TR: Conneaut Lake Park and area.

[FlyingScooter]

We got to CLP on Aug 2nd and checked into the hotel: (Parkside hotel, right next to the park) The hotel was okay and well maintained. The pool was great, and we spent like two hours splashing around.

After swimming, we went to the Pymatuning Deer Park. I guess you could call it a mini-zoo with a petting area. The lions and tigers were active and loud, which was cool.

Here's were things started getting odd. We hit Meadville Mall to check out some of the stores, and the place is a ghost town. The only thing opened in the whole mall was a Payless shoe store and a GNC. Depressing.

We asked the clerk of the Payless what happened. She gave a single word answer: Wal-Mart.

We then headed for Downtown Meadville for the antique stores.

Most were closed, permanently. Some even had signs: Thanks Wal-Mart.

BTW, Meadville PA is the home of Channellock Tools. At least their still up and running.

The next day we hit the park. Keep this in mind, please: I love the park.

They only have 8 adult rides running. The Bug is still down and according to maintenance, will still be down for at least the rest of this season. SAme goes for the Train with its blown axle. The building that the ultimate trip was housed in was condemned via the PA building inspecters, so that was another ride shot.

The Blue Streak was great, like always.

The Dodgems had a total of 5 cars working, which made for the longest line in the park.

The FlyingScooters, my personal favorite, were actually snapping well! I think my daughter and i rode those about 25 times that day. My girlfriends kid, however, tossed his breakfast after his third run. We were stunned, as he never gets sick on anything. The ride op acknowledged the barf, but it didn't get cleaned. The ops no longer have radios or phones to contact maintenance. I even asked her where the 'bucket' was so i could fill it w/water and clean the mess.

With an odd smile: What Bucket? she says. 'oh, don't worry about it. Maintenance will be by in a few hours to clean it.'

And, With barf dripping off the side to #6 Scooter, not to mention a good amount in #6, they continued to load and unload the Scooters. Needless to say, we avoided #6 the remainder to the day. The barf on the ground simply baked off in the heat.

The WaterSlides and lazy river were good.

Without a Miracle, I think this will be CLP's last season.

The overall condition of the park was sad. The bathrooms smelled foul and had no light in them.

THe Carousel still looked great, thank god.

As far as the area goes: I guess the go-cart track is closed for good. The Putt Putt courses in the area are great and very cheap, about 2.00 to 2.50 a game.

If you're in to history, The Drake Well museum is pretty cool and a fun way to spend the afternoon. There is also a 3 hour train ride which was a blast. You get to walk around on a flatcar with sides built on it while the train is running. that was fun.

I will add more when i get time.

[FlyingScooter]

Part II.

Another interesting thing to see in the area is the Linesville Spillway. As proclaimed on t-shirts and bumper stickers: Where the ducks walk on the fish. I can't say I've ever seen so many fish, ducks and gulls in one location.

The Conneaut area is also the home of Conneaut Cellars winery. Great wine! Unfortunately, they don't ship to Ohio. They've won several awards for their reds, mainly the Colonel Crawford and Summit red. Both I'd highly recomend.

 

All in all, it was a good two day trip.

I wish the best for the park. It is a classic that is dying slowly due to too many years of poor management.

Thanks for reading my first TR here.