Andrew's Pleasure GroundsIn 1875, Edward Andrews organized a picnic ground and beach under the name Andrew's Pleasure Grounds. The park operated with some success, but its condition deteriorated, partly accountable to alcohol sales within park grounds. With the addition of a steam boat and the park's first rollercoaster, the amusement park was brought to life. The initial roller coaster had to be manually pushed up the track following each ride.
Chippewa Lake Park: 1900-1969Mac Beach, acquired Chippewa Lake in 1898 and improved the park immensely, beginning with a ban on liquor sales. Mac's son, Parker Beach, managed the park during its boom years, the roaring '20s. During that decade, the first modern coaster was built at the park, designed by Fred Pearce. Originally named the Big Dipper, it became better known as simply 'the coaster'. The park also featured a live band-stand seven nights a week.
The Beach family kept the park running successfully into the 1960s. Eventually Chippewa Lake would feature three roller coasters, flying cages, a Ferris wheel, carousel, Tumble Bug, ballroom and many other rides.
Abandonment and deterioration: 1978-2009 The Park's Ferris wheel in 2007, left standing like many rides, but overgrown with foliageAfter the park's closure in 1978, the land the park was situated on was left largely untouched. By the 2000s, large trees were growing through rides like the Coaster and the park's ferris wheel, and several buildings had collapsed or been damaged by the effects of the elements.
About 4:00 PM on Thursday, June 13, 2002, the Chippewa Lake Park Ballroom burned down.
PresentlyA group of developers, Chippewa Lake Partners LLC, purchased the park's 90 acres. The Lafayette Township Zoning Commission approved a more flexible zoning scheme for the site for a $100 million proposed development.
Alliss Strogin, the township's zoning inspector, calls the investors' plans a chance to bring the park "back to its glory days."
"It was a vibrant, successful jewel that was left to decay," she said. "For the past 30 years, it has just been sitting there."
Developers hope to build a four-story Hilton hotel, cabins and boathouses.
Strogin said the company also plans to restore the beach area.
The plans submitted to the township also call for a conference center, restaurants and retail shops, as well as a Japanese-style spa and a wellness center.
An accredited culinary institute also is planned for 400 to 500 students.
Strogin said the developers think that as many 300 full-time jobs and 200 additional seasonal jobs could be created.
Chippewa Lake is the largest, natural inland lake in Ohio and it is still largely undeveloped.
Chippewa Lake Park, once billed as "Ohio's playground," closed in 1978 after a 100-year run. The park that played host to Lawrence Welk and Bruce Springsteen is in ruins.
"First question is, why," said California developer Gary Sills. "Why would you come here? Gotten a lot of that."
Sills and his partners hope to break ground this fall on a 193-room Hilton hotel. It will anchor the project called "Chippewa Landing".
In addition to the hotel, preliminary plans already approved by local and county officals call for two restaurants, a culinary institute, a wellness center affiliated with Akron General Health Systems and boat houses overlooking the lake.
Sills said the hotel and conference spaces are aimed a corporate market. But there will also be club memberships and cottages to attract the interest of Northeast Ohio residents
Most of the park's rides and buildings are beyond restoration. But two of the park's rides, the ferris wheel and a ride called the "Tumblebug," may be taken down and reassembled on the opposite side of Chippewa Lake.
