Park's water facilities to open this weekend

Local News

Related Photos

Discussion

June 30, 2009

By Ryan Smith The Meadville Tribune Tue Jun 30, 2009, 11:43 PM EDT

By Ryan Smith

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

CONNEAUT LAKE PARK — After Conneaut Lake Park successfully opened to an estimated 25,000 visitors over the start-of-summer Memorial Day weekend, officials there are confident the park can make another big splash during the Fourth of July holiday.

For the first time since 2006, the water park and its attractions are set to be open this weekend, officials said recently.

With that portion of the amusement park back in operation, many other rides up and running and other events planned, “we’re hopeful we’re going to have a good Fourth of July weekend,” said Jack Moyers, chairman of the park-owning Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park.

The park’s Kiddieland rides and other adult rides, including 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 have been operating since late May. Lisko & Sons Amusements of Lowellville, Ohio has signed a multi-year lease agreement with the board of trustees to operate the rides and the water park.

“We’re excited they’ve moved to get the water park going” in recent weeks, said Moyers. “That’s been our goal — (to) continue to build” on the work that’s already been completed.

“I personally see improvements every week,” Moyers said.

And it appears other people have been noticing as well. The Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau reported it’s been inundated with calls about Conneaut Lake Park — many from Pittsburgh, Ohio and as far away as New Jersey and Florida — since the news broke of the park’s rides being back in operation.

“It’s encouraging,” said Moyers. “That’s our goal — to bring the park back” to being what it once was: a premier destination that keeps visitors from around the country coming back for generations.

Financial problems at the 117-year-old park, which is more than $2 million in debt, kept its rides from operating in 2007 and 2008.

“We are working very hard to get the park back to what everybody remembers” it as, water park employee Joe Bellisario said recently. But “it is very hard” to fund such improvements, he added, “so please come out — and bring a friend — because every penny we make we are putting back into the park.”

And with that kind of support from the public, coupled with the continuing efforts of operators, administrators and employees, Bellisario said, the park will soon again be “a very nice place to spend the day.”

Ryan Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at rsmith@meadvilletribune.com

You can go

Conneaut Lake Park has a number of special events and activities lined up for the Fourth of July holiday, and everyone’s invited to join in the fun.

Here’s some of what’s happening:

- Thursday — The first of “Tin Can Thursdays,” inviting park visitors to get $5 off wristband price in exchange for two canned goods for charity. Regular bands are just $10 from 4 to 10 p.m.

- Friday — All wristbands are $10; ride from 1 to 10 p.m.

- Saturday and Sunday — “Bubby’s Water Show,” showing both days at 3, 5 and 7 p.m.; ride all day for $18.13.

- Sunday — Fireworks at dusk; bonfire on the beach.

For specifics on these events, daily updates and more information on everything happening at Conneaut Lake Park, visit www.conneautlakepark.com on the Web or call CLP at 382-5115.

Text Only

Local News

Budget, aesthetics a balancing act at Armory
The next time there’s a moment or two to spare for quiet contemplation, pause in the vicinity of the City of Meadville’s picturesque Diamond Park. Let your eyes rest on Parkside Commons, the meticulously refurbished structure at the northeast end of the park that was once known as “the old junior high.” Make a point of focusing on the windows.

February 12, 2012
Former rockers Drywater enjoying glow from album's rebirth
It’s funny how perceptions can differ from one person to the next; how what sparkles in one set of eyes can appear tarnished in another.

February 11, 2012
Edinboro site eyed for retirement homes
About two years after halting expansion plans into the Conneaut Lake area, Meadville-based Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community now is looking to expand north into Erie County, possibly sometime in 2013.

February 10, 2012
Langley voted in as Meadville City Council's new member
“Pleased” is the word that best describes Bob Langley’s response to the news that he had been selected to fill Meadville City Council’s vacant seat.

February 10, 2012
French Creek conservation group to benefit from environmentalist's talk
When one of the world’s best known environmentalists, the author and activist Bill McKibben, speaks next week at Allegheny College, his audience will likely be putting some money where its heart is — right into French Creek.

February 10, 2012
Vernon Police chief suspects 'human interaction' in Sunday fire
An investigation is continuing into a weekend fire that destroyed a historic structure in Vernon Township, and Vernon police are urging anyone with information to give them a call.

February 10, 2012
Walker hired to fill Meadville's newest administrative position
The City of Meadville’s soon-to-be-newest administrator is a familiar name in the area and familiar with the city.

February 9, 2012
Edinboro protest planned against proposed state budget cuts
If you’re a student or faculty member at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, don’t be surprised if Trevor Belz, a sophomore from Saegertown, shares some strong opinions with you in the next few days — and urges your attendance at a campuswide protest planned for Tuesday.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Local legislators: Corbett budget off to a good start
Elected officials representing Crawford County in Pennsylvania’s Senate and House of Representatives are gearing up for what looks like a lengthy budget process.

February 8, 2012
Crawford Central's Heller says new budget plan hobbles school districts
Area educators haven’t had a lot of time to mull over the implications of the budget proposal presented Tuesday to a joint meeting of Pennsylvania’s Senate and House of Representatives by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett.

February 8, 2012
More Local News Headlines

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?

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Park's water facilities to open this weekend

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?

Site Map

Contact Us