|
|
Back behind a small neighborhood is a fenced-off stretch of land that was once home to one of several small amusement parks in northeast Ohio. The park was started by a man named Edward Andrews in the late 1870s and closed in 1978. Its first roller coaster was simply a single car on a track with a steep drop. The park's largest coaster, the Big Dipper, was completed in 1925. A smaller version for kids was called the Little Dipper. Other rides included the Ferris Wheel and the Tumble Bug, which ran along a track as the cars spun around. Buildings on the grounds included a hotel, ballroom, and food pavilions. There was also a stage and a boat that provided rides around the lake.
Today, most of this is gone. Much of it stood until 2009 when the property was purchased and the remaining buildings were demolished, as were the roller coasters. The hotel burned down years ago and the ballroom was more recently burned down by a child playing with matches. But some vestiges of the park are still there. The Ferris Wheel still stands today, as does the track for the Tumble Bug ride. Three of the Tumble Bug cars are also there. Some of the ticket booths remain as does the shell of the ballroom. A few junked vehicles are also on the land.
1. Behind the front gate is the ticket booth which is still standing in deplorable condition.
 DSC08676 by KMD1720, on Flickr
2. Car just inside the gate that's been torn apart
 DSC08683 by KMD1720, on Flickr
3. Further on were two junked yellow pickup trucks.
 DSC08694 by KMD1720, on Flickr
4. Inside the cab of the more interesting truck. Only the bed was left of the other one.
 DSC08698 by KMD1720, on Flickr
5. Anybody able to tell the make/model/approximate year of these?
 DSC08700 by KMD1720, on Flickr
6. The Ferris Wheel is probably the best thing still there.
 DSC08692 by KMD1720, on Flickr
7. It used to have a big tree growing through the center but it's gone now.
 DSC08720 by KMD1720, on Flickr
8. One of the cars of the Tumble Bug ride
 DSC08703 by KMD1720, on Flickr
9. There are three in total.
 DSC08705 by KMD1720, on Flickr
10. Track for the Tumble Bug ride
 DSC08713 by KMD1720, on Flickr
11.
 DSC08726 by KMD1720, on Flickr
12. Trees are growing through the Tumble Bug track and platform.
 DSC08728 by KMD1720, on Flickr
13. Tumble Bug ride with the Ferris Wheel in the background.
 DSC08731 by KMD1720, on Flickr
14. This was probably once a food stand.
 DSC08716 by KMD1720, on Flickr
15. Little more than twisted girders and charred wood remains of the ballroom.
 DSC08734 by KMD1720, on Flickr
https://www.flickr...tos/131085384@N06/ | |
Neat stuff! I have yet to check out an amusement park of sorts.
"When it rains, just find bigger drains." | |
Very cool find!!!
| |
I remember reading about this place many years ago at one of the theme park nerd sites. There was still an operational Tumble Bug over at Conneaut Lake Park - I think one of, if not THE last one operating. The park's future has been up in the air for years, though.
[jonrevProjects] | Flickr flicks
Founder: Belvidere Cinema Gallery - Waukegan, IL | |
To what I know there is only the one tumble bug left working, and this one. There was talk that someone was going to restore it years ago once they started taking Chippewa apart when they removed all the trees 8 years ago, and then the economy tanked and they abandoned it. Forgotten Ohio still has the best website on the place, and MAN do I wish I had one of those 100 year souvenir cups!
edit: I just bought 3 off ebay. Whoops.
If you want to protect the locations you love to explore, don't talk about them online in public!
If you want to make exploring friends, send people private messages! Meet up in real life! Get off the internet!
Don't try to have a UER e-penis! You won't impress anyone! This especially means you, Minneapolis MN newbies! | |
Thanks for the comments guys! According to the research I did, there are three Tumble Bugs in existence. This one, which is clearly beyond repair, plus two operating ones at Conneaut Lake and Kennywood Park. The one at Conneaut has 5 cars and the one at Kennywood has 6 and is called "The Turtle."
https://www.flickr...tos/131085384@N06/ | |
Cool stuff, thanks for sharing!
| |
I'm trying to figure out the make of the truck too. I'm not sure. I don't think it's a Chevy or ford, Almost looks like an old Dodge. But I am not certain.
| |
Posted by tombombadom
I'm trying to figure out the make of the truck too. I'm not sure. I don't think it's a Chevy or ford, Almost looks like an old Dodge. But I am not certain.
|
It's a Chevy pickup. Somebody said on another thread it was 1967-1972 era.
https://www.flickr...tos/131085384@N06/ | |
Posted by KD20
It's a Chevy pickup. Somebody said on another thread it was 1967-1972 era.
|
Ah yes, I see it now. It was hard to tell with as smashed as that cab was. Awesome pictures!
| |
This reminds me of the famous old amusement park at Chernobyl. Nice find!
thanks for giving it a try | |
Nice post
|
Add a poll to this thread
This thread is one of your Favourites. Click to make normal.Click to make this thread a Favourite.
| This thread is currently Public. Anyone, including search engines, may see it. |
Powered by AvBoard AvBoard version 1.5 alpha
Page Generated In: 109 ms
|
|
Ethics
