Juveniles face charges in Fantasy Farm fire.
by The Journal Staff.

MONROE - Charges will be filed against juveniles caught during a fire that broke out Saturday night at the former Fantasy Farm complex adjacent to Americana Amusement Park.

Shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday, fire was discovered tearing through a large older building at the park that, among other things, once housed a 1940s-era merry-go-round.  Later the blaze spread to a small adjacent log and stone building called the Three Bears House where, years ago, many youngsters' birthdays were celebrated when the park was open for business.

Monroe Fire Department Capt.  John Centers, arson investigator, said Monday he was in contact with the Butler County prosecutor's office, making a determination of juvenile delinquency charges to be considered in the matter.

"There will be charges," Centers said, "but right now we just don't know the extent of the charges and which juveniles will be charged with what."

Three youngster's ages 10 to 12 were seen leaving the area of the fire and were later apprehended and questioned.  The park's former owner, William Johnson, who lives near the entrance to the park grounds, told officers Saturday night that he had seen a group of boys on the scene trying "to stomp it out, but it got out of control fast." He called 9-1-1. "We don't think at this point that they intended to burn the building down," Centers said, "but were more involved in setting just a nuisance type fire."

The fire was ignited by a lighter applied to some bales of straw housed in the Fantasy Farm building, Centers said.  Damage was estimated between $30,000 to $40,000.

 Fantasy Farm was once developed and operated by the former owner of Americana Amusement Park (then under the name of LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park), the late Edgar Streifthau.  The park, with rides and grounds facilities aimed at very young children and parents, opened in 1962 and was closed in 1991 under another owner.

The property is now owned by Middletown Motor Sports.

Above article printed 3-13-01 in the Middletown Journal. Thanks go to Debbie Morrison for sending us the article.

Flames tarnish two old Fantasy Farm buildings.
  By Laren Pack Journal Staff Writer.

MONROE - It was way too hot in the Three Bears House at the old Fantasy Farm amusement park Saturday night - flames damaged the little building and claimed its larger neighbor.  Shortly before 7 p.m., fire ripped through a large building that once housed the former park's 1940s-era merry-go- round, then spread to a small log and stone building beside it, the Three Bears House.  Dark smoke and flames could be seen from Ohio 4 outside Middletown. Monroe firefighters, assisted by Liberty Township crews, doused both buildings, but the larger structure was engulfed when they arrived.  As the force of the water gushed from a fire hose, the walls swayed, creaked and threatened to fall over. Neighbors said juvenile boys were seen leaving the area on a four-wheeler just as flames started shooting from the roof. William Johnson, former owner of the once-thriving LeSourdsville park, who lives at the entrance to the grounds in the former restaurant, said he also saw the boys. "I saw them out there trying to stomp it out, but it got out of control fast.  I called 911," Johnson said. Fantasy Farm was the brainchild of the late Edgar Streifthau, who opened the park in 1962  adjunct to his LeSourdsville Lake, which was most recently known as Americana amusement park.  The Fantasy Farm Motel opened in 1965.

Fantasy Farm was an amusement park that catered to small children and their families.  It had picnic areas, children's rides, animals, wagon tours, an arcade, farm equipment, concessions and a duck pond.  And yes, it also once featured a Three Bears House. Johnson bought the park in 1982.  It remained in operation until 1991, when climbing labor and insurance costs forced its closure. In November 1991, much of the park's attractions and rides, including the vintage 1940s carousel, were sold at auction. Johnson said memories were still alive in the buildings that remained, even though they were mostly empty. "There were a lot of memories in both of those buildings, not just for me but for thousands of children who are now adults who came to Fantasy Farm every summer," Johnson said.  "It just made me sick to watch it burn. "The Three Bears House, also known as the birthday house, was the sight of children's birthday parties. "It was the cutest little place, with a fireplace, where families could come and celebrate birthdays," Johnson said.  'Lots of happy memories there." Five years ago, Johnson said, he sold the park to Billy Barker and his son, Billy Barker Jr. According to firefighters, the former merry-go-round building was used for storage and filled with straw.  Johnson said he did not know what was housed in the building. Monroe Fire Lt.  Richard Mascarella said the land is now owned by Middletown Motor Sports.  He estimated damage to the merry-go-round building at $30,000.  It was a total loss, he said.  The Three Bears House received far less damage, he said. Police were questioning a couple of juvenile suspects at 10 p.m. Saturday at the police station.  No charges had been filed, police said.  The fire is being investigated.

Note: William Johnson never owned LeSourdsville or Americana but was the last owner (2nd owner) of Fantasy Farm. The article above is in error.
Robert Curtis
Webmaster of The Fantasy Farm Memorial.

Above photo: Liberty Township firefighters battle a blaze in the old merry-go-round building at Fantasy Farm Saturday. From the Middletown Journal.

 [Above articles printed 3-11-01 in the Middletown Journal. Donated to the memorial by Debbie Morrison.] 

[You can see the structure lost in the fire from this aerial photo. It is the striped roof structure seen on the bottom right of photo. This photo is property of The Fantasy Farm Memorial.]