Area business people share reactions to park's closing

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May 22, 2007

By Keith Gushard The Meadville Tribune Tue May 22, 2007, 09:05 PM EDT

5/23/07 — CONNEAUT LAKE — Pat Reynolds was visibly shaken by Tuesday’s announcement that Conneaut Lake Park won’t open for the 2007 season.

“The park was the anchor of the area,” said Reynolds, her voice filled with emotion. “It’s 40 to 50 percent of our business.”

Reynolds owns the Irish Cove Motel, a 21-unit motel on Route 618 near the park.

“It’s devastating,” said Judy Hughes, owner of Mama Bear’s Restaurant on Route 322 outside of the borough of Conneaut Lake. “About 30 to 35 percent of our summer business is park traffic.”

With the amusement park not scheduled to open for the season, Crawford County’s economy could lose an estimated $12.45 million to $17 million in tourism dollars.

That’s based on statistics released earlier this year by the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The park had gross revenue of $2.36 million in 2006, but each dollar spent by tourists circulates in the community up to seven times, according to the bureau. It moves through the economy as businesses buy supplies and goods from other local firms, pay their employees and taxes. Those firms, in turn, buy supplies and goods, pay their employees and taxes. It pushes the $2.36 million figure to as much as $16.5 million.

“We knew this was inevitable sooner or later,” Kevin Parsons, deputy director of the bureau, said of the park’s closing because of financial problems.

Juanita Hampton, the bureau’s executive director, was out of town Tuesday and unavailable for comment.

Conneaut Lake Park is the second most visited attraction in the county after Pymatuning State Park, Parsons said. It draws upward of 100,000 visitors a year while Pymatuning draws between 3 million and 4 million.

“It’s disappointing after all these years,” said David Zatsick, who owns Zatsick’s Market grocery store at the lake. “It’s going to bring less people into the area. You never want that.”

Charlie Anderson, president of the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, said he’s sorry to see the park closed, “but the writing was on the wall.”

“It definitely will have an impact,” he continued. “It’s a very important piece of the economy for this area.”

Mark Turner, executive director of the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, said was disappointed that the park couldn’t get enough cash to have some level of operation this year.

Earlier this year, the Alliance released a possible future development plan for the park that included entertainment, retail, recreation and residential.

Morris Waid, chairman of the county commissioners, was in Harrisburg on Tuesday and unavailable for comment.

However, despite the closure, there is optimism, though the vision for the park’s future differs.

“They need to develop a core group of sound business people,” said Anderson. “They need to find somebody will to develop the area.”

Hughes said there needs to be changes in the park’s operating concept.

“I think it’s future is as a festival/event park with rides. The Conneaut Lake Pumpkin Fest proves that,” she said, referring to the annual three-day fall festival held at the park that brings in upward of 25,000 people.

Turner thinks there’s potential for revitalization of Conneaut Lake Park in some way.

“I don’t think this is the end,” he said. “A lot of good things can happen.”

Meanwhile, motel owner Reynolds is trying to stay upbeat.

“Hopefully, people still will come to Conneaut Lake for the atmosphere and the lake,” she said. “I still have hope.”

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