By Keith Gushard
CONNEAUT LAKE PARK — Rick Cortes of McKeesport can’t wait to see what’s happening at Conneaut Lake Park this weekend.
After a two-year absence, the amusement park reopens today with many of its rides in operation and has a host of activities — ranging from DoWopp music to a car cruise-in — planned for the Memorial Day weekend.
“It’s always good when any attraction comes back,” said Cortes, who had contacted the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau earlier this year about whether the park would reopen.
Financial problems at the amusement park, which is more than $2 million in debt, kept its rides from operating in 2007 and 2008. The park’s Beach Club tavern and eatery and Hotel Conneaut were open part of the 2007 season and again in 2008, which was run by a separate operating group.
Now, for the first time since 2006, the park will be in operation — something that pleases Cortes, who plans to attend the DoWopp music festival and car show.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said of the park. “It’s a good summer amusement for the region — not just for the locals, but people from Pittsburgh and Cleveland.”
The park reopens at 4 p.m. today for three days with its Kiddieland rides and nine other adult rides — Skydiver, a 76-foot tall tumbling Ferris wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, Flying Scooter, Paratrooper, Tumblebug, Dodgem cars, Devil’s Den, Witch’s Stew, Trabant and the carousel operating, according to Richard Lisko of Lisko & Sons Amusements of Lowellville, Ohio. The company signed a multi-year lease agreement with Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, the park’s owner, to operate rides.
The park’s train ride is expected to be in operation by the end of June, Lisko said. However, the park’s famed wooden roller coaster, the Blue Streak, won’t be in operation until 2010.
The concession stands and game buildings along the midway won’t be opened this year, but the Liskos have brought in concession and game trailers.
“We’re expecting a big weekend — as long as the weather cooperates,” said Lisko. He didn’t know how many people may show up this weekend, “but we’re hoping for as good as the Conneaut Lake Pumpkin Fest.”
Last October, the Pumpkin Fest weekend drew an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 to the park’s grounds, he said.
Jack Moyers, chairman of Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, said this weekend’s reopening of the park is the culmination of a couple of years of work.
“There’s been a lot of cleaning, upgrading and painting to get things ready,” said Moyers. “We hope people will come away with a pleasurable enough experience this weekend they’ll come back as we continue to build and grow.”
Hotel doing well
The Hotel Conneaut, the hotel on the park’s grounds, has some 120 of its 136 rooms open for the weekend, according to Greg Sutterlin of Park Restoration Inc., which has leased the hotel and Beach Club.
“We’re near capacity for Saturday night,” he said of reservations. “We’re ready to go. We’re hoping for really good numbers this weekend.”
The Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau has been inundated with calls about Conneaut Lake Park since the news broke in mid-April the park’s rides would be back in operation.
“We’ve been getting 25 to 30 calls a day since the news came out,” said Juanita Hampton, the bureau’s executive director. Calls mainly are coming from the Pittsburgh area as well as Ohio plus there have been calls from Florida and New Jersey, she said.
Hampton said that as of Thursday less than 50 of the 500 tickets for Saturday night’s DoWopp music show at the Beach Club remained.
“It’s exciting,” said Hampton. “People will be visiting local businesses when they’re here. They have to eat, buy gas, find a place to stay overnight. It should pay off for the community.”
That’s because tourism money turns over as much as seven times within the community, she said.
As visitors spend money at local motels or campgrounds, restaurants, gas stations and other retailers, those businesses will recirculate the money in the region as they pay employees and suppliers. It turns over again as employees at those businesses buy goods and services locally, she said.
For visitors like Cortes, he wants to see the park not only survive, but thrive.
“It’s good family-oriented entertainment.”
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
There are a number of special events at Conneaut Lake Park as part of its DoWopp Memorial Day weekend.
Today
- Classic Iron’s DoWopp Cruise In for cars from 5 to 9 p.m.
- “Pipe Dreams,” a ’50s and ’60s music band, at 10 p.m. at the Beach Club.
Saturday
- Classic Iron’s DoWopp Cruise In for cars from noon to 6 p.m.
- “Backwoods Bluegrass” on the lawn 1 to 4 p.m. Free.
- “Johnny Angel & The Halos” with opening at Jim Felix “Sounds of Elvis.” Cost is $15. Doors open at 6 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Sunday
- Classic Iron’s DoWopp Cruise In for cars from noon to 6 p.m.
- “Sofa King Kool Band” 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Beach Club.
