A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (2024)

CONNEAUT LAKE, Pennsylvania – A frequent visitor to the area, Todd Joseph said he had never been to Conneaut Lake Park until he was considering buying it.

“I thought it was too dilapidated,” he said. “I didn’t give it the time of day.”

He’s now working, quickly, to change that, hoping to get the historic amusement park open this summer for another generation of family fun.

Joseph, a Philadelphia native, bought the park out of bankruptcy for $1.2 million in March. He’s hoping to open it as soon as July 2.

His work has not been without controversy, as he has razed old buildings and decommissioned old rides. His decision to scrap the Tumble Bug ride, a fan favorite that dates back to 1925, triggered the most recent criticism.

Nostalgia, however, doesn’t pay the bills, he said.

“There’s a price to that nostalgia,” he said. “Safety and economic impact outweigh the historic nostalgia of it.”

Joseph has not yet made a long-term decision about the park’s best-known ride, the historic Blue Streak roller coaster. The ride, which debuted in 1938, will not run this summer because of the high cost to prepare it for operation.

A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (1)
A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (2)
A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (3)

Small park on the water

The small amusement park was founded in 1892 on the western shore of Conneaut Lake, a scenic, natural lake in far-western Pennsylvania, about 90 miles east of Cleveland.

The area has long been a popular tourist draw, attracting both Pennsylvanians and Ohioans to vacation homes for water activities and the amusement park.

The park has fallen on hard times in recent decades, passing through a string of owners and several bankruptcies. It even closed for periods of time.

A nonprofit board of trustees owned the park for the past 14 years and made some improvements. However, the park didn’t open at all in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Joseph, a 47-year-old real estate developer whose in-laws live in the area, was initially interested in buying another piece of land in Crawford County. But he was drawn to the park and its terrific lakefront location.

The 110-acre purchase also includes a small campground and the 75-room historic Hotel Conneaut, overlooking the water.

“That lake view is priceless,” said Joseph. “Not many places have that anywhere.”

Joseph’s vision for the park includes hosting numerous special events throughout the year to boost attendance. Already on the books: several weekend concerts, a car show on July 10, a truck show on July 31, plus the return of the popular Pumpkin Fest in October.

He’s adding a tiki bar on the water, converting the old bumper car ride into a teen dance hall, has rebuilt the boardwalk along the lake and is bringing in new rides to replace those that can’t be saved.

The waterpark, with a lazy river and multi-slide tower, is ready to go. Kiddieland rides should be operational soon.

“He’s done more in three months than anybody else did in 30 years,” said Jaclyn McCoy, a local teacher who Joseph hired to help get the place open.

A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (4)
A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (5)
A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (6)

McCoy estimated the park will offer 13 rides for small children and eight or nine rides for adults and kids to ride together this summer. They include two historic rides: a beautiful 1905 carousel and the Devil’s Den, an indoor dark ride that debuted in 1938.

“If anyone asks about the gum wall – yes, it’s still there,” said McCoy, referencing the wall where riders would stick used pieces of chewing gum as they rode past.

However, not everyone is thrilled with Joseph’s plans.

“Heartbroken cannot describe how I feel,” wrote one long-time fan of the Tumble Bug, on the park’s Facebook page.

Another Facebook user predicted more rides won’t be fixable “until the whole place is turned into something else,” while a third worried the park will permanently close the Blue Streak.

Bill Linkenheimer of Pittsburgh, a past president of the American Coaster Enthusiasts club, said he is increasingly concerned about the future of Conneaut Lake Park. “The more you remove stuff, the tougher it will be to rebuild,” he said. “We’re very concerned about the Blue Streak.”

Joseph said he recognizes the importance of the Blue Streak, which is one of the oldest roller coasters in the United States (not to be confused with the Blue Streak at Cedar Point, which, at 57 years old, is considerably younger).

“It’s the biggest draw here,” he said. “It’s the money maker.”

Still, Joseph acknowledged it’s “definitely a pricey proposition to keep it.” He estimated that restoration of each train car alone would cost upwards of six figures. He declined to say how much he has spent so far on repairing the park.

Joan Kozlowsky, a local business owner who served on the board of trustees that oversaw operation of the park, said the community needs to give Joseph a chance.

“You can’t throw good money after bad,” said Kozlowsky, who owns the Berry Basket in downtown Conneaut Lake. “You have to be realistic. Most of the people who are upset are the people who wouldn’t go if you gave them a free ticket.”

Jim Becker is executive director of the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, the economic development organization that took over operation of the park in 2015. He said the agency successfully maintained the park, including the Tumble Bug and Blue Streak, while paying off back taxes and creditors.

Other potential owners have expressed interest in the property over the years, but many wanted to break it up into smaller pieces or build condos. Becker noted Joseph was the single bidder for the property earlier this year.

Becker said it was the right time for the park to revert back to private ownership.

“It is honestly a success story for us,” he said. “We don’t run amusement parks for a living.”

He also said everyone in the community should be hoping for Joseph to be successful. “It’s a different model from the traditional model that some may have hoped he would have gone down,” said Becker. “But we need him to be successful. We are rooting for him big time.”

Frank Flanagan, who runs Hotel Conneaut and has worked on and off at the park for decades, said the demographics of the area have changed and don’t support the same kind of complex that existed before. The region used to attract weeklong vacationers – now, most of the homes are second residences for people.

“If you have a second home, you don’t go out to eat every day,” he said. “People don’t like change. This place will never be what it was in the ’70s and ’80s. It’s impossible. It has to have a different feel, a different approach.”

McCoy said she understands the nostalgia many feel for the park – she grew up coming here too, after all.

“I love the Tumble Bug. I love the Blue Streak,” she said. “It’s no one’s fault that it’s been neglected.”

But she said making the park viable again is what’s important. “There’s nothing to bring people here,” she said. “If somebody does something with this place, it can bring Crawford County back. I want my kids to enjoy what I had.”

A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (7)

If you go: Conneaut Lake Park

Getting there: The park is located about 90 miles east of Cleveland, just over the Ohio-Pennsylvania border in Crawford County. Accessible via Interstate 90, U.S. 322 or Ohio 88.

When: Park officials have set a July 2 opening day. Listed hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The waterpark will be open 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Admission: $9.95 general admission (with no rides), $19.95 for amusement park, $14.95 for waterpark, $24.95 for amusement park and waterpark, $29.95 for all-access, including beach and event center.

Information: newconneautlakepark.com

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A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (8)
A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (9)
A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (10)

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A new chapter for Pennsylvania’s Conneaut Lake Park, although some are concerned where its story is headed (2024)
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