Americana decision due soon; Owner says he's in negotiations

By Randy McNutt
Cincinnati Enquirer
November 28, 2001

MONROE — A decision on reopening the Americana amusement park in 2002 will be made within two weeks, owner Jerry Couch said Tuesday.

“The park is still intact and ready to go,” he said. “Everything depends on me finding a company that I'm satisfied with to run the place. I've got a couple of more meetings with people and they look promising, but I can't say anything more right now. It's not simple. I could give in (to lower standards), but I won't.”

Mr. Couch, who owns Couch's Camper Sales in St. Clair Township, bought the Butler County park in May 1999 from Park River Corp., owner of Coney Island, for an undisclosed sum.

Mr. Couch said he did not have enough time to prepare the park for opening in 1999 and again in 2000. He didn't reopen the park this year because of what he has called uncertainty about the proposed Ohio 63 corridor project, which would connect Ohio 4 to Trenton and send more east-west traffic toward Monroe.

He said his goal was to develop 68 acres around the Americana site to help support the amusement park during the months when it is closed.

Park River bought Americana in 1996 and spent $4 million to improve it, but attendance didn't meet expectations. Mr. Couch has said he doesn't want to sell the park or develop over it, despite the fact that it lies in a desirable, growing area along Ohio 4.

Recently Mr. Couch started developing adjacent property — 10 to 15 acres — for his camper sales.

“It doesn't hamper the parking at the park,” he said. “The camper sales will complement the park.”

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Couch’s Campers expanding at site near Americana: Owner still planning to reopen amusement park someday

By Joseph Roberts
Dayton Daily News
November 27, 2001

MONROE – Jerry Couch, owner of Couch’s Campers, is moving his recreational vehicle business with a lot near the Americana amusement park, which he purchased last year.

“We’re just expanding our operation to this location,” Couch said.

The new dealership will occupy 10 to 15 acres near Ohio 4 on the south end of the Americana property.

Couch said Couch’s Campers at Americana could be selling RV’s by early spring. About 150 campers could be displayed at the lot, with 50 on simulated campsites that already are being developed. An office building that will be converted to a sale office and on-site service operations also will be constructed, Couch said.

The dealership will create 25 jobs, he said.

Couch said he still plans to reopen the amusement park but he’s not sure when that might happen.

He said the two businesses will compliment each other.

“One will draw to the other, especially the park will draw to the business,” he said.

Couch already owns one lot on Hamilton-Eaton Road in Hamilton. He said he was attracted to the Americana property because of its location. The site is near Ohio 4, is not far from Interstate 75, and is between Dayton and Cincinnati.

“What is there not to like?” he said.

The 68-acre park will mark its 80th birthday soon. Originally known as LeSourdsville Lake, it was opened may 8, 1922 by Edgar Streifthau, a Middletown department store owner and motorcycle racer. The lake featured a dance hall, bathhouse and picnic area.
Streifthau sold the park in 1960. It became Americana in 1978 after several more ownership changes.

The park closed after the 1999 season.

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Americana's reopening pushed back

Dayton Daily News
March 1, 2001

MONROE, Ohio--Those looking forward to spending an afternoon at the historic Americana Amusement Park will have to wait a little longer.

Jerry Couch, the park's new owner, said Wednesday he will not open this year as previously announced but may have Americana open sometime in 2002.

"Timing is everything and the timing isn't now," Couch said.

Couch bought the park near the Warren-Butler county border last year after the previous owner announced plans to close Americana.
Couch said Americana would reopen last August and then he moved the date back to April.

When it does reopen, the park will be renamed Americana at LeSourdsville Lake, a reference to an 81-year history as an amusement park, beach and summer resort.

Restoration of the Stardust Gardens dance hall, destroyed in a 1990 fire, will also begin this summer, Couch said.

Monroe city officials said Couch has not approached them for the necessary construction permits but Couch said he would do so soon.

The delay is not "a financial thing," Couch said. He said millions of dollars have been invested in the park, but Couch declined to say how much.

He pointed toward the uncertainty of which final routes were considered for the Ohio 63 extension project late last year as a reason for the delay in reopening Americana.

He said two of the proposed routes would have cut across the 68-acre amusement park, but that is no longer a threat.

Couch, owner of Couch's Campers Inc. near Hamilton, purchased Americana in May from Park River Corp., which had owned the park since 1996.

Couch placed higher fencing around Kiddie Land, replaced concrete and completed landscaping.

A building around the log flume was constructed and brush that obstructed a view of the Great Miami River has been cleared, he said.
Improvements to the park will continue, with much activity to occur this summer, he said.

The front of the park will be developed and Crouch plans to locate a part of his recreational vehicle business there.

He said other businesses will be able to "set up shop" on the park's grounds.

"Having more than one business pay for this will be the success to the park," he said.

Monroe Development Director Jay Stewart said the delayed opening of the park is a disappointment, but not a financial blow.

"In terms of income tax, it does not significantly affect the city," Stewart said. "But what it does for the city is bring in tourism. It is another thing that puts Monroe on the map."

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Americana Won't Open This Year

Cincinnati Post
March 1, 2001

MONROE -- Americana Amusement Park probably won't reopen until 2002, said Jerry Couch, who bought the 68-acre park last year.

''I've got a few million dollars tied up out there, so nobody wants it to go more than I do,'' said Couch, 58, who owns a Hamilton dealership that sells camper vehicles.

Americana was given its name in 1978 after existing for more than half a century as LeSourdsville Lake. It closed in 1999.