Conneaut Lake attendance down 25%

Coasterbuf... get over it. Just because someone disagrees about something doesn't mean that suddenly they're "dismissing someone's feelings" or whatever. This is the Internet, the marketplace of ideas, and people debate things here.

Whether or not I have any emotional tie to anything doesn't matter, I'm just pointing out the simple principle of this being a (failed) business. Enthusiasts have an amazing disregard for this concept. My idea of a good time or what I believe in bears no relevance on the park's ability to live or die. If you must know how I feel, I don't care what happens to the park because it's something out of my control and there are much bigger things to worry about in my life.

"To say that the company is just giving people what they want is silly."

Silly? I think not. American consumers, for all their faults, are not stupid. Everything is about price and convenience. Just ten years ago half the country didn't even know what Wal-Mart was. Ditto for Home Depot. Why do I go to Home Depot? Because they'll have what I want, they have people who know what they're doing and they're cheaper than the local True Value franchise. Why do I go to McDonald's downtown instead of the privately owned deli? It's cheaper and takes a fraction of the time to get my food. I haven't been conditioned for anything... I know the reasons I go to those places.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Luau II Cam 7/19
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

I have to agree with Jeff on this one. You can't use evil corporations as a decoy for a failing local business. For starters, all of these examples of the CVS pitted against the family-owned pharmacy aren't fair comparisons. I'd argue that that CVS store has probably contributed MORE to the local economy than the family-owned store.

You realize that the hires are 99% local, right? And I'm sure it hires more employees than the mom and pop pharmacy. And while the pay may or may not be better I'm sure the benefit packages are substantially better with medical insurance, pension plans and other perks. Through the economies of scale CVS is probably able to offer substantially lower prices. So the locals are better compensated as employees and have more disposable income as consumers. But it gets better. Because the CVS no doubt sells more and attracts a larger range of shoppers, it contributes more in your state's sales tax and more in property taxes to the your county than the mom and pop shop did. In other words, when your city's budget has room for a few extra hires or is able to hold the line on hiking taxes to all of its residents, it's usually because that evil corporation is footing a bigger chunk of the area's tax bill.

I didn't get the charm of Conneaut when I was there in 2001. I'm glad I went. My family and I decided to do an all-indie trip that summer. We flew up from Miami to Providence, Rhode Island, and after spending a few days in Cape Cod went park hopping (Lake Compounce, Knoebel's, Conneaut Lake Park, Kennywood and Idlewild). We can't wait to make a return trip to four of those parks. Guess the fifth?

I can't see the attraction of a buyout, but let's say the evil Kennywood Corporation decided to buy the place. Hotel Conneaut would get a makeover. Rides would get upgraded. The operating schedule would be extended. The few food options would increase accordingly. Sure, ticket prices would inch higher but it would probably result in a better value.

See, CVS pharmacy studies every market it enters. There clearly was a void there or else the mom and pop would have kicked CVS out. Watch a "corporate" park attempt to open next to Knoebel's. It won't happen. The void isn't there. All indie films shouldn't be watched. All indie bands shouldn't be heard.

And, yes, I'd love to see CLP saved, but also improved in the process. No one's buying buggy whips these days.

Paris, great point. I think it would be awesome if a company like Kennywood bought CLP and fixed it up a little. I think they'd keep the character of the place intact and would be a great match for the park.

Jeff, I understand your point about failed businesses, but what I don't understand is your lack of caring if we should lose a park or coasters. As enthusiast, which I consider you to be one as well, shouldn't we want to preserve rides and parks? You almost seem to be encouraging the demise of this park. I take by your comments that you visited it and didn't like it. Well...I don't like Kentucky Kingdom much, but I wouldn't want it closed. Changed perhaps! But not closed.

Saying that you don't care what happens to the park because it's out of your control just seems odd to me. Cedar Point is out of your control, as is Holiday World, but I am sure you care what happens to those places, right? And "out of your control" doesn't mean out of your influence. An individual can make a difference. And certainly groups like ACE and websites like this one can make a great deal of difference by educating people and using their connections to various people/companies to accomplish things. But if a person throws their hands up in the air and says they can do nothing because it's out of their control, then they will get exactly that...nothing. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

No, it's about being a realist. You guys make this argument circular and you keep going around the fact that it's a business. What you and I want has no bearing on the reality of the situation. My interest means nothing, and neither does yours. I'd like a roller coaster in my backyard, but that doesn't mean I can click my heels together and make it so.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Luau II Cam 7/19
DELETED! What time does the water show start?