“It was as good as we expected,” Tim Lisko said Tuesday. “We hope it’s a good sign. People were telling us they were happy it’s open again.”

Members of Classic Iron Street Machines said their car cruise-ins at the park Friday, Saturday and Sunday drew good crowds.

“There was a steady stream of people,” said Lon Williams, club president. “People were excited to see the park up and open again.”

“It was a great success,” said Bob Keller of the club. “It was more people than we expected. People were lined up for rides and concession stands, too.”

The park’s opening even drew praise from Bill Hillgrove, a Pittsburgh sports broadcaster and former member of the board of trustees.

“It was with great joy that my family was able to dock our boat at the park Saturday afternoon and witness people of all ages enjoying the treasure which has been placed in your trust,” Hillgrove said in an e-mail to the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “My seven-year-old grandson had a blast running from ride-to-ride and thoroughly enjoying himself.”

While it was a successful weekend, Moyers vows the park won’t rest on its laurels.

While all Kiddieland rides and nine adult rides are in operation, the park hopes to have its train ride ready in a few weeks and its waterpark running by July 4.

“We’re on a course of constant improvement this season,” Moyers said.

Area businesses

helped by opening

The park’s success also spilled over into the Conneaut Lake business community.

“It was a great weekend,” said Patty Reynolds, owner of the Irish Cove Motel, a 21-unit motel on Route 618 near the park. “It was twice as good as last year.”

When the park wasn’t in operation the past two summers, Reynolds estimated her business was off 40 to 50 percent.