Cleveland Ohio Funguide Weblog

I think it’s ok that the park isnt opening. It’s bummy and dumb.
HA

By Raechel on May 29, 2007

Dear Conneaut Lake Park, We so looked forward to coming to the Park, we are having our 75th Family Reunion on July 15 this year and many people from at least 10 States are going to be here and was planning on coming to the Park with their kids. We already have our airline tickets and they weren’t cheap! We’ve told our grandkids we used to ride and play there for years and was going to continue the tradition. How disappointing it will be not to be able to go there. It was one of the highlights of our trip to the area there. Will we still be able to go to the beach area? We are staying in Camperland for the time we will be there. Sad, but hoping

By Ruth on Jun 1, 2007

Hello,

We at Conneaut Lake Park with the help of Greg Sutterlin have raised $42,600.00. Our goal is $60,000.00. This will ensure the opening of the Beach Club, Hotel and Midway. Rides will follow. We are trying to raise $18,000.00. The concert I e-mailed you earlier will hopefully ensure that. We welcome you all to come on out. We’re working our brains and backs out to ensure this goal. We also need all the press and advertising we can get. Please pass this on and help us! Any questions, please call me.

Thank you,

Eileen Bertera

Events

Conneaut Lake Park

814-382-5115 x101

814-439-0164

SAVE CONNEAUT LAKE PARK BENEFIT

SATURDAY, JUNE 9TH 1 PM - 11 PM

AT FAIRWAY 12 MOTEL

RT 618, CONNEAUT LAKE, PA.

THESE FUNDS WILL OPEN CONNEAUT LAKE PARK 2007 SEASON!

SPONSORED BY: THE FAIRWAY 12 MOTEL

VOLUNTEERED BY:

CRAWFORD COUNTY ABATE

CONNEAUT LAKE PARK EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERS

DICE RUN PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED IN CONCERT

MUSIC DONATION BY 5 BANDS:

PROVIDED BY GREAT LAKES ENTERTAINMENT

1-2:30 PM: MANHATTEN - 70’S - 80’S ROCK

3-4:30 PM: ACOUSTIC GYPSIES - CLASSIC ROCK

5-6:60 PM: MYSTIFIED - COUNTRY

7-8:30 PM - PEPPERMINT TWIST - OLDIES

9-11:00 PM - ROGER MONTGOMERY BLUES BAND

$10.0O PER PERSON - $15.00 COUPLE

PIG ROAST DINNER AVAILABLE

50/50 RAFFLE

BEVERAGES AVAILABLE @ FAIRWAY 12 BAR & RESTAURANT

For Concert, Hotel, Motel & Camping Accommodations Information:

conneautlakepark.com

or call:

Eileen Bertera: 814-382-5115 CLP Park Office

814-439-0164 Cell

By Eileen Bertera on Jun 2, 2007

Thanks for the update, Eileen.. all the best for the Lake Park!

By Heather on Jun 3, 2007

Dear Conneaut Lake Park,

We are hoping that you’ll open soon. CLP is our favorite. The train ride, the Dodgem and all the food! We love your park because it feels like home and is a pleasant, shady, and family oriented place where we feel very comfortable. The bigger more modern parks just don’t get it. They lack character and are masses of concrete and steel. CLP rocks! Hope to see you soon.
Vince and Dante Accettola

By Vince and Dante Accettola on Jun 3, 2007

How soon will we know if the Park will open or not? We also have vacation plans for Conneaut lake. We have been coming there all our lives, my Grand parents lived right in the park all of my childhood and it would just be a shame to not have any more traditions to pass on to our grandchildren.

By Cindy on Jun 4, 2007

There is a value to CLP that cannot be determined by scripts or pieces of paper. It is a gift from our past. Stepping into the park is like taking a trip back in time. This has been a place of dreams for over 100 years. There has got to be a way to preserve the integrity of what was established here. We cannot have it taken away by the fools who prefer making profit over enriching children’s dreams. How can we live with ourselves if we allow people to stick a knife in the back of Santa Claus?

By Bill Brest on Jun 4, 2007

Oh my. Another slice of Western PA history about to hit the dirt because of single-minded fools with heads stuffed up one another’s orifices. My grandparents, parents and siblings have been coming here since the dawn of the park itself and now my nieces and nephews will not have the enjoyment of carrying on the tradition for another generation. It was terrible enough to lose Fairyland Forest, but the loss of Conneaut Lake Amusement Park itself is unthinkable…once gone, it will never return. Who of you remember Kiddie City USA at the Hickory Plaza? Bit the dust for an Arby’s, as I recall. How about the Hickory Drive In? Also bit the dust for retail’s almighty dollar. Thank goodness the Reynolds Drive-In is still here, or at least it was last year (although up for sale) when I returned to Greenville for a graduation party. Need something a little more recent? Look no further than Fairyland Forest which disappeared into camperland history. Think long and hard about this, folks…the loss of Conneaut Lake Amusement Park itself is irreversible. Once gone, pouf…gone forever. Thankfully it is not so bleak as to consider it a lost cause. With a motivated public, the park can be resurrected and placed on stable ground. Remember the Columbia Theater? The town in which I presently reside had rescued one of the most beautiful theaters in Ohio from the wrecking ball (Palace Theater, Marion OH) and resurrected it to its current jaw-dropping splendor. Most of the money came not from foundations and big business, but from the ordinary pockets of the townspeople. With the continued contributions of the local patrons, the theater has been able to function for 15 years as a year-round entertainment facility, bringing in top-notch shows from all over the country and the world. Ask Tony Butala, who performs here every other year. Oh yes, I MUST ask…has anyone approached Mr. Butala, the wonderful philanthropist who singlehandedly saved the Columbia Theater and brought the Vocal Group Hall of Fame to the Shenango Valley? Would he be interested in making the park a resort attraction that would be on the same par as many resorts in northeastern Pennsylvania? Imagine a resort nestled in the rolling hills of Western PA for people to enjoy year-round instead of traveling to West Virginia or Northeastern PA. If the Freight House of yesteryear was able to bring in top entertainment to downtown Sharon, and the Palace Theater of Marion Ohio is currently doing the same, why could this not be done in Conneaut Lake! Mr. Sutterlin, what do you say?

By Nancy Applegate Miller on Jun 5, 2007

My mother now 79 and I now 53 have not been to Conneaut Lake since summer 1967 do to moving to Macon, Georgia in 1968. From 1954 till 1967 I spend 2 weeks at the lake every summer and some of my fondest memories are of the lake and the park! We have plains on driving the 850 miles to the lake and where hoping to visit amassment park as well. This is indeed a VERY sad day for my mother and I as this will more then likely be the last time either of us will ever have the chance to visit the park.

By Jeffrey E. Bicht on Jun 7, 2007

I called the park office yesterday trying to see what was going on and left a message asking for them to please call me back. I had a gentlemen call me today and said plains are still to be open buy the end of June. Weather or not it happens I guess we will have to wait and see.

It is a shame the way our government gives subsists to the oil companies that make a 36 billion profit each year and cannot help save a piece of history like Conneaut Lake Park which would be a drop in the bucket to what they give the d*** oil companies!!!!!!

By Jeffrey E. Bicht on Jun 7, 2007

I was at the benefit for CLP, the food and music were great. The people seemed upbeat that the park will open in the coming weeks. Keep your fingers crossed and everyone in your prayers. I know my kids are looking forward to spending time there this summer. Over the years, I’ve already been witness to 2 family amusement parks within 45 minutes close. These places don’t come back from the ashes. Help, while you can!!!

By Bob Marosy on Jun 9, 2007

The park currently owes over $300,000 to the electric company, causing them (the electric company) to cut off power to the park this past Wednesday. According to news reports, unless the park can pay $150,000 of that, the electricity will remain off. So it seems the park is going to need a lot more than $60,000 to open.

If only previous management had not started charging an admission fee and sold off all of the good rides back in the early 90’s….

By Piano Man on Jun 10, 2007

I am 45 and remember coming to CLP as a child for my father’s company picnics. At age 8, I rode the Blue Streak, my very first roller coaster ride, with my father. My love for roller coasters started from then on. My brother and his friends loved to ride the Wild Mouse. I also loved the train ride. I remember the old picnic pavillions at the front of the park. Our family would be eating our picnic lunch when the roller coaster would have its test runs. I loved the clickity-clack sound echoeing through the once wooded area. Another favorite memory was feeding the deer which were fenced in under the coaster area. My best memories are from the small family-themed parks like CLP.

By Pam on Jun 18, 2007

Such a shame that Conneaut seemingly will face the same end as Chippewa, Astroland, and LeSourdesville. Geauga Lake is another with the same attendance issues. If Kennywood bites the dust there will not be any “traditional” parks left in the NE.

By J on Jun 20, 2007

Although I have lived in Texas for the last 20 years, I travel back to CLP each summer and the news of the CLP closing is tragic. I have introduced my husband and children (16 and 4) to the joys of it. We are still crossing our fingers that a miracle will happen and the park will open on July 1st. Given all the sentiment that CLP is a historic place, I assume the owners have tried to get assistance through some sort of historical society/preservation designation. Maybe that would help with taxes and utility issues.

By Cyndi on Jun 21, 2007

Any news of the park opening? We would love to take our children!! It is such a family park and so very affordable for young families!!

By Lori Kocholek on Jun 29, 2007

Wow! What a shame… Conneaut Lake Park has been a wholesome family day trip vacation spot for over a century. We were planning on visiting it again on the 19th of July. If it opens up again, we are so there! Peopel, let’s not let this park fade away like so many others.

By Dr. Palo and family on Jun 30, 2007

I am also upset with the park not opening. I was born and raised in Meadville. The park was a summer to look forward to growing up. As I had my children we also went there. I have since moved away and my children now take there children to the park. Or should I say “use to”. This is HORRIBLE and I do hope with someone comes up with a plan to open the WHOLE PARK and not bits and pieces. The remodeling of that park is what ran it to where it now is. Please get someone in there with half a brain to restore it to the way it was in the 60’s & 70″s. We had so much fun there. Don’t piece meal this project because it to will fail. Bring the: drive through the park road back…the corner fries…. the minature golf back… the laughter of all those in attendance….the ride arama days… JUST BRING IT ALL BACK!!!!!!

By MaryJo McGraw on Jul 8, 2007

What’s the news? Will the park open??? Anxiously awaiting our annual trip to this great park.

By Elaine Budner on Jul 10, 2007

conneaut is my alma mater hero. i love penut butter! and sheetz koffey. bla bla bla conneaut is my bitch. jacqi is so cool. bitch. conneaut didnt open cuz katz laid her foot on the blue streak. then
baaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyymmmmmmmmmmmmmm

By jac n jel bitch on Jul 14, 2007

Its a shame that so many people are hurting because of these energy companies,including a great old park like Conneaut.The parks were first lit up to use excess electricity and help the power companies survive,I
feel the utilities owe much of there existence to paks like Conneaut so
it should be time to quit acting like terrorists and help parks like Conneaut to survive instead of gouging them more,GIVE THEM A BREAK MR.
BURNS.

By bob vantine on Jul 17, 2007

To me this park needs updated the last time I was there with my family all we seen was drunks everywhere, which is bad for a park to have this behavior going on there when it is suppose to be for families and the rides are very old and scary there…before they reopen they need to clean up first … 1 get rid of the drunks….

By chevy on Jul 17, 2007

Conneaut should re-open only as a park for young-kids/museum/water-park, my kids were always disappointed in the number of shut-downs in the park. Should be a paek to bring those too-young for the major parks and keep enough to interest the parent/guardians.

By dave on Jul 20, 2007

I was hoping to go this weekend for the opening of the nightclub & Beach Club but now that’s not even happening. I definitely don’t want to see CLP go. There’s precious few of these trolley/lake parks left. I’ve seen Euclid Beach, Idora, Chippewa Lake, Whalom Park(MA) & Erieview Park pass into history. I don’t want to see another go.

By Jim D. in TN on Jul 26, 2007

I am very disappointed that the park did not open this summer. It a place rich in history and memories for most of us that were born and raised in Western PA. My grandmother owned a little cottage near Conneaut when I was a child. We spent many weekends there.

My first experience with boats and skiing was at Conneaut Lake. The rides were thrilling to me, I can remember paying 2.00 for a “ride-a-rama” ticket and you could ride unimited all day!! Mom and dad could just let my sister and I loose in the Park while they sat at the Picnic area and beach relaxing. When my own daughter was a child my mom and I took her to the park many times. It was safe, old fashion fun!!

How many of you remember the fun house and the moving boards on the floor? And the convex mirrors at the end of the fun house that distorted your body into looking fat!?!? The dances in the old ballroom on Saturday nights, the mid-way french fries, the wild mouse ride, renting motor boats by the hour to drive around the lake, the indoor resturant on the mid-way that opened for breakfast, the game called duck pond and fish where for a dime everyone got a prize!

I moved away in the early 80’s and never got back to Conneaut until the late 90’s. Last summer I went up with a friend and spent 2 nights at the Hotel Conneaut. I was unsure of my decision to stay there as I was making the reservations because of the lack of air-conditioning. But the woman I spoke to assured me that most people don’t even miss it….the windows are all screened and the breezes blow in from the lake. She was right about that, I never missed air-conditioning for one minute!

It was probably one of the most peaceful relaxing weekends I’ve had in years. We sat on the huge wrap around porch of the hotel every evening, sipped wine, chatted with other guests. The resturant at the hotel was an unexpected surprise…we were not expecting it to be anything special but it turned out to be equal to most of the better resturants in the Pittsburgh area and less costly! Service was excellent too.

I’m going to miss the park. I do hope that people from Western PA take the time to support it if it does re-open next summer. It’s so rich in history and it would be a shame to see it gone permanently.

By Anna on Aug 19, 2007

Pretty Interesting.

By Amado on Aug 26, 2007

I’m disappointed also. I’d been there once many years ago and was planning on camping in the area and attending the park this next weekend.
Bummed and disappointed.

By Cindy L on Aug 27, 2007

oh no!i have my labtop im my car on my way there !its my daughters birthday and we are keeping it a surprise!if we already drove through 3 states and 1 1/2 more to go it would be a very sad birthdy for my daughter!!!shes gonna hate me!THIS CANT BE HAPPENING!

By tammy on Sep 1, 2007

Likely to follow in the footsteps of Idora Park…….where there remains not a trace.

By David on Sep 4, 2007

I was like all the rest very disappointed that the park did not open this year. i am only 18 and have been goin to CLP for the last 6 or 7 summers we have a cottage up there. i have been fearing that this would happen since the first time i went b/c i heard about it being closed in the past. well i hope that it will open next summer and the area will not let this park disappear

By Amanda on Sep 18, 2007

Like so many other our family we have been coming to Conneaut Lake for the past 75 years. We have our family reunion there every 4 years. The last one was in 2007. I had family members who made reservation at the hotel. They paid in advance and never were told that the Hotel was closed. The money was never refunded. I think there must be a bunch of crooked politicians involved in the demise CLP. I made 3 trips to the park this past week to see the damage done by the fire that destroyed the Ballroom. I remember seeing the Beach Boys at the Park some 40 years ago. Wow!!! I was happy that I did get to take my grandchildren there in 2006. I beleive that will be the last time any of us will enjoy the park.

By Munschie on Feb 8, 2008