Located in Chippewa Lake, Ohio, Medina County is an abandoned theme park that has been closed for the last 40 years. It was operated for over 100 years and served as a famous amusement park in Ohio. The last owner of the park closed the park due to lack of visitors and high maintenance and this huge structure of the park was left untouched till then.

Background of Chippewa Lake Park

In 1875 this park was known as Andrew’s Pleasure Ground, which was named after its owner Edward Andrews. It was operated as a picnic ground and beach. The park was operated successfully until the park got its first steamboat and rollercoaster. Since then the picnic ground changed into an amusement park. After Andrew, the second owner of the park was Mac Beach who took over it in 1898 and changed the park’s structure immensely. After Mac, his son managed to operate the park and he installed one of its famous attractions Roaring’20s, the first modern roller coaster. This roller coaster was designed by Fred Pearce. The park also highlighted a live band, every night.

Later in 1925, the park opened its wooden roller coaster, which is a small roller coaster, almost 50 feet in height. Until 1960 The Beach family operated the amusement park successfully. By that time the park included three roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, flying cages, carousel, Tumble Bug, ballroom, and many other rides.

How the Chippewa Lake Park closed and Resale:

In 1969 the Chippewa lake was purchased by Continental Business Enterprise, and the company wants to transform the park into a summer resort. But the public didn’t show any interest in this plan and they had to draw back the plan. After less funding and it took to low maintenance of the park and also due to lack of visitors the park was closed in 1978, as it was also the continental season under the company’s ownership. After this park's secret closed without any public knowledge and big media coverage, the former owner Parker Beach asked his family to bury him here after he died. But in 2007 a documentary named “ Welcome Back Rider” stated that they found the gravestone of Beach near the roller coaster, from where he enjoyed his park.

Deterioration of The Age-Old Chippewa Lake Park

By the year 2000, the large trees of the park took over most of the rides like the Ferris wheel and roller coasters and many of the park buildings were collapsed or fully damaged by the effects of the elements. All of the construction of the park was rusted and rotted.

In 2002 the Ballroom which was once a famous attraction of the park was burned down and by 2008 most of the buildings face the same fate as the ballroom.

Current situation of the Chippewa Lake Park

In the last year, it was announced that the old lake park was redeveloped under a new name Medina County Park. The company wants the remains of the park unchanged as it bears the history of old times. It was also said due to renovation and redevelopment the park can't be accessible by the public for at least two years.  But the lake is open for the public and they can enjoy boating in the lake here.