In the 1880s, Oscar Townsend and the Cleveland, Lorain, & Wheeling
Railroad developed a prosperous vacation resort, eventually called
'Chippewa Lake Park', on the banks of Ohio's largest natural lake.
The Great Depression and extinction of interurban service crippled
the park, but in 1937, Parker Beach purchased the resort, and it
enjoyed a swinging Golden Age through 1969, as he kept the park's
ballroom filled with dancers and famous bands. In 1978, after more
than 100 years of operation, Chippewa Lake Park joined the ghostly
ranks of the last traditional amusement parks. Chippewa Lake Park
keeps the memory of one of Ohio's longest-lived and best-loved
amusement parks alive through vintage images and captivating
history.
About the Author
David W. and Diane DeMali Francis, members of the
National Amusement Park Historical Association and American Coaster
Enthusiasts, are authors of the Arcadia titles
Ohio's Amusement Parks,
The Golden Age of Roller
Coasters, and Cedar Point.
|
