so i really want to start a fund raiser to somehow give back to the park what its givin us for years. it needs new roofs on almost everything, and the board walk needs complete and maybe with a little extra we can recreate a ball room, any ideas? email me dispatchdisaster31@yahoo.com
Chuck
06-Feb-2008 14:19
I played in a band @ the ballroom along with (Three Dog Night) back in the 70's and still did until 2006 in the Beach Club. This place has given me meny years of great memorys that I will never forget.
melissa
04-Feb-2008 03:50
we took a ride to see the devastation that was done to the ballroom and midway and it was like losing a family member. I'm still in shock and the park will never be the same. I don't even think it will come back to life now either. its a shame this happened.
Feb. 1, 2008 —
The cause of the fire that destroyed Conneaut Lake Park’s historic Dreamland Ballroom and part of the amusement park’s midway is being listed as undetermined so far, according to George Deshner, the park’s general manager.
Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Dana Beckwith is on the scene and told Deshner the cause is undetermined at this time, Deshner said. Beckwith indicated he won’t make a final ruling until at least Monday because the fire scene is still smoldering today, Deshner said.
The fire at the 115-year-old amusement park was discovered about 2 a.m. by emergency medical technicians en route back to Conneaut Lake from a car accident at Conneautville, according to George Deshner, the park’s general manager.
More than a dozen fire departments from the area were called to battle the blaze.
He said the initial call indicated the fire was at Hotel Conneaut, but that turned out not to be true.
The fire spread Dreamland Ballroom and the maintenance building down the amusement park’s midway, stopping at the Skee Ball stand, Deshner said. He said the Skee Ball stand will be demolished today.
The midway is a row of connected, more than century-old, wood-frame structures that house many of the park's games and food stands. Behind the midway facades are important storage areas for rides, as well as repair shops where amusement-ride cars are fixed, maintained and stored.
Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of trustees which oversees the park operations, said there was no fire insurance on the building.
Deshner said the loss included maintenance equipment, parts, some ride motors, food service equipment and other materials.
Moyers praised the work of the fire departments who battled the breeze in freezing rain.
article courtesy of the meadvilletribune.com
bottleblonde
01-Feb-2008 19:15
This Ballroom burned to the ground early this morning. It burned along with half of the midway. Protect this memorable photograph. Very, very sad.
www.meadvilletribune.com
qg
Krista
01-Feb-2008 16:52
I just read on WICU 12 that the Dreamland Ballroom caught fire. How sad. I'm still saddened that the park closed ... it was a great park. I loved CLP when I was a kid and my kids (who are still young) got to enjoy some of the rides before it shut down. I wish there was more someone could do to reopen the park but until that time it is a memory and one I will never forget.
