I remember it well! I also remember Fantasy Farm next door and it was even cheaper and great for my young boys back then. They changed the name of LeSourdsville Lake to Americana and I don't think I ever went after the name change. This property is a gold mine for the right buyer. I'm just imagining how many ways this could be turned into something other than subdivisions, with all the buildings! I'm not sure what it looks like now since I've not been past it for years!! This held many memories for me though...
I remember that up until the early 90's, the park stayed so packed that you couldn't find your car when it came time to leave. Then, after the fire in 90-91 is when management went sour, your car was just about the only one in the lot, besides the few employees and the very few people that visited the park. I worked there in 93 after season due to a layoff from my usual place of employment, and by that time they had no formal payroll to speak of, so they paid people daily, under the table, because they couldn't get anyone to stay for any length of time. I had a great time working there, though. I pretty much "floated" around the park, because I could operate about any ride there without any real training. So, I pretty much was my own boss, so to say. It was actually a job that I looked forward going to, but, the place was already going down hill long before most believe that it did. Jerry Couch only sped up its demise due to his greed and empty promises of breathing new life back into the park. I personally believe that he had no intent, whatsoever in making any attempt at doing anything with it. And, it's a shame that there wasn't a clause in the sale stating that a condition of that sale would include him fulfilling all promises made in regards to restoring her back to an operational condition.... It takes money to make money, and that park could have been turned around and been profitable once again, with the right person or persons with good intentions. All that couch wanted was a cheap place to park his RV's, at his now defunct business. What went around, came back around, real hard...
I'm truly grateful I got to go to this park before it closed....I got 11 rides that day on the Screeching Eagle that day....best air time to this day I've ever experienced...and I've ridden a few.
This was the first amusement park I every went to and the first my two oldest children went to too. It broke my heart when it closed. This was also the only amusement park I every went to with each of my parents.
Back in the 1980's we went to Americana every year for my Mom's company picnic & spent the whole day there. I remember that vast amount of big carp that would fight for the popcorn that we would throw into the lake. I also remember fantasy farm as a kid & our favorite thing was the sand boxes because the manager would "seed" the sand boxes with treasure (coins) every morning so we would head there first when we arrived & dig for the treasure. My god what have they done to it?
Unfortunatly the lake is no loner there. The lake used to be in the middle of the park in front of most of the buildings that you see in this video at 1:01. The lighter colored weeds that you can see is where the lake used to be. If you look closely you can still see the poles that supported the chairlift that went over the lake at 4:15. I have many great memories of this amusement park and I would like to have taken my kids to this park before it closed but they weren't born yet. Thansk for watching.
I remember it well! I also remember Fantasy Farm next door and it was even cheaper and great for my young boys back then. They changed the name of LeSourdsville Lake to Americana and I don't think I ever went after the name change. This property is a gold mine for the right buyer. I'm just imagining how many ways this could be turned into something other than subdivisions, with all the buildings! I'm not sure what it looks like now since I've not been past it for years!! This held many memories for me though...
I remember that up until the early 90's, the park stayed so packed that you couldn't find your car when it came time to leave. Then, after the fire in 90-91 is when management went sour, your car was just about the only one in the lot, besides the few employees and the very few people that visited the park. I worked there in 93 after season due to a layoff from my usual place of employment, and by that time they had no formal payroll to speak of, so they paid people daily, under the table, because they couldn't get anyone to stay for any length of time. I had a great time working there, though. I pretty much "floated" around the park, because I could operate about any ride there without any real training. So, I pretty much was my own boss, so to say. It was actually a job that I looked forward going to, but, the place was already going down hill long before most believe that it did. Jerry Couch only sped up its demise due to his greed and empty promises of breathing new life back into the park. I personally believe that he had no intent, whatsoever in making any attempt at doing anything with it. And, it's a shame that there wasn't a clause in the sale stating that a condition of that sale would include him fulfilling all promises made in regards to restoring her back to an operational condition.... It takes money to make money, and that park could have been turned around and been profitable once again, with the right person or persons with good intentions. All that couch wanted was a cheap place to park his RV's, at his now defunct business. What went around, came back around, real hard...
I'm truly grateful I got to go to this park before it closed....I got 11 rides that day on the Screeching Eagle that day....best air time to this day I've ever experienced...and I've ridden a few.
This was the first amusement park I every went to and the first my two oldest children went to too. It broke my heart when it closed. This was also the only amusement park I every went to with each of my parents.
Geez… I remember going here in the 60's
Yes, I'm old as Fuq
Back in the 1980's we went to Americana every year for my Mom's company picnic & spent the whole day there. I remember that vast amount of big carp that would fight for the popcorn that we would throw into the lake. I also remember fantasy farm as a kid & our favorite thing was the sand boxes because the manager would "seed" the sand boxes with treasure (coins) every morning so we would head there first when we arrived & dig for the treasure. My god what have they done to it?
Surprised to see the recreational vehicle business gone. Also sad to see the park mostly gone too. Too bad about the Eagle.
I live right next to that park bro, said u can here children crying in that park😕
Dont you have any old pics?
Nice job...we enjoyed watching
thanks for the video...however you skipped over the LAKE part... or is the LAKE not there anymore.??..i wanna see some of the LAKE
Unfortunatly the lake is no loner there. The lake used to be in the middle of the park in front of most of the buildings that you see in this video at 1:01. The lighter colored weeds that you can see is where the lake used to be. If you look closely you can still see the poles that supported the chairlift that went over the lake at 4:15. I have many great memories of this amusement park and I would like to have taken my kids to this park before it closed but they weren't born yet. Thansk for watching.
They drained the lake back in 2002. Was a great month to catch those huge ugly fish that lived in that lake.
I remember back in the 1950's going there. It was great! White sandy beaches around the lake. We stayed in a caban on the lake.
What once was....
so sad