3rd rail said "IMHO the answer to your question is simply that Edaville was infested with people that wanted an investment only who were not really interested in trains. I believe that rail buffs don't keep a venue like Edaville going...unless you're calling the shots."
You're right 3rd rail. What is sad is that these clowns running the show now don't realize that the best way to make money as a tourist RR is to be a good tourist RR. At least that's the way everyone else does it.
That means you don't do stupid things like cut your ride down to 1/3 of what it was. You don't tear up sidings, you don't tear down RR buildings.
These incompetent amateurs seem to have a knack for doing exactly the opposite of what the successful railroads would do.
In my opinion these people would have a hard time properly managing a school playground.
They came in and tore things down without thinking, spent money where it wasn't needed, then got into financial trouble.
They should have used caution. If it works, don't fix it. Repair the Cranberry Jct Station, don't tear it down. Repair the engine house, water tower, and anything else that may need repairing. Keep the character of the railroad.
Then, put your money into getting a new steam engine, improving the track, and improving the rolling stock.
If they were cautious and somewhat intelligent, they'd still have their 5.42 mile loop.
Now, compared to what they started with they are stuck with a big fat cow pattie.
If they are looking for ways to bring in revenue, they could publish a book chronicling all of their various mistakes and market it to people who are interested in business and A. want a good laugh B. want a good cry and C. don't want to repeat the same mistakes.
Of course it would have to be published volume by volume as 3,000 page tomes tend to be a bit on the expensive side.
It's real easy, they should have taken stock..
1. We have a 5.42 mile loop, that's a priority, nothing happens to the loop.
2. We have sidings, yard tracks, the Cranberry Jct station, water tower, and other RR related items, those don't get touched either.
3. We have a signal system. The signal system is a priority and shouldn't be touched.
Instead of taking a cautious and conservative approach they went in with a wrecking ball, hired a blind operator, and whatever he destroyed, he destroyed. There was no rhyme or reason.
The other thing that seems to have gone over their head is that Edaville was a railroad. People visiting were there for the railroad stuff, otherwise they'd go somewhere else.
The goal is to provide 6 to 8 hours or so of entertainment for the visitors, maybe less.
You have static displays, the train ride, it was time to add other railroad related attractions.
Why add a non railroad related ride when you can add a railroad related one?
Instead of that stupid little square layout that had hand powered train cars for the kids to ride on, why not make an elaborate one? Something that the kids will want to spend an hour or more on?
Canobie Lake used to have a nice one. I remember riding it as a kid, I loved it.
The problem is the same, Deli Priscoli has no desire to be the best at anything. He says in the press that he "doesn't want to be a six flags." Fine, then forget about amusements then.
Do it right or not at all.
Stick with the railroad theme and keep adding railroad related things.
Right now he has no sense of direction. He says that Edaville is a recognized brand but unfortunately he's destroying the brand.
Under DeliPriscoli the name Edaville will become synonymous with the words "tourist trap."
It's well on it's way.