Le Sourdsville Lake Re-Opening?

I heard this morning on Fox 19 news (in Cincinnati)that a Nebraska amusement park company is interested in buying Le Sourdsville Lake. The story said that they plan on having it open by Memorial Day if the sale goes through. Has anyone else heard this? I searched the news websites for the story, but couldn't find it anywhere.

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/02/05/loc_lesourdsville05.html

Hope that link doesn't mess up the page width...

Anyhow, this guy sounds like he's a little (OK, a LOT) more capable of pulling this together than the Idora Park pipedreamer...;)

bill, extremely hopeful, but realistic...if you haven't been to LeSourdsville, GO as soon as the opportunity presents itslef...(BeastBuzz trip mayhaps?)...;)

That is AWESOME news!

Let's cross our fingers!

-TIna

I'm only uncrossing my fingers so I can type this ;)

mOOSH [back to finger crossing]

I wonder why Jerry Couch put all of that money into the park a few years ago and is now calling it quits. Did he get in over his head, or just lose interest? It seems like the park has all the neccesary pieces to be successful and all it needs is stable management.

Not knowing anything but what I've read on the Internet (which, of course, must be true) it sounds like Couch didn't want to run an amusement park so much as he wanted to own one.

Oh please, oh please, oh please :)

I think Brian N. has the real answer re: Couch's involvement...buying an amusement park is a bit different than OPERATING one....and operating one *successfully* is a lot different than keeping one afloat.

Basically, it seems like Couch was *contented* with getting the park open, and didn't really try to GROW the business....

This would be great. I guess I feel even luckier now because my lovely wife and I went there in 2002 and rode Screechin Eagle. It's an awesome coaster. We've wanted to get back there but obviously... *** Edited 2/5/2004 10:05:14 PM UTC by DEK***

Thanks for finding the article rollergator! I hope the buy does happen. The log flume at LeSourdsville is the best (and wettest) flume I have ever been on and the Screechin' Eagle is an awesome woodie.

I like this quote from the article:

"So why do it? Because of the nostalgia, and the Americana - no pun intended," Jennings says. "You're not going to make $1 million on it, but you could keep a historic entity open and make a little money."

Didn't somebody say recently in a topic about Chippewa Lake Park that "Nostalgia is not a business plan?" So, what do you call this then?

Well, since you asked...

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A Nebraska amusement park owner has asked about buying LeSourdsville Lake.

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That quote from the article is why I would consider this different from the Chippewa plan.

Not to mention that this park is already there and would need a little maintenance as opposed to needing to be fully constructed. The infrastructure, the rides, the stands, games... it's all sitting there already (with no trees growing through the tracks.)

Does anyone else think Couch's plan of incorporating campers into the park plan and letting a bankrupt carnival owner manage the place wasn't the best idea?

I agree with moosh, my fingers will be crossed. I will completely be beside myself if it opens up for 2004. If it opens I might just have to not go to CP, and go to LeSourdsville instead (not really but if I had to do one or the other Screechin' Eagle here I come!)

kpjb- What you said was completely irrelevant to what I was referring to, which was simply nostalgia as a business plan in general. Take for example Euclid Beach popcorn balls and taffy that you can still buy, they are nostalgic to people who remember eating them there as child.

I think if done properly, LeSourdsville can make it. Like Mr Jennings said, don't try to compete with the big giant corporate park, but focus on the things they can't provide. That is how you survive in that market. When people go to a park they want to have fun and feel like they are wanted/welcome. Pat Koch told me once when I asked her about Kentucky Kingdom being so close, "We don't compete. They do what they do, and we do what we do!"

One of the big reasons that parks like Euclid Beach and some others failed, is that as cities grew up around these parks, they became hangouts for the local riff raff. People didn't feel safe or welcome anymore. I've been told that the Humphteys were so strong on their traditions at the 'Beach', they refused to start charging admission to the park. LeSourdsville isn't quite in the same predicament as that.

Wood - anything else is an imitation *** Edited 2/6/2004 6:12:18 AM UTC by Thrillerman***

First off, Couch hired Pugh to run the park. All monies put into it for 2002 were considerable and from couch himself. About all Pugh had was some carnies which were good for maintence and getting the park running but were bad for buisness.

Pugh had no credit, no money or anything. Couch let pugh operate the park and basically Pugh did not pay the bills he was responsible for.

As Rideman stated some months back, Couch now knows that he has no idea what he's doing and will not make another go until he has the right people involved or sells the park.

Chuck, who really can't blame Couch for not talking to the public at large but is talking to those that matter.

Jerry knows he can't run the park with his knowledge, and he'd rather have it run right or not at all.

I met him, and he doesn't look like the type of guy who would take any crap.

I Really hope this goes through. If so, I'm with gator on a side trip for Beast Buzz(you WILL BE THERE, RIGHT BILL!!?!?;)). I Love wood, and have heard so much about Screechin Eagle, It would have to be a side trip I would make.

*fingers crossed!!!*

FINGERS CROSSED!