Blue Streak was a

wooden roller coaster A wooden roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its wooden track, which consists of running rails made of flat steel strips mounted on laminated wood. The support structure is also typically made of wood, but may also be ...

built in 1938 at

Conneaut Lake Park Conneaut Lake Park is a summer resort and event venue located in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, United States. It has long served as a regional tourist destination, and was noted by roller coaster enthusiasts for its classic Blue Streak (Conneaut ...

Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania Conneaut Lake is a borough in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, located at the southern end of the lake of the same name. The population was 625 at the 2020 census, down from 653 at the 2010 census. History The town was founded in 1799 as "Evan ...

. It was the only wooden coaster operating in the park, as well as the largest. Blue Streak followed an out and back design. It was the 17th oldest wooden roller coaster in the United States, and it was one of two shallow coasters designed by Ed Vettel still in operation in 2019. Blue Streak opened in 1938, and operated inconsistently until 2019. It stood out of operation until 2022, when it was destroyed in a fire during demolition.

History

Blue Streak underwent major renovations in 1997, 2002, and 2010. In 2002, one of the original 1938 Vettel trains was returned to service, replacing the silver

National Amusement Devices National Amusement Devices in Dayton, Ohio was an American construction company founded in 1919 as the Dayton Fun House by Aurel Vaszin. Based on research, they built a 2-foot gauge miniature train that could be either gasoline or electric power ...

Century Flyer train used since the 1960s. The Vettel train was again removed in 2011 pending repairs and restraint updates. The turnaround section of track was also rebuilt in this year. For the 2016 season, the first drop was repaired and re-tracked. In 2018, the second drop was repaired and re-tracked. The ride received salvaged lumber from the

Geauga Lake Geauga Lake was an amusement park in Bainbridge Township, Geauga County, Ohio, Bainbridge Township and Aurora, Ohio, Aurora, Ohio. It was established in 1887, in what had been a local recreation area adjacent to Geauga Lake (lake), a lake of th ...

Raging Wolf Bobs Raging Wolf Bobs was a wooden roller coaster located at Geauga Lake amusement park in Ohio. Designed by Curtis D. Summers to resemble The Bobs (roller coaster), Bobs, a popular roller coaster at the defunct Riverview Park (Chicago), Riverview Par ...

coaster. Blue Streak has been opened and closed many times. The dates are as follows, *Originally opened: May 23, 1938 *Closed: 1995-1996 *Reopened: May 17, 1997 *Closed: 2007-September 1, 2010 *Reopened: September 2, 2010 *Final closure: Closed after the 2019 operating season. Stood out of operation from 2020-2022. On June 24, 2010, the

American Coaster Enthusiasts American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a non-profit organization focusing on the enjoyment, knowledge, and preservation of roller coasters as well as recognition of some as architectural and engineering landmarks. Dues-paying members receive th ...

donated a plaque that declared Blue Streak a

Coaster Classic American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a non-profit organization focusing on the enjoyment, knowledge, and preservation of roller coasters as well as recognition of some as architectural and engineering landmarks. Dues-paying members receive th ...

and a

Coaster Landmark American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a non-profit organization focusing on the enjoyment, knowledge, and preservation of roller coasters as well as recognition of some as architectural and engineering landmarks. Dues-paying members receive th ...

. On January 4, 2022, during demolition of the ride, Blue Streak caught on fire.

Ride experience

Upon leaving the station, the train immediately entered a tunnel in the shape of an “S" and began a 78-foot-high climb up the lift hill. The train plummeted down the first drop, reaching up to a top speed of 50 mph, and went into a straightaway section of track. The straightaway was followed by two medium size hills, then a turnaround section that featured a slight dip as it turned the train back towards the station. The train then followed four smaller camel back hills, providing airtime, then entering the brake run and making a 360 degree turn back into the station.

Awards

Note: From 1999–2010 Blue Streak did not chart in the

Golden Ticket Awards ''Amusement Today'' is a monthly periodical that features articles, news, pictures and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, List of amusement rides, rides, and ride manufacturers. The trade newspape ...

Incidents

* On July 24, 1949, a 40-year-old man was killed after falling from the ride. Park officials stated that the safety restraints were not properly secured. * On October 29, 2013, two women were injured after riding the roller coaster. Reports have said that they may have hit their faces on the lap bar during their ride.

References

External links

*
American Coaster Enthusiasts listing for Blue Streak
{{authority control Former roller coasters in Pennsylvania Roller coasters introduced in 1937 1937 establishments in Pennsylvania 2022 fires in the United States Fires in Pennsylvania Roller coasters that closed in 2019