http://www.meadvilletribune.com/local/loca..._003233841.html

I hope something comes together for CLP. I would love a chance to ride The Blue Streak, and I had the intention of doing so last season. Obviously that didn't work for me.

Well, as the old real estate adage goes, location, location location. As much as I hate to see smaller parks fail, this park needs a lot of help to turn it around. And of the things that is working against it, from what I understand, is its location. It is somewhat off the beaten path, which makes it hard to be an economically viable business. Unfortunately, I`ve never been to this park either.

It's not that it is off the beaten path, only because it is located a few miles off I-79. But more because the area it is in is economically depressed. The Meadville/ Conneaut Lake area was considered the Tool Capital of the World at one time. But now with China leading the way with cheap metal and cheap labor, many tooling jobs have gone to China. China has taken so many tooling jobs from Northwest PA, everyone is moving down South where experianced toolmakers are hard to come by, and pay about $10 to $15 more an hour than here.

The best way of describing CLP is comparing it to GL, but without the financial backing. People stopped going, so it was difficult for the park to refresh itself with new rides. And competition from Waldameer, Idlewild, Kennywood, etc. basically choked the life out of CLP. The park is in such financial trouble now, the debt it has aquired is almost as much as the park is worth.

It really is a sad story, but people really need to move on from this park. There are so many businesses in the area that were dependant on CLP, and for about 10 years now it was always up in the air if the park was going to open. So families kept their business doors open with the hope of CLP surviving, and it has only brought heartbreak. They have put everything on the line for the park, that the area needs to lick it's wounds, and move on and find something else to bring the people in.

Miracles do happen, and that is the only thing that is going to save CLP.

CLP board plans to open parts of park:

http://www.meadvilletribune.com/local/loca..._024214400.html

but NOT the rides....I fear for the future of this park, more and more each week . . .

ATF, State Police Probe Park Incidents:

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...40347/-1/NEWS02

Very sad indeed, I hate to see old parks like this go

National City goes after $40k from Conneaut Lake Park:

http://www.meadvilletribune.com/local/loca..._066225816.html

And more on this, with much more detail:

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/S...20News/1181394/

So, what was Conneaut like? Here's one answer:

And, years later:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_b-Y0lrpys...feature=related