But when Stearns contacted Waid on Friday, he was told there was no money. Stearns planned to announce Friday that the park wouldn’t open, he said, but then received several phone calls from Lynch on Friday afternoon asking him to delay until Monday at 11 a.m. Stearns agreed to wait.

Workers preparing to open

As Stearns and Deshner waited for the phone call Monday confirming the offer, others were busy preparing the park to open Friday.

A disc jockey has set up equipment in the Beach Club. Jeff Mona, one of the management team members to handle the Beach Club and all food service operations, was taking an inventory of food items and supplies and waiting for the final go-ahead.

Stearns said National Fuel Gas Co. had been there Monday morning to reconnect some gas lines after receiving a payment of $1,300.

As everyone waited for a phone call about the money, dozens and dozens of other phone calls were received from people wanting to know if the park was opening this week.

Future of the park

If the offer from the anonymous businessman falls through, Stearns said there is a possibility there could be a “free farewell concert” on the concert lawn as the park must pay the entertainers booked for Do-Wopp so they may as well allow them to entertain.

However, there would be nothing else open nor would there be any food or beverages available for purchase as the park has no money to buy those items.

In the meantime, if plans to open don’t materialize, Stearns said he will ask the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas to liquidate the park.

He said the county came up with a game plan which calls for a five-member committee to work to present a comprehensive plan for the park’s future. However, that plan calls for the park to be in operation.

He said the judge can take his recommendation or appoint a new board of directors. He will give the judge a list of applicants and the judge will make the appointments.

Stearns said neither he nor a board of directors can sell any real estate because of a restriction in the deed, so he is uncertain what the next move would be.