 Not to mention that Waldameer is very close, and is getting a new wood coaster very soon. Geauga Lake isn't that far away, and is also having attendance problems. Even Kennywood isn't all THAT far away, or Knoebel's, for that matter. The park will be missed. At one time, Blue Streak was my favorite wooden coaster, back when it ran really smoothly and really fast. There aren't many of Edward Vetel's left. In fact, the only one I can think of is The Lakeside Cyclone in Denver. A different Vetel (Andy, his son) did some of the work on Thunderbolt at Kennywood, ironically enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...D=2007705120347 Since the unfortunate closing of CLP has been brought up, here is a link for a new coaster for 2008 at Waldameer. ... just in case anyone is intrested in visiting NW PA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stardust Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Even though I've never been to Conneaut, I've been keeping track of it, hoping that it will stay open long enough for me to visit, but I guess it's just not meant to be. I don't know, after hearing about this, I just kind of felt empty. Being a wooden coaster person, of course I wonder what this will do to Blue; I doubt anybody can move her let alone keep her open, so what to do and where to go from here? I just hope she doesn't rot or something. A side note to self: Immortalization, commence now. We've got a beauty to keep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 25, 2007 Author Share Posted May 25, 2007 Perhaps a small ray of hope: http://www.carouselnews.com/index.php?opti...view&id=198 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstrwomann Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 The link for a new coaster for Waldameer is blank and you have to subscribe to things in order to get to the info can you post a copy of it on the site for us to read. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share Posted June 10, 2007 More developments: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...6090372/-1/NEWS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 And another about a fundraiser last night: http://www.meadvilletribune.com/homepage/l..._160233807.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 One more ride on Blue Streak would make my summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share Posted June 10, 2007 And their Tumblebug, which they had reopened. And Devil's Den, one of two surviving haunted house rides like it (the other is at Camden Park in Huntington, WV). Did I mention the place had great pizza? But, more importantly, the trains on Blue Streak were glorious things. An old NAD and a train, previously called 'the oiler,' with leather horse bridle restraints and fixed lap bars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 Don't mention the pizza.........Don't mention the pizza.........Don't mention the pizza..........You mentiond the PIZZA!!!!!!!!!! Now what am I going to do if they don't re-open the park? Starve that is what I will do STARVE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share Posted June 10, 2007 (Believe it or not, Cedar Point's pizza at Chuckwagon (and ONLY at Chuckwagon) is close...not near as good, but close. And Dorney Park also has great pizza. And people think because I can't find much good to say about Kings Island's food service, that I can't say nice things about Cedar Fair's food service. I can, when it is deserved). Here's hoping, Monroe, that you and I can meet up at an open Conneaut Lake this summer. I'll buy the pizza! Right after we ride the Blue Streak. I also forgot to mention their wonderful fresh cut fries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 It would have to be before July 25, I'm over seas after that for 3 months. Also I found this park when I was playing golf right next to the park back in 1976. Man what a find it was, the best atmosphere of a small park I had ever been to. I must have spent $150 in about 4 hours. Of course I paid for all 8 of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 17, 2007 Author Share Posted June 17, 2007 More developments: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...6170413/-1/NEWS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 And more developments: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...7150355/-1/NEWS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Yeah, it really is not a surprise that Prischak wants to take back his rides. He has a small fortune invested into Lake Erie Speedway, but the outcome has not been exactly lucrative. He really needs to draw more families to LES. And quite honestly, there is really no reason he shouldn't take them back. A moved ride is better than SBNO. At this point, it would take a small miracle for CLP to open ever again. Sad, but true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 A moved ride is better than SBNO. At this point, it would take a small miracle for CLP to open ever again. Sad, but true. SOB is moving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstrwomann Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Don't make up rumors that SOB is moving if you don't have any facts to back it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 Don't make up rumors that SOB is moving if you don't have any facts to back it up. Irony is totally lost on that one.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 22, 2007 Author Share Posted July 22, 2007 PART of Conneaut Lake may reopen in August: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...7180346/-1/NEWS Conneaut Lake area businesses lose big money without park: http://www.centredaily.com/business/story/154756.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 23, 2007 Author Share Posted July 23, 2007 Beach Club to Open Friday: http://www.meadvilletribune.com/breakingne..._204173301.html (Not the park or amusement rides, at least not yet...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 This is a sad story. But if the community is not willing to try and save the park by being patrons, why give more money to it? http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...8140362/-1/NEWS CLP board gets help from county BY JIM MARTIN jim.martin@timesnews.com [more details] Published: August 14. 2007 6:00AM MEADVILLE -- The Blue Streak is parked in its station. The carved wooden horses of the merry-go-round await riders in the dim light of the carousel. But even now -- with most of the publicly owned facility shut down for the summer -- Conneaut Lake Park is racking up bills to the tune of about $1,000 a day. Members of the park's newly appointed board of directors, along with the park-loving public, got a taste of hope Aug. 3 when park managers reopened the Beach Club. The news brought a line of people waiting to buy french fries, and it brought renewed hopes that revenue might begin to trickle in that would allow for the park to resume full operation. But despite a good first couple of weeks, the revenue is a comparative trickle, the flow of invoices a gusher. Board members Jim Collins and Carol West appeared Monday before the Crawford County Redevelopment Authority to ask for $35,000 to help pay some bills, including a $10,000 insurance payment and about $8,000 on a $236,000 electric bill. Payment is needed this week to ensure the lights stay on at the Beach Club and that the park has the liability insurance it needs to operate. After 90 minutes of questions by the redevelopment board, the park board members walked out with a check for $25,000 and some specific instructions on how to spend it. Mark Nickerson of the Redevelopment Authority joined the unanimous 3-0 vote to grant the park $25,000. But like fellow board members Joe Shrader and C.J. Tisi, he wanted to be certain it would do some good. "I'm very supportive of the park," Nickerson said. "But I'm trying to get some certainty that the money won't go away without some result." No one was even hinting that Conneaut Lake Park's board would intentionally waste the money. It was easy to see, however, that the money could get lost in the shuffle at a park with $2.7 million in unpaid bills. Collins, an accountant, said he's also concerned about the matter of taxes. The park still hasn't filed returns for 2005 or 2006. Despite all those challenges, both West and Collins still see potential and said they're eager to see the park adopt a workable business plan that will put the operation back on track. In the meantime, though, the park continues to face stacks of bills equal to about $1,000 a day, simply to keep the lights on and a handful of employees on the job. West said the park board's next goal is to reopen Hotel Conneaut in time to honor more than 200 reservations that have been made. That could also help the park generate the money it needs to survive another winter. JIM MARTIN can be reached at (814) 724-6397, 870-1668 or by e-mail. Crawford County Planning Director Jack Lynch said he credits the group with both vision and a realistic approach to the problems they face. "This group realizes they are up against it," he said. "It's hard to write a poem when you're being chased up a hill by dogs." JIM MARTIN can be reached at (814) 724-6397, 870-1668 or by e-mail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share Posted September 1, 2007 The Hotel Conneaut has been reopened. A short item can be found near the end of these brief stories: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_525056.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 Conneaut Lake Park Board Seeks Input: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...EWS02/711060372 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 Park Board Looking To Lease All or Parts of Park: http://www.meadvilletribune.com/local/loca..._310000219.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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