Edger Streifthau, founder of Fantasy Farm Amusement Park, first got into the amusement park business in 1921 when he opened LeSourdsville Lake Park as a place for people to swim and camp. Still in operation (well maybe) as Americana Amusement Park, it remains one of the last classic amusement park's left in the country.

In 1959 Don Dazey, Edger's partner in the LeSoursdville Lake Park, died. Because of Don's death and other problems at the park Edger decided to sell.

For a few years Edger maintained his already successful motorcycle / appliance / hardware business in Middletown and traveled the country with his wife Nellie.

" While I was mulling over what to do next, to keep busy, I realized I had my house and 20 acres of land next to the park that had not been sold. I started thinking about putting it to use. It could be used as a family park for children, 12 years and younger. The more I thought about it, the more I got fired up." Edger Streifthau from the book Edger Streifthau; his story by Irene H. Wright.

Because of a non-competitive clause in the contract that sold LeSoursdville, Edger could not operate a new park himself for 10 years. Edger called a meeting between his two grown children and their spouses to propose a plan for them to operate the new park as he acted as consultant and financier.

"The name of the new park was to be 'Fantasy Farm' at Donna's [daughter-in-law] suggestion. It would have a farm theme. We started immediately to fence the area." Edger Streifthau from the book Edger Streifthau; his story by Irene H. Wright.

Neighbors started complaining about Edger's new project when they saw farm animals being transported onto the property. But when they filed suit against him in Butler County Common Pleas Court, the judge ruled they had waited too long. Fantasy Farm never had a good relationship with its neighbors during its entire existence.    Back