Chippewa Lake Park
Encyclopedia
Chippewa Lake Park is a defunct amusement park once located in Chippewa Lake, Ohio
, Medina County. It operated from 1878 through 1978, after the final owner, Continental Business Enterprises closed it due to lack of attendance. After the park's closure, its rides and structures were left largely untouched and unmaintained for the next 31 years.
The Beach family kept the park running successfully into the 1960s. Eventually Chippewa Lake would feature three roller coaster
s, flying cages, a Ferris wheel, carousel, Tumble Bug
, ballroom and many other rides.
and Geauga Lake amusement parks.
After the park's closure in 1978, the land the park was situated on was left largely untouched. By the 2000s, large trees were growing through rides like the coaster and the park's ferris wheel, and several buildings had collapsed or been damaged by the effects of the elements.
About 4:00 PM on Thursday, June 13, 2002, the Chippewa Lake Park Ballroom burned down.
By 2008, several other buildings had suffered the ballroom's fate, including the hotel, arcade, fun house, peanut stand, and maintenance building, all of which had been damaged or destroyed by fire. However, other rides and structures still stood, in various states of disrepair. These included the Big Dipper (Coaster), the Wild Mouse coaster, the Little Dipper coaster, the Tumble Bug, and the frames of the Ferris Wheels and Flying Cages. Most other buildings across the park were in various states of collapse due to 30 years of neglect by this time.
In 2008, thirty years after the park's closure, the land the amusement park stood on was offered up for sale with an asking price of $3,500,000, and, according to the realtor's website, was sold. The page which indicated this was last updated on March 26, 2008.
The horror film Closed For the Season
, shot in 2008 and released in 2010, had several scenes shot at the long-closed amusement park, and featured many of the park's derelict attractions as backgrounds.
On September 9, 2008, Chippewa Partners LLC announced plans for a development on the site called "Chippewa Landing" which would include a hotel and spa, fitness center, restaurants, a conference and music center, small shops and other entertainment venues, expected to be completed sometime in 2010.
The site's structures, trees, and debris are being demolished and removed as of April 5, 2009 and the site is expected to be redeveloped soon after the completion of this work. Tours of the property were available as of Spring 2009, on Saturdays between 11 AM and 5 PM. Currently, tours are being held only on the second Saturday of every month (June 13 and July 11), between 11 AM and 5 PM. The possibility exists that two of the rides standing until 2009, the ferris wheel
and Tumble Bug
will be relocated to the other side of Chippewa Lake and restored as part of the new development project. As of June 14, 2010, the Hamburger Stand (Stand A) and half of the coaster have been demolished.
As of June 19, 2010: the date of the final "tour"; the hamburger stand and coaster are gone. Everything else will be removed or demolished within days/weeks.
As of January, 2011: The ticket booth, ferris wheel and Tumble Bug rides are still on the ground, as well as the remains of the ballroom and several other structures.
Chippewa Lake, Ohio
Chippewa Lake is a village in Medina County, Ohio, United States. It is located on Chippewa Lake, Ohio's largest natural inland lake...
, Medina County. It operated from 1878 through 1978, after the final owner, Continental Business Enterprises closed it due to lack of attendance. After the park's closure, its rides and structures were left largely untouched and unmaintained for the next 31 years.
Andrew's Pleasure Grounds
In 1875, Edward Andrews organized a picnic ground and beach under the name Andrew's Pleasure Grounds. The park operated with some success, but its condition deteriorated. With the addition of a steam boat and the park's first rollercoaster, the amusement park was brought to life. The initial roller coaster had to be manually pushed up the track following each ride.Chippewa Lake Park: 1900-1969
Mac Beach, acquired Chippewa Lake in 1898 and improved the park immensely. He also placed a ban on liquor sales. Mac's son, Parker Beach, managed the park during its boom years, the roaring '20s. During that decade, the first modern coaster was built at the park, designed by Fred Pearce. Originally named the Big Dipper, it became better known as simply 'the coaster'. The park also featured a live band-stand seven nights a week.The Beach family kept the park running successfully into the 1960s. Eventually Chippewa Lake would feature three roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
s, flying cages, a Ferris wheel, carousel, Tumble Bug
Tumble Bug
A Tumble Bug is an amusement park ride with a circular track.Only two full-sized Tumble Bugs remain operating today in the United States—one at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and one at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, PA. All full-size instances were made by Traver...
, ballroom and many other rides.
Resale and closure: 1969-1978
Chippewa Lake was acquired by Continental Business Enterprises in 1969, and closed in 1978 while under their ownership, owing to factors like competition from nearby Cedar PointCedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
and Geauga Lake amusement parks.
Abandonment and deterioration: 1978-2010
About 4:00 PM on Thursday, June 13, 2002, the Chippewa Lake Park Ballroom burned down.
By 2008, several other buildings had suffered the ballroom's fate, including the hotel, arcade, fun house, peanut stand, and maintenance building, all of which had been damaged or destroyed by fire. However, other rides and structures still stood, in various states of disrepair. These included the Big Dipper (Coaster), the Wild Mouse coaster, the Little Dipper coaster, the Tumble Bug, and the frames of the Ferris Wheels and Flying Cages. Most other buildings across the park were in various states of collapse due to 30 years of neglect by this time.
In 2008, thirty years after the park's closure, the land the amusement park stood on was offered up for sale with an asking price of $3,500,000, and, according to the realtor's website, was sold. The page which indicated this was last updated on March 26, 2008.
The horror film Closed For the Season
Closed for the Season (film)
Closed for the Season is a 2010 supernatural thriller film written and directed by Jay Woelfel, starring Aimee Brooks, Damian Maffei, and Joe Unger. -Plot:...
, shot in 2008 and released in 2010, had several scenes shot at the long-closed amusement park, and featured many of the park's derelict attractions as backgrounds.
On September 9, 2008, Chippewa Partners LLC announced plans for a development on the site called "Chippewa Landing" which would include a hotel and spa, fitness center, restaurants, a conference and music center, small shops and other entertainment venues, expected to be completed sometime in 2010.
The site's structures, trees, and debris are being demolished and removed as of April 5, 2009 and the site is expected to be redeveloped soon after the completion of this work. Tours of the property were available as of Spring 2009, on Saturdays between 11 AM and 5 PM. Currently, tours are being held only on the second Saturday of every month (June 13 and July 11), between 11 AM and 5 PM. The possibility exists that two of the rides standing until 2009, the ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
and Tumble Bug
Tumble Bug
A Tumble Bug is an amusement park ride with a circular track.Only two full-sized Tumble Bugs remain operating today in the United States—one at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and one at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, PA. All full-size instances were made by Traver...
will be relocated to the other side of Chippewa Lake and restored as part of the new development project. As of June 14, 2010, the Hamburger Stand (Stand A) and half of the coaster have been demolished.
As of June 19, 2010: the date of the final "tour"; the hamburger stand and coaster are gone. Everything else will be removed or demolished within days/weeks.
As of January, 2011: The ticket booth, ferris wheel and Tumble Bug rides are still on the ground, as well as the remains of the ballroom and several other structures.