CONNEAUT LAKE — If you were planning to hit the Beach Club at Conneaut Lake Park over the July 4 weekend, it’s time to make other plans.
The popular entertainment venue at the currently-closed, financially-troubled amusement park won’t be open for the holiday, according to Jack Moyers, chairman of the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park.
“We are cautiously optimistic,” he said Tuesday about the possibility of opening the public tavern before the summer is over.
Moyers, speaking at the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting at the Iroquois Boating and Fishing Club, used the analogy of riding a “thrill ride” such as the Blue Streak to discuss the many ups and downs the board has endured since it “took over a closed business” on July 2, 2007. The 116-year-old park didn’t open last summer either because the court-appointed manager didn’t have the funds to operate it.
This year, the Camperland recreational-vehicle area and the boat docks at the park are open. Hotel Conneaut remains closed; Moyers said a structural engineer survey is needed before it can be inspected for occupancy. The board reached out to three engineering companies; however, one didn’t want to become involved and the other two didn’t respond. He said the board has no idea what is needed for hotel renovations until a survey is done. “It’s a tough nut to crack until we get the answers,” he added.
The trustees do realize the importance of the amusement park to the community, Moyers said. “Many businesses rely on tourism,” he said, noting the park has a “$16 million impact” on the area’s economy. That figure is based on 2006 revenues multiplied by seven times which experts figure each dollar spent later generates throughout the community.
Moyers said even though the park was closed last summer, the lawns still had to be mowed, the roads had to be taken care of and the insurance had to be paid. “The list goes on and on,” he said.
The Beach Club was opened for about six weeks with the idea it “would break even at best,” providing activity at the park and offering some cash flow.
The park’s tax returns were filed for 2005 and 2006 and an extension was granted for filing 2007 returns.
In the meantime, the board has developed a five-year business plan designed for the park to become a vibrant destination once more. When questioned about the plan, Moyers didn’t give any specifics, except to say it would include developments which would take place two to five years into the plan and would include multi-uses of the park’s property.
“We are doing everything we can,” he said. “We are trying to come up with the finances to help the park get back to its feet.”
Asked what type of financial sources it would take to implement the five-year plan, Moyers said simply, “Big.”
Although reports have been that no assets of the park can be sold without court approval, Moyers said, “Certain assets can be sold,” but didn’t elaborate.
Asked if the board would consider leasing the hotel, Moyers said it would, adding that anyone leasing it could remodel it.
Other board members were at the head table, but didn’t address the crowd.
Weber says presentation was 'worthless'
CONNEAUT LAKE — “Worthless” is how one former board member of the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park described Tuesday’s presentation concerning the park and its future.
Tim Weber, former secretary of the previous board of Trustees, said, “It was 20 minutes of idle chatter. There were no specifics. There was no true vision of what they want to do. We have been waiting for a year now, and still there is absolutely no true vision of the future of the park.”
He was referring to the fact that the current board was appointed by the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas nearly a year ago.
However, Dennis Frampton of C&J; Industries didn’t comment about the content of the speech by Jack Moyers. “I know the board has a very, very difficult task. It is not an easy problem to solve. It’s going to take time. All we can do is get behind the board,” he said.
Several others in attendance declined to comment on what they had heard.
Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at jsmith@meadvilletribune.com.
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Trustees chairman lays out park ups and downs
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