Cable theft won't derail historic Pa. coaster

CONNEAUT LAKE, Pa. (AP) — Officials at a hard-luck northwestern Pennsylvania amusement park say the recent theft of copper wire from a historic wooden roller coaster will not derail the recently refurbished ride, which is the park’s biggest draw.

Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of trustees at Conneaut Lake Park, tells the Erie Times-News the cables discovered stolen on Saturday aren’t crucial to operating the Blue Streak. Instead, the wires were an electrical service line installed to make maintenance more convenient.

The 119-year-old park has battled financial problems and bankruptcy in recent years and the Blue Streak was down for four years before it was reopened on Labor Day weekend 2010 thanks to a $50,000 Pepsi Challenge grant.

Built in 1938, the Blue Streak is one of two remaining Ed Vettel-designed coasters.