Paradise Lake
Encyclopedia
Paradise Lake was an amusement park
located in the Appalachian region
of Ohio
in the United States
. The park was located at the interchange of Interstate 70
with State Route 513. It was located in rural Guernsey County, Ohio
, between Quaker City
and Fairview
.
Paradise Lake was intended to be a major amusement park when it opened on 1 July 1981. The park was planned to cover 2000 acres (8.1 km²), but only 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) were developed in the park's first, and only completed, phase. Paradise Lake operated for only two summers before the land and facilities were sold at auction on 18 October 1983. Paradise Lake marketing materials always included "A Phil Fry Enterprise" under the park name.
. Each "paradise" was given a different theme, making an overall park layout similar to other new amusement parks of the era (such as Busch Gardens Europe
).
ride and train
ride.
s, two Ferris wheel
s, and a "bumper boat" attraction which operated much like bumper cars, but on water.
Village, and an Enchanted Forest
which was to be similar to the Story Book Forest at Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania
.
, a spa
, an arcade
, a campground, and a ski area. This was the only area of the park not covered by the general admission price; instead, attractions in this area were priced separately to allow for year-round operation.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located in the Appalachian region
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park was located at the interchange of Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
with State Route 513. It was located in rural Guernsey County, Ohio
Guernsey County, Ohio
Guernsey County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 40,087. Its county seat is Cambridge and is named for the Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel, from which many of the county's early settlers came....
, between Quaker City
Quaker City, Ohio
Quaker City is a village in Guernsey County, Ohio, United States. The population was 563 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Quaker City is located at ....
and Fairview
Fairview, Ohio
Fairview is a village in Belmont and Guernsey counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Paradise Lake was intended to be a major amusement park when it opened on 1 July 1981. The park was planned to cover 2000 acres (8.1 km²), but only 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) were developed in the park's first, and only completed, phase. Paradise Lake operated for only two summers before the land and facilities were sold at auction on 18 October 1983. Paradise Lake marketing materials always included "A Phil Fry Enterprise" under the park name.
The Paradises
There were four major areas of the park, each given the name paradiseParadise
Paradise is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and...
. Each "paradise" was given a different theme, making an overall park layout similar to other new amusement parks of the era (such as Busch Gardens Europe
Busch Gardens Europe
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a 383 acre theme park located in James City County, Virginia about 3 miles southeast of Williamsburg, originally developed by Anheuser-Busch and currently owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group...
).
Western Paradise
Western Paradise was designed to look like a town of the Old West. Some 20 buildings were planned or built in this area of the park, representing establishments one might have seen in an archetypical Western town such as a church, sheriff's office, and leather-working shop. Also planned for the area were a stagecoachStagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
ride and train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
ride.
Space Paradise
Space Paradise was marketed as the "adult" section of the park, with attractions such as two roller coasterRoller 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, two 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...
s, and a "bumper boat" attraction which operated much like bumper cars, but on water.
Children's Paradise
Children's Paradise included a smaller roller coaster and Ferris wheel, a whip ride, and two main attractions: Santa'sSanta Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
Village, and an Enchanted Forest
Enchanted Forest
An enchanted forest is a forest under or containing magical enchantments.Enchanted Forest may refer to:*Enchanted Forest , defunct theme park in Chesterton*Enchanted Forest , defunct theme park in Ellicott City...
which was to be similar to the Story Book Forest at Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Ligonier is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,695 at the 2000 census. Ligonier was settled in the 1760s. The borough is well known for nearby Idlewild Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the country, and nearby Seven Springs Mountain Resort...
.
Sports Paradise
Sports Paradise consisted of a hotelHotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, a spa
Destination spa
A destination spa is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters...
, an arcade
Video arcade
An amusement arcade or video arcade is a venue where people play arcade games such as video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, merchandisers , or coin-operated billiards or air hockey tables...
, a campground, and a ski area. This was the only area of the park not covered by the general admission price; instead, attractions in this area were priced separately to allow for year-round operation.