Meadville Tribune

Local News

Park memorabilia goes to highest bidder

American Coaster Enthusiasts had an opportunity to add items from Conneaut Lake Park to their amusement park collections Thursday.
An auction of various Conneaut Lake Park memorabilia was held in conjunction with the ACE’s visit to the park Thursday as part of its annual convention, Coaster Con. A large Conneaut Lake Park banner and a framed commemorative item that included a picture and an old piece of the Blue Streak were among the items auctioned off by auctioneer C. Sherman Allen with the help of Juanita Hampton, executive director of the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Proceeds from the auction and the sale of T-shirts will benefit the Blue Streak Restoration Fund. No final figure from the auction was available Thursday night.

You can help
Tax deductible donations to the Blue Streak Restoration Fund can be mailed by sending a check or money order payable to Conneaut Lake Institute to Conneaut Lake Institute Inc., P.O. Box 111, Conneaut Lake, Pa. 16316 or visit conneautlakepark.com.
 

Related Photos

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
June 25, 2010

Dormant Blue Streak gets historical nod

By Lisa Byers Meadville Tribune

CONNEAUT LAKE — CONNEAUT LAKE — Matthew Lax considers himself one of the fortunate ones.

He was a member of a group of roller coaster enthusiasts who took part in a “sunset to sunrise” ride on the historic Blue Streak roller coaster at Conneaut Lake Park in 1997.

“It was a great time,” recalled Lax, of Los Angeles, Calif. “The Blue Streak is a great coaster. I’m really glad I had the chance to ride it. And I hope someday I’ll get a chance to ride it again.”

With efforts like the one made by the American Coaster Enthusiasts on Thursday, that may soon be a reality.

More than 400 roller coaster enthusiasts from 37 states, Canada and Thailand were on hand at Conneaut Lake Park yesterday for the second day of ACE’s 33rd annual convention known as Coaster Con.

The group, so Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of Trustees of Conneaut Park thought, was there to take a look at the roller coaster the park is working hard to get back in commission for the first time since 2006, among other attractions, and dedicate the coaster as one of only 25 ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks in the world.

The eager group did that. But midway through Moyers’ speech during the unveiling of a permanent historic marker on the front of the Blue Streak’s depot, ACE president Mark Cole surprised Moyers and the trustees with a second gift of $5,000 to put toward the restoration of the roller coaster.

The gift matches an earlier gift made by the organization, bringing its total contribution to $10,000.

“This roller coaster is a very important part of this park,” Cole said. “ACE’s mission is the preservation and restoration of older rides like the Blue Streak. We want this thing up and running as bad as anyone else. It’s an absolutely vital part of this park.”

That was made evident by ACE’s decision to designate the coaster as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a distinction given to the most historically significant roller coasters in the world. According to ACE secretary Bill Linkenheimer III, the 73-year-old Blue Streak is one of only two existing Edward Vettle-designed coasters. The other is the Cyclone built in 1940 at the Lakeside Amusement Park in Denver, Colo.

Structural Technology Incorporated, based near Bloomsburg, recently got the Cyclone back up and running. The same company is working on the Blue Streak.

Moyers said the park hopes to have the Blue Streak operating by the end of summer. Leonard Adams III, who operates Structural Technology Incorporated with his sons Leonard Adams Jr. and Bernie Adams, said it could be between four and six weeks. The company is currently working on replacing 350 feet of track boards around the curve that overlooks State Highway 618 near the park’s entrance.

Adams said the Blue Streak should be able to run after that project is completed.

The concern for Moyers still, though, is the funding. He said the work being done is advancing further than the funds available. The project is expected to cost a total of $125,000.

The ACE visitors were happy to lend additional support.

“Our main mission is preservation,” ACE public relations director, John Gerard of San Diego, Calif., said. “And we do what we can to help.

“Parks like (Conneaut Lake Park) are rare, and they’re a treasure. And this one has been through so much. I hope they can get the roller coaster back up and running. It would be an asset.”

ACE is a non-profit organization of more than 7,000 members from the United States and over a dozen other countries. The organization holds its convention annually. The convention lasts a week.

The group spent Wednesday at Kennywood and Idlewild Parks in the Pittsburgh area. Today, ACE members will visit Waldameer in Erie.



Lisa Byers can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at lbyers@meadvilletribune.com.

Text Only
Local News
Business Marquee
AP Video
Raw Video: Kim Jong Il Statue Unveiled Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star Raw Video: Hearse Arrives at N.J. Funeral Home Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J. First Person: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Obama's New Budget: The Winners and Losers Gregoire: Marriage Equality Is Right for Wash. Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Poll

A clean-energy plan to use solar energy in eastern Pennsylvania has been met with resistance, even by environmental groups. Do you think solar energy has a future as a valuable energy source in Pennsylvania?

Yes, as the technology improves (and is needed), get these systems up and running as quickly as possible.
Yes, and the efficient, clean energy is needed — but take some time to do it right and environment-friendly.
No, solar energy is not the right choice for Pennsylvania; the environmental risk is too great.
     View Results
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Stocks