MONROE — When LeSourdsville Lake amusement park reopens Friday after a two-year hiatus, people might wonder if they're in a time warp.

        The decision to revert to the old name — dropped in 1978 in favor of Americana — is designed to ignite the passions of nostalgia. The initial admission price — $1 — is designed to attract people to the gates.

        “This is dollar preview for the next two weekends,” spokesman Mike Mefford said. “Not everything in the park will be up and running. We're inviting people to come in and see some of the changes we've made around here.

        “We'll have about 30 of 36 rides running. We're not sure about the food yet. Certainly it won't be available to the level it will be later this summer, but we'll have some smaller foods available.”

        Owner Jerry Couch said once people see how clean and spruced up the park is, they will want to come back. He said he wants to maintain a family-style park that operates in another world from Paramount's Kings Island in Warren County.

        Mr. Couch, a St. Clair Township camper dealer, bought the park in 1999 from Park River Corp., owner of Coney Island. He is opening a camper sales office on grounds next to the park.

        This week, Mr. Mefford said, the reaction has been “unbelievable. The phone has been ringing off the hook. People are really excited to hear that we're opening back up.”

        The new leasing team, Pugh Shows of Lancaster, knows the business and “they get down and dirty to get the job done,” he said.

        This is the park's 80th anniversary. It will have some vintage rides, including the Whip and the Skyride, and some new attractions, including the Swinging Pirate Ship, the Zipper (a rotating ride) and a fun house.

        For the first two weekends, LeSourdsville's hours will be different.

        This week, the park will be open from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

        The second preview weekend will run noon to 10 p.m. June 13, noon to 11 p.m. June 14-15 and noon to 9 p.m. June 16.

        From June 20 through Labor Day, the park will run on its regular-season schedule: Thursdays, noon to 10 p.m.; Fridays, noon to 11 p.m.; Saturdays, noon to 11 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 9 p.m.

        After Labor Day, the park will be open noon to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, through September.

        During the season, daily admission will be $2.95 per person and visitors will “pay as they play,” with most ride and game tickets costing $1 and a few major rides $2. All-ride passes will cost $14.95, $9.95 after 4 p.m.

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