Speaker revisits Idora, NE Ohio amusement parks
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GIRARD -- On the East Coast, it is Disney World, and on the West Coast, it is Disneyland. These locations come to mind when thinking of amusement parks, but Northeast Ohio was populated by numerous pleasure grounds much earlier than when those parks opened.
Speaker and author Wendy Koile discussed the amusement park locations, what rides were popular there and why they no longer exist during her talk Tuesday at the Girard Free Library.
"Amusement parks have always been a favorite of mine, but there are so many of them, it was hard to pick just a few to talk about in an hour," Koile said.
She mentioned the beginning of this form of entertainment.
"Cities and towns would set out these spaces with picnic grounds, and they would call them pleasure grounds where people could escape from the city. Also, if you had a lake in your city or the shore of Lake Erie, they were also very popular for these picnic grounds," she said.
Transportation in trolley cars encouraged residents to travel outside of their neighborhoods.
"The trolley system propelled Northeast Ohio into having so many amusement parks. During the week they brought people back and forth to work. It would get to Saturday and Sunday and the trolleys were just sitting there. People were at home and did not need them. Someone had the idea what if we make a stop at one of those pleasure grounds? And what if we build up one of those pleasure grounds to have some attractions?" Koile said.
She mentioned that Idora Park started in part because it was a trolley stop.
Reasons for the growth of the parks were numerous.
"There was a change in the way we were living in America. In the late 1800s, we had urbanization, the Industrial Revolution. People are seeking more leisure time. In Northeast Ohio, the middle class was growing. They were looking for affordable entertainment. They were working at hot mills and looking for an escape," Koile said.
She encouraged the audience to talk about their memories at these parks "because I want to learn, too."
Euclid Beach Park on Lake Erie near Cleveland opened in 1895 and closed in 1969.
Girard resident Patty Dzeda Clark had personal experience with this park.
"My family would go to Cleveland to visit our relatives, and we would go to this park, all seven kids and my parents," Clark said.
She recalled riding on the flying turns, which was similar to a roller coaster with an individual or two people in cars spinning around and up and down on a track. The ride was made of wood cars and tracks, Clark said.
Koile mentioned that the park was so popular that in 1960, when John F. Kennedy was seeking a campaign stop in the area, he talked to a large crowd at the Euclid Beach Park.
Chippewa Lake Park southeast of Strongsville opened in 1878 and closed in 1978.
"When the park closed, it was abandoned and the rides left as they were," Koile said. The rides were overgrown by vegetation and collapsed into disarray.
The vacant amusement park was a perfect setting for a movie location.
"The horror film 'Closed for the Season,' was filmed at the site," Koile said.
The movie was released in 2010.
Koile discussed parks that were much closer to the area, such as Geauga Lake, Sea World Ohio and Idora Park.
"Geauga Lake opened in 1869 and was in private hands until 1969," Koile said.
The park was sold numerous times until its closing in 2016.
Sea World Ohio opened in 1970 and closed in 2000. It was famous for Shamu the killer whale show, the water ski show on Geauga Lake and marine life exhibits.
Many people in attendance recalled fun times at Idora Park. This amusement center opened in 1899 and closed in 1984 after a fire. The park had rides such as the bumper cars, the Jack Rabbit, Wild Cat and Lost River, as well as food, musical acts and a dance hall.
"In many cases the dance halls were more popular than the rides were at amusement parks," she said.
Though Idora Park closed as a result of a fire, most of the entertainment centers are no longer in existence for similar reasons.
"Transportation through highways to farther distances allowed travel to mega parks and theme parks. Families installing swimming pools at home caused them to stay home. Television became more popular and people stayed closer to their home," Koile said.
She also said insurance, maintenance of the park and the land were expensive.