By LISA DAVIS
Staff Writer
ldavis@starbeacon.com
GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE - - This will be the last season for Erieview Park, which started in 1945 with two children's rides and expanded to 18 children and adult rides.
After this Labor Day, the park no longer will be a tourist attraction along the Geneva-on-the-Lake Strip. Owner Donald Woodward informed park staff of his plans Sunday evening.
"It really isn't a sad thing," Woodward said.
By closing the amusement rides, Woodward can open the property to other type of attractions.
"Geneva-on-the-Lake is changing, and you have to change with it," he said.
It's been a national trend that amusement parks aren't as popular as they used to be. There are better uses for the land, Woodward said.
"We have 700 feet of lakefront property and really haven't taken advantage of the location," he said.
Plans for the property still are being reviewed, he said.
There are three options Woodward has been looking at with a consultant, he said. The options take advantage of the lakefront, are tourism-oriented and will fit in with the resort's heritage, Woodward said.
The park's memorabilia and rides, including a carousel, Tilt-a-Whirl and Ferris wheel, will be auctioned off, he said. The train everyone knows that runs along the track near the Old Firehouse Winery and Fright Zone also will be auctioned off.
Fright Zone was manufactured by Allen Herschell, a well-known manufacturer of children's rides, Woodward said. In 1960, Herschell built three scary fun-house type rides. Woodward has the only remaining "dark" ride left in operation, he said.
"It will be the unique part of the auction," Woodward said.
The auction to sell off all the rides and memorabilia is scheduled for Oct. 3 at Erieview Park. The auction will be handled by Norton Auctioneers out of Michigan, which specializes in auctioning off amusement park rides and memorabilia, he said.
"It was a business decision," he said. "It's not like we have to sell."
Since 1920, Woodward's family has owned businesses in Geneva-on-the-Lake. Before Erieview Amusement Park, the property was used for bathhouses, tennis courts and a miniature golf course, Woodward said.
As the times and fads changed over the years, so have the uses for the property.
Woodward wants to take advantage of the changing times and bring something new to the village next summer. Woodward said he hopes the new venture will be ready to go for the 2007 tourist season.
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Erieview Park closing
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