Ohio's Amusement Park Was A Total Bust In The '70s — Now It's A Fun Trailhead For Families

Chippewa Lake Park in Medina County, Ohio, ran for exactly a century, and then, without warning, it was gone. Today the grounds have been converted into a public park with family-friendly nature trails, but for 100 years it was a beloved regional institution.

The park began as a modest lakeside gathering spot in the late 19th century. In 1875, Edward Andrews established Andrew's Pleasure Grounds along the shoreline of the lake, offering picnics, swimming, and entertainment like small concerts and live shows. The park changed its name a few years later and grew to host attractions including a Ferris wheel and early wooden roller coasters like the Big Dipper, Tumble Bug, and other early rides that shaped modern amusement parks.

Public interest in Chippewa Lake Park began to wane in the 1960s as the much larger nearby parks like Geauga Lake (an abandoned amusement park set to be restored as a public green space) and Cedar Point created competition. Continental Business Enterprises took over in 1968 but struggled to maintain enough attendance to make the park profitable. Chippewa Lake Park's 100th anniversary in 1978 became its final operational season — it went bust and closed down. The grounds were left abandoned until 2020, when the Medina County Park District purchased the land and turned it into a public park. 

Eerily, upon closure, most of the Chippewa Lake Park's infrastructure was left in place. Rides, buildings, ticket booths, and pathways were largely left untouched and abandoned. The site sat idle for decades, and over time, the vegetation began to take over. Trees grew through and around the former attractions, rust claimed the metal structures, and the pathways became hidden.

Trespassing increased as the abandoned park drew urban explorers and those interested in the park's history. Vandalism and scavenging of pieces of the structures occurred, and many parts of the park were damaged or removed from the site. A significant loss came in 2002 when arson destroyed the historic ballroom, leaving only twisted steel and debris. Some remnants of the park like the Ferris wheel and Tumble Bug ride remained, but deterioration continued to increase.

The site developed a small reputation as a symbol of the lost history of Ohio. Online blog posts, Reddit posts, photography, and even documentaries highlighted the nostalgic but mysterious quality of the park's remains by those fascinated with the creepiest abandoned amusement parks around the world.

The purchase and redevelopment of the area aimed to preserve the amusement park's history while also creating public access for recreation. Phase one of the redevelopment opened to the public on May 15, 2026, with the debut of the Tumble Bug Trailhead. This half-mile, accessible gravel loop is easy enough for hikers of all ages and leads to the site of the old roller coaster, with three ride cars and track sections from the original Tumble Bug.

Phase one of the redevelopment plan also added new parking, restrooms, and a picnic shelter. A house on the property was leased to the Chippewa Lake Historical Society and serves as a museum highlighting historical artifacts of the old amusement park that the whole family will find interesting. Future plans include extending the trails to connect with other points of interest like the Ferris wheel remnants near the lakeshore and expanding public access to about 95 acres. In addition to the trail and amusement park scraps at Chippewa Lake, the property offers a boat launch and a separate birding and bridle trail for more ways to explore the area.

This type of unique revival project is a welcome pattern popping up around the country. For example, this abandoned amusement park in New Orleans is becoming an indoor and outdoor water park.