My take on Lesourdsville Opening

I don’t think we will ever see Lesourdsville Lake open again. I was up there a few days ago and noticed how all around it new subdivisions are popping up everywhere. I think its only a matter of time before the land gets sold for residential development. It is sad to drive by it and see it sitting there empty. I never had the good sense to go there while I could. I guess only time will tell.

If such is the case then hopefully Dick Knoebels is ready to relocate another top-notch woodie to Pennsylvania.

And if not, mayhaps I can convince the people at Camden, cause that would get me a yearly visit for sure.

Oh hell yeah! I agree with Clint. ;-) If that was the case I would be there several times a week.

I HATE seeing the Eagle just sitting there. MAJOR waste of one of the best underrated woodies EVER!

Actually, it's my favorite Ohio wood. :-P

-Tina

*** Edited 6/27/2005 10:15:19 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Clearly it's not doing Eagle any good to sit there idle...and the park has LOTS of other rides other parks could still make good use of...as long as they don't KEEP sitting there.

PLEASE, if you are not going to re-open the park, let someone else take those rides and have them do what they were DESIGNED to do.....entertain people.

What other rides are at the park?

http://www.rcdb.com/ig322.htm?picture=4 That is one of the best coaster pics I've ever seen.

The problem with Jerry Couch owning the park is, is he doesn't know how to operate it.

When he bought it, he had Jeff Pugh (Pugh Shows) run it, and Jeff stole a bunch of his money, so now Jerry is stuck between a rock and a hard place because I don't think he trusts anyone to run it, and he doesn't want to give it up

Some of the more notable rides in addition to the Screechin' Eagle include:

*Whip
*Rock-O-Plane
*Replica riverboat in the lake
*Train
*Flying Scooter
*Giant Slide
*Skyride over the lake
*Speedway car ride
*An unusual log flume
*Galaxy coaster
*Paratrooper
*Calypso
*Tip Top
*Scrambler

I'm forgetting more than a few I'm sure. But a really nice ride package overall.

Why not just let a group of coasterbuzers run it for a season? Might do a better job than Pugh did.

Don't forget the Herschell kiddie coaster! Love them good kiddie coasters...where else are ya gonna get future enthusiasts, certainly not the Vekoma family inverts, LOL! ;)

Edit: And there's a Zipper! :)

*** Edited 6/27/2005 4:06:44 PM UTC by rollergator***

But is the Zipper still there? I thought that was one of the Pugh rides and not officially part of the park.
(Like the pirate ship, Musik Express, funhouse, waverunner?, etc.)

Good call millrace....I'd forgotten that Pugh actually owned some of the rides.

Whatever rides he owned, I sure hope he doesn't get the opportunity to do to another park what he did to LeSourdsville....not that Couch is excelling at finding someone to run it and/or buy the place...

That's actually a kiddy coaster I didn't GET! I was turned down for once. ;-)

There is MUCH more to LeSourdsville than the Eagle. There is the train, and the Zipper (which is one of the most awesome, sickest rides ever created!)

Millrace named the rest. :-P

I would make a comment about PKI buying the Eagle and replacing it with one of their woodies but I would get flamed. ;-)

-Tina

I hope Pugh didn't get his rides back!

When Coney Island bought the park in 1996, they wanted to biuld a wood coaster. For the cost of one, they were able to buy the whole park, which didn't turn enough revenue for them. I wonder if they would be able to buy the Eagle, if neccessary...

...and that wood coaster they wanted to build can be ridden at SFKK ;)

And is, IMO, a very good woodie. I rate it very high.

Screechin Eagle (then the Cyclone) was my first coaster ride ever, probably '59 or '60. It breaks my heart that it's sitting idle. We went to LeSourdesville it's last season, and I was surprised to see Pugh's old rides around the park. They were nice additions I suppose, and I don't know how these things work, but I wondered how they survived the bankruptcy. The sherriff had their headquarters in Lancaster under lock and key. Anyhow, we had a great time- the park was clean and nice, the crowds were sane, the rides were fun, most of the employees spoke no English, and the Eagle was running better than I ever remember.

We went by there last summer and it sure didn't look good- there was actually an RV dealer set up in the parking lot. We peered thru the fence, and everything still seemed to be there, sadly and quietly looking back at us.

Does anyone besides me find LeSourdesville and Lake Winnie to be real similar?

Whatever happened to the old Indy 500 ride that was there? It was like a little go-kart track, but the track was made of slick wood, like a roller skating rink. They used to let you keep circling until there were three pile-ups, then your ride was over.

That park had character, that's for sure. What about the much-used train tracks that run right in front of the main gate (and right next to the Whip and Flying Eagles)?

Is the Fascination building still there? How about the arcade that had the little elevated corner for Pac-Man games (complete with Pac-Man carpet)?

I say we just steal the Eagle piece by piece over the next year and then build it in +Danny's backyard, which isn't too far from the park. He's got the land to do it...

The rides Pugh brought to the park are still there but they are held by a holding company handling the Pugh bankruptcy and Couch can't do nothing with them.

Couch got burned and I doubt he will let anyone manage it other than somone of his own choosing, The park is for sale, I believe 6 million is the price. Several parties have tried but nobody yet has secured a mortgage.

LL could work and all that development mentioned as a reason It won't open is a MAIN REASON IT SHOULD BE OPEN!

Pugh and Couch screwed the pooch royally. No season pass was offered and little to no marketing done.

Get through a season, Offer a SP and the 10000 locals alone will be a factor, Add some waterslides your second year, Increase your draw and the sky's the limit.

BTW, Picnics alone used to draw almost 400,000 to this park with another 300,000 in gate sales.

Make it work Jerry, Make it work!
www.americanaamusementpark.com

Chuck