In 1968, three businessmen left their jobs at Cedar Point in Sandusky to purchase Geauga Lake Amusement Park. Geauga Lake had been a summertime escape since the 1870s, but by the 1960s it had fallen on hard times. The businessmen's company, Funtime, Inc., transformed the aging facility into a modern amusement park and established a reputation as an innovative operator in one of the nation's most competitive amusement park markets. Geauga Lake became the first park with two looping roller coasters and the first to integrate a full-scale water park, Boardwalk Shores. The company broke even more...

Waldameer Park overlooks Lake Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania. This area has been a popular retreat for people since opening in 1896. As one of the last surviving "trolley parks" in America, Waldameer Park has a story of growth and survival. Originally, the park's main attraction was its beach on the lake; it was a popular destination in Erie for people to go and escape the heat of summer. Over the years, Waldameer Park changed significantly. In the early 20th century, rides like Dip the Dips, Ravine Flyer, and Mill Run grew to be the main attractions at the park. Over the past three...