Euclid Beach Amusement Park, Cleveland 1895-1969

Euclid Beach Park. The name alone conjures up happy, fun-filled, exciting memories to Clevelanders age 50 and up.

Euclid Beach Park was established in Cleveland at E. 156th Street and Nottingham Road in 1895 and ran continuously until it closed its gates on September 28, 1969. It had everything for everybody. There was a ballroom, amusement rides for both children and adults, a beach for swimming in Lake Erie, a pier, games, food and much, much more. Comparing it to the amusement parks of today is impossible. Euclid Beach Park was a family park where you could let your 10 year old child take off for hours by himself and you'd know he was safe.

Euclid Beach Park closed 3 days before my 16th birthday, but the memories are as vivid today as they were 40 years ago. I can still remember a ride called the Flying Turns, which was like a coaster but the 3-seat toboggan-like train wasn't attached to a track. You went through a trough of sorts, flying down hills and around turns feeling like you would overturn at any minute. Talk about a thrill ride! I have never rode a coaster since then that has left me as breathless as this ride did.

Euclid Beach Park also had 2 traditional wooden coasters. The Thriller was the highest, fastest coaster of it's time, guaranteed to make you stand up while going down that last hill whether you wanted to or not. The reason you stood up going down that last hill was because this coaster didn't even have a restraint--except for the permanently attached bar you had to slide past while entering your seat. That's right, this bar was a one-size-fits-all and not agaist your lap. The other coaster, The Racing Coasters was actually 2 completely separate tracks where 2 trains raced each other over a 2,814 foot course. The blue cars would race the red cars to the screams of the riders who somehow felt that yelling "go-go-go" would make their coaster beat the other.

One of my favorite rides was the Derby Downs. Imagine a Carousel on steroids. You would climb atop a horse, a bell would ring, the horses would take off and race around a platform until they reached full speed. Then the horses (which were 4 across) would jockey for position, moving back and forth until the bell would ring and they would come to a stop. This was a ride you had to hang on to for dear life. Each horse had a saddle that would hold 2 riders. I remember riding my own horse while my dad would set my little sister in front of him on the horse next to mine. At the end of the ride the attendant would come around and put a flag on the horse that won in each line. That person would then get to stay on his horse for the next ride. When Euclid Beach Park closed this ride was moved to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. It's still in existence there but Cedar Point doesn't run it as fast as Euclid Beach did.

Euclid Beach Park was home to The Dodgem (a bumper car ride), The Rocket Ship Ride, The Flying Scooters (which reminded me of butterflies), The Bug, The Whip, The Surprise House and another ride I'll never forget--Over the Falls. This ride involved going by boat under a dark, covered area for a minute or so with an exhibit of fake alligators and such lit here and there. The boat would pick up speed as it exited this area going around curves splashing water on the occupants. Then all of a sudden you'd start your climb up a steep hill, teeter for a second at the top and down over the falls you'd go--water splashing in the boat and all over. When the ride stopped you'd get out feeling like a drowned rat, but all too willing to get back in line for another go of it.

Last but not least was a ride called Laff-in-the-Dark. You boarded a car that jerkily took you through a scary, bumpy pitch black building. There were twists and turns and all of a sudden a black light would come on showing spiders in a web. Then you'd turn in circles, bump a door and another black light would illuminate skeletons or ghosts. It smelled dank and creepy in there and you would scream your head off until finally you'd burst through more doors and see daylight again. As scary as this ride was to me as a youngster, more frightening was Laffing Sal who was right outside the entrance. With her freakish red hair and jerky movements and worst of all that laugh. Even at age 12, I was scared to death of her and would run past her to get to the ride. The original Laffing Sal from Euclid Beach is privately owned, but if you'd like to see another of the 10 or so original Laffing Sal's in action go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmM9eVue9yc.

It's not just the family atmosphere and rides I miss, it's also the Euclid Beach Park's Humphrey Popcorn Balls and Candy Kisses. Recently, I found that you can still get the original treats on line. Humphrey has a website: www.humphreycompany.com/servlet/StoreFront that sells not only the original popcorn balls and candy, but also Euclid Beach ornaments, canisters and videos. You haven't had taffy until you've had Humphrey's Candy Kisses. Nothing compares.

I hope this article rekindles some happy memories to those who had the fortune of actually going to Euclid Beach Park. To those who never had the opportunity you can find more information at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euclid_Beach_Park