Ohio's Americana Amusement Park Purchased; Set To Reopen In July

By Tim O'Brien
Amusement Business
June 5, 2000

The 75-year-old Americana Amusement Park has been sold to a Hamilton, Ohio, RV dealer and will reopen in late July as Couch's Americana Amusement Park at Lesourdsville Lake.

No purchase price was disclosed since both buyer and seller are private firms. "Let's put it this way, we got less than we wanted and he paid more than he wanted," said Vic Nolting, the head of Park River West who owned the park.

In January, sources estimated the park was worth up to $5 million. Those sources now say the park sold for between $3 million and $4 million.

Jerry Couch closed the deal in late May to buy the 80-acre traditional park in Middletown, Ohio. The park officially went on the block in January and Park River West, the owners at that time, said they would liquidate if a new owner wasn't found within a reasonable time (AB, Jan. 17).

Couch told AB he will keep all 36 rides and will make further improvements by adding activities to the park's daily program. "We may not run all the rides, but we plan to keep them in their location, put up a sign talking about the history of that ride and keep it there as a type of a museum exhibit," he noted.

History and nostalgia played an important part in Couch's decision to buy the park. He grew up in the area and visited the park many times as a child and young adult. "There are a lot of people in this area with an emotional attachment to the park," he said. "I'm one of them."

When the park went up for sale, Couch looked at the land thinking it would be a good investment. "The more I looked, the more I realized that the amusement park could be an important part of a campground and RV park," he said.

Plans are not final, but Couch said he will create a campground and will open a new Couch's Campers Superstore on the property. His current dealership is located eight miles away and will be moved to the new facility within two years, he said.

New food services will be added and a floating stage in the 13-acre lake will be built for an expanded talent lineup.

"I'm used to working with people and have been in the recreational business for many years, so this is really just an extension of what I've been doing," he said.

Couch said he plans to spend between $2 million and $3 million at the facility within the next two years. "The park itself is in very good shape. The previous owners put a lot of money into the infrastructure during the past few years and I've been told the park is in the best shape it has been for 30 years."

With the behemoth Paramount's Kings Island just a few miles away, many doubted the park would find a buyer.

Couch said he wanted to offer an alternative to the crowds and long lines found at Kings Island.

"I'd rather have a smaller crowd saying they had a great time," he said.

Plans call for a year-round facility with Halloween and Christmas activities.

"We're talking about a place that will be open year round and can be used more than just three or four months," Couch said. "There are a lot of opportunities here and we plan to make it a premiere family destination."

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Americana Park Gets New Owner

Cincinnati Post
May 26, 2000

Americana Amusement Park, which seemed destined for oblivion after 77 years of operation, has taken on new life with its sale to a southwestern Ohio man.

Jerry Couch, owner of Couch's Campers Inc. in Butler County, bought the park Wednesday from Park River Corp., owner of Coney Island. The price was not disclosed.

Park River, citing lower than expected attendance, announced last winter that it would not reopen the Butler County landmark this year and was looking for a buyer.

''The park's had some bad publicity in the past and four owners in 30 years,'' Couch said Thursday. ''But we're here to stay. I say 'we' because I want this to be my family's operation. We have been in business in Butler County for 75 years - nearly as long as the park.''

Couch plans to change the park's name to Americana at LeSourdsville Lake and make some additions.

''We'll make sure that we do everything right,'' he said.

Couch said his immediate problem is finding employees in the tight job market, but a larger problem he faces is trying to run a smaller amusement park in an era of large theme parks. He is optimistic, however, about his ability to revive the park about 25 miles north of Cincinnati.

Curt Arulf Jr., Butler County's economic development administrator, was pleased to hear of Couch's plans.

''The county will receive revenues from sales taxes, of course, but I think people look upon the park as a landmark,'' he said. ''They'd hate to see it go away.''

Couch hopes to run other events on the 68 acres, including boat and camper shows and Christmas events.

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Park buyer no stranger in Butler

By Randy McNutt
Cincinnati Enquirer
May 26, 2000

MONROE — Jerry Couch, who bought Americana Amusement Park this week, is no stranger to business.

His son, Jeff, refers to his father as “a camper and recreational-vehicle entrepreneur, not a salesman. He's much more.”

On Thursday, Mr. Couch spent his first day as the president of an amusement park. He was busy answering the telephone and making plans.

Mr. Couch, 57, founded Couch's Campers Inc. in 1972. He describes it as one of Ohio's larger dealerships. Other members of his family own established businesses in Butler County, including Couch's Market near New Miami.

He said his business experience will help him keep the park solvent.

“I'm not out here to pack the people in,” he said. “I'd rather have half the crowds having great enjoyment than have a park that's filled to the gills. I'm not looking to build a massive park.”

Mr. Couch is being assisted by his son and other family members, whose ancestral roots are in Kentucky.

He said his four children — Jeff, Randy, Rusty and Kristi — will help him with the park “in one capacity or another.”

He said he wanted to save the park for his children and grandchild, who will be born soon.

“We have five generations locally, soon to be six,” Mr. Couch said. “We're not going away.”

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“We're looking to buy it, and I'd like to have it opened for the regular season by May 29,” said Jeffery P. Stoneking, president of Emerald Enterpises in Centerville.

Mr. Stoneking attended a Middletown City Commission meeting Tuesday to ask commissioners whether they would invest in the project. He said the company had established a marketing account and released 1,000 shares at a cost of $2,500 per share to invest in the Americana purchase.

“We're absolutely close to having enough money to buy it,” he said. “I'm hoping to be able to make an announcement by April 1.” He declined to give the asking price.

City commissioners did not act on his request. Mr. Stoneking said Monroe officials decline to invest, and he plans to ask Dayton officials.

After spending $4 million on plumbing, wiring and structural repairs, the owners of the 77-year-old Americana announced in January they would not reopen this spring. The owners said competition from Paramount's Kings Island, less than 20 miles away, made it difficult to turn a profit.

Mr. Stoneking said there are people nationwide interested in investing in the project. He said the goal is to use the existing hardware and apply an artistic theme for marketing and to increase attendence. Mr. Stoneking said he plans to walk the site today with the sellers.

Mr. Stoneking said he plans to establish an accredited on-the-job training program at the park, working with local colleges and universities. The park, which would be renamed Lesourdsville Lake, its original name, employed 300 seasonal and 24 permanent full-time workers, he said. That number would likely remain about the same.

Emerald Enterprises was formed recently to buy Americana and other amusement parks he declined to name, Mr. Stoneking said.

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“It was not an easy decision for us,” said John Ellison, executive vice president of Park River West, which also owns Coney Island in Hamilton County.

The closing does not affect Coney Island, Mr. Ellison said.

It will have an effect, though, on some of the millions who were entertained at the park over the decades.

Ed Shelley, president of the Armco Employees Independent Federation at nearby AK Steel, said Americana was “a really good place for a union picnic, a family-type picnic.”

“I think it's sad it's closing. Places like that are good for kids. It's bad for the community to lose something like that,” said Mr. Shelley. “I remember going there as a young boy when Armco had a family night out there. ... That was a big event for all the kids in our family.”

Mr. Ellison declined to reveal attendance numbers but said Americana's popularity had increased in both the summers of 1998 and 1999, though not enough to reach Park River's goals. The company purchased the amusement park in 1996 from Leisure Systems Inc.

He cited the draw of Paramount's Kings Island in Warren County and other Tristate amusement attractions as being too strong.

“There is a lot out there in the marketplace vying for the entertainment dollar,” he said.

He said Americana officials are pursuing new owners who may want to purchase and continue the operation of the amusement park, on Hamilton-Middletown Road, , but there are no current sale negotiations.

“The park is a wonderful family place and we have enjoyed being a part of this area's business community,” said Mr. Ellison.

Local officials and residents expressed surprise and disappointment at word of the park's closing.

Monroe Mayor Elbert Tannreuther said the announcement was “a shock to me.”

“It's been a mainstay in our community for decades. The park had a lot of seasonal workers,” he said.

Stephanie Sizemore, 17, was one of those seasonal employees who was counting on Americana again this summer.

“I'm really surprised. It doesn't bring in as many people as Kings Island, but it was more family-oriented,” said the Lemon-Monroe High School student who lives within walking distance of the park.

Jaya Bhakta, who owns the Parkside Inn motel adjacent to Americana, was not overly worried about the impact on his business or the surrounding business community.

“There is still a lot of business coming into this area. The people that came to the park didn't stay overnight much,” said Mr. Bhakta.

Mr. Ellison said people and groups who have purchased tickets for the 2000 season will receive full refunds by the end of the month. The 24 full-time employees will receive severance packages and outplacement assistance.

Americana's administration office will reopen Monday. Those seeking information regarding refunds can call (800) 486-3070.

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25 million visited park over 77 years

By Michael D. Clark and Janet C. Wetzel
Cincinnati Enquirer
January 7, 2000

MONROE — Americana Amusement Park became a Tristate touchstone after it first opened as LeSourdsville Lake in 1922.

During its 77 years in Butler County, the park welcomed an estimated 25 million guests.

The 75-acre park, which has a 22-acre lake and sits along the Great Miami River between Hamilton and Middletown, was developed by the late Edgar Streifthau.

Mr. Streifthau, known as an Ohio pioneer in the outdoor amusement industry, also founded Fantasy Farm next door.

The park has changed hands several times over the years, and is now owned by Park River West Corp., a local firm that also owns Coney Island in Hamilton County.

Americana featured nine covered picnic shelters and room for 5,000 picnickers. It was one of about 600 amusement parks remaining in the country.

Park River bought the park in 1996 from Leisure Systems Inc., and has since poured about $4 million into a face lift.

A big draw was 11 kiddie rides and 32 adult thrill rides, including the ever-popular Screechin' Eagle, a 2,640-foot, wooden roller coaster built in 1927, one of the nation's oldest. There also were familiar rides like the Whip, Skyride, Tilt-O-Whirl, Scrambler and log flume.

The park also provided an appealing array of shows and other forms of entertainment, such as family hayrides and season-long performances by the Fabulous Wallenda Family.

There was also free miniature golf, a Western mining town and paddleboats.

Attendance in 1996, the most recent available, was 200,000. By comparison, Kings Island attracted 3.6 million visitors that year.