Butler Tech Purchases Portion of Former Americana Amusement Park Property

Butler Tech, an Ohio Career Technical Center based in Butler County, has purchased approximately 36 acres of land near the former Americana Amusement Park in Monroe. Butler Tech plans on renovating existing buildings on the property for future expansion of Adult Education programs.
 
The purchased area includes the former parking area for Americana, the former Couch’s Campers property, and the former Fantasy Farm Amusement Park. Butler Tech will develop the newly acquired property in conjunction with the City of Monroe, which recently announced plans to convert the former Americana property into park space.
 
“Our secondary enrollment is at its highest level in history, and our five current campuses are nearing capacity. Acquiring this property allows us to increase our educational space in a cost-efficient manner, while also giving a new life to one of the most nostalgic sites in Butler County,” said Jon Graft, Superintendent and CEO of Butler Tech.

Initial work on the Butler Tech property will focus on renovation of an existing 27,000 square foot building and an adjacent 13,000 square foot high-bay building. Butler Tech hopes to have Adult Education classes in the new space by August 2018.
 
The development plan includes an easement for a public road through the Butler Tech property that will connect Monroe’s park space to Ohio Route 4.
 
“The City of Monroe welcomes Butler Tech's investment at our western gateway. They are an outstanding educational institution that will revitalize currently underutilized properties which have held a valued history in Monroe,” said William J. Brock, P.E., City Manager of Monroe. “By virtue of their acquisition, all properties of the former amusement park area will be eventually managed by local governments committed to improving the sites for community welfare. The City looks forward to partnering with them on various redevelopment opportunities to promote both learning and future recreational activities.”
 
Recent Butler Tech expansions include the Butler Tech Bioscience Center in West Chester, Ohio, which opened in August 2015. Plans are underway to expand that campus to increase capacity for high school and adult programming. Butler Tech is also adding a second CDL Training site in Dayton, Ohio in partnership with Montgomery County, The Dayton Foodbank and Central State University to help meet the regional demand for trained, professional drivers.