Description: Five photographs document Coney Island amusement park in the 1960s. The first three photographs were taken from the Sky Ride. A fourth photograph shows the Log Flume ride; the final photograph shows visitors walking along the midway. Established in the late nineteenth century on the banks of the Ohio River, Coney Island offered families a place to go for picnicking, dancing, refreshments and fireworks. The slides measure 2" x 2" (5.08 x 5.08 cm). In 1870, James Parker began renting out his apple orchard for Cincinnatians to ride horses and have picnics. When his apple trees died, Parker added a merry-go-round and pavilion and planted maple trees. In 1886 Parker sold the land to the Ohio Grove Corporation, which billed the site as "Ohio Grove: The Coney Island of the West," and immediately began attracting visitors from Cincinnati. In 1887 they changed the name to Coney Island. As the popularity of the park grew, other attractions, such as a Ferris wheel, the area's first movie theater, and roller coasters, were built. By the end of the 1920s, Coney Island was one of the largest amusement parks in the country. The park closed in 1971, but reopened on a smaller scale in 1999. It is located approximately fifteen miles east of downtown Cincinnati. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3059_3669999_001
Subjects: Transportation; Arts and Entertainment; Amusement parks; Amusement rides; Ferris wheels; Roller coasters
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "'Oops- Buckeye Lake State Park. Buckeye Lake, Ohio." This photograph shows a Loop-O-Plane ride at Buckeye Lake's amusement park. The ride has two cars which rotate around a central axis. The Loop-O-Plane was created by Lee Eyerly in 1933. The ride became incredibly popular, resulting in it appearing at many amusement parks and fairs. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B13F03_0015_001
Subjects: Amusement Parks--Ohio--Pictorial works.; Amusement rides; Midways; Buckeye Lake State Park (Ohio); Recreation; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project.
Places: Buckeye Lake (Ohio); Fairfield County (Ohio); Licking County (Ohio)
 

Description: Two photographs show the Sunlite Pool at Cincinnati's Coney Island in the 1960s. Built in 1925, the pool is 200 by 400 feet and holds three million gallons of water. Established in the late nineteenth century on the banks of the Ohio River, Coney Island offered families a place to go for picnicking, dancing, refreshments and fireworks. The slides measure 2" x 2" (5.08 x 5.08 cm). In 1870, James Parker began renting out his apple orchard for Cincinnatians to ride horses and have picnics. When his apple trees died, Parker added a merry-go-round and pavilion and planted maple trees. In 1886 Parker sold the land to the Ohio Grove Corporation, which billed the site as "Ohio Grove: The Coney Island of the West," and immediately began attracting visitors from Cincinnati. In 1887 they changed the name to Coney Island. As the popularity of the park grew, other attractions, such as a Ferris wheel, the area's first movie theater, and roller coasters, were built. By the end of the 1920s, Coney Island was one of the largest amusement parks in the country. The park closed in 1971, but reopened on a smaller scale in 1999. It is located approximately fifteen miles east of downtown Cincinnati. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3060_3670021_001
Subjects: Arts and Entertainment; Sports; Pools; Swimming; Amusement parks
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows people riding the Cedar Point roller coaster known as the "Corkscrew." As the roller coaster is traveling along the spiral track, the rear cars and passengers are upside down while those in the front cars are in an upright position. Cedar Point is both a peninsula in northern Ohio located along Lake Erie and an amusement park at the same location near Sandusky, Ohio. In the nineteenth century, Cedar Point was the site of a lighthouse and a port for fishermen. In 1867 the peninsula became linked to a small railroad. This transportation forever changed the rural area. Within a few years, developers began constructing facilities to draw tourists to the region, including bath houses and picnic areas. The amusement park claims 1870 as its first season, when the first bathhouse and other forms of entertainment were built. Cedar Point constructed its first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, in 1892. By the 1890s, more people traveled to Cedar Point. When the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort & Company purchased the site in 1897, the firm paid $256,000. In the years that followed, more improvements were made at Cedar Point. New rides and attractions opened each year, and hotels offered overnight accommodations. In addition to tourists traveling by railroad, Cedar Point also welcomed visitors traveling by steamship from Detroit and Cleveland. Automobiles also brought greater numbers. Places like Cedar Point, Buckeye Lake, and Sandy Beach Amusement Park offered city dwellers the opportunity to escape the city heat in the summer. In the past few decades, Cedar Point has claimed a number of world records. In particular, the amusement park has become known for its roller coasters. In 1978, Cedar Point opened Gemini, which set records as the tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coaster in the world at that time. Gemini's record was surpassed by another coaster, Magnum XL-200, in 1989. Two years later, Cedar Point opened a wooden coaster named Mean Streak, which was the tallest and fastest of its kind in the world. These rides were followed in 1994 by the Raptor, the world's tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster, and in 1996 by the Mantis, the tallest and fastest stand-up roller coaster. Cedar Point surpassed all of its previous records in 2000, when it opened the Millennium Force. This roller coaster is more than three hundred feet high and once again set the record for the tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coaster in the world. Since 1978, Cedar Point has hosted an annual event called Coaster Mania that attracts roller coaster fans in large numbers. The park claims to be the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World” With its roller coasters and other features, Cedar Point has won numerous awards, including “Best Amusement Park” by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards on several occasions. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06646
Subjects: Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio: Amusement park); Roller coasters; Amusement parks; Amusement rides; Tourism
Places: Cedar Point (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: This 1964 photograph shows people riding the Cedar Point roller coaster known as the "Blue Streak." As the roller coaster is beginning its descent down a steep curve, the facial expressions of its passengers show their reactions. Cedar Point is both a peninsula in northern Ohio located along Lake Erie and an amusement park at the same location near Sandusky, Ohio. In the nineteenth century, Cedar Point was the site of a lighthouse and a port for fishermen. In 1867 the peninsula became linked to a small railroad. This transportation forever changed the rural area. Within a few years, developers began constructing facilities to draw tourists to the region, including bath houses and picnic areas. The amusement park claims 1870 as its first season, when the first bathhouse and other forms of entertainment were built. Cedar Point constructed its first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, in 1892. By the 1890s, more people traveled to Cedar Point. When the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort & Company purchased the site in 1897, the firm paid $256,000. In the years that followed, more improvements were made at Cedar Point. New rides and attractions opened each year, and hotels offered overnight accommodations. In addition to tourists traveling by railroad, Cedar Point also welcomed visitors traveling by steamship from Detroit and Cleveland. Automobiles also brought greater numbers. Places like Cedar Point, Buckeye Lake, and Sandy Beach Amusement Park offered city dwellers the opportunity to escape the city heat in the summer. In the past few decades, Cedar Point has claimed a number of world records. In particular, the amusement park has become known for its roller coasters. In 1978, Cedar Point opened Gemini, which set records as the tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coaster in the world at that time. Gemini's record was surpassed by another coaster, Magnum XL-200, in 1989. Two years later, Cedar Point opened a wooden coaster named Mean Streak, which was the tallest and fastest of its kind in the world. These rides were followed in 1994 by the Raptor, the world's tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster, and in 1996 by the Mantis, the tallest and fastest stand-up roller coaster. Cedar Point surpassed all of its previous records in 2000, when it opened the Millennium Force. This roller coaster is more than three hundred feet high and once again set the record for the tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coaster in the world. Since 1978, Cedar Point has hosted an annual event called Coaster Mania that attracts roller coaster fans in large numbers. The park claims to be the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World” With its roller coasters and other features, Cedar Point has won numerous awards, including “Best Amusement Park” by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards on several occasions. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06647
Subjects: Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio: Amusement park); Roller coasters; Amusement parks; Amusement rides; Tourism
Places: Sandusky (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: Postcard showing the "Shoot the Shutes" water ride at Indianola Park in Columbus, Ohio, ca. 1907-1915. Indianola Park was a 30-acre amusement park operated in Columbus’s University District at N. 4th Street and E. 19th Avenue. It opened to the public on June 8, 1905, and early visitors could enjoy a large swimming pool, a dance pavilion, a roller coaster, a restaurant and picnic grounds, and more. A vaudeville-style theater was added in 1908, soon to be followed by more roller coasters, a funhouse, and the “Shoot the Shutes” ride. The park was also home to the Columbus Panhandles pro football team, serving as their home field between 1909 and 1915. During the 1910s and early 20s, Indianola hosted as many as 10,000 visitors in a single weekend, and could see up to 5,000 people enjoying its pool on hot summer days. But in the wake of the Great Depression and other cultural shifts, the park eventually shut down in 1937. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07731
Subjects: Franklin County (Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Amusement parks--Ohio; Amusement rides
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Postcard showing the entrance to Indianola Park, Columbus, Ohio, ca. 1907-1915. Indianola Park was a 30-acre amusement park operated in Columbus’s University District at N. 4th Street and E. 19th Avenue. It opened to the public on June 8, 1905, and early visitors could enjoy a large swimming pool, a dance pavilion, a roller coaster, a restaurant and picnic grounds, and more. A vaudeville-style theater was added in 1908, soon to be followed by more roller coasters, a funhouse, and a “Shoot the Shutes” water ride. The park was also home to the Columbus Panhandles pro football team, serving as their home field between 1909 and 1915. During the 1910s and early 20s, Indianola hosted as many as 10,000 visitors in a single weekend, and could see up to 5,000 people enjoying its pool on hot summer days. But in the wake of the Great Depression and other cultural shifts, the park eventually shut down in 1937. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07732
Subjects: Franklin County (Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Amusement parks--Ohio; Amusement rides
Places: Columbus (Ohio)
 

Description: Visitors strolling past attractions at Olentangy Park, an amusement park that was located on North High Street in Columbus, Ohio, ca. 1910-1930. Signs on the buildings read "Ye Olde Mill," "All For Fun," "Mysterious Sensation" and "Joy Mill." Olentangy Park closed in September of 1938. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04957
Subjects: Franklin County (Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Amusement parks--Ohio; Amusement rides
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Children on a miniature automobile ride at Olentangy Park, an amusement park that was located on North High Street in Columbus, Ohio, ca. 1910-1930. A sign for miniature golf can be seen in the background. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04966
Subjects: Franklin County (Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Children; Amusement parks--Ohio; Amusement rides
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Visitors on water ride at Olentangy Park, an amusement park that was located on North High Street in Columbus, Ohio, ca. 1910-1930. Olentangy Park had multiple water rides including "The Olde Mill," the "Tunnel of Love," and "Shoot-the-Chutes." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04972
Subjects: Franklin County (Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Amusement parks--Ohio; Amusement rides
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Visitors riding a miniature train at Olentangy Park, an amusement park that was located on North High Street in Columbus, Ohio, ca. 1910-1930. In the background are additional attractions including a rifle range, the "Joy Mill," and the "Mysterious Sensation." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04976
Subjects: Franklin County (Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Amusement parks--Ohio; Amusement rides
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Sheltered area where visitors could catch the trolley at Olentangy Park, an amusement park that was located on North High Street in Columbus, Ohio, ca. 1910-1930. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04977
Subjects: Franklin County (Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Amusement parks--Ohio; Amusement rides
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)