By Jon Gambrell
Enquirer contributor

MONROE - Still hoping to again hear the rattle of the Screeching Eagle wooden roller coaster and to see families crowd into the midway, a small group is searching for ways to revive the LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park.

Some 15 people came to a Wednesday night meeting led by Scott Fowler, a former park employee whose car vanity plates read "LESOURD."

Fowler is the co-founder of an Americana/LeSourdsville Lake fan Web site (www.americanaamusementpark.com) and of the nonprofit Southwestern Ohio Amusement Park Historical Society. He said recent talk that the eight-decade-old park's rides are to be auctioned at the end of the summer prompted the meeting.

"We're trying to convince (the owner) that this park can survive," said Fowler, wearing khakis and an Americana polo shirt. "If the rides are auctioned off, there's a good chance we'll never see it again."

City Councilwoman Suzi Rubin, who said she attended the meeting as a private resident, said she would try to talk to the park's owner about its future.

Participants gave their thoughts about how to keep the park profitable, writing them on taped note cards. The ideas ranged from marketing and promotion to "bringing an Indian casino" to the property.

Owner Jerry Couch reopened the park in 2002 for one summer season after changing its name from Americana to the original LeSourdsville Lake. Couch has said little since then while the park has been dormant.

Couch, who bought the 68-acre park in Butler County in 2000, said Thursday that he's talked with Fowler once.

"There are always rumors about that place," Couch said. "Nothing has been posted for sale yet." He declined to comment further.

Fowler said the group hopes to get more information from Couch and may meet again in the coming weeks.

E-mail jgambrell@fuse.net