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.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Park's water facilities to open this weekend
- Local News
-
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
During the past five years, Moody’s Investors Service has assigned three different ratings — all within the range of “upper medium grade” to the City of Meadville’s bonds. In 2007, the city was given a rating of A3, the lowest of the trio. In 2010, the city’s bond rating was raised to A1, the highest ranking in the “upper medium” category. Monday, Moody’s gave the city’s $10,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2012, which went on the market Monday, the middle rating of A2.
-
Elderly, disabled and their caregivers have tremendous new local resource
The new Crawford County Link isn’t a place, but an information network to help people age 60 and older or those between 18 and 59 with disabilities stay living independently.
-
County's median age rising as population still stable
Crawford Countians are growing older and aging in place.
-
Crawford Central yearlong pay freeze plan fails
Differences over details have derailed a contract featuring a one-year pay freeze for Crawford Central School district teachers, leaving district administrators looking for ways to close an unexpectedly large 2012-13 budget gap.
-
Saegertown singer has date with CMT
A Saegertown man will appear on the Country Music Television (CMT) show “Singing Bee” on June 1 at 8 and 11 p.m.
-
Court ruling means county politicking can continue
A proposed resolution to limit Crawford County employees from serving as a chair or vice chair of a political party can’t be enacted because of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in a Montgomery County case.
-
Officials: Rape suspect kills himself before trial
A Crawford County jail inmate died at an Erie hospital early Saturday morning in the wake of an apparent suicide attempt, according to county officials.
-
Cambridge radio station offers soundtrack of local music scene
Lately, “I’ve been having a heavy-duty highlight on local artists every other hour,” Sam Reese said as he sat at the controls of WXCS 92.9 recently, queuing up the current block of tunes lined up for play.
- NEW LOCAL: Crawford County jail inmate dies at Erie hospital
- NEW LOCAL: Fire destroys Cambridge Springs area barn and dairy herd
- More Local News Headlines
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Remains of Veterans Found in Basement Are Buried
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Serial Stabbings Suspect Guilty of Murder
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
A Few Odd Business Sparks but Europe Gloomy
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
Gerard Butler: the Good, the Bad and the Cannes
At Least 25 Dead in India Train Collision
Raw Video: Private Rocket Blasts Off
Boy to Rescuers: 'Do You Have a Plan?'
Doctors and Devotees Debate Barefoot Running
Blacks Seek to Find Their Own Missing
Houston Museum Unveils $85 Million Dinosaur Hall
