Jarrett
Most Obnoxious Member 2016
Marietta Daily Journal 5/29/2011
Lafayette District: From Eyesore to Icon
Last month, to a crowd of all ages, both young thrill seekers and older locals who were born and raised in Marietta, a velvet rope before an iconic red, white, and black turnstile building dropped and for the first time in over half a decade, Marietta's famous Sternwheeler Square filled up with guests. Carousel music piped down the riverside walkway accentuated with laughs, mechanical ride clattering, and bloodcurdling screams forcibly extracted from white-knuckle thrill seekers. Once again Marietta's baby River Angel, after going from beloved local gem to collecting rust and cobwebs in a brick boathouse, piped and paddled her way down the Ohio River for the first time in six years. It looked like anything you would see at your typical American amusement park on a Friday. However, there was way more to the typical site than met the eye.
Five years ago, Herschend Family Entertainment, the largest family-owned entertainment corporation in America, shut Lafayette District's gates indefinitely, and behind them a very uncertain future. Struggling to market the entire park as worth paying for just for one historical attraction, the park had to close prematurely in 2005. Before Herschend purchased it, its star attraction was River Angel with not much else, and admission to the park was cheap. However, when Herschend expanded the property upon their acquisition, they tripled the admission fee to the point where the guests just wanting to ride River Angel on their trip to Marietta stopped coming, leading the park to sink like an exploded steamboat. Over the years, the silent midways were overgrown and reclaimed by nature, the bright, colorful rides and buildings rusted and faded, and Lafayette District became just another man-made stain for nature to erase. This part of town, once a local liesurely heart beating with life and community, waited its turn for the many floods of the Ohio river to wash it away.
One of the photos, dubbed the "Sanders Photos" by roller coaster enthusiasts, showing the decrepit park.
Rumors of the park's reopening under a new buyer began to surface after an urban explorer broke into the abandoned park and upon being caught, talking to management. The tresspasser provided photos of the dilapidated theme park covered in rust, tarnish, and overgrowth, but had nothing to prove that he was spoken to. However, he reported that a man named Conrad Koch who was going press charges decided to let him go upon seeing an American Coaster Enthusiasts card in his wallet and then told him that his family had purchased the park and he would be taking the reins as park president.
In January of 2011, a man named Conrad Koch formally announced that he would be reopening the lost Lafayette District under his control. Koch stated that the new Lafayette District would place emphasis on a good value experience, family fun, and celebrating the Ohioan culture and icons he fell in love with while completing a graduate program at Ohio State University in Columbus. Among the changes Koch announced would be made would include a second River Angel only ticket available from the adjacent Ohio Sternwheeler Museum, free soft drinks, multiple events throughout the season, renovations and upgrades in the park's caliber of themed experiences, refurbishments of their existing rides and new trains for their Revolution and Vite roller coasters, and the addition of a new maximum thrill roller coaster called Hazard.
Hazard under construction in Lafayette District's Grand Exposition section.
About a month ago, Lafayette District experienced its grand reopening under Koch Family management, the same masterminds behind Holiday World a state away in Indiana. Since its opening, the park has seen attendance at an all time high, raking in 95,000 season pass sales and drawing in guests from all over Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. All of the ride, dining, and service experiences at Lafayette District have had generally very positive reviews, with the exception of the park's number one complaints surrounding the ride experience of their Revolution wooden roller coaster located in the Erie Boardwalk section of the park.
Foreground: Quasar thrill ride; Background: The Revolution roller coaster, both are newly refurbished attractions installed by the Herschend group
With the park's most recent first ever special event, Festival of Family, having gone off extremely well and bringing in the biggest crowd the Kochs have seen yet, the stage is set for their upcoming Riverside Coasterfest event scheduled for July 9. While details for that event have yet to be confirmed, rumors indicate that the event (which will be open to only roller coaster enthusiasts of an approved club) will consist of extended ride time on Hazard, a special ride on River Angel, lunch with speakers in the upper patio of the park's Banks Hotel, and behind-the-scenes tours around the park. The park also has special plans for Marietta's famous Sternwheeler Festival, intending to show off River Angel and offer special tickets and transportation to the park from the festival.
Lafayette District's oldest and most popular ride, River Angel, is a 40-minute cruise down the Ohio river providing views of both the park and historic downtown Marietta. Under all ownership the park has ever been under, River Angel has always had, by far, the highest performance with guests and is the best known attraction at Lafayette District..
Lafayette District intends to invest $3 million dollars into the park next year, in both new ride equipment and infrastructure. "We don't want to say for sure what we're doing just yet but if all goes according to planned, multiple rides will be added both new and secondhand," Koch stated. "Before we make an official announcement, I will be taking two trips, one to Pittsburgh and one to Texas, to seal the deal for everything." Conrad also assured us that this would not be the end of the park's string of new attractions anytime soon. "While in Texas there is an emerging technology I plan to test out on the trip," Koch stated. "It's very new but it caught my eye and within the next few years might have some use right here in Marietta." Conrad also left the Daily Journal office dropping a piece of paper reading "8 2012 251" in pen handwriting.
Vite, a popular "boomerang" style shuttle roller coaster located beside Hazard. Photo credit: Cole Crawford, The District Dig
Lafayette District is set to remain open through mid-October, with the season ending during their Last Rides event the night of October 16. Season passes remain on sale throughout the season. It is unconfirmed with 2012 passes will go on sale, however, that might have something to do with the rumored August 8 announcement date for next season's new additions.
To see the full story of Lafayette District so far:
http://www.shyguysworld.com/index.php/t ... 595.0.html
Lafayette District: From Eyesore to Icon
Last month, to a crowd of all ages, both young thrill seekers and older locals who were born and raised in Marietta, a velvet rope before an iconic red, white, and black turnstile building dropped and for the first time in over half a decade, Marietta's famous Sternwheeler Square filled up with guests. Carousel music piped down the riverside walkway accentuated with laughs, mechanical ride clattering, and bloodcurdling screams forcibly extracted from white-knuckle thrill seekers. Once again Marietta's baby River Angel, after going from beloved local gem to collecting rust and cobwebs in a brick boathouse, piped and paddled her way down the Ohio River for the first time in six years. It looked like anything you would see at your typical American amusement park on a Friday. However, there was way more to the typical site than met the eye.
Five years ago, Herschend Family Entertainment, the largest family-owned entertainment corporation in America, shut Lafayette District's gates indefinitely, and behind them a very uncertain future. Struggling to market the entire park as worth paying for just for one historical attraction, the park had to close prematurely in 2005. Before Herschend purchased it, its star attraction was River Angel with not much else, and admission to the park was cheap. However, when Herschend expanded the property upon their acquisition, they tripled the admission fee to the point where the guests just wanting to ride River Angel on their trip to Marietta stopped coming, leading the park to sink like an exploded steamboat. Over the years, the silent midways were overgrown and reclaimed by nature, the bright, colorful rides and buildings rusted and faded, and Lafayette District became just another man-made stain for nature to erase. This part of town, once a local liesurely heart beating with life and community, waited its turn for the many floods of the Ohio river to wash it away.
One of the photos, dubbed the "Sanders Photos" by roller coaster enthusiasts, showing the decrepit park.
Rumors of the park's reopening under a new buyer began to surface after an urban explorer broke into the abandoned park and upon being caught, talking to management. The tresspasser provided photos of the dilapidated theme park covered in rust, tarnish, and overgrowth, but had nothing to prove that he was spoken to. However, he reported that a man named Conrad Koch who was going press charges decided to let him go upon seeing an American Coaster Enthusiasts card in his wallet and then told him that his family had purchased the park and he would be taking the reins as park president.
In January of 2011, a man named Conrad Koch formally announced that he would be reopening the lost Lafayette District under his control. Koch stated that the new Lafayette District would place emphasis on a good value experience, family fun, and celebrating the Ohioan culture and icons he fell in love with while completing a graduate program at Ohio State University in Columbus. Among the changes Koch announced would be made would include a second River Angel only ticket available from the adjacent Ohio Sternwheeler Museum, free soft drinks, multiple events throughout the season, renovations and upgrades in the park's caliber of themed experiences, refurbishments of their existing rides and new trains for their Revolution and Vite roller coasters, and the addition of a new maximum thrill roller coaster called Hazard.
Hazard under construction in Lafayette District's Grand Exposition section.
About a month ago, Lafayette District experienced its grand reopening under Koch Family management, the same masterminds behind Holiday World a state away in Indiana. Since its opening, the park has seen attendance at an all time high, raking in 95,000 season pass sales and drawing in guests from all over Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. All of the ride, dining, and service experiences at Lafayette District have had generally very positive reviews, with the exception of the park's number one complaints surrounding the ride experience of their Revolution wooden roller coaster located in the Erie Boardwalk section of the park.
Foreground: Quasar thrill ride; Background: The Revolution roller coaster, both are newly refurbished attractions installed by the Herschend group
With the park's most recent first ever special event, Festival of Family, having gone off extremely well and bringing in the biggest crowd the Kochs have seen yet, the stage is set for their upcoming Riverside Coasterfest event scheduled for July 9. While details for that event have yet to be confirmed, rumors indicate that the event (which will be open to only roller coaster enthusiasts of an approved club) will consist of extended ride time on Hazard, a special ride on River Angel, lunch with speakers in the upper patio of the park's Banks Hotel, and behind-the-scenes tours around the park. The park also has special plans for Marietta's famous Sternwheeler Festival, intending to show off River Angel and offer special tickets and transportation to the park from the festival.
Lafayette District's oldest and most popular ride, River Angel, is a 40-minute cruise down the Ohio river providing views of both the park and historic downtown Marietta. Under all ownership the park has ever been under, River Angel has always had, by far, the highest performance with guests and is the best known attraction at Lafayette District..
Lafayette District intends to invest $3 million dollars into the park next year, in both new ride equipment and infrastructure. "We don't want to say for sure what we're doing just yet but if all goes according to planned, multiple rides will be added both new and secondhand," Koch stated. "Before we make an official announcement, I will be taking two trips, one to Pittsburgh and one to Texas, to seal the deal for everything." Conrad also assured us that this would not be the end of the park's string of new attractions anytime soon. "While in Texas there is an emerging technology I plan to test out on the trip," Koch stated. "It's very new but it caught my eye and within the next few years might have some use right here in Marietta." Conrad also left the Daily Journal office dropping a piece of paper reading "8 2012 251" in pen handwriting.
Vite, a popular "boomerang" style shuttle roller coaster located beside Hazard. Photo credit: Cole Crawford, The District Dig
Lafayette District is set to remain open through mid-October, with the season ending during their Last Rides event the night of October 16. Season passes remain on sale throughout the season. It is unconfirmed with 2012 passes will go on sale, however, that might have something to do with the rumored August 8 announcement date for next season's new additions.
To see the full story of Lafayette District so far:
http://www.shyguysworld.com/index.php/t ... 595.0.html
The foliage looks decent and the park has a nice charm to it with its small rides and traditional coasters like the Boomerang and a woodie.
