For us, it is not summer without taking at least one ride up to Conneaut Lake Park. This laid back park has been slowly, but steadily on the upswing since it reopened in 2010. This year, thanks to contributions from the American Coaster Enthusiasts Preservation Fund, Blue Streak's train received brand new wheels. Additionally, the park debuted an adult sized Ferris Wheel, and a child sized one.
Our day was largely spent floating around the Lazy River for the afternoon, strolling the midways, riding their nice flat ride collection, and riding the rails on Blue Streak, the park's legendary mayhem machine.
It is awesome to see the midways lively again. The park always has crowds on the weekends, something that many people have worked countless hours to build up. The revival of the park, especially over the last six years or so, has been really remarkable.
They seem to make the Devil's Den better each year, with more gags and and non-stop action. The gravity fed carts also move so quickly that you feel lateral g's on each of the ride's many tight turns.
The games midway. They have added a few new games in the last year or two, and this midway feels more connected to the main part of the park with the addition of the Ferris Wheel near the lakefront.
This part of the park was once the most underutilized section. It is extremely scenic, with a view of Pennsylvania's largest natural lake, and a beach and docking area for recreational boaters. They just added the new docking area, though it would be nice if they could make it go perpendicular with the shore instead of horizontally across the end of the beach area.
The view from the Ferris Wheel
The beautiful Hotel Conneaut celebrates 116 years of hosting visitors on the shores of Conneaut Lake.
The Boardwalk and Beach area.
Conneaut Lake Park's beautiful TM Harton Carousel, the last remaining carousel of its kind. This beautiful machine is more than a century old and we ride it every time we visit.
One of the finest parts of the classic Blue Streak coaster is how it is just surrounded by the woods. Many of the trees predate the coaster's construction back in 1938. They are also believed to predate the Scenic Railway coaster that previously occupied this site. Hurtling through the woods on a Blue Streak train is a wild and out-of-control experience that is vastly different on each individual ride and in each row. For controlled mayhem, ride in the second to last row. For absolute mayhem, ride in the backseat. It is sure to be one of the most intense coaster experiences that you will ever have.
The park's Travel Tumblebug is one of only two remaining units of its kind, and it is the fastest by far. Ejector airtime is sure to be had once this thing gets fully rolling. It is probably our overall favorite ride at the park, amongst the park's small, but great selection of rides.
We spent most of the afternoon floating around in the park's lazy river.
Did I hear you say that you wanted more Blue Streak photos?
The exit of the ride's turnaround. This is a pretty wild spot to experience in the last row of the train.
At least one, if not all three, of the first three hills are sure to provide some serious ejector in the last row of the train. Not quite as strong as it was a few years ago, but it is still pretty solid.
The paratrooper is always a favorite of ours.
As is the Tilt-A-Whril
And the park's flyers. These have received some love recently, with a new paint job and a seemingly faster and smoother ride than before. They were already fun, and now they are really good and snap-able.
Brit getting ready to fly!
For more information on visiting, check out their website at www.newconneautlakepark.com
