Conneaut Lake Park To Be Sold For Unpaid Taxes

Conneaut Lake Park in Pennsylvania is being moved toward a sheriff’s sale to pay off it’s $925,000+ worth of property tax debt owed to four government entities.

Calling the collection of back taxes owed by the amusement park their fiduciary due, Crawford County commissioners voted unanimously to begin proceedings with a sheriff’s sale of the amusement park.

The commissioners’ action comes in the wake of similar moves previously by the Conneaut School District’s school board and supervisors of both Summit and Sadsbury Townships. The boards of the school district and two townships have gone on record in support of forcing a sheriff’s sale of the amusement park to settle its tax debt.

A sheriff’s sale could happen as soon as October, if foreclosure action is filed with the Crawford County court system by next week.

At this weeks Conneaut School Board work session, the board was to have it’s attorney move forward with foreclosure action to force a sheriff’s sale of Conneaut Lake Park. although no formal vote was taken by school board members.

The amusement park owes Conneaut School District, Crawford County and the townships of Summit and Sadsbury a combined $926,031.41 in back property taxes, interest and penalties dating back to 1997, according to the Crawford County Treasurer’s Office. As of August, Conneaut Lake Park owes $633,949.87 to Conneaut School District; $236,164.64 to the county (which includes $23,066.18 in costs associated with the county tax claim bureau); $43,750.85 to Summit Township; and $12,166.05 to Sadsbury Township, according to the Treasurer’s Office. Those taxes go back as far as 1997.

The amusement park is one of few that is free and still operates on ride tickets or offers an “unlimited rides” wristband. Not only is it known for being free, but also known for it’s famous Blue Streak wooden roller coaster. The coaster was built in 1937 (opened in 38), but underwent major renovations over the years. It currently is the 17th oldest wooden roller coaster in the United States.

In June of 2010, The American Coaster Enthusiasts donated a plaque that declared the Blue Streak a Coaster Classic and a Coaster Landmark.

For tickets and more information about Conneaut Lake Park, visit their official website here.

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