Fire destroys Conneaut Lake Park's Dreamland Ballroom

Every year for the past seven, eight, whatever years, the park needs "just" some amount of money to open, fix something, or whatever. So where were the plans to do that and be a viable business?

Perhaps it was, indeed, the people who were the problem.

Maybe CLP needs to just throw itself on the mercy of someone who really has the wherewithal and desire to save it (an unknown 'angel'). Run a 'help wanted' ad in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Philanthropist Wanted" and briefly outline the need. It would require swallowing a bunch of pride, and it very well may not work, but then again, there just might be someone out there who spent enjoyable times at CLP who then ALSO went on to make a fortune. All you need to find is one -- the RIGHT one -- and tap into their sense of nostalgia and a unique business opportunity. It has happened elsewhere. Bold action might make it happen, here. Long shot, of course, but how many 'shots' does this Grand Lady have left?

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Agent Johnson said:

Call me lame for loving that park, but I will never turn my back, and finally some of my fellow brothers in the industry are also feeling the urge to preserve something. Unlike several other theme park operators.

Now that I think of it, the world would be a better place with Idora, West View, Riverview, and Euclid Beach. While times changed, at least those owners tried their damndest. I often thought Idora Park threw in the towel prior to their 1984 fire. Now, I have more respect for those people who worked with their hearts.

The industry doesn't need rich people. They just need people who care.

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I don't think it's lame at all, although the history of popular opinion on this site would suggest otherwise. I've always maintained that the amusement industry is one where passion is a big part of the equation. Selling a day at an amusement park is not like selling a microwave. There is emotion involved, and it's only natural that there is a little emotion behind the scenes. I guess that's why news like this affects some people the way it does, myself included.

It's nice to hear from an educated industry insider that the outlook for Conneaut isn't as grim as it seems. I was under the impression this would have turned out to be one of the final nails in the park's coffin and I'd love to go on believing that isn't necessarily the case. I've been to Conneaut numerous times and it's a quirky place that is more than capable of delivering a good time. The laid-back atmosphere, the decent collection of flats, the flat-out fun Blue Streak- I'd rather drive six hours to Conneaut Lake instead of 90 minutes to a few of my local theme parks. I've been to Conneaut two times in the past threee years. I haven't been to Dorney or Great Adventure once in the same amount of time. Like Agent Johnson, I'll take the CLP experience over high admission prices that buy me access to long lines, and even higher prices that allow me to cut those lines.

I know there's a constant need to turn a profit but I really think a lot of amusement operators have lost their way. Cedar Fair seems to be stuck in quicksand because they don't have any ideas, it's just the same old stuff year after year. Six Flags is at least making an attempt, although their solution seems to be turning theme parks into living, breathing commercials for other things. The smaller park operators are the ones that are putting their hearts and souls into the industry and finding some amount of success. Knoebels, Waldameer, Holiday World and Morey's Piers are the ones that have my attention, and they're the ones getting more and more of my business. I'd much rather add Conneaut to that group of parks than see it disappear.

No, the smaller ones have either fallen into a sustainable niche, or exist in a market where growth is possible. The "heart and soul" is just a coincidence.

former board member:

You can accuse many people for CLP demise, and you can come up with many ideas, but one fact still exists:

If people don't come, the park cannot survive.

Investors are constantly looking for ways to make money off of failing businesses. Why has none come foward to take on CLP? Perhaps it has to do with the fact the park cannot survive where is is located?

It is a sad story, and I would love to see the park prosper like it once did. But the reality is that the park has suffered for over 15 years due to poor attendence. And during that time, the park has had numerous managers and different people in charge and everyone has failed. And not to be insulting, but why do you think that in all of their failures, you have all the answers? (AKA the Midas touch) If you do, step up to the plate and use your voice. If there are still enough intrested parties for CLP, they will listen.

Heres what I don't get, On both my visits to CLP the park was quite lively with people. Neither visit was on a weekend.

Those who assume lack of attendance is the problem are the problem IMHO.

Quite simply, FOrmer board member is right, They do a good (Not great buisness) Just the debt of the park by previous owners and admin's is too much to overcome by attendance alone. Two million? Thats a dime in lakefront property terms. Someone should buy it and lease it and come up with a plan.

Some things about the park I never understood tho. Why is the beach free????? I mean a couple bucks a person certainly would help. Those free concerts ect? Come on, Hold some battle of the bands and charge ten bucks apiece. The car shows? Charge five bucks. Hotel stayers are free and anyone leasing a house on site as well.

Bring it back doesn't mean same ole plans.

Chuck, Not very hopeful but I like the park.

Insurance question here

If this fire turns out to be arson, and if they don't have insurance on "fire" would the insurance cover the "arson"? Is that possible?

Fire insurance would be part of a business's property insurance. If the park owners/managers don't have that, they couldn't collect damages from any fire, no matter how it started. The assumption here seems to be they weren't making payments, so they have no policy to make a claim against.

I suppose if one or more arsonists were caught, they could be sued for damages. But unless the arsonists turn out to be very rich or were hired by someone who was, it's not likely you could ever collect enough damages to replace what was lost.

How sad that Jeff completely dismisses "heart and soul" as a recipe for success. I strongly disagree. That can certainly play a part in helping a park succeed. Other things are important, like market niche and potential growth, but to completely dismiss passion is amazingly cold to me. There IS a role for "heart and soul" in this industry, and parks are better as a result of it. It does not always work, but it is a vital component...

Charles-

I'm not sure as to when you were there that attendence was good, but even in the article from the Erie Daily Times, George Deshner commented that the amount of people the came to see the damage from the fire over the weekend was more than one day during the 2006 season.

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"We had more people on Saturday and Sunday than we had on any day that the park was open during the 2006 season," he said to a small group of people who had come to the park Monday morning.

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http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080205/NEWS02/802050374/-1/NEWS

Sure you are going to get a couple good days where people do come to the park, but it's just not consistant. Nor are those few days of decent attendence going to take a big enough chunck out of the increasing debt that the park has. The ideas of charging for the beach are decent ideas, but at this time, it's too little, too late.

At this time, there is no evidence of arson:

http://www.meadvilletribune.com/local/local_story_035205752.html

Didn't I say that attendance couldn't overcome the debt? and that a buyout and different buisness plan is needed?

Yes you did. Right along with:

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Heres what I don't get, On both my visits to CLP the park was quite lively with people. Neither visit was on a weekend.

Those who assume lack of attendance is the problem are the problem IMHO.

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I took that comment as you believe CLP can survive with the attendence they were getting, not including the weekends.

Of course heart and soul plays a big part in the success of a business. Long before superpower corporations like Microsoft, Apple and Yahoo were poised to take over the world, they were someone's passion.

I am not a huge sci-fi fan, but in Return of the Jedi, when Yoda thought Luke would perish against Darth Vader, and he shows dismay to the ghost of Obie Kenobie, he goes "there is another". As in one more Jedi left to fight.

Well, Conneaut Lake Park, if they can steer through the next few months, will rise against the Empire. Amazingly, there may be a few Jedi left to fight.

My lightsaber is in my landspeeder's compartment. Still works.

...just as long as there's no Ewoks.

Jedis are over-rated. Ninjas don't need light sabers.

I well remember when Conneaut Lake not only had the wonderful amusement park, but also a delightful fairy tale park/petting zoo across the road where the campground now stands. Unfortunately, all I have left are my own snapshots and memories, and tremendous sighs as I look through the current website dedicated to the charm of what was Fairyland Forest. I would hate to see CLP suffer the same terrible fate of "remember when". With Euclid Beach, Idora Park and West View long gone and Geauga Lake a sad memory, Conneaut Lake Park is THE last remaining bastion of early era amusement parks along the Penn-Ohio border. I visited Conneaut in June of 2007 and spoke with Mr. Deschler, half-seriously telling him that I would remortgage my house if it would help get the great lady back on her feet. I did purchase several CLP commemorative coins, but the fact is that a benefactor with deep pockets is badly needed to bring CLP back to its former grandeur. The first person who comes to mind is Tony Butala of the 60's vocal group "The Lettermen", who hails from Sharon PA (not far from Conneaut Lake) and established the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon. Tony is currently helping to renovate the historic Columbia Theater in Sharon and would be THE person to approach in a possible attempt to build a first rate concert venue at Conneaut Lake. I had pitched this idea to Mr. Deschler who, at the time, considered bringing this in front of the board, but it appears this never came to fruition. I believe the time has come. Too much of Conneaut Lake Park has already slipped away: the Wild Mouse, the Swinging Cages, the Whip, the Caterpillar, the Jungle Cruise, and one of the best damn funhouses I'd ever encountered! What can we do to try and keep the rest of CLP from slipping away forever? $5.00 admission to use the beach? Better expand the beach area, because it's pretty small. What about "selling" park benches, light posts, even the restroom stalls to interested patrons every year...heck, I would be glad to "pay" $100 for an existing bench, then come in during the annual spring cleanup and paint it and provide whatever maintenance necessary to get it ready for the season! There must be a way to save the Lady...any other suggestions?

I was so sad to hear about the ballroom burning. I was a local kid and during the 60s when I was a teenager, we called it the Pavillion and danced there every Wednesday and Saturday night. Hundred of kids from all over the area would come and dance all night to the popular songs played by local DJs. It was a great place to meet kids from other towns.

Summers in northwestern PA are very humid and the Pavillion was upstairs with no air conditioning and we would be wringing wet after dancing for hours. We would go over to the Blue Streak and ride it a couple of times to cool off and then go back to the dance and start all over again.

I have been gone from the Conneaut Lake area for over 40 years but still consider that area home and will always have a fond place in my heart for the Dreamland Ballroom and the dances I enjoyed there as a teen. I have many wonderful memories in my heart of that time and place.