Second Chance A Charm; Americana Bosses Measuring Success

By Debbie Gebolys
Hamilton Journal-News
September 25, 1992

LESOURDSVILLE - As Americana Amusement Park closes for the season this weekend, owners will take a moment to measure the success of the second chance they gave it.

If enough visitors turn out this weekend, the park may surpass the 300,000 visitors who attended last year, partner Joe Faggionato said Thursday. Enduring inclement weather on 18 or the 26 weekends the park was open this year, the park drew around 320,000 through last weekend.

"And we're delighted," said Faggionato.

While owners are encouraged now, it's been more than storm clouds that have shrouded the park's past. Under previous owners, the park endured allegations of mismanagement that took a toll on visitor interest. The park set a modern day low record for attendance in 1990, attracting fewer than 200,000.

New owners bought the park out of bankruptcy court, pledged to invest $1 million a year for five years, and launched a campaign to clean u the park's image - and improve its popularity.

Two years and $2 million later, not all the scars have healed. This summer saw the arrest of a park ride operator who was charged with fondling a toddler and arrests in connection with visitors passing counterfeit money.

Neither incident bothers Faggionato. The ride operator was fired and quickly placed in police custody. The counterfeiters were also turned over to authorities, and "they really helped us more than they hurt us," Faggionato said. "It showed we were alert and could handle things inside the park."

Other areas are looking up, he said.

A corporate recruitment campaign saw about 150 company parties at the park this year, up about 25 percent from last year. After buying a patrons list from defunct neighbor Fantasy Farm, Americana operators posted increases to around 3,500 season pass holders.

Plans for 1993 include high hopes for a carousel and conversion of a Stardust Gardens pavilion area in to a big band dance floor reminiscent of old time amusement parks.

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Coaster Marathon Rider Isn’t Ready To Stop – Yet

By Laura Graff
Hamilton Journal-News
May 24, 1992

A 14-yerar old Dixie Heights student is learning the ups and downs of fund raising this weekend on a 70-hour roller coaster riding marathon at Americana Amusement Park.

Jeff Pike boarded the park’s Screechin’ Eagle coaster Thursday morning after collecting pledges to raise money for his school band’s planned trip to the Nee Year’s Day parade in London.

Though he isn’t a band member, Pike is a member of the American Coater Enthusiasts club. He wanted to help his friends in the band, while meeting a long-time goal of his own.

“The first time I mentioned something like this, I was in the third grade. I had heard about…the guys who rode for days or weeks, and I told my school librarian I would do that someday,” Pike remembers.

Pike’s parents weren't’t exactly thrilled with the idea, and they told him to wait until he got a little older.

“I think they wanted me to find a cause first, and when I heard about the band needing money, I thought, this is my chance,” Pike said.

With beads of perspiration on his cheeks and a slightly glazed look in his eyes as the coaster pulled into the station Saturday, Pike said that although “the days are getting longer,” he’s not about to quit.

“You have to find something to do to keep yourself amused. Put one arm up or one leg up; sing your favorite songs…that first night was when I really started to have fun. They turned the lights on and I guess I got an energy charge out of that,” he said.

Pike’s dad, who took him on his first roller coaster ride, has been checking on his son regularly. According to Jeff, Joe “gave him the drunk-test three times already,” asking him to walk a straight line along a platform plank, and then touch his finger to his nose.

“I’m most concerned about eh physical wear and tear of the rattling, but he keeps telling me its fun. He seems to be weathering it a whole lot better than I thought he would,” Joe Pike said.

Jeff even took one of his meal breaks on the coaster, eating a hamburger and fries while roaring down the hills and into the turns. He went right to sleep on his first rest break, and hopped in to his seat the next morning, with a true coaster enthusiast’s determination and philosophy.

“If I’m about ready to puke, I’ll get off,” Pike said, but it hasn’t gotten to that point yet, and I don’t think it will.”

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Former Park Executive, Wife Face Insurance Fraud Charges

By Mary Lolli
Hamilton Journal-News
March 1992

HAMILTON - The former vice president of Americana Amusement Park and his wife have been charged with two counts each of receiving stolen property and one count each of insurance fraud.

According to Butler County Sheriff Richard Holzberger, Guy and Diane Sutton, turned themselves in to law enforcement officials Monday after noon in connection with an alleged false insurance claim they made after a $2 million fire destroyed the bathhouse and arcade area of the amusement park in January 1990.

According to Holzberger, the Suttons, the daughter and son-in-law of Americana owner Howard Berni, claimed to have lost two all-terrain vehicles in the fire and accepted a $1,490 insurance payment for the vehicles.

The Suttons were charged after insurance investigators found the vehicles in a garage at the Suttons' West Chester home last month.

Holzberger said an anonymous informant notified the insurance investigators of the alleged fraud.

Implicated in the case were Ron and Vicki Berni, the son and daughter-in-law of the park owner.

According to Holzberger, the Bernis also filed an insurance claim for two all-terrain vehicles they believed were lost in the same fire.

The sheriff said the Bernis did have tow vehicles stored in or near the bathhouse at the time of the fire. THose vehicles however, were recovered undamaged.

"The Bernis moved to Louisville, Ky., more than a year ago," Holzberger said. "They did not know their vehicles were not destroyed in the fire and accepted insurance money for them."

Holzberger said the Bernis paid full restitution totaling $1,585 to the insurance company.

no charges were filed against the Bernis.

A preliminary hearing for the Suttons will be held Monday in Butler County Area 3 Court. The Suttons remain free on $7,500 bond.

Holzberger said the sheriff's department, insurance company and prosecutor's office worked in the investigation.