I know its closed now but I've always wondered what it was like and where it was. Can anyone elaborate?

Its still kind of there. Its near Middletown on Rt. 4, I think.

Yes, that's correct. It is in Middletown off of Route 4. For most of it's heyday it was known as Lesourdsville Lake amusement park, renamed Americana Amusment Park in 1978, and changed back to Lesourdsville Lake for the 2002 season - its final season.

It was actually a very nice little park, located around the perimeter of the lake (the lake being Lesourdsville Lake), very much what one would consider a classic local amusement park. They had a sky ride that went over the lake. Quite infamously, at least one skyride car fell off the ride sometime in the '90s. I remember having to cross train tracks before getting into the main entrance.

They also have a really great coaster there, the Screechin' Eagle, which I believe Jerry Couch (who owns the property) intends to keep. He is in the process of selling most of the other rides in the park. The Eagle is a John A. Miller designed out-and-back coaster, and features more airtime than I have ever experienced on another wooden coaster. Part of this is due to the fact that the train's restraints were classic restraints similar to The Beastie's (nope, I won't call it the Fairly Odd Coaster). Excellent, excellent classic coaster! This one really deserves to be preserved or relocated to a place where it will run more often. More people should get the opportunity to experience this fun coaster. They also had two other coasters, the Serpent (a steel wild mouse type ride) and a kid's coaster.

The park had a large picnic area, which was one of its primary ways to get people to come to the park (at least in later years).

If you want to learn more, the Southwest Ohio Amusement Park Historical Society (yes, I know it's a mouthful) maintains a really good tribute site. Just Google "Lesourdsville" and it's the first link.

The only thing I remember about the park is a log flume that dumped a bucket of water on top of you. I recall becoming completely soaked from head to toe.

I had my first roller coaster experience ever there. I rode the Little Dipper when I was like 5 years old, with my mom. It scared me so bad I didn't ride anything again till fall 2004. But for some reason I remember alot about the park. I remember how they had the chairlift thing that went out over the lake, and the wood coaster (that I never got to ride), and it seems like they had some kind of fun house / house of mirrors. But for some reason one thing I remember vividly is the drive there. I must have been real excited or something.

I moved back to Ohio in spring 2002 so in theory I could have gone in its late days, but I wasn't into thrill rides then. It's a shame too - I missed out on King Cobra and Screechin Eagle.

In addition to what others have said, the Great Wallendas performed there. They also had one of those air supported rubber shell theaters, like Kings Island had also had. Much of the lighting was fluorescent tubes on bent arches, like service stations from the 1950's. They had great flat rides, like a Tempest. They had a Rock-O-Planes. Great ones, too.

They had a lake with huge fish in it that you could feed (for a charge, of course). Had both Skyline and LaRosa's in their front concession stand. A great Fascination parlor. With sometimes incredible prizes. VERY easy Skee Ball.

The Screechin' Eagle ran NAD trains, then CCI trains (horrid), then a combination of the two cobbled together, then ended, I think, with NAD trains again.

And Jeff Seibert got his start in the park PR business there, after he had left the Mighty Ducks. He would go on from there to a park over in Mason, Ohio...

They had a Rock-O-Planes. Great ones, too.

Something tells me that if you really wanna ride those "Rock-O-Planes" again, check the inventory of a local amusement park in the spring of 2007.

I have posted these before but thought some of you might like to take another look at them. Here are some pictures I took of the place the last year it was open. It is very sad that place closed.

Well, the Tempest ride that used to be at Americana was moved to Coney when Coney closed Americana. And yes, you will likely see the Rock-O-Plane somewhere in 2007...

KI perhaps...

KI perhaps...

Uh, no. Less expensive and closer to home (if you live downtown in the Cinci metro or nearer the Reds stadium than to Kings Island...)

Nope. Not Kings Island. I believe that I`ve even stated where it is going elsewhere on these boards. Lets just say that the park that is getting it has had it on property since the middle of summer last year. They`ve already repainted the ride too.

Bill; those are some great pictures and I am glad you got them when you did. The park really looked clean.

Robbie: The Avatar points ^ to the new location for Tempest.

Pkitrumpet08; great trip report, you give new meaning to the term Trip Report.

Robbie: The Avatar points ^ to the new location for Tempest.

Pkitrumpet08; great trip report, you give new meaning to the term Trip Report.

Uh, did I just miss something?

I think someone confused a trip report with a park review based on many trips...and a hawaiian fish with a pki trumpet...but I am just interpreting...

Robbie: The Avatar points ^ to the new location for Tempest.

Pkitrumpet08; great trip report, you give new meaning to the term Trip Report.

Uh, did I just miss something?

Bill; They were throwing out hints about the new location of the Tempest Ride and I was throwing out a hint of my own, for those who like the challenge. If you missed it look at Robbie’s avatar.

The trip report part was just an observation on my part regarding the OP’s trip to Americana

Or in this case everybody else’s. It truly gave a new meaning to Trip Reports.

I see now. What confused me was that we were not talking about the Tempest Ride's new location. We were talking about the "Rock-O-Planes" new location. Thats what confused me the most.

Then again, I am very easy to confuse.

Wait, what?

Americana's flying eagles were relocated last year to Fun Spot in Angola Indiana for spare parts. It's funny this topic came up, I was just there this morning taking some pictures from the parking lot of the motel next to the park. I'm sure the eagle is beyond repair now and the parks fate is sealed. Check out this to see somewhat, what the park looks like now...

Americana as of October and last week.

Combat....

You always take some amazine pics.

Even when the pics suck they're still great.

Why is it that even when I take pics that are great that they suck.

I just don't understand.

^Uh, twas not I who took those pictures. If you catch my drift.

Is there any hope of LL reopening?

^According to Mr. Couch, the man who owns the property, he wants "to be the only RV store with tis own amusement park". But in 2006 he announced plans that it would "never operate as an amusement park again". Recently he has bought the adjoining former fantasy farm property and started to raize it. He said his current plans call for an RV campground and that all the rides will be sold off except for the Eagle and the flume since "they would costs thousands to get running again". Many people interpret this as that there will be an RV campground with those two rides. However, I doubt we ever see Americana or LL as a park again. The Lake is currently a giant mud puddle and is drained. The Flying Eagles went to Fun Spot. The Rock O Plane to Coney. The Round up to Stricker's and I believe there are a few more gone. Oh well, maybe when they start to raize it pictures will be easier to get.

http://www.americanaamusementpark.com/

Here's the unofficial website with some great pics etc.

I could swear I went to the park in 2003, once with my family, once for the ace event Screech Fest, ERT on Screechin Eagle all night, amazing.

how sad.......

http://www.americanaamusementpark.com/

Here's the unofficial website with some great pics etc.

I could swear I went to the park in 2003, once with my family, once for the ace event Screech Fest, ERT on Screechin Eagle all night, amazing.

Dude, I was there for that as well. I met someone wearing a FARK.COM T-Shirt. This was not you by any crazy chance was it?

No I was wearing my extra large screechin eagle t-shirt. (I comfortably wear a medium now) I was going through a phase. Shame too cause I have so many XL coaster shirts that I feel stupid wearing. King cobra, incredable hulk, original AZ shirt, Screechin Eagle, Vortex, Racer, Outer Limits: Flight of Fear.

They say Bill Ware but, here they say Kevin Miller & Scott Fowler

http://www.americanaamusementpark.com/ragingthunder.htm

Who's pics are they?

^Uh, twas not I who took those pictures. If you catch my drift.

Let me correct that.

Your ability to scan the web and your keen eye in finding and location such excellent photos is impressive.

Better?

I would have to believe both men, Kevin Miller, and Bill Ware took their pictures from nearly identical spots. I know nearly with complete certainty that the pictures on the Americana site, were taken my Kevin Miller!

http://www.americanaamusementpark.com/skyride.htm

http://www.americanaamusementpark.com/galleon.htm

http://www.americanaamusementpark.com/tiltawhirl.htm

There are some more though.

Those are the same Pics on both sites

Bill or Kevin?¿?¿?

Anyone got a park map from the last season?

It appears Kevin Fowler has some explaining to do cause I can testify that Bill took those pics iwth his water mark on them!