Conneaut Lake Park feels like a remnant from another era. A first-time visitor to this amusement park might be surprised to find a tree-lined midway, lined with concessions and classic rides. The quiet of this wooded amusement park feels strangely serene, with its peculiar silence only interrupted by the roar of a roller coaster in the distance and the music of a carousel organ. Just beyond this scene is Conneaut Lake, the namesake of the park and one of the largest lakes in Pennsylvania. If you look beyond these things, however, you get closer to the story of this amusement park. Tree roots are fighting to escape from the aged pavement of the midway, and more than a few of the buildings look desperately in need of a coat of paint. In the end, thoughts of visitors to this scene can range from regret at what used to be to a sense of nostalgia, but with a little time, you will realize that there is still lots of fun to be had – even at such an aged institution.

Before bringing judgment on such a place, though, you must know the story of the park. Conneaut Lake Park has pushed through hard times in the past decades, with an auction in the 1990s, fires that destroyed major buildings in 2008 and 2013, and complete closures in 2007 and 2008. But every time, the park has pushed through, and with profits being made the past couple of years, today stands with its vintage rides as an excellent example of the community amusement parks of years past.

Back on the midway, curious riders enter the Blue Streak, the park’s headline roller coaster. Some appear to be uneasy over the lap bars covered in duct tape, and that sense of concern likely doesn’t decrease with the slow and gradual clickety-clack up the lift hill. Over the crest, riders come to realize that, due to its age, the coaster is buried in the woods in the back of the park. Once the ride dives toward the ground, however, all concerns are forgotten. The thrill of a roller coaster is something that bridges all ages, and this ride is one of those intergenerational experiences. Once the train returns to the station, it’s practically guaranteed that everyone will have a smile on their face. The same is true on the rest of the rides on the lake – many visitors have been riding these rides since childhood, while others are making their own childhood memories.

A ride on the miniature railroad is another trip that feels straight out of the past. Winding around the Blue Streak, the train is a leisurely loop that, just like the roller coaster, feels buried in the woods and far removed from the expected hustle and bustle of a theme park. Such a leisurely ride will give you a better appreciation of the slower pace of classic amusement parks, which after all, is the core of Conneaut Lake Park.

Another ride at Conneaut Lake that you will not find in a bigger park is a haunted house ride driven entirely by gravity, The Devil’s Den. Ride operators use their own physical strength to push cars on to a chain lift, which brings the car to a dip in its track, allowing it to traverse past its dimly lit spooks with no external power source. Since the cars are careening at quite a quick pace, someone has to “catch” the car at the end of the ride, as well. This person often uses their job to their advantage in giving the riders one extra scare, which further typifies the charm and timelessness to be found at Conneaut Lake Park.

Most Pittsburghers are familiar with the Turtle ride at Kennywood, but did you know that Conneaut Lake Park has an identical ride called the Tumble Bug? Although these rides are a favorite of park patrons of all ages, most visitors probably aren’t aware of the historical significance of the attraction. A standard of the amusement parks of 90 years ago, they have been gradually removed over the years to the point that there are only two left in the world. It just happens to be that both are located in western Pennsylvania: one at Conneaut Lake Park and one at Kennywood, a simple hour and a half drive apart from each other! The whirling of this tracked ride provides fun in its simplest forms and can be enjoyed by everyone, and Conneaut’s ride even runs much faster than Kennywood’s version.

100 years ago, Conneaut Lake Park was a much bigger resort than it is now, with multiple hotels, boat rental services, and eating establishments. The Hotel Conneaut is one of the last remnants of this era of the park. Built in 1903, the hotel provides a true Victorian-era lodging experience, complete with small rooms, creaky floors, and no air conditioning. A devastating 1943 fire has added to the hotel’s story in more ways than one – supernatural occurrences have often been reported by its visitors. Quite a departure from the typical roadside motel, the Hotel Conneaut provides a glimpse back into the history of this lakeside amusement center.

Every amusement park is different. Most have adapted to fit the present, but some have changed differently than others. Sadly, too many parks have left behind their “obsolete” older attractions in turn for a blacktop filled with the latest in the largest and fastest roller coasters. There certainly are appeals to such a park, but there is still much to be found in amusement parks that have retained their traditional sense. At Conneaut Lake Park, some things might be a bit rough around the edges, but the park’s rides, some of which have remained unchanged for a half-century or more, present an opportunity for fun that

shows that when it comes to the amusement park, newer doesn’t always mean better – just because these rides are old doesn’t mean that they are obsolete. There are no flashy, high-tech thrill attractions here, but that is not the point of classic amusement parks. When you visit a century-plus-year-old amusement park, you should expect to find fun, but you should go in knowing that the fun will be different than what is experienced at the latest big-time theme park. (Prices at Conneaut Lake Park match this fact as well – $10 gets you a ride-all-day wristband.) With the right mindset, you will realize that there is enjoyment to be found in the amusements of every generation, new and old.