As a coaster enthusiast you never want to learn that a coaster you enjoy has met its demise. Well, that happened yesterday, Tuesday, January 4, 2022, with Conneaut Lake Park’s Blue Streak. When the new first broke, it was being reported by Erie News Now that the coaster had caught fire “after a controlled burn near the carousel got out of hand.” Understandably, this caught many by surprise and many called foul what what little information was available. Later that evening, the New Conneaut Lake Park page posted the following on on Facebook:
Erie News Now has since updated their article to mention the “GM’s” statement and bring to light how some of the park’s other rides have been “torn down and sold,” along with how he “has feuded with nearby residents who fear he is planning to redevelop the land.” I encourage you to read the full article, “Park: Fire Result of Controlled Burns Used in Demolition of Blue Streak Roller Coaster.”
Like many enthusiasts, this news did not sit well with me. Between the two differing reports, it made me cast doubts on what really happened and what, if any, intent was behind all that unfolded. That being said, this editorial is not going to delve into the he said, she said aspect of the Blue Streak’s demise. You can get into that on your social media platform of choice.
What I want to do here is tell a story from seven years ago – one featuring my good friend, and fellow crew member, Mindy. It’s a story of how a rainy day stop at Conneaut Lake park, with limited time, turned into an experience neither of us will ever forget. A visit that also resulted in Mindy discovering her all-time favorite wooden roller coaster. These memories are now all the more sentimental with yesterday’s news.
Lakemont Park, Conneaut Lake Park, & Waldameer
It was June 27, 2015. Mindy and I had just left Lakemont Park and were on our way to Conneaut Lake Park. We were hoping to grab several rides on Blue Streak and Devil’s Den before a quick stop at Waldameer to cap off Day 1 of our road trip. Day 2 would see us spend all day at Cedar Point with Day 3 being broken up with stops in Cleveland and Pittsburg to break up our ride home.
This trip’s first day resembled one I had done with my brother in August 2014. Where things varied was with where we went on Day 2 and 3. My brother and I traveled east to visit Niagara Falls, Fantasy Island, Darien Lake, Six Flags New England (SFNE), Lake Compounce. That was another awesome trip that I should also write about one day – hopefully not for similar reasons. Sadly, of all the coasters on that trip long trip, Blue Streak would be the only one closed throughout all the parks.
When Mindy and I pulled into Conneaut Lake Park, clouds were moved in and I was scared I was going to miss out on Blue Streak once again. Leap the Dips had been closed at Lakemont a few hours earlier, so it felt like it was going to be one of those days when nothing worked out. Then, something amazing happened!
An Unexpected Mini-Marathon Unfolds
After picking up our wrist bands we walked over to Blue Streak. We saw a ride operator in the station, but had no idea if the ride was running. Making our way to the top of the ramp, we we welcomed to the ride and allowed to board. We had lucked out! I was so happy to finally be riding the classic coaster. Mindy and I picked the front row and were the only two riders on the train. We were dispatched into the tunnel that, at the time, was undergoing some refurbishments so it wasn’t totally dark. After emerging into the overcast skies once again, we were on our way up that infamous rickety lift hill.
From the time the coaster dropped until we slowly pulled back into the station, Mindy and I were laughing like two children who heard their first PG-13 joke. It was an amazing ride that had some of the old-coaster bumpiness to it, but was not at all rough or unbearable as we had read prior to our visit. We wanted to ride again.
Back Row Over & Over Again
Once the train pulled back into the station, we asked the ride op if we could jump in the back seat and ride again. He said sure and then told us if we’d like to keep riding, and no one is in the station, flash a thumbs up re-entering the station and he’d just send us right through again without stopping. Mindy and I both shook our heads and thought that sounded awesome. And with that, we were off for our second ride… our third ride… our fourth ride… our fifth ride… and finally, our sixth.
We took advantage of the ride op’s offer. With the skies darkening with every lap, we knew we had to get in what we could just in case the ride or the park shut down. It was then I got worried that if we didn’t go ride Devil’s Den, we could miss out on that funky dark ride. I mentioned that to Mindy and we decided not to flash the thumbs up after the sixth ride, although we both wanted to keep going. I ended up trading in a laughing Mindy for the typical dark ride/haunt Mindy where she’s clinging to my arm throughout the experience. Not a bad trade off as we had a ton of fun on that quirky ride as well.
No More Rides That Day, No More Rides Ever
My idea to jump on Devil’s Den turned out to be a good call. After walking into the park’s gift shop for a couple of minutes, the skies let loose. With no signs of stopping, we decided we should make it back to the car and try our luck at Waldameer. Along the way, we stopped to get out of the rain under the empty train station near Blue Streak’s airtime hill finale. We stayed there for a good few minutes, drawing the attention of one of the park’s staff members. It looked like they were getting ready to close and were seeing who was still inside the park. We decided to go ahead and make a run for the car.
I was so glad I finally got to ride Blue Streak and do so with Mindy. Riding and laughing with one another over and over and over again, six total times, is a memory I’ve always cherished. Mindy and I have talked about it numerous times when venturing out on other road trips, always saying how we’d love to do it again one day. Sadly, that is now impossible.
What’s done is done, but that doesn’t mean I don’t hate seeing these smaller parks and/or coasters be lost to the pandemic, greed, neglect, declining attendance, poor management, or all the above. It’s too bad Conneaut Lake Park, or Blue Streak, didn’t have a Phoenix-like rebirth some smaller parks, or wooden coasters, have been afforded over the years. It breaks my heart that Sam, Greg, Kaylee, and the site’s other crew members will never get the chance to experience Blue Streak. What I wouldn’t give for one more chance Mindy to be smashed up against Mindy for another six laps on this now defunct coaster.
If you’re a coaster or amusement park enthusiast, be sure to visit and support these smaller parks whenever you can. You never know when the next Blue Streak story will be the talk of the coaster for reasons none of us wish to read.
