🎡 What remains of Chippewa Lake Park (In the year 2023) 🎢 ABANDONED

It's been 45 years since Chippewa Lake Park closed it's doors so what remains of this beloved theme park? Today we find out!!! Come along with Matt as he discovers what remains in the year 2023.

[@brucelucas3023]

That Ferris wheel ran way too fast. I remember screaming because I thought that I was going to fly off the seat.

[@Jake-ty4bs]

my father used to take me there in the 60s and mid way thru the 70s the Mansfield tire and rubber company had their company picnics there , also around 1980 i saw the Michael Stanley band play there with friend's some of who aren't with us anymore Bring's back a lot of memories from my youth

[@steponick]

It wasn't a rollercoaster, it was a now extinct ride called the Tumble Bug that was built by the Travers Engineering Company. CLP had 3 rollercoasters: The Big Dipper(Coaster), The Little Dipper, and The Wild Mouse that was built by the Allen Schiff Company.

[@urbex_coasters]

I need to get to this place. What you referred to as a "roller coaster" is actually a Traver Tumble Bug. A piece of track was removed in 2009 so that the mechanical parts could be taken off to be harvested by Kennywood and Conneaut Lake Park, which had the remaining operable Tumble Bugs at the time (sadly Conneaut's has since been removed. I really hate the new owner of that park). The twisted steel is the remains of the Chippewa Ballroom, which burned down in the early 2000s. I know someone posted an old home video from the late 90s on here which shows things like the ballroom before it burned down. I believe there still is the kiddieland coaster standing, an Alan Hershal Little Dipper. That said it was in rough condition on the most recent videos I've seen so it's possible it has since collapsed. Remembering seeing that video it really is a shame this park wasn't saved. Even 20 years after it closed it was in near pristine condition if a few weeds were simply cut back and stuff was given a paint job and ride parts that are generally replaced during general offseason maintainance were replaced. But by the 2000s the park was near unsalvagable, except for a few ride parts that could be rehabbed. 3 years ago I would've recommended Conneaut Lake Park to see what Chippewa looked like when it was open but I simply cannot do that now because Todd Joseph has destroyed absolutely everything. It might be a bit of a reach but Lakemont Park is probably the closest thing to an "operating Chippewa Lake" adjacent today with 2 storied classic wooden coasters but even so you will not find attractions like the Tumble Bug at Lakemont because they removed all of their flat rides to put in batting cages and basketball courts (which I support if it means we get to keep Leap The Dips and Skyliner). I will say the kiddie coaster at Lakemont is the same production model as the kiddie coaster at Chippewa Lake that I mentioned earlier and I think they have started to let adults ride (I had the credit before they were letting adults ride). While they might not have classic flat rides anymore they do have a good supporting ride lineup, with the biggest paddleboat lake I've seen at an amusement park, go carts, and mini golf all included on the same wristband that lets you ride the coasters.

[@nearandfarexplorers5125]

Lakemont Park is on my list simply because it has the oldest roller coaster in the USA

[@urbex_coasters]

@@nearandfarexplorers5125 That's plenty of reason to visit alone, but the park has a lot more to offer than that. In addition to having a coaster from 1902 they also have a relocated wooden coaster (relocated in the 1980s) and a strong supporting attraction lineup with things that are typically upcharge being included on their wristband.

[@momstheword11]

Don't forget that Chippewa Lake Park had the fastest Ferris wheel in the state or country (forgot which) at one time, back in the 1960s. Thanks for this video and chance to add this information about the Ferris wheel.

[@urbanarcheology7346]

What an amazing place to explore! Thanks for sharing. I just subscribed to your channel! Keep up the great work! 🤘😎

[@ronmcgee6090]

If you can find it, in 2011 some independent people made a movie there called Closed for the Season. Not a great film but still... At the start of your video in the background you can see the big gear and pulley for the Coaster. It had a BIG leather belt on the pulley from the motor that ran the lift chain. I'm pretty sure it was like that all the way to the parks end after the 1978 season. The little car I think is from the Wild Mouse that is in the far corner if it's still there. All the big cars you show at the start and about 5:30 are from the Tumble Bug. At 2:25 that is the ballroom remains. That's a concession stand remains at 3:05. It just collapsed over the years. The building remains at 3:40 look like the Bath House. There was swimming at Chippewa Lake and that's where you changed. It was a pretty big building. At 9:55 I'm thinking that was the entrance to the Rocket Ship ride. I don't know the actual name for it. You got in and all it did was go around in a circle for a while. Someone had got one of those cars from one of these parks and actually made it a street legal machine that you could drive down the road. Big Chuck and Little John used it in one of their Bat Guy and Rinaldi skits. The book series Images of America has some great pictures of this park when it was open.

[@hunterdep1]

I love stuff like this and they are getting rid of so much now when that could be a park it's self they should just clean up the overgrowth and leave the remains you could still put a park there around the remains so people can still enjoy it

[@jonnickels9027]

I grew up in Olmsted Falls , Ohio . Went there in the 50's and 60's . Brings back a lot of good memories .

[@zumadale]

Went here in late 60s with the family. Companies used to hold picnics here and have all the employees come. Hardly anyone was here and we got to ride the roller coaster 20 times....didn't even need to get off because no one was in line. Great memories. I remember the snack stands used to have their prices for Cokes and burgers... it would say... Coke 50 cents plus 25....lol trying to raise the price without saying so.

[@MyFlippinLife]

The Ferris wheel used to have a tree growing right through the center so the new owners must have cut it I heard they want to preserve the Ferris wheel

[@moose030406]

Wish I knew about this place when I was there years ago.

[@joeklimko8339]

I remember going to park as a kid to company picnics union shop hot dogs and beer and burgers and what a good time 😊

[@clairefunnell8481]

Hi from Toronto Canada 🇨🇦. A very interesting old park. That track that went up and around was the Tumble Bug ride. Theres track left for the Little Dipper coaster, at least i think its still there. Rumor has it that it was teenagers who burned down that building there. I think it was the ballroom. I enjoyed your video. Should be lwft as a reminder of what was there or maybe rebuilding the park.

[@nearandfarexplorers5125]

Thank you very much!! Hope to make it up to your neck of the woods soon!! Lots to see in Toronto 😀

[@urbex_coasters]

There's a home video from the 90s that someone put up that has the ballroom pre-fire. Very surreal to see.

[@clairefunnell8481]

@@urbex_coasters nice. I'll try to find it if possible.

[@ShelleyVideo]

“The Bug”, as it was called at Pontchartrain Beach amusement park in New Orleans can be seen operating in this video I shot in September 1983.

[@ShelleyVideo]

Sorry, can’t copy and paste the link right now. Search “pontchartrain beach 1983” and it will be the first result.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hello! Great video. Would i be able to use some clips in it, in a history video with credit to your channel? Thanks so much!

[@nearandfarexplorers5125]

For sure!! Would love to see your video when it's finished. Thanks.

[@everydayadventureswithjim]

No one gave you any trouble walking through? Last I knew years ago they called the police. I’m definitely going if it was all good!! Nice walk man!

[@nearandfarexplorers5125]

Not really. I was only there for a little bit because it started to rain. I missed parts of it.

[@nearandfarexplorers5125]

There was a couple exploring in there as well.

[@urbex_coasters]

@@nearandfarexplorers5125 You missed the Alan Herschal Little Dipper, a small coaster built for kids.

[@nearandfarexplorers5125]

@@urbex_coasters - It was starting to rain really bad. I would have stayed longer if I could lol

[@shaqedits12]

2:17 there are pp’s on the truck😂

[@jonathanwoodyard7032]

Catapiller where the cover would cover you going in circles

[@user-jl1dy7il4k]

Effing SAD☹

[@JByrd1227]

i might be in the area soon to check this place out, was it pretty easy to get in?

[@nearandfarexplorers5125]

Very easy. I should go back again

[@JByrd1227]

@@nearandfarexplorers5125 i probably won't be there super long, but which way did you get in after you left the front cars?

[@nearandfarexplorers5125]

@@JByrd1227 You’ll see it. The fence is broken.

[@JByrd1227]

@@nearandfarexplorers5125 oh nice, just right by those front cars? and ty for the info 🙏 i'm not experienced exploring "tresspassing" areas so it is much appreciated!

[@Ant4422]

if you want some cheap entertainment, i mean cheap, watch "closed for the season" Its filmed here as a last hoorah before the clearing of the park in 2012. its not a horrible movie. its nostalgic and you have to be somewhat of an enthusiast to get that nostalgia. if you watch it youll see what i mean by cheap. the cover of the movie poster isnt even chippewa, its moreys piers great white coaster in wildwood nj lol

[@moose030406]

Thought this place closed in 1978?

[@user-yk6xg6ud3b]

Maybe do some research before posting. The building was the ballroom and it burned in the 70s. Not a lodge.

[@user-yk6xg6ud3b]

I lost brain cells listening to you describe something you have no clue about. Those weren’t company vehicles more like abandoned and there was no hotel or lodge.

[@nearandfarexplorers5125]

Thanks for the info. I will have to read up and pay another visit there in the future.

[@inherentmirth5180]

Maybe YOU do some research before you call somebody else out, idiot. The ballroom burned in 2002.

[@Yoda1268]

As stated earlier. Do some research BEFORE posting. It's not like there isn't a TON of it out there. The term "Dismantled, means that it was taken apart. The better term is Decayed. So many statements that you gave are so off base, it's almost funny, but also VERY irratating to those who know the history. Educate your self before posting about a place that you explore.

[@ShelleyVideo]

Yada, yada, yada, Yoda…..get a grip. Get yourself out there in the woods if you think you can do it better! I got no use for whiny trolls!

[@Yoda1268]

@@ShelleyVideo I have been out there in the woods as you said. I was in there when everything was so overgrown, you could barely make you way through the park. I was also there when they were clearing and tearing down alot of stuff in 2009. You think it's wooded now, you should have been there in the mid 90's. I wasn't whinning, just making a statement that you should know what your talking about when doing these videos, educate your self a little so you don't sound like an idiot just babling made up comments in the background.