MONROE — Families in the market for traditional outdoor fun this past weekend seemed to find just the ticket at LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park.

        Promotional pricing continued to attract families and young singles to the park to see what a new owner and management team have in mind for the Butler County site.

IF YOU GO

LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park begins regular hours and prices on Thursday. The grand reopening takes place Saturday with fireworks and entertainment by retro-pop group the Van-Dells.     • Hours: Thursday-Sunday for the remainder of the summer. Noon to 9 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.     • Admission: Beginning Thursday, admission is $2.95 per person and parking is $4. Ride tickets will cost $1-$2, with multiride bracelets available.     • Location: The park is at 5757 Middletown-Hamilton Road (Ohio 4), just south of Ohio 63.     • Information: 539-2193.

        Despite occasional thunderstorms, attendance during the park's two promotional weekends has been very good, said LeSourdsville spokesman Mike Mefford.

        “Saturdays and Sundays have been packed to the point that our parking lot was just about full, which we would estimate to be 8,000 to 10,000 people,” he said.

        Because renovation work was not complete, the park's first two weekends were billed as “Sneak-a-Peek,” priced to entice at $1 admission, and $1 for each ride and food item. On Thursday, the amusement park begins its regular summer schedule, open four days a week.

        “We came just to see what the changes are and, of course, the price,” said Brenda Page of Winton Place.

        Ms. Page, accompanied by her daughters, grandchildren and fiance, remembered the place when it was Americana Amusement Park.

        “It's not too big, the crowds aren't too big to the point where it's shoulder-to-shoulder,” Ms. Page added. “There's something for everybody to do.”

        Valerie Gallagher of Independence watched her youngest child enjoy a kiddie ride as her husband took their other children elsewhere in the park.

        “It was definitely the dollar admission,” she said of the family's reason for checking out LeSourdsville. “A dollar a ride sounded great, but we have five children, so it does mount up. But it's really nice.”

        At the lakeside shelter, Edrina Lake of Dayton, Ohio, shared a picnic with members of her extended family.

        The low prices helped sell her on the park.

        “It's a nice family environment,” Ms. Lake said. “We'll come back.”

        That's what LeSourdsville managers want to hear, as they gear up for regular pricing that goes into effect Thursday. The amusement park is competing with other area attractions, including Coney Island and Paramount's Kings Island, for Tristate entertainment dollars.

        Not everyone finds LeSourdsville Lake the perfect spot. Although she admitted that it's fun for a family outing, 13-year-old Ronnisha Jackson of Walnut Hills still prefers Kings Island.

        “There are more rides for kids my age,” Ronnisha explained.

        While LeSourdsville may use concerts and special events to attract teens and young adults, its current pitch is to families with young children.

        “It's a good value,” said Tim Bolen of Hamilton, who toured the park with his son Logan, 2. “We enjoyed it the first time last weekend and he wanted to come back. It's close and it's reasonable.

        “If we just wanted to swim, it would be worth the admission. I think it's going to do real well.”

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