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.
