After $1.2M Sale and Renovations, Conneaut Lake Park Ready to Reopen
CONNEAUT LAKE, Pa. – With a new owner and a bit of refurbishing, Conneaut Lake Park will reopen for the season Friday.
The nearly 130-year-old amusement park, which did not operate last year because of the pandemic, was sold earlier this year in bankruptcy court for $1.2 million to Keldon Holdings LLC, owned by Todd Joseph of Philadelphia.
The struggling property had been operated by a Crawford County economic development agency. Its prior owners declared chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2014.
Visitors will find several changes this year that go beyond a general sprucing up.
The midway, which had fallen into a state of disrepair, has been razed and replaced by a grassy area. The games and food vendors it once housed have been scattered around the park, said Jaclyn McCoy, general manager of the park.
The iconic Blue Streak roller coaster will not be running this year. The first section of the ride was rebuilt about a decade ago but more work has become necessary.
“The first hill is in good shape but the rest isn’t,” McCoy said, “and neither are the train cars. Mr. Joseph is having an assessment [of the roller coaster] done in the fall.”
The water park will be open. It features two multi-story slides, a kiddie pool, and a Lazy River. A few new rides have been added to Kiddieland, which is for small children, and more are planned. The lakefront boardwalk has been lengthened with steps installed to the small beach.
A couple of new rides have been added to the area near the Devil’s Den funhouse. One long-time ride – The Tumblebug – has been removed as it became unfeasible to repair, McCoy said.
Perhaps the biggest change will be at the ticket booth.
It will no longer be free to enter the park for those who just want to walk or accompany children. A general admission fee for non-riders will be $9.95 ($4.95 for senior citizens; free for children 2 and under) and includes access to the beach.
A ride wristband, which grants admission to the park and unlimited entrance to all rides including Kiddieland and the beach, is $19.95. A waterpark wristband (admission, waterpark attractions and the beach) is $14.95. A combo pass (rides and waterpark) is $24.95. Miniature golf is $5.
For information, go to NewConneautLakePark.com.
The park will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays into October. The annual Pumpkin Fest will return Oct. 8-10.
Bands and other events are scheduled almost every day on the lawn; see the schedule on the website. For opening day, July 2, Juvenile Characteristics will play from 6-9 p.m.
Conneaut Lake Hotel, which is on the park property, has remained open and accepts guests year-round.
Ghost Lake, the annual Halloween attraction centered around the hotel, will return this year, McCoy said.
Pictured: View from the top of one of the Conneaut Lake Park waterpark shows the Lazy River.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
