The neon hum of a modern venue often feels worlds away from the ghosts of a bygone era, yet in the Barnesville section of Ryan Township, the past is being meticulously stitched back into the present. This weekend, the quiet of the woods was punctuated by the snip of ceremonial scissors as the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce christened a new lakeside bar and outdoor entertainment stage at Lakewood Park Campground. It is a development that feels less like a simple real estate expansion and more like a reclamation project, breathing life into a plot of land that once echoed with the brassy swing of big bands and the laughter of mid-century vacationers.
Rebuilding a Cultural Landmark
The scale of the transformation spearheaded by owners Andrew Roth and his father, Buck Roth, is significant when viewed against the site’s storied history. Before closing its gates in 1984, the original Lakewood Park was a regional titan, a sprawling escape for coal miners that eventually played host to icons like Frank Sinatra, Dick Clark, Louis Armstrong, Guy Lombardo, The Every Brothers, Lawrence Welk, Doris Day, and Eva Gabor. That iteration of the park boasted a 150-yard cement pool and a grand ballroom, serving as a cultural anchor for nearly 70 years. When the Roths purchased the 63-acre property in 2017, they weren’t just buying dirt and water; they were inheriting the heavy expectations of a community that remembered the glamour of the ballroom and the thrill of the long-gone amusement park.
Scaling for a Modern Audience
The math behind the current expansion suggests the Roths are betting heavily on the endurance of the "destination campground" model. With the addition of 17 new campsites this summer, the facility now offers 135 spots for RVs, campers, and tents, alongside a total of 17 cabins. This growth is being mirrored by the expansion of the property’s social infrastructure, including the new outdoor stage and bar. According to Tony Merchlinsky, member relations and marketing director for the chamber, the project represents an innovative pivot that he expects will draw visitors from across Schuylkill County and beyond. The site already features a 10-acre lake for recreation, and the successful 2019 completion of the Catalpa Grove wedding hall—situated where the old Kiddie Land once stood—shows that the owners are successfully weaving high-traffic events back into the park’s DNA.
Beyond the Campground Gates
What makes this development particularly compelling is its rejection of the "seasonal-only" trap that plagues many outdoor hospitality businesses. While the campground operates its primary season from April through October, the Lakewood Park Cafe and Bar remains open year-round, serving everything from espresso and boba teas to flatbread pizzas. By positioning the park as a year-round hub that hosts over 80 events annually, including the yearly Lithuanian Festival, the Roths are essentially testing whether a modern entertainment venue can survive by mimicking the community-focused versatility of the original park.
The next reading of the venue’s success will be found in the performance of its new entertainment schedule, which kicks off in May with performances already locked in for May 9, 14, and 28. Whether these nights on the new outdoor stage can recapture the magic of the big band era remains to be seen, but the rhythm of the construction suggests the Roths are in no rush to stop. As the bar expands its operating days to include Thursdays starting May 14, the measure of their progress will be how effectively they can convince a new generation that a patch of woods in Ryan Township is once again the place to be.
