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The Ghosts of Hotel Conneaut and Conneaut Lake Park
By Carrie Andra Pavlik
Message Me To Order Copies
Also available at the Hotel Conneaut, Timberland Frames, and eBay.
Read about the Hotel's most famous ghost, the bride Elizabeth, who died in the 1943 fire, as well as the chef, the ghostly couple in the ballroom, the little girl on the tricycle, the soldier in the tree, and many more. Learn about the other ghosts who haunt Conneaut Lake Park, such as the Blue Streak victim and the dancers of Dreamland Ballroom. Lots of ghostly photos! The book also includes information about the history of Conneaut Lake Park and Hotel Conneaut, as well as historic and current pictures.
Written in 2006, this is the fourth and most likely the final edition of the book. It contains all of the same information as the other editions, just a lot more too! New format and clearer photos! Enjoy new ghost stories (e.g. the sailor; the haunted office), new first hand encounters from guests and employees, and new ghostly pictures! See "Pics" for a preview.
Black and white; soft cover with plastic overlay; spiral bound; color cover.
About The Hotel
In 1903, a timeless addition to Conneaut Lake Park was born - the Hotel Conneaut. While there used to be over a dozen hotels around the park, the Hotel Conneaut is the only one still standing. Its oldest wings actually belong to the Park Hotel and date back to 1892. In its heyday, the hotel boasted over 300 rooms, a dinning hall, gift shop, billiard room, crystal ballroom, lounge, and barbershop tended by Perry Como. When it first opened, a room could be rented for $2.50 a day or $10 a week, which was actually a bit pricey for the time. On April 27th of 1943, a faulty lighting system caused a fire in the east wing of the third floor. Some reports say the fire was started by lightning. (And of course, others will say it was the bride Elizabeth’s dress that first caught on fire.) The hotel was severely damaged by flames, smoke and water. Due to a lack of funds during the war, the damaged portion of the building was not remodeled or rebuilt. Today, only about 150 rooms remain in the Hotel Conneaut, which still retains its historic style and has no elevators, phones, TVs, or air conditioning. Over the years, thousands of people, including Mark Twain, have stayed overnight at the Hotel Conneaut while visiting the Park. Some guests, however, have decided to stay longer, as the Hotel is host to several ghosts who have permanently checked in. Most the ghosts are harmless, and while both guests and employees have encountered them, most people are more intrigued by them than frightened.
About The Park
In 1892, Colonel Frank Mantor announced the opening of Exposition Park. In 1919, it was officially renamed Conneaut Lake Park and the name remains the same today. At one time, the park brought in several trains of visitors per day. With its own train station, convention hall, bowling alley, photography studio, Temple of Music, and Dancing Pavilion, it certainly was the place to be! Today, Conneaut Lake Park still entertains its guests with midway games, big people rides, little people rides, beach, boardwalk, pony track, Dreamland Ballroom, Hotel Conneaut, picnic grounds, and miniature golf course. Another timeless favorite is the Beach Club, where in 1940, Doris Day performed with the Bob Crosby Orchestra. While Conneaut Lake Park has gone through financial and legal difficulties in recent years, it has been open every year since 1892 with the exception of 1995. It is now owned by "the people of northwest Pennsylvania" and remains one of the few places on Conneaut Lake that hasn't been taken over by private homes or businesses. It's not "owned" by some big faceless corporate entity. That means no CEOs, no one out to make millions for themself - just a group of people working together to keep this place alive for everyone to enjoy. A unique local treasure with a rich history, it is not surprising that the Park has its own set of ghosts.
Links:
Ghost Hunter Investigation
Official CLP Website
MSN CLP Fan Group
Wikipedia Article
CLP Junction
Conneaut Lake Institute
CLP Preservation Society
Conneaut Lake Historical Society
Official Conneaut Lake Homepage
Carrie Pavlik Facebook
