Conneaut Lake Park
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| Slogan | "A traditional amusement resort with something for everyone!" and "Where the past becomes the future" |
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| Location | Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°38′08″N 80°18′54″W / 41.63556°N 80.315°WCoordinates: 41°38′08″N 80°18′54″W / 41.63556°N 80.315°W |
| Owner | Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, Inc. |
| Opened | 1892 |
| Previous names | Exposition Park |
| Operating season | May to October |
| Area | 200 acres (0.81 km2) |
| Rides | |
| Total | 27 |
| Roller coasters | 3 |
| Website | Official website |
Conneaut Lake Park is a summer resort and amusement park, located in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, United States. It has long served as a regional tourist destination, and is noted by roller coaster enthusiasts for its classic Blue Streak coaster, which was recently classified as "historic" by the American Coaster Enthusiasts group.Conneaut Lake is Pennsylvania's largest natural (glacier) lake and is a popular summer resort for recreational boaters due to there being no horsepower limit on the lake.
Conneaut Lake Park was founded in 1892 as Exposition Park by Col. Frank Mantor as a permanent fairground and exposition for livestock, machinery, and industrial products from Western Pennsylvania. Prior to this time, 7 acres of land on which the park is located were purchased in 1877 by Aaron Lynce for use as a boat landing. Col. Mantor's company, the Conneaut Lake Exposition Company, purchased an additional 175 acres of adjacent land, 75 of which were given to Mr. Lynce as payment for his parcel.
During its early years, buildings at Exposition Park included a dance hall, a convention hall (for lectures), and a bathhouse. Several of the structures from Lynce's landing were also retained as well as a farmhouse on the property that was converted to a hotel. The park's first mechanical ride, a carousel, opened in 1899, and was soon joined by other rides and a midway.
Ownership of the park transferred to the Pittsburgh & Shenango Valley Railroad in 1901, during which time several hotels were built on the property. Originally accessible only by boat or train, trolley service was extended to the park in 1907. With its lakefront presence, hotels, and remote location, the park became a popular resort destination. Although many of the park's original buildings were lost in a 1908 fire, new concrete block replacements were constructed, including the Dreamland Ballroom.
The park was renamed "Conneaut Lake Park" in 1920 to reflect a move toward more amusements and rides. Rides added over these years included a Tumble Bug, bumper car ride, and a Figure Eight roller coaster (later renamed The Jack Rabbit). In 1938, the park's signature roller coaster, The Blue Streak, was added.
In 1943, a large portion of the Hotel Conneaut was destroyed in a fire. The ghost of Elizabeth, a bride who supposedly died in the fire, is said to now haunt the hotel.
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Wikipedia