Chippewa Lake Park facts for kids

Chippewa Lake Park was a popular theme park located in Chippewa Lake, Ohio. It welcomed visitors for 100 years, from 1878 to 1978. The park closed because not enough people were visiting it anymore. After it shut down, all the rides and buildings were left behind. They stood untouched for over 35 years, slowly being taken over by nature.

History of the Park

Early Days: Andrew's Pleasure Grounds (1875–1898)

The park began in 1875 as "Andrew's Pleasure Grounds." Edward Andrews created it as a place for picnics and a beach. It became more exciting with a steamboat and its very first roller coaster. This early roller coaster had to be pushed up the track by hand after each ride.

Chippewa Lake Park: The Beach Family Years (1898–1969)

In 1898, Mac Beach bought the park and made many improvements. His son, Parker Beach, took over during the park's busiest time, the 1920s. During this period, a new, modern roller coaster was built. It was called the Big Dipper, but most people just called it "the coaster." This wooden roller coaster opened in 1925 and was about 50 feet tall. It was a favorite ride until the park closed in 1978. The coaster stood abandoned for many years before it was taken down in 2010.

The Beach family kept the park running successfully for a long time. Chippewa Lake Park eventually had three roller coasters. It also featured many other fun rides like flying cages, a Ferris wheel, and a carousel. There was even a ballroom where live bands played music every night.

New Owners and Closure (1969–1978)

A company called Continental Business Enterprises bought Chippewa Lake Park in 1969. They hoped to turn it into a bigger summer resort. However, these plans didn't get much support or money. The park finally closed in 1978, exactly 100 years after it first opened.

Several things led to the park's closure. Other big amusement parks nearby, like Cedar Point and Geauga Lake, were very popular. Also, local industries were changing, which meant fewer people in the area. The park's closing was quiet, without much public notice. Parker Beach, a former owner, loved the park so much that he wished to be buried there. A documentary film from 2007 mentioned a single gravestone in the park, possibly for him.

The Park After Closing

Abandoned and Deteriorating (1978–2008)

The Park's Ferris wheel in 2007, left standing like many rides, but overgrown with plants

After Chippewa Lake Park closed in 1978, the land and all the rides were left behind. For about 20 years, the park stayed in pretty good shape. Some rides could even still be used. But by the 2000s, nature started to take over. Large trees grew through rides like the coaster and the Ferris wheel. Many buildings began to fall apart or were damaged by weather. Everything became rusty and rotted, with no one to fix them.

Here is a list of some of the rides and attractions that were once at the park:

• Coaster
• Ferris Wheel
• Miniature Railroad
• Carousel
• Fun House
• Tumble Bug
• Dodgem
• Little Dipper
• Himalaya
• Flying Cages
• Caterpillar
• Flying Scooters
• Octopus
• Tilt A Whirl
• Rocket Ship
• Wild Mouse

Sadly, on June 13, 2002, the park's ballroom burned down. By 2008, other buildings like the hotel and arcade also caught fire or collapsed. Still, some rides like the coaster, Wild Mouse, and Ferris Wheel frames remained standing. In 2008, the park's land was put up for sale. It was sold that same year.

The park was featured in a 2007 documentary film called "Welcome Back Riders". Also, parts of the horror movie Closed For the Season were filmed there in 2008. The abandoned rides made for spooky backgrounds in the movie.

Demolition Begins (2009–2010)

In September 2008, a company called Chippewa Partners LLC announced plans for a new development. They wanted to build "Chippewa Landing" on the site. This new project would include a hotel, restaurants, and entertainment areas. It was expected to be finished by 2010.

To make way for the new plans, the old park structures and trees began to be removed in April 2009. Tours of the property were offered for a short time so people could see the park one last time. By June 2010, parts of the coaster and other buildings had been torn down.

The Park Today

Chippewa Lake Park's Tumble Bug in November 2010, after property demolition was stopped

The plans for "Chippewa Landing" were stopped in 2012 because of a lawsuit. The park property then went into foreclosure. An attempt to sell the land in August 2012 failed. Nature continued to reclaim the area, with plants growing back over the site. In 2013, the Wild Mouse ride was taken down.

In October 2013, a group called Flying Cages expressed interest in turning the site into an outdoor entertainment venue. They hoped to save a few of the remaining rides as reminders of the park's past. The property was listed for sale again in October 2015 for $3.7 million.

In December 2017, the old Tom Sawyer steamboat was moved from the park. It was taken to Tennessee to be restored and used again. As of October 2018, some rides like the Ferris Wheel, the Little Dipper, the Flying Cages, and the Tumble Bug were still standing. Parts of the old train track and remains of buildings could also be seen.

In 2020, exciting news came out: Chippewa Lake Park will become a Medina County park! The plan is to save what is left of the park. Signs will be put up to share the rich history of this special place.

• Chippewa Lake Park at the Roller Coaster DataBase

See also

In Spanish: Chippewa Lake Park para niños