Asked whether plans include opening any of the rides, Moyers said, “That depends on how everything comes together,” referring to the cash flow. “We have to get over the hump of the cash flow (problem),” he added.

“We hope to get some (rides) open. The board remains optimistic.” He said the board is working together “to do the best we can.” Moyers didn’t give specific figures, but in the past as much as $400,000 was needed to open the gates each spring.

The question of whether Conneaut Lake Park will open has been raised every year for nearly 10 years after it was purchased by Gary Harris from bankruptcy in 1996. Harris operated the park in 1996 and 1997 before deeding it to the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park to operate for the public.

Every year since then, the opening has been doubtful because there’s been a lack of start-up funding. Until last year, somebody came up with the money — usually via loans.

However, last year the park’s court-appointed manager, LeRoy Stearns, refused to open the park because there wasn’t enough money, and he wouldn’t seek court approval for any more loans. The amusement park closed after plans to sell 3.3 acres of land were rejected. The proposed sale would have helped pay down some of the debt and given the park the money to open.

Court involvement was necessary because the park was declared a charitable trust following a lengthy legal battle.

After announcing the park would not open, Stearns resigned and a new 15-member board was appointed in July 2007. The new board opened the Beach Club for several months and Hotel Conneaut for several weeks until it was closed because of a problem with the fire escape.

In the meantime, a sheriff sale of various equipment scheduled for Jan. 3 was postponed for 30 days at the request of Sysco Food Services of Philadelphia, which filed for the sale for unpaid bills of more than $3,000. The sheriff’s office said Thursday the postponement was requested by Sysco’s attorney, but no reason was given. No new date has been set.

Moyers said Wednesday the sale was postponed because Mercer County State Bank has a lien against the park’s properties from a $100,000 loan made in 2004.

Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at jsmith@meadvilletribune.com.