Blue Streak (Conneaut Lake)

Blue Streak was a wooden roller coaster built in 1938 at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania. 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 operating until 2021. 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 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 Raging Wolf Bobs coaster.

Blue Streak has been opened and closed many times. The dates are as follows, On June 24, 2010, the American Coaster Enthusiasts donated a plaque that declared Blue Streak a Coaster Classic and a Coaster Landmark.
 * 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 standing but out of operation from 2020-2022.

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.

Incidents
On July 24, 1949, a 40-year-old man was killed after falling 20 ft 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.