Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Fundraiser Aims to Get Blue Streak Back on Track


Conneaut Lake Park has come a long way over the past couple years, but there's still something missing. It's vintage. It's wooden. And it's guaranteed to give you that funny feeling in the pit of your stomach...but only if we band together to get the old girl back into service!

I'm speaking, of course, about the Blue Streak roller coaster. This wooden beauty has been SBNO since 2007, but the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park are hoping to change that with your help. They have just kicked off a fundraising campaign through which they hope to raise the $125,000 necessary to fully repair and restore this historic ride. The Blue Streak has been subjected to many "bandaid" repair efforts over the past couple decades as Conneaut Lake Park has struggled to stay afloat, but these quick fixes were never intended to be a long-term solution. Now that the park is finally back on its feet, the time has come to rip off the bandaids and perform the required surgery.

If you'd like to help preserve this magnificent piece of industry history, simply visit the Blue Streak Restoration Fund page of the park's web site to make a secure donation via PayPal. No amount is too small! One hundred percent of the donated funds will be allocated to the Blue Streak restoration effort.

Why should you help? Well aside from preserving a historic, one-of-a-kind ride for future generations and regaining the opportunity to ride it yourself, you will be helping Conneaut Lake Park to attain the solid financial footing it needs to become 100% self-sufficient. I know that some of you remain skeptical of such fundraisers, but perhaps if you revisit our feature story (particularly Part 2) from our trip to Conneaut Lake Park this past summer, you will gain a better understanding of why such campaigns are still necessary. Many a renovation and restoration effort at Conneaut Lake has been fueled by community fundraisers. Let's help make this one just as successful!


3 comments:

casualism said...

I loved the Blue Streak as a child...i would get off then drag my dad back to ride again...i hope the coaster is able to gain another run...as a teacher (in low paying NC) I am not wealthy enough to give much...but if anyone has any ideas...i would be willing to help write letters...publicize...get the coaster going somehow!

Anonymous said...

casualism, I know that you said you dont have much money, but all you really need to do is donate a few dollars. Remember every little bit counts!!

dsiple said...

When it comes time for the painting phase PLEASE return the structure to the yellow that worked so well with all the greenery and woods around the ride. The blue never really worked. That's the nostalgic color all of us old timers loved. Much more mellow yellow to go with the picnic area.