Northwestern Pennsylvania lost one of its bigger summertime attractions yesterday when cash-poor Conneaut Lake Park decided it will not open this year.

The 115-year-old amusement park in Crawford County typically drew about 150,000 visitors from the end of May to Labor Day. It also provided 200 teenagers with summer jobs.

"This is a disastrous day. We're saddened," George Deshner, the park's director of operations, said after announcing that the season had been scrapped.

The park is $2.3 million in debt and prohibited by a judge from borrowing any more money. It had hinged its hopes on finding a benefactor who would donate at least $100,000 to get the season started.

A gift that large would have enabled the park to open some of its rides, its restaurants and its historic hotel, Mr. Deshner said. But so dire are the park's finances that it would not have been able to afford repairs for its best-known attraction, the Blue Streak Roller Coaster.

Even though the park's opening was never certain, park managers booked five bands to perform this weekend, for the traditional Memorial Day kickoff. The concerts were canceled yesterday, adding $13,000 to the park's mounting debt. It is obligated to pay the bands, even though the show will not go on, Mr. Deshner said.

Park managers also began canceling weddings, a staple of life on Conneaut Lake. About 15 couples get married in the park each summer.

Colleen McMillin of Franklin Park said she was to be married June 30 on the pier near Hotel Conneaut. Managers of the amusement park told her yesterday to move her wedding elsewhere.

"It's been an emotional day," said Ms. McMillin, 31, who spent many happy summers at the park during her childhood.

Her fiance, Jeremy Hartzell, also 31, proposed to her last year while they were on the Conneaut Lake carousel. He worked at the park's old convention hall for eight years. Now a lawyer, he said he may have to sue to recover a $600 deposit for the wedding.

A skeleton crew of nine employees had been showing up at the park each day, but they had no money to prepare the rides, restaurants or hotel for visitors. Everybody except a security crew will be laid off, Mr. Deshner said.

The park has been in financial trouble for a dozen years. It was closed in 1995 and part of 1996 when a private owner went bankrupt. After the next owner went to federal prison for tax evasion, the park became a nonprofit community enterprise.

Its business operations are overseen by a Common Pleas Court judge, who this spring stopped park managers from selling 3.3 acres of waterfront property to a developer for $1.7 million. The judge, Anthony Vardaro, also barred the park from borrowing more money.

LeRoy Stearns, court-appointed overseer of the park, plans to resign today. Mr. Deshner, a former high school principal who has helped run the park for almost two years, said he expects to leave as well.

Yet to be decided is how the park will begin preparing for next year. Despite all its problems, its supporters say it can be successful.

"People love this park. It's a great place, and I know it can make money," Mr. Deshner said.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07143/788175-85.stm