Americana Amusement Park/LeSourdsville Lake

Statistics:

Year Constructed: 1927 by John Miller
Total Amount of Wood Used for Construction: 63,000 total board feet (est)
Original Location: Moxahalia Amusement Park, Zanesville, Ohio
Relocated to Americana: Fall 1938 (park was known as LeSourdsville Lake)
Cost:$35,000
Former Names:

The Cyclone (1938-1960)
The Space Rocket (1961-1977)
The Screechin' Eagle (1978-1999, 2002) (standing but not operating)
Type/Style: wood, dog-leg, out-and-back
Track Length: 2640 feet and the first hill is 78 feet high
Train Manufacturer:chassis by NAD; cars by PTC; cars are from the Wildcat at Elitch Gardens
Braking System: computer operated; lap bar controlled at console; seat dividers
Ride Duration: 1 minute, 35 seconds
Height Restrictions: must be 52 inches
Average Speed: 45 mph
Awards/Honors:

-1990 named by the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) as a classic.

-1997 ranked #3 among coasters at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Cedar Point, Paramount's Kings Island and Stricker's Grove by Jake's Coaster Land 97. Named Best New Top Ten, recipient of the Speed Award - the fastest feeling coaster, the Airtime Award - the coaster that gives you the most airtime, the Fallout Award - the feeling like you are going to fall out, and the Ride Award - the coaster that makes you say WOW! when you pull into the station.

-1998 ranked #23 among currently operating wood coasters in the 6th Annual Internet Wooden Tracked Roller Coaster Poll.

-2003 awarded the Amusement Today Gold Ticket award for ranking 40th among all wood coasters in the world.

The following information was provided by former coaster operator Al Freeman:

The coaster in 1940 ran two trains that were smaller and lighter than the 3-car NAD trains that ran in 1967. The track had "wires" on the back turn that signaled the operator where the other train was on the track. There was a light bulb in the station that signaled the operator when the train made the turn back towards the station. During the 1960s and 1970s, two trains were never run because of the braking system. It was not adequate to stop the trains since the brakes needed to be longer in order to stop two trains more gradually. The brake shoes also wore down gradually constantly changing how much pressure was needed to stop the trains. The track had to be modified in the 1950s to accommodate the NAD trains - under friction wheels. The track was altered again when they went from the 2 car train to the 3 car NAD trains. The original owner of the coaster was possibly a Mr. Delcamp. A Mr. Figley owned the coaster from ? to about 1966 or 1967 when park owner Howard Berni bought it. A major painting project took place between 1968 and 1971 that saw the Space Rocket receive a fresh coat of bright white paint.

The original owner of the coaster was possibly a Mr. Delcamp. A Mr. Figley owned the coaster from ? to about 1966 or 1967 when park owner Howard Berni bought it. A major painting project took place between 1968 and 1971 that saw the Space Rocket receive a fresh coat of bright white paint.

In 1997, the NAD train was replaced by a hybrid train consisting of NAD chassis and PTC cars from the defunct Wildcat at Elitch Gardens. Computer operated brakes and lap bar releases were also installed along with seat dividers and back seat headrests. Because of those changes, the coaster was no longer recognized as a "Coaster Classic" by the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE).

The mysterious holes
When the coaster was originally was built, two cars were ran with two trains. We could see some places on the track bolt holes that were serving no purpose. The theory was that the track originally was suited for a side friction and under friction wheels similar to the Thunderbolt at Kennywood. A right angled piece of steel was manufactured around the track to accommodate this. When the new NAD three-car trains were bought (around 1950s) the original six layer 2x6 track was kept and they added two 2x8’s to the top of the track and took off the old side friction steel leaving those holes behind.