Americana Amusement Park/LeSourdsville Lake

The 1960s ushered in a prosperity for the 40 year old park. At least two possible suitors were entertaining thoughts of purchasing LeSourdsville Lake from Edgar. The owners of Cedar Point toured the facility but decided not to pursue the park. Former Cedar Point concessionaires Howard Berni and Frank Murru were successful in their purchase of the park for $550,000. They took over the park in 1961 and quickly continued the renovation effort that stopped prematurely when Don Dazey died.

A Heinrich Wild Mouse roller coaster was the newest ride to greet visitors for the 1961 season. In addition, a 18-hole miniature golf course and a new Arcade building were built at the end of the midway next to the Screechin' Eagle roller coaster. The park also featured a native Hawaiian ornamental garden with hand carved Tiki and live palm trees. On Mother's Day, the first 2000 women received a free orchid. Unfortunately, the year was plagued by abnormal amount of rain which affected attendance. At the end of the season, the area's first "pay one price plan" was established. For $1.65 for adults and 75 cents for children customers could ride all day.

In 1964, Middletown resident William "Bill" Barr became a partner in the park and contributed his creative ideas and endless energy to help make LeSourdsville Lake the favorite park for hundreds of thousands of patrons. Between 1962 and 1969, a number of attractions were added to the LeSourdsville Lake line-up, including a NAD train (called the Iron Horse), a remodeled Haunted House, and a new theme area called Tombstone Territory (known today as Logger's Run). The big band names of Jack Huntlemen, Sammy Kaye, Buddy Rogers and Bobby Grayson were slowly replaced by Dick Clark's Rock N' Roll show, the Beach Boys and a host of local groups, regular appearances by WLW's Bob Braun, The Cool Ghou from WXIX, WKRC's Glenn "Skipper" Ryle and a host of television stars, movie celebrities and music acts.


Addams Family star John Astin made a visit to park owner Howard Berni's home before making an appearance at the park in July 1965. Pictured above are Berni's offspring, Debby, Diane and Ron [Photo credit: park archives]		Cabins along the lake featured screened in porches. They remained a feature of the park until the mid 1960's when Tombstone Territory was built [Photo credit: park archives]

Park owner Howard Berni chats with American Bandstand host Dick Clark [Photo credit: park archives])	Berni shares a hug with Beverly Hillbillies star Donna Douglas [Photo credit: park archives]	Park owners Bill Barr and Howard Berni pose with Hee Haw singer Guinilla Hutton [Photo credit: park archives]

Kiddieland was moved from the park's main entrance to the midway in the early 1960's. The Bathhouse is pictured in the background. Kiddieland was moved to its current location in 1968 [Photo credit: park archives]	The Lake's midway served as a great meeting spot during the summer. [Photo credit: park archives]

Swimming in the lake came to an end in 1968 when the Olympic size swimming pool opened [Photo credit: park archives]		The Mark Twain showboat was a popular attraction and served as transportation from the midway to Tombstone Territory [Photo credit: park archives]

Although Kings Island has the Eiffel Tower as its landmark, LeSourdsville Lake built its quirky sign in the late 1950's and quickly became a signature landmark for years [Photo credit: park archives]	The sign stood the mark of time until it was partially dismantled in 1977 as the park changed its name from LeSourdsville Lake to Americana [Photo credit: park archives]	[Photo credit: park archives]