Help Conneaut open this year.

I can see the wisdom in keep the park closed this year to give them time to figure things out but I do think it is a positive to step to open parts of the park property for festivals, The Beach Club, the beach, and functions in the hotel ballroom. Too many people already think the park is gone. Being completely closed for a year will only worsen that perception. Out of sight, out of mind.

That's true, but since the park has yet to open for the season, I think it's already a case of "out of sight, out of mind". But I could be wrong, I'm not exactly in touch with the opinions of the people in the Conneaut. Maybe a reopening in 2008 should be accompanied by a small advertising campaign.

Regarding not opening, that would be the WORST move they could make. Costs would still incur, insurance would still be needed and no money would really be coming in. A business is so hard to reopen once it's been closed. I'm talking with experience here.

The word of a closing spreads far faster and wider than a reopening or even an opening. Even if the name was changed, it STILL would have a difficult time attracting attention.

They are doing the right thing! And if anyone hasn't noticed, they really are opening with minimal outside help. Only $20k raised so far. Didn't they need $200k and $250k in previous years? That's $180-230k less they have to pay back this year. This should demonstrate this park has made significant improvements over the past few years.

I still think they could sell off a couple more rides (Musik Express, Trabant) and condense the midway. Start the ride park closer to the Blue Streak, Bug and Carousel. Push people more toward the water park and water front. That seems to be where the money making is. (Beach Club, Hotel, Ballroom, Boat)

I hope they will get Blue Streak up the opening weekend, but I am sure that is one of their biggest costs. (Gonna break out of the box here..) Another option they have if their rides aren't ready, they could always contract a carnival company to provide supplemental rides, games, etc.. (Be gentle.;))

If weather holds, CLP may just surprise EVERYBODY this year!

Tokens Sold: 4,183

Besides getting competition from parks like Waldameer, Kennywood, and Geauga Lake, Conneaut Lake receives much competition from the numerous county and other agricultural fairs that take place annually in western PA and eastern Ohio. While the fairs dont have the Blue Streak, they often have a good selection of flat rides that draw people to their midways.

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CastleKing said:
Regarding not opening, that would be the WORST move they could make. Costs would still incur, insurance would still be needed and no money would really be coming in. A business is so hard to reopen once it's been closed. I'm talking with experience here.
quote]

Sounds familiar.

Arthur: You make a good point.
Last summer, when i talked to a CLP ride op, he refered to the park as a Stationary county fair with less rides. That day, the Round-Up, Ferris Wheel, Paratrooper and Musik Express were and Train were down. That's 1/4 of their adult rides.

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I think this is sad, but without a huge capital investment and smart management this park is doomed. There is no market in Conneaut to support even the smallest of parks.

I used to go at least once a year for the GE family picnic and have really great memories of the park. Blue Streak was my second roller coaster after Waldameer's Comet. But they are selling collectable coins just to open...say they sell enough, then what. They need someone with some experience to take over this park, these yahoos have no plan.

There's no market in Conneaut but let's face it, how many parks have an immediate market? The Sandusky market isn't large enough to support Cedar Point, the Doswell market isn't large enough to support Kings Dominion and the Salem market isn't large enough to support Canobie Lake. Conneaut needs to reach beyond Conneaut for its audience and that's why I think a small marketing campaign might be needed next year. I also think that creating some kind of concert venue for "mid-level" (for lack of a better term) acts that would draw a larger number of people would be a good idea. That, and finding a way to get rid of the debt.

Hmmmm. It seems there's a $104,000 mystery grant that just may come their way.

^wow, that's 20,800 tokens.
;)

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Rob Ascough said:
There's no market in Conneaut but let's face it, how many parks have an immediate market? The Sandusky market isn't large enough to support Cedar Point, the Doswell market isn't large enough to support Kings Dominion and the Salem market isn't large enough to support Canobie Lake.

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Well, in a couple of cases those parks have a lot more to offer to draw people from the surrounding areas. (and larger areas to draw from with little competition that offers and equal or better experience on paper) As far as Canobie:

The current population of Conneaut Lake is 668 people. Even if you stretch it a little and try to call it Meadville - the population of Meadville is 13,319.

Salem, NH has a population of almost 30,000.

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Conneaut needs to reach beyond Conneaut for its audience and that's why I think a small marketing campaign might be needed next year.

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Still not sure what CLP offers that would pull people from Waldameer, Kennywood, Geauga Lake or even DelGrossos/Lakemont. Just personal opinion, but all of those parks 'beat' CLP if forced to make a choice and the fact that you're trying to 'pull' me from those parks - it's not gonna happen.

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I also think that creating some kind of concert venue for "mid-level" (for lack of a better term) acts that would draw a larger number of people would be a good idea.

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Yup. The park was kicking back in the days that they did those shows. But at what point are you a summer concert venue and not an amusement park? That would indeed help, but it doesnt change the fact that an amusement park doesn't seem to be able to survive in that anemic market.

Well, I see news of my grant just reached the local papers ;)

Seriously... I understand that the Conenaut/Meadville are is pretty empty as far as actual population goes, but most parks draw people from way beyond the town/county limits. Sure, Salem has twice as many people, but Canobie Lake survives on a lot more than 30K people a year, and that's wrongfully assuming that all 30K Salem residents visit the park each year. Conneaut has some major cities to draw from- Cleveland, Erie and Pittsburgh are three that instantly come to mind.

I agree that Conneaut really has nothing to offer that other local parks don't offer (often in larger quantities), which is why a concert venue might make sense. Aside from the debt, a lack of traffic is what's hurting the park right now. Concerts would create traffic. And while there is the risk of people coming for the concerts and leaving without enjoying the park, I think it's worth a shot. A concert venue would give Conneaut something that Waldameer, Kennywood and Geauga Lake currently lack and I think it would be a low-risk endeavor.

The big draw for the Conneaut area is the lake itself. There's no lack of summer cabin/house renters with boats that'll spend several weeks vacationing for the lake itself.

The owner of Mama Bears Restaurant once told me the population goes from like 700 fall/winter to 20,000+ average for spring and summer. Being the only 24 hour restaurant/greaseyspoon in the area helps, but most of her money come from summer renters.

Canobie Lake draws much of their attendance from the Boston area. Since Boston lacks any significant local amusement parks (unlike Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Erie) the choices are to go to Canobie (for a closer and more affordable park) or to head west to Six Flags New England (for the big thrills).

Residents of Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Erie have many other choices besides their local parks. Parks like CP, Idlewild, Darien Lake, etc. are within easy reach of one or more of these cities.

4245 as off today!

At least sales of the tokens continue at a constant pace. It doesn't seem like interest has waned.

If the people of Cleveland won't go to Geauga Lake, what makes you think they would head down to CLP?

The thing that would worry me about a marketing campaign is that it could attract new people who get there and see that there are only a few rides open with the rest falling over. CLP never gets a second chance at that customer. If it were a park like DelGrosso's or Waldameer that was just being ignored by the public they would have a product good enough to stand by. CLP has history and potential, and thats about it without a big investment.

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Kennywooddude said:
If the people of Cleveland won't go to Geauga Lake, what makes you think they would head down to CLP?

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I love CLP. Yeah, from Cleveland here.

GL was better with animals. Sorry, 6Flgags spoiled me on that.

Here's your differance between GL and CLP, (besides rides and volume) At Clp, you cna crash at the hotel or Camperland, or a host of hotels within walking distance. To Clevelamders, GL and all the area attractions are known and done. With CLP, it's more like a vacationj and is more fun.

I'll put in more if you like...

DelGrossos does well enough for a park their size. They get those picnic groups and they promote the park through their sauces and other food products. They are popular with the locals with their combination of rides, FEC type attractions and a waterpark.

Ravine Flyer 2 will make Waldameer better known outside the Erie area. The park is in a good location to draw vacationers once they have enough attractions to make a visit worthwhile for them. CLP will face a major challence next year because of this.