As theme parks like Kings Island and Cedar Level grew ever bigger and provided larger thrills, smaller native amusement parks fell by the wayside.
Right here’s a glimpse of some extra misplaced parks that after thrilled residents of southwest Ohio.
» PHOTOS: Dayton-area amusement parks of the previous that not exist
Argonne Forest Park, Dayton
The Argonne Forest Park was positioned in what’s now Possum Creek Metro Park alongside Frytown Street southwest of Dayton.
The park was in its heyday throughout Nineteen Twenties. It had a go-kart observe, swimming pool, baseball fields, canoe and pony rental, dance corridor, concessions and a carnival halfway, in response to 5 Rivers MetroParks.
Enterprise slowed in the course of the Nice Melancholy, however Argonne Forest operated into the Nineteen Forties. Campers might hire considered one of 4 outdated Dayton streetcars for $12 per thirty days, in response to stories.
The present park has an Argonne Lake, and the realm stays named Argonne Forest.
Fairview Amusement Park, Dayton
Working from 1897-1915, Fairview Amusement Park in Dayton was positioned close to the unique website of E.J. Brown Elementary Faculty.
It was no accident.
In response to a Hillview Neighborhood historical past, households who lived in newer Dayton neighborhoods to the north met in 1911 on the outdated Fairview Amusement Park Clubhouse and deliberate the brand new faculty. One website the college board thought-about was outdoors the town limits, on the grounds of the shuttered amusement park.
In 1916, they bought about seven acres of the park’s grounds and commenced development.
Forest Park, Harrison Twp.
Positioned on North Primary Road, Forest Park opened in 1928 and housed a group of animals captured on an African safari journey by Fred Patterson, son of NCR founder John Patterson, in response to Dayton historian Curt Dalton.
The Nice Melancholy made caring for the animals tough and the zoo closed in 1935.
The park theme modified as did its title when Frankie’s Forest Park re-opened on the website. Guests took rides on a Ferris wheel and spun on the merry-go-round.
The amusement park additionally sported each a rollercoaster and an auto race observe within the Nineteen Fifties.
The wooden rollercoaster was named the Comet and operated from 1928-58, in response to the Curler Coaster DataBase web site.
Later the positioning was developed into the Forest Park Plaza, which was widespread within the Nineteen Sixties by the Seventies.
Lakeside Amusement Park, Dayton
Lakeside Park was positioned on the land reverse of right this moment’s VA Medical Heart. It opened in the summertime of 1890 at Gettysburg and Lakeview Avenues and operated till across the mid-Nineteen Sixties.
The park advanced from an 1887 attraction, a 40-foot excessive cyclorama depicting the Battle of Gettysburg. It grew to a full-fledged amusement park.
Thrill seekers of the day had a number of choices over time such because the Derby Racer wood curler coaster. In 1930, the identical 12 months the town annexed the park, the Wildcat curler coaster was added. An enormous carousel provided riders a alternative of 48 hand-carved horses.
Folks might make a splash by driving a ship from the highest of a water chute into the man-made lake beneath. A experience known as the Flying Turns was widespread with {couples} since one of many riders needed to sit on the opposite’s lap, in response to Dalton.
The park additionally had a well-liked dance corridor named the Crystal Room which featured massive bands equivalent to Glenn Miller. The dance corridor later turned the Lakeside Palladium.
LeSourdsville Lake / Americana Amusement Park, Monroe
Credit score: File Picture Credit score: File Picture
LeSourdsville Lake started with Middletown resident Edgar Streifthau’s need to show a former ice manufacturing facility into a spot the place residents might swim and have picnics
Building started in 1921, and the park opened on Might 8, 1922. Admission was 10 cents.
LeSourdville Lake was a well-liked leisure venue for nationwide music acts from artists as numerous as Fat Domino to Dick Clark.
Streifthau was compelled to promote that park in 1960 after his accomplice, Don Dazey, died of most cancers. Nonetheless, Streifthau nonetheless had 20 acres of land subsequent to LeSourdsville Lake, and he was desirous to get again into the enterprise, so he created a park designed for kids ages 12 and underneath.
In 1963, Streifthau opened Fantasy Farm on his property subsequent to LeSourdsville. It featured a petting zoo, a picnic space, a playground and rides. Fantasy Farm remained in operation till 1991.
LeSourdville Lake was renamed Americana Amusement Park in 1977. It closed in 1999.
Certainly one of Americana’s most well-known rides was the curler coaster The Screechin’ Eagle. The coaster was initially constructed by John Miller for a park in Zanesville, Ohio. The coaster, then known as the Cyclone, moved to LeSourdsville in 1940. The coaster was later known as the House Rocket, then the Screechin’ Eagle. The wood curler coaster was torn down in 2011.
Jerry Sofa, who owned an area RV dealership, purchased the park in 2000. The park was renamed LeSourdsville Lake – The Nice American Amusement Park.
Sofa reopened the park briefly in 2002 earlier than closing it completely.
Sandy Seaside Amusement Park, Indian Lake
Credit score: Sandy Seaside Bridge Restoration Credit score: Sandy Seaside Bridge Restoration
The Sandy Seaside Amusement Park constructed by Pappy Wilgus and his son, French, opened in 1924. The centerpiece of the park was the Minnewawa Dance Corridor, that includes two bandstands. It was marketed as one of the best and largest in Ohio, in response to an account by the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce.
The park provided amusement rides, boat excursions, enjoyable homes and video games of likelihood. A boardwalk spanned the lake, giving swimmers entry to Sandy Seaside Island, a well-liked swimming space with slides and diving towers.
The park survived the Nice Melancholy, however a 1935 hearth destroyed the Minnewawa Dance Corridor, together with different wood buildings and a part of the curler coaster. A brand new dance corridor was constructed and well-known massive bands continued to carry out at Sandy Seaside.
Indian Lake was formally designated as one of many authentic Ohio State Parks underneath the jurisdiction of the brand new Ohio Division of Pure Sources in 1949, and the park thrived all through the Nineteen Fifties. However the turmoil of the Nineteen Sixties took its toll on the park as riots erupted round July 4 celebrations various years.
In 1967, the Sandy Seaside Amusement Park was renamed Indian Lake Playland, and it continued the battle. The park didn’t open in 1976, and some years later the rides and concessions had been torn down.
White Metropolis, Dayton
White Metropolis was throughout the river from the Dayton Canoe Membership. The park was named after homeowners, the White Metropolis Amusement Park Firm. Right now, it’s Island MetroPark.
White Metropolis had a dance pavilion, amusement rides, canoe lockers, refreshment stand, and different recreation options. By 1907, the park had develop into rundown and never effectively maintained, in response to a 5 Rivers MetroParks’ historic account.
In 1910, Dayton began leasing the park land for $3,000 a 12 months, and in 1911, a advice to purchase the land was proposed within the report submitted by the famend Olmsted Brothers agency.
The Nice Flood of 1913 broken various buildings on the White Metropolis Amusement Park. In July of that 12 months, the Dayton Canoe Membership held its first regatta. D.W. Begley, the proprietor to the boathouse throughout from White Metropolis Park, ferried spectators throughout the river freed from cost. After two extra profitable regattas, Dayton metropolis officers agreed to rebuild White Metropolis. On June 20, 1914, the park formally opened as Island Park.
