LeSourdesville Lake - 6/22/02

Associated parks:
None

Made a quick trip for the first time down to LL today. I was surprised at how much was still closed and/or boarded up, especially at the main entrance. I thought it sort-of gave the wrong impression...but I know the park's coming along.

Got there around 5 PM and the place was not very busy. I think the longest lines were for the train and the log flume. This was mainly due to a very slow-moving train (which looked to be on the verge of overheating) and only 3-4 boats on the flume. Interestingly, they were stopping every boat at the top of the lift hill.

We first got a few ride tickets for me (since my wife barely rides anything) and headed for the Screechin' Eagle coaster. No more than a 2-train wait for this one. I got my first ride in 3-1 (last car), then 1-2 and 3-3 (back seat). I can sum up my impression in just one word: amazing, exhilarating, stupendous, marvelous, FANTASTIC! I have never experienced so much ejector-air! In the last car you get it dropping over just about every hill, especially the third drop and the drop after the turnaround. I even got quite a bit in the front car! If I had to ding this ride for something, it would be the brake run to the station. Even with 1 train op, they slam on the brakes to a complete stop before hitting the station, causing everyone to do the whiplash boogie. Oh well, still a GREAT coaster!

After that, we meandered down the back midway heading toward the train. Passed by the closed Speedway (cars on track). Passed the roulette ride, and hit the line for the train. Huge wait there (see above). Too bad they don't extend that midway all the way back to the log flume area. Finally took the train to the way back area. What a ghosttown! Only things open were the flume, the train station, and the scambler. None of the buildings were open or signed, and the Rock-O-Plane had its cars in storage. At least they had the flume. We took a pass on it due to the line and hoofed it back to the main area.

Not much happened at this point so I'll mention the surprising number of carnival trailers that were set up for some of the rides and stands. Most of the food stands seemed to be trailers (and there seemed to be only a few), and several rides were trailerized. I guess Pugh didn't lose all of their equipment in bankruptcy :). Even though it looked a little odd for an amusement park, it was nice that they were trying to fill it with rides.

We decided to take a break from the heat at Fascination. My wife misses this game from Cedar Point and SFWoA, so she was happy to get to play. We got up to about 8 tickets when it happened. The worst thing that can happen to a park on a Saturday afternoon.

The power goes out.

Well, at least 2 phases, anyway, which makes everything look a little weird. Everything in the fascination building and at several other buildings was working at half-power. One of the supervisor-types wisely instructed someone there to turn all of the breakers off (for those who don't know, running at half-voltage is worse than being completely out and can do serious damage to electrical equipment). The crew there was nice and doubled our tickets for the trouble!

We meandered outside to survery the scene. The skyride was stuck, the Zipper was tilted somewhat, and the Serpent was stopped on the lift. As we walked down the midway, several rides had partial lighting and that was about it. The Screechin' Eagle was in the station (I found out later there were people that had to be manually released from that - no big deal). We watched as an Important-Looking Guy (tm) climbed a ladded and attempted to start the emergency generator on the Sky Ride - finally got it going after about 2 minutes of sputtering. As we were walking away, we heard someone over the radios say that something smelled funny and there was smoke over at the Screechin' Eagle. My guess was possibly a solenoid or the lift motor were burning out from the low voltage.

They finally got the power back on about 30 minutes later and got everything back to normal. I walked over to the Eagle for one last lap, and watched them run a couple of empty trains (weird watching the train just coast through the station...). Then we headed over to the Flyers. No one could get them to snap (and there were a lot of us trying). Oh well.

Summary: LL has quite a ways to go to get back on its feet. It does look like they are trying though! It only costs $3 to get in (and $1 for a ride ticket if you don't get the wristband). If you go for anything, go for the Eagle! Definitely a classic!!!

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My K'Nex Coasters

Coming to Wyandot Lake in 2003: Sea Dragon's Revenge

Good TR. So is the Eagle just a buck or is it more than 1 ticket? I hope I can get there this summer. if I make a trip to PKI I'll deffinately swing by there.

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Knoebels visits in 2002. 4


jimmybob said:

Made a quick trip for the first time down to LL today. I was surprised at how much was still closed and/or boarded up, especially at the main entrance. I thought it sort-of gave the wrong impression...but I know the park's coming along.

Yeah, COuch started tinkering with alot over on the right side of the entrance and quit when he ran out of $$$

Got there around 5 PM and the place was not very busy. I think the longest lines were for the train and the log flume. This was mainly due to a very slow-moving train (which looked to be on the verge of overheating) and only 3-4 boats on the flume. Interestingly, they were stopping every boat at the top of the lift hill.

One reason they stop boats on the lifthill is to let water drain from them :) Think about it, This is the only point on the ride that a boat can drain and Raging Thunder can be one of the wettest!

We first got a few ride tickets for me (since my wife barely rides anything) and headed for the Screechin' Eagle coaster. No more than a 2-train wait for this one. I got my first ride in 3-1 (last car), then 1-2 and 3-3 (back seat). I can sum up my impression in just one word: amazing, exhilarating, stupendous, marvelous, FANTASTIC! I have never experienced so much ejector-air! In the last car you get it dropping over just about every hill, especially the third drop and the drop after the turnaround. I even got quite a bit in the front car! If I had to ding this ride for something, it would be the brake run to the station. Even with 1 train op, they slam on the brakes to a complete stop before hitting the station, causing everyone to do the whiplash boogie. Oh well, still a GREAT coaster!

Im glad we have the Eagle back, That thing broke my tailbone twice in the backseat when it had the old burgundy train. Anyway CCI has done a nice job getting it back on it's feet. Glad you liked it :)

After that, we meandered down the back midway heading toward the train. Passed by the closed Speedway (cars on track). Passed the roulette ride, and hit the line for the train. Huge wait there (see above). Too bad they don't extend that midway all the way back to the log flume area. Finally took the train to the way back area. What a ghosttown! Only things open were the flume, the train station, and the scambler. None of the buildings were open or signed, and the Rock-O-Plane had its cars in storage. At least they had the flume. We took a pass on it due to the line and hoofed it back to the main area.

Yeah, I thought they were going to make a walkway on that side too. At least the scrambler and flume were running. (They were closed opening weekend.)

Not much happened at this point so I'll mention the surprising number of carnival trailers that were set up for some of the rides and stands. Most of the food stands seemed to be trailers (and there seemed to be only a few), and several rides were trailerized. I guess Pugh didn't lose all of their equipment in bankruptcy . Even though it looked a little odd for an amusement park, it was nice that they were trying to fill it with rides.

That Musik Express is fantastic! Did they hook the music up yet? Was the Whip running insane like it used too or slow as it was on opening night?

We decided to take a break from the heat at Fascination. My wife misses this game from Cedar Point and SFWoA, so she was happy to get to play. We got up to about 8 tickets when it happened. The worst thing that can happen to a park on a Saturday afternoon.

The power goes out.

Well, at least 2 phases, anyway, which makes everything look a little weird. Everything in the fascination building and at several other buildings was working at half-power. One of the supervisor-types wisely instructed someone there to turn all of the breakers off (for those who don't know, running at half-voltage is worse than being completely out and can do serious damage to electrical equipment). The crew there was nice and doubled our tickets for the trouble!

We meandered outside to survery the scene. The skyride was stuck, the Zipper was tilted somewhat, and the Serpent was stopped on the lift. As we walked down the midway, several rides had partial lighting and that was about it. The Screechin' Eagle was in the station (I found out later there were people that had to be manually released from that - no big deal). We watched as an Important-Looking Guy (tm) climbed a ladded and attempted to start the emergency generator on the Sky Ride - finally got it going after about 2 minutes of sputtering. As we were walking away, we heard someone over the radios say that something smelled funny and there was smoke over at the Screechin' Eagle. My guess was possibly a solenoid or the lift motor were burning out from the low voltage.

Oh, For some reason this park has always had some kind of a power problem, Expecially if there is a thurnderstorm? Go figure.

They finally got the power back on about 30 minutes later and got everything back to normal. I walked over to the Eagle for one last lap, and watched them run a couple of empty trains (weird watching the train just coast through the station...). Then we headed over to the Flyers. No one could get them to snap (and there were a lot of us trying). Oh well.

:) There is a trick to those flyers! And once you figure it out, You snap harder than either PKI's or Knoebels.

Summary: LL has quite a ways to go to get back on its feet. It does look like they are trying though! It only costs $3 to get in (and $1 for a ride ticket if you don't get the wristband). If you go for anything, go for the Eagle! Definitely a classic!!!

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Dude It seems they have come a long way in just two weeks. The Flume and Scrambler were going, The speedway operated opening night with only two cars.

I am really hoping this park makes it and will visit all I can. I have as much fun there as many bigger parks.

Chuck, who will be at LL July 5th with hopefully several others :)

My K'Nex Coasters

Coming to Wyandot Lake in 2003: Sea Dragon's Revenge



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Charles Nungester
Lesourdsville Lake, The great American amusement park opens the season June 6th Thurs-Sun every week. Park phone is (513)539-2193

Answering questions...

Eagle is 2 tickets ($2.00) and well worth several laps (if you ride a lot, get a wristband...)

Musik Express was hooked up with musik, and the op was on the mic doing his best/worst Eminem impersonation.

The Whip was pokey, very pokey. That's why I didn't ride...not much of a point to when it's not whipping.

I'll figure out dem flyers someday!

Jim

-----------------
My K'Nex Coasters

Coming to Wyandot Lake in 2003: Sea Dragon's Revenge

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