Conneaut Lake Park is a summer resort and event venue located in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, United States. It has long served as a regional tourist destination, and was noted by roller coaster enthusiasts for its classic Blue Streak coaster, which was classified as "historic" by the American Coaster Enthusiasts group in 2010. Conneaut Lake is Pennsylvania's largest natural (glacier) lake, and is a popular summer destination for recreational boaters due to there being no horsepower limit on the lake.
History
Exposition Park
Conneaut Lake Park was founded in 1892 as Exposition Park by Col. Frank Mantor as a permanent fairground and exposition for livestock, machinery, and industrial products from Western Pennsylvania. Prior to this time, 7 acres of land on which the park is located were purchased in 1877 by Aaron Lynce for use as a boat landing. Col. Mantor's company, the Conneaut Lake Exposition Company, purchased an additional 175 acres of adjacent land, 75 of which were given to Mr. Lynce as payment for his parcel.
During its early years, buildings at Exposition Park included a dance hall, a convention hall (for lectures), and a bathhouse. Several of the structures from Lynce's landing were also retained, including a farmhouse on the property that was converted to a hotel. The park's first mechanical ride, a carousel, opened in 1899, and was soon joined by other rides and a midway.
Ownership of the park transferred to the Pittsburgh & Shenango Valley Railroad in 1901, during which time several hotels were built on the property. Originally accessible only by boat or train, trolley service was extended to the park in 1907. With its lakefront presence, hotels, and remote location, the park became a popular resort destination. Although many of the park's original buildings were lost in a fire in 1908, new concrete block replacements were constructed, including the Dreamland Ballroom.
Name change and growth The park was renamed "Conneaut Lake Park" in 1920 to reflect a move toward more amusements and rides. Rides added over these years included a Tumble Bug, a bumper car ride, and a Figure Eight roller coaster called "Three Way Figure Eight Toboggan Slide" (later renamed Jack Rabbit). In 1938, the park's signature roller coaster, Blue Streak, was added.
In 1943, a large portion of a hotel on the properties, Hotel Conneaut, was destroyed in a fire. The ghost of Elizabeth, a bride who supposedly died in the fire, is said to now haunt the hotel.
Facing competition from corporate-owned theme parks, the park added a jungle cruise ride and other new attractions in the 1960s. As trolley service had been discontinued, the park's management began to focus on directing automobile traffic to the park. "Fairyland Forest," a walk-through attraction, was constructed across the highway from the park's main entrance. Using a combination of fairy tale characters and animals to help attract families and appeal to young children, many similar attractions existed across the country at that time. Although popular, the area eventually fell into neglect and closed in 1985. It was replaced with a camper lot called Camperland in 1986.
Ownership changes and decline
By the 1990s, a series of ownership changes had taken their toll on the park. A 1974 takeover of the park by Dr. John and Mary Flynn had saddled the park with $750,000 in debt (equal to $ today), and expansion slowed. Charles Flynn, long-time associate of New York City mayor Ed Koch and son of Dr. Gene, decided to leave politics and become actively involved in the family business. Initially, this change in management was able to invigorate the park. In the early 1980s, rides such as the Paratrooper and Yo-Yo were added. The waterfront was improved. Along the park's midway, a waterslide tower was added, which proved popular. Several other attractions, including a miniature golf course and a karaoke stage were added.
For most of its history, Conneaut Lake Park functioned as a real-life community within an amusement park, as local traffic and waterfront cottages were interspersed with the amusement rides. Park Avenue and Comstock Street, the park's main walking paths, were shared by both patrons and vehicles alike. In an effort to remain competitive, the decision was made to enclose the park for the 1990 season. For the first time in its history, admission would be charged. In a letter to customers explaining the changes, Flynn stated, "Traditional parks are dropping like flies and it's time we all realize that we have to take steps now and save our park before its too late to do anything about it."
The new gated park format, coupled with a rainy summer, led to a decline in attendance in the 1990 season. In an effort to raise capital, several rides were sold off. After another disastrous season in 1991, a decision was announced: the park, with the exception of the water park, would be leveled and a new family entertainment complex would be built on the property. The new family entertainment complex would focus on special events, concerts, group picnics, and non-ride activities, such as batting cages, mazes, and sports activities. The Blue Streak roller coaster, which required an estimated $100,000 in repairs, would be scrapped.
As some of the park's rides were auctioned off, a group of four local businessmen made an effort to purchase as many of them as possible. This group went on to purchase the park from the Flynn family in an attempt to preserve it as a traditional amusement park. Although nearly $1 million was spent in upgrading and refurbishing the park, attendance continued to dwindle, in part due to a public perception that the park had closed altogether. The plans for the family entertainment center never came to fruition.
In 1995, the owners filed for bankruptcy and the park did not open for the season. However, by the 1996 season, a group called Summer Resorts, Inc., under the leadership of Gary Harris, completed a purchase of the park. Although Harris arrived at Conneaut Lake Park with a history of criminal charges, residents were optimistic that the park could be saved under his leadership. The park reopened on July 4, 1996, but new problems arose in 1997 when Harris was convicted of tax evasion. To help extricate himself from his legal difficulties, Harris gave the debt-ridden park to the Conneaut Lake community in 1997, but later filed a lawsuit claiming that he held a 99-year lease on the park grounds and retained ownership of several rides. When Harris lost the lawsuit in 2001, park ownership reverted to a court-appointed trustee.
Early 2000s and rebirth
The park began the new century under the oversight of a non-profit corporation, The Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park. During this time, the park experienced a renewed interest, driven in part by roller coaster and amusement park enthusiast groups. Several of the park's rides, including The Devil's Den and Blue Streak, were repaired by volunteers. In August 2010, the park received $50,000 in funds from a contest sponsored by Pepsi for use in restoring Blue Streak.
Several fires destroyed buildings on the property, including a fire in 2008 that destroyed the Dreamland Ballroom, and a fire on August 1, 2013, that destroyed the dockside restaurant and the beach front building.
Timeline 1890s 1892: Exposition Park opened.
1900s 1902: Three Way Figure Eight Toboggan Slide roller coaster opened. 1908: A large portion of the midway, Three Way Figure Eight Toboggan Slide, a bowling alley and the park's ballroom were destroyed in a fire. 1909: Dreamland Ballroom opened, replacing the original ballroom lost in the 1908 fire. Scenic Railway roller coaster opened.
1920s 1920: Park was renamed Conneaut Lake Park. 1925: Tumble Bug ride was installed. 1925: Temple of Music opened.
1930s 1935: Beach Club bar opened. 1936: Three Way Figure Eight Toboggan Slide (then known as Jack Rabbit) roller coaster closed. 1937: Scenic Railway roller coaster closed. 1938: Blue Streak roller coaster opened.
1940s 1946: Temple of Music was destroyed by fire. 1949: Tilt-A-Whirl opened. A man was killed on Blue Streak.
1950s
1959: Ultimate Trip Scrambler ride opened.
1960s Blue Streak received new NAD Century Flyer trains, replacing its original trains from 1938. 1961: Fun House opened in former bowling alley. Wild Mouse roller coaster opened. 1968: The Devil's Den opened.
1970s 1973: Dracula's Cave (Pit of Death) opened on the former site of the Cuddle-Up. 1974: Dr. John Flynn and Mrs. Mary Gene Winslow Flynn, son-in-law and daughter of Dr. Winslow, buy out the other partners, saddling the park with $750,000 in debt. 1975: Fun House closed. The Scrambler was moved into the gutted building, black lights, strobes, and loud music are added, and it was renamed the Ultimate Trip. 1976: Hell Hole rotor ride opened.
1980s 1981: Charles Winslow Flynn, son of Dr. and Mrs. Flynn, took over operation of the park. 1985: Dracula's Cave (Pit of Death) closed; the building was converted to locker rooms and showers for the water park. Fairyland Forest closed. 1986: Camperland opened on the site of Fairyland Forest. Cliffhanger Falls was built.
1990s 1990: New front gate constructed. Wild Mouse roller coaster closed. 1991: Connie Otter's Kiddie Cove and Otter Creek Adventure River were built behind Cliffhanger Falls, creating the water park Splash City. 1992: The Devil's Den was renamed Dr. Moriarity's Wild Ride. Conneaut Lake Park celebrated its 100th anniversary. At the end of the season, it was announced that many rides would be removed and Blue Streak would be demolished. Hell Hole was removed. The Flynn family sold the park. 1993: Local businessmen purchased many of the rides at auction to keep Conneaut Lake Park as an amusement park. Management lost $125,000 in operations. 1994: Lost $800,000. 1995: The park failed to open due to bankruptcy. 1996: The park was purchased by Gary Harris. It reopened on July 4, although Blue Streak did not reopen with the rest of the park. 1997: Former owner Garry Harris went to prison for tax evasion. The non-profit Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park group was established to take ownership of the park. Blue Streak was renovated and the park purchased four rides from the now-closed Old Indiana Fun Park: Super Round-Up, Bumper Cars, Sky Thriller, and Turbo. Turbo was never installed due to a dispute over ownership.Futrell, Jim Amusement Parks of Pennsylvania. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2002. Google books. Web. 19 Feb. 2015 An eight-tub model of the Flying Scooters ride was also added. 1999: The Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park dwindled to one member. The Conneaut Lake Park Management Group also began to operate Conneaut Lake Park. Conneaut Lake's annual Fall Pumpkin Fest was moved to the park. The park also purchased a Roll-O-Plane ride and opened it.
2000s 2000: On June 28, the Conneaut Lake Park Management Group was ousted from the park, and it was closed for four days before the trustees assumed control again. 2001: Gene Rumsey and Mary Ellen Rebrassier managed Conneaut Lake Park for the season. Dr. Moriarity's Wild Ride was restored to its original name, The Devil's Den. Witch's Stew ride opens. 2002: The original 1938 trains were put back onto Blue Streak, sending the NAD Century Flyer trains from the 1960s into retirement. The park purchased and opened the Toboggan roller coaster. 2003: The park was approved to open the day before Memorial Day when Lake View Ford loaned Conneaut Lake Park the money it needed to open. A new board of trustees was formed on July 15. The park hosted its first annual "Holiday in the Park" event in December. A book, The Ghosts of Hotel Conneaut and Conneaut Lake Park, was written, sparking ghost hunts, television coverage, and events such as the annual Spiritual Expo at Conneaut Lake Park. Gene Rumsey resigned as park manager at the end of the season.