Buckeye Lake Amusement Park's

Introduction

Buckeye Lake Amusement Park, about 30 miles east of Columbus, Ohio, was a major tourist attraction from the early to mid-twentieth century. The park was established as a result of the Ohio and Erie Canal, which linked Cleveland and Portsmouth, Ohio1. Canal builders built dams and levees in 1826 to turn a stagnant pond into a leaking reservoir for water delivery to the canal. The reservoir was renamed Buckeye Lake by the General Assembly in 1894 and designated as a public park.

Golden years.

The park's golden age began in the 1920s, with the addition of a Ferris wheel and a rotating ride 1. In 1931, a wooden roller coaster called "The Dips" was added,The attraction was renamed Buckeye Lake Amusement attraction. The park features two dance pavilions, a swimming beach, a bathroom, a game room, a picnic area, and a baseball stadium 2. Drinking establishments, restaurants, hotels, and rental cabins popped up along the lakeside to accommodate out-of-town visitors.

Buckeye Lake Amusement Park

Attractions & Rides

A merry-go-round, a ferris wheel, a roller coaster, a "bug" ride (a aircraft ride), a fun house and mirror house, and a little train trip provided entertainment for everybody. There included a shooting gallery, ring toss, penny throw, and other activities. There was a journey on the Tunnel of Love, also known as the Venice Canal, across Crane Lake, also known as Little Lake 2. Boat trips were also popular.

Reject and Close

The Great Depression in 1929 had a significant impact on the Buckeye Lake region. Many families that valued modest lake cabins lost their city homes and converted their vacation homes into permanent residences. The interstate train line was stopped, preventing cheap transit to the amusement park, which was a popular respite for the metropolitan populace. The park started to degrade. Despite the new administration's attempts in the 1930s to keep Buckeye Lake Amusement Park open, it began to lose popularity as people sought alternative forms of entertainment. Maintenance began to fail, and some attractions were destroyed. The park closed in 1970 after attempting to reinvent itself as a country and western theme park1.

The park's former showpiece, a single fountain, can still be found at State Park Parking. Lot 1. A visit to the Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society Museum will bring a forgotten era to life, and it is well worth it.