Meyers Lake Park & COMET roller coaster ~ Canton, Ohio

[@MrEnoBeano]

Thanks.

[@mhvoivod]

fantastic

[@haroldhileman2504]

Was Time tavern the lodge?

[@timreinhart5789]

I have a lot of memories of Meyers Lake Park. My Uncle Harold (Babe) Shearer took my our family there many times for the Ohio Bell yearly picnic. My Great Uncle Ed Baumgartner worked the Laugh-In-The-Dark many years after his retirement from the grocery business. My co-worker Richard Cook back in in 1973/1974 would ride the Comet 3 or 4 times every Saturday before going to work at the PDQ at the Hills and Dales/Fulton Rd. intersection. My friend back in the day, Joe Pedrotty, and I would fish off the dock many times.

[@danielcain1118]

Any relation to Harvey Shearer?

[@bethhinton8565]

I went there as a kid as we lived in Canton. First ride on a roller coaster. It was a good place to go. Thank you for the video!

[@richardhudak4571]

As a kid back in the 60s I probably rode the comet will over 200 times

[@MysteriesontheNet]

I remember riding it. You could see City Hall from the top of the first hill. Sad to see the demolition.

[@tomkornas188]

dad took me on the coaster....at the end he handed the man a dollar for another ride ... no waiting in line like todays parks... Ride ride ride!

[@dessiemartz2477]

I remember going there as a child and again as a teen! I would love to know whatever happened to the Laughing Woman who was on the front of the ride in the dark! Her laugh will forever life in my childhood memories. I saw it once in one of the booths in the Stark County Fair in Canton, Ohio. The double Ferris 🎡 wheel was also a great place to be on those hot summer days and when the lights came on in the dark of night, that was a treat back then! You don't dare go out at night now! And I wish I could have seen Mother Goose Land. I remember the Zoo, Then There was a swimming pool put there, then it became a baseball field! Oh the good ole days! Sighs.

[@edwardmcdevitt790]

I am so surprised by the fact with all the POV's I have seen, there isn't a better one for the Comet at Meyers Lake. The one that is on this video just doesn't do justice for the ride. I am SO happy that I have my memories of riding this beautiful gem of a wooden roller coaster. Thank you, Herbert Schmeck for designing the awesome Comet at Meyers Lake!!!

[@TheDebadu]

I was born and raised in Massillon so I remember Meyers Lake well. My Mom & Dad remember when there was an accident with the Comet as well as the Jets swinging over the lake. It didn't detour them, they went back and took me when I was old enough to ride. There was great fun with all of the family. Thanks all for bringing these memories back with your good memories.

[@MG3301]

That wooden roller coaster was a thrill a second - I loved it! Rode many times! My first job was at Myers Lake Park - Bingo Stand - age 14. I made .75 cents an hour!! Didn't see the Fortune Teller or the Tile-A-whirl in the movie! Thanks for sharing. Sad day indeed, when it was demolished. Did they really build condos on the lake? Can;t imagine. We used to ice skate on the lake - there and Monument Park. I'm in Georgia, but still recall the fun times! Thanks for sharing!

[@jessieleech2049]

yes, they built the condos.The place is not the same.The Ballroom burnt long ago.

[@trixieangle2915]

or the merry-go-round

[@TheJer1963]

I still remember that mini roller coaster that was next to the big one. I guess it was for the kids not ready for the big one. My memories are from around 1967-70. Born in 63 so everything seemed really big to me then.

[@traceyreed4885]

My very first roller-coaster! I'd spend all day on it if I was allowed. I wasn't tho. But I'll never forget my first wooden coaster. Never the same ride twice! Y'all can keep the metal ones.

[@Meekimotosyoutubechannel]

I live in Canton. I wish this coaster was still here.

[@Hesohi]

I can remember the skeleton of the Comet and some of the other parts of the park. Duke Ellington’s big band played at the Ballroom there, as well as Benny Goodman and other very notable orchestras.

[@sportscarclinic]

I was a 10 year old kid living in Avondale in 1975. I spent a lot of time exploring the park and buildings after it was shut down and abandoned. It was very surreal and a perfect place for a kid's imagination to wander.

[@RideOfPablo]

amazing video, I just have one small question, do you have the full comet POV footage? I am trying to recreate this coaster but cannot find where the station (and everything leading up to the lift hill) is orientated. Even a written description will suffice.

[@diannchristensen5953]

wow...what memories this brings to me...

[@patlewers3229]

I remember the clickity clack of the track going up the first hill and the anticipation

[@gmswife]

Also , Meyers Lake Park was in Canton, not west of it.

[@carolbradshaw6105]

My school would bus or carpool our classes there every year during the last week before summer let out! I remember it so well. What a wonderful time in America! I love and miss that old amusement park.

[@49bigfish]

I have a lot of fond memories of Meyers Lake Park. I lived close by and work there at the shooting gallery in the middle 60’s. The marry go-round was a classic and I believe it’s still around at a museum somewhere?

[@luklun9]

It is still going I believe in Hartville Connecticut..

[@trixieangle2915]

it is completely restored and in a beautiful place of honor at Bushnell Park in Hartford, Conn....just visited her a few weeks ago and rode on my favorite pony for $1.

[@danielpellegrini8192]

I remember the first time I rode the comet I thought my gutts were going to explode what a ride but after several times riding it I was good to go. So sad it's all gone like so many other amusement parks. Good old days.

[@BionicMerlin]

My dad used to worry about me walking around this place toward the end. I loved Meyers Lake.

[@williampaul8556]

We would ride the Comet over and over. It was a great wooden coaster! Wish Canton could have saved it and maybe expanded it. Great memories. Lots of childhood fun. Loved the Laugh in the Dark and Penny Arcade. FOOL THE GUESSER!

[@jsn4824]

Meyers Lake Park had a dark side -segregation. Blacks were not allowed to enter the lake through the bathhouse for access to the lake for swimming. I vividly remember one day in the mid 50's, as a child, watching blacks being denied access at the ticket booth. This was my first introduction to racism.

[@MTigers006]

Latest victim is Geauga Lake in Auoura, Ohio. Victim of greed and selfishness.

[@tjloverlisa]

I loved Myer's Lake, spent many shop picnics there with my family as a child. My Mom & Dad used to go to the ballroom dancing. This brings back so many wonderful memories & brought tears to my eyes as I watched it tumble to the ground. Thanks so much for this.

[@UncleKennysPlace]

Goodyear Aircraft had their yearly picnic at the park until sometime in the 1970s. It was a wonderful place for a little kid! I rode The Comet whenever the lines were short, so usually a couple of times each picnic day.

[@arh7303]

Thanks so much for this video! My grandparents lived there in the eighties, after people built developments over the old park. The developers at least left a few remnants of the park, and I spent so much time there as a kids walking in the woods and swimming and imagining how wonderful the park must have been.

[@amishbeats5398]

River Tantramoon Where are these remnants? I'd love to see them.

[@SaintPaulGrrl]

I went on this roller coaster once as a child back in 1964. It scared the crap out of me and I haven't been on a roller coaster since! That being said, I have fond memories of our trips as a family to Meyers Lake Park.

[@GBofOH]

I used to go to Meyers Lake when I was young. I remember it as old and run down. That's what they do in Canton, tear down rather than restore. What a shame. I really enjoyed this video! The silver rockets that went out over the lake were my favorite!

[@Johndale0]

I remember when we all got tickets with our report cards at the end of the year where I think you got in for free, and the rides were really cheap if not free. (memory is not what it was). The Bliss Picnic was also held there and my girlfriend came from Salem to go there with me, and I went over to Salem every summer for years to go to Idora Park when she got tix from her school at the end of the year. We used to ride that roller coaster all day long. So much fun!

[@danielcain1118]

Went there when I was a kid back in the 60's. The Comet had a sign that said Ride At Your Own Risk. We'd ride that thing as many times as we could in a day. Beulah the Laughing Lady would scare the crap out of our little sister. Ride the rides, swim, and go fishing. It didn't get any better than that for a 10yr. old kid.

[@dang8352]

I loved going to Meyers Lake Park as a kid. I remember the first time I rode the Comet around 1963, I was about 12 and it cost 25¢! That was a lot for a kid for one ride! LOL The Laugh In the Dark scared the crap out of me and it freaked me out that Beulah might be able to touch us as the car rolled past her! FYI… she has been restored and is located in the McKinley Presidential Museum and Library in Canton (formerly the Historical Center; next to the monument.) kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4SuqoKtgpybpbs

[@awizardalso]

Thank you Swampfoxer for your efforts. I moved to Canton at 17 in 1971. At least I got to see the last couple years of the park. The Comet was about the scariest coaster I'd ever rode. You never knew if you'd make it back to the station! One of the last things remaining of that era is Cleo's Ice Cream shop, and relatively unchanged after all these years.

[@roberteye7197]

This coaster may have been the sister to the Blue Streak at Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio.

[@1066sgp]

Nothing to hold onto except those rings. Scare the bejeesus out of me as a 8 yr old kid but I rode it over and over.

[@mcpojimmyt]

I worked at this park for three years, ran the Octopus,Kid train, small put put boats worked in the Midway. This brought back a lot of memories. Thanks a lot

[@usamacka]

Thanks for posting this video. I went to every church picnic and company picnics here! I have lots of black and whites from the late 50's and 60's from this park!

[@WHITEHOUSETEAMALPHA]

Thanks so much for posting this. I used to go the park every year for the Massillon Community day. I have memories of the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper, the Bug, The Laff in the Dark (where my eyes were scrunched shut until I was 8 or 9!), the shooting gallery (with a posted Deputy sheriff never far away), bags of groceries given away, lots of food as our neighbors and friends picnicked, the ballroom, the arcade, skeeball...thanks again. A little sad at the end... Jace Smith

[@raridan1]

I rode the Comet not too long before they closed it down. There was a little flex in the wooden structure that added a bit of thrill. I miss that park.

[@trish8686]

The park closed the year before I was born. My parents had many great things to say about it. I wish I would have had the opportunity to have made some memories there! Great video!

[@swampfoxer]

You are correct. A small portion of that Comet footage was from the coaster marathon of the 70's. You can notice the coaster operator running beside the train trying to give the riders a drink as it leaves the station.

[@submom]

Beula the laughing lady at Meyers Lake, will be on permanent display at The William Mckinley Museum in Canton, Ohio. The opening will be on Sept. 25, 2009.

[@ReesiePuffs64]

I've never seen on-ride footage of the comet! Thank you! You really played to the viewer's emotions through editing and music. Great job!

[@kumite14u]

I was only 8 when it closed in 1974 so my memories of the park aren't extremely clear but I remember having great times when our family would go there. I remember my older sisters making me go on the big roller coaster with them once and it scared the crap out of me. Great times and great memories. Thanks for the video!

[@gmswife]

You had me in tears as well! I can remember this park well. I grew up in Canton in the early sixties. Meyers Lake Park was a huge part of my childhood. I remember the roller coaster catching on fire after the park was closed. You are so very fortunate to have obtained footage from the park! The laughing lady from the laughing house was still around a few years ago (at the fair). The rocket cars from the ride over the lake are at Baylor Beach. Gonna rate vid high! Good job!

[@woodencoasterfan]

Absolutely great video and it's also sad to see that many of our local amusement parks are now gone.

[@kwhit1516]

This was the good old days Now it seems canton has become nuts cases runing around with guns . I can not belive how much it change sinces i move away only 11 years ago. I lived off fulton road

[@musicman101353]

Wow...what a great video. This certainly brings back lots of memories for many people.

[@gmswife]

Thank you so much for posting this video. I remember Myers Lake fondly. It is a shame that Canton let it go to waste as it did. The County back then could have stepped up and updated it and kept it going. But, just like all of the nice things we have had here in Canton, it was trashed ! And the city let it go! Sad

[@rodneycody8746]

To bad

[@x2112charlie]

Great video!! I remember all of my Dad's Diebold plant picnic's there!! One thing missing though, the laughing lady!!

[@OrangeSkyMusic]

The Lady from "The Laugh In The Dark". I loved that Ride!

[@jessieleech9805]

It had the most beautiful entrance full of flowers shame their was so many fights their .my uncle thought skiing and scuba on the lake he had ballroom dancing someone cut the building on fire it was a nice place to go as a family now they're revising it at the hall of fame 16 having my first roller coaster ride almost fell out in my brother turned white as he pulled me back in

[@ellieb1961]

I wish I could have gone to this park. Love the coaster!

[@KEVINM80]

I used to go to the park every year for the Potters Picnic. I have such fond memories of that place. The Comet was the first coaster I ever rode. It was what made me become a coaster enthusiast today.

[@usedtobe803]

amazing. im born and raised in canton and my mom used to talk about going there when she was a kid. i know tim's tavern has a lively mural on their wall in tribute to this. it's really nice to see such clear footage of this park.. it seemed like a great place to go for it's time. such a shame it's gone.. maybe canton's economy wouldn't be so bad if it were still here..? anyway, thank you very much for sharing.. i was always curious what it looked like for real :

[@JazzEthics]

Watching the video of the actual coaster ride i remember every hill and turn from riding on it so many times over the years... Sad that its all gone....

[@gmswife]

My point was that it was not "west of Canton". Geeez!

[@jessieleech2049]

things were so simple back then,candy was 5cents,pop 10cents rides were 10cents. you didn't have to worry abt your children they were safe.We have come along way from wood to steel more costly too. I wish it was simple to bring it back!

[@Paneeks1960]

It always kills me to watch a classic wooden coaster being bulldozed or even blown up to shoot a stupid movie. I guess with superb footage such as this one you can at least flash back and remember the good times. Thanks for another fantastic video of a park that was once a happening place. Paneeks/Boston

[@abigllama]

What a shame that looks like such a fun ride. I love these videos so much, but the demolions at the end end - it's like watching someone's beloved pet get euthenized. Regardless, great stuff and thanks so much for sharing!

[@Willow77tb]

Thank you for the footage - My mom always talks about how much fun it was when she was young, and i grew up (now would be right across the street) and currently have a home near the "Lake", but to see that it really WAS an amusement Park and what more it could have been. Oh this is sad at the end. Tim's Tavern, Still has the drawing on the wall, but the Lady is gone?I think their was talk of a sea world their (glad it didn't happen, my childhood would have been completely different.(neighborhood

[@edwardmcdevitt790]

The Comet at Meyers Lake Park in Canton, Ohio was and remains my favorite wooden roller coaster. Imagine the Phoenix at Knoebels in Pennsylvania 24 foot taller with a swoop in the first turn around! Awesome!

[@evguyohio]

Wow that was very, very nice. The music was timed beautifully. Impressive, thank you.

[@7october7]

I only got to ride the roller coaster once before the park closed. :-\ Before then I was too young to ride it when our family went there. Looking up at it, I always thought it would fly off when it rounded the bend going so fast. I remember riding the rockets, the kiddie coaster and the merry-go-round.

[@Unit430]

This was when Meyer's Lake was worth the drive. It's sad that it's become just another private lake.

[@stormgirl09]

im only 27 but one of my biggest interests is amusement parks. Including ones long gone. I have learned Ohio back in the day had several!! I live in Chicago however I like learning about Ohio parks because Cedar Point my all time favorite park is there:) Its kind of sad how Ohio once had plenty of amusement parks but now only have like 5. Only two being major ones (KI and CP) The other three being Coney Island and that one attached to that zoo and one that is mostly private. Everyone has heard of KI and CP but I doubt many heard of the other three. When people hear Coney Island im sure they think the one in NYC(hey at least that one is still around!) Chicago my home town i know had Riverview but closed long before i was born....its a same its gone too:( Looks like it would of been fun. Im guess all the big parks put many of the small ones that dotted the country out of business....

[@lailarashidioun3351]

why didnt they keep this in Canton? the innocence is gone, and everyone is a drug dealer, or hooked on drugs, and the vibe there is depressing, as i visit the fam on holidays…I am in a rush back to Florida…not cause its cold, but its sad. I used to love Ohio, and the people in it...

[@trixieangle2915]

gone...forever

[@gavinsikon3681]

Very sad ending

[@gmswife]

Oh, and I spent many days and evenings in this park as a child..so sad to watch this vid :(

[@Devon1997c]

I live on Meyers lake and I wish I could look out of my window and see the park

[@ReesiePuffs64]

You're very lucky to have a firsthand, behind the scenes experience at that place. I envy you. I'm sure it was like a second home.

[@thla307]

double out and back big and long coaster ! how was the ride ?

[@mattman237]

Said to be a virtual clone of Phoenix at Knoebels which is a highly rated roller coaster!

[@thierrylacheray1037]

when we have a look on Meyers lake poscards the trackage seems to be a double oval ...

[@raridan1]

@markb082 Unfortunately there was a lot of vandalism and roving gangs of troublemakers either causing or as a result of poor attendance. Many other small parks like Chippewa Lake were also abandoned. Made more money for the owners to remove the amusement park and build condos. FYI the carousel is still operating but I can't remember where they moved it to.

[@ProChoiceJesus]

The Comet must have been a Herb Schmeck design. It was laid out very much like the Rocket/Phoenix, and the Crystal Beach Comet. In fact, it was almost a copy of the Rocket, except I didn't see a double-up-double-down hill on Comet. Comet looked a mite larger, too and had a dip on turn #1 and the layout was mirrored in some parts, but I wonder; was it a Schmeck coaster?

[@Brian_Gawlak]

HA, I live where the ball field once was..or that is what my deed to my home says.

[@crooked-halo]

Similar to Rocket-Phoenix and Crystal Beach Comet. Wonder if PTC and/or Schmeck were lacking inspiration for original designs during the mid-late 40s? Great designs, yes, but so similar that it beckons to near-cloning.

[@mattman237]

If you hit on a formula as good as Rocket/Phoenix me thinks a few clones might be in order ;). And I wouldn't consider the CB Comet a clone at all. It is quite distinct from Rocket/Phoenix/ML Comet.

[@joantorres2779]

OMG I so remember KiddieLand. They had those little cars you powered by hand. And wasn't there that swing ride that had a tree so close it looked like your feet where gonna hit it.

[@leilanianderson9085]

bring it back!

[@HollyJahangiri]

I remember this park - and I remember the Comet well. That may have been my first rollercoaster... There were urban legends about someone dying on it after a venomous snake dropped into the car from one of the trees. I'm not even sure we had venomous snakes in trees in Ohio. ;) I sure climbed enough trees that I ought to be dead if there were. I'm sad to see the tear-down footage.

[@plezbegentle59]

OMG this was classic

[@casheasy]

I swear there was a park called either Kiddieland or maybe Playland park in the Akron, Ohio area. Does anybody know what I'm talking about? I know I went there as a little kid in 1973 and '74 and probably 1975. I can't find any info on it anywhere. I'm not sure exactly where it was and my parents are both gone so I can't ask them lol

[@notactive7888]

yes it was on rt 241.Went there many times for family picnics.

[@johncostin8899]

Yes! My first ride on a roller coaster was there; they had a small one just for kids. Loved that park!

[@bigwes1976]

You forgot to mention about all the people that drowned in the lake there.

[@jamesmartin6773]

Too Much Corruption In That Town All They Want To Do Rob You With More Levies & Taxes For More Raises.While The Streets Are In awlful Condition.I Believe That Ballroom Was A Big Set Up,Alot Of Money Was Probably Paid Out To Destroy It.And All Those Memories And Still Would Be A Place To Go Dancing....I Hope All The People Behind That Are Burning In Hell (Sad)........That Was The Beautiful Ballroom I Ever Danced In.....

[@pem1126]

It was because of the thugs and druggies that the park lost attendance the rest is history