Edger Streifthau, founder of LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park, reluctantly sold his interest in the park in 1960. Edger also maintained his hardware store in downtown Middletown but the amusement park bug stayed with him.

“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 (LeSourdsville Lake) 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," said Edger from his autobiography, "Edger Streifthau; His Story" by Irene Wright.

Technically, Edgar was prohibited from owning an amusement park within 100 miles of LeSourdsville due to a 10-year non-competitive clause in the LeSourdsville sale. Edger recruited a business acquaintance, Paul House to be park president. Hal and Tootie Stevens, friends of Edgar, agreed to become the owners. Edgar put up the money for the park to be built and served as a consultant.

The name, "Fantasy Farm" was coined by Edgar's daughter Donna Switzer. Within weeks of installing a construction fence, neighbors and the new owners of LeSourdsville Lake, found themselves in court. The judge ruled that they had waited to long in the construction process to make a legitimate complaint and dismissed the suit. Construction continued and the park opened to the public on Memorial Day, 1963, catering to small children and families.

In 1965, the Fantasy Farm motel opened next door to the park. By 1972, Edgar had taken over full ownership of the park. The park featured five food stands, four gift shops, 33 rides and over 50 head of deer, cows, horses, goats and sheep, in addition to a variety of ducks, geese, guinea hens and peacocks.

In the fall of 1982, Edgar sold Fantasy Farm to Fairfield, Ohio carnival owner, William Johnson.

Johnson closed Fantasy Farm in 1991 citing high insurance premiums and labor costs. In November 1991, an auction was held to sell all of the park's rides. In 1996, Johnson sold the park land to Billy Barker and Billy Barker, Jr. who operated Middletown Motor Sports on the site until about 2003.

In March 2001, neighborhood children accidentally set fire to the former carousel building and damaged a portion of the Three Bears House.

In October 2006, LeSourdsville Lake/Americana owner Jerry Couch purchased the Fantasy Farm property (except for the motel) and began converting the area to a campground to supplement his camper sales business.

 Fantasy Farm Photo Album

Photo credits: Top: soaphs file, T.Rhein, park archive.