In 1876, Ralph H. Lodge began acquiring the Silver Lake and its surrounding land. Originally a picnicking and swimming area, Ralph soon turned the area into one of Ohio’s greatest attractions. Silver Lake featured animal exhibits, a roller coaster, sports facilities, a dance hall, and a hotel, steam boat rides and a miniature railway.
For 40 years, visitors to Silver Lake Park were never at a loss for things to do. Steamboat cruise on the lake, miniature train rides, a roller coaster, a merry-go-round, and a midway all added to the excitement of a day at the park. There was even a pavilion with space for 500 dinners as well as a 15,000…
In 1874, Ralph H. Lodge bought Silver Lake (all the land covered by water but no land around it) for $1,300. The next year, Lodge bought 35 acres of land at the South West corner of the lake. Prior to Lodge’s investment, a tribe of Seneca Indians summered at the South end of Silver Lake…
Silver Lake Park had several log cabins, like the one shown here, as well as Swiss-style cottages. The park began in 1876 when Ralph H. Lodge built a small bathhouse and pavilion and provided boats for rental to fishermen. Soon the railroad was bringing excursions from places as far away as Columbus and Pittsburgh. At…
The steamboat Chautauquan sails the quiet evening waters of Silverlake.
An evening train ride through the Silver Lake Park on the shores of Silver Lake near Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The train was just one of many attractions at the park, including a dance hall, small zoo, amusement rides, picnic areas, and steamboat rides. The first conductor on the Silver Lake Miniature Railroad was Sammy Wise…
The Miniature Railway at Silver Lake Park was a 15 in gauge miniature railway opened in 1902. The main station was on the lakeshore at the boat landing dock. The inaugural route, which changed in later years, allowed passengers lengthy views of the lake and the zoo area.
Beginning in 1874, Silver Lake and the land surrounding it was a popular Akron area amusement park. The lake was acquired in 1876 by Ralph H. Lodge and he subsequently also purchased the land surrounding the body of water. It was originally a picnicking and swimming area, but before it closed Silver Lake Amusement Park featured animal…
In 1888, Ralph Lodge was presented with a female black bear cub, Topsy, captured on the north shore of Lake Superior. In September of the same year, he purchased an eight-month-old male cub, Patrick, which had been caught in Central Michigan. Patrick went on to father 78 cubs at Silver Lake.
Created by Ralph H. Lodge, Silver Lake Park and Chautauqua Park were a popular regional resort accessible by streetcar and rail. Silver Lake featured boating, swimming, and a large pavilion with a 15,000 square-foot dance floor, a freshwater aquarium, an airfield, and the Chautauqua Auditorium (pictured here) that featured prominent speakers of the day.
“The Toboggan at Silver Lake (six miles north of Akron) is one of the most attractive features of this popular resort. During the summer season, thousands of visitors are whirled through the air on these cars at a breathtaking rate of speed. In addition to the Toboggan, the Silver Lake Company provides swimming, boating, and…
In 1874, the lake and the land surrounding it was a popular amusement park in the Akron area. Beginning in 1876 by Ralph H. Lodge began acquiring the lake and its surrounding land. It was originally a picnicking and swimming area, but quickly grew into the Silver Lake Amusement Park. The Park featured animal exhibits,…
From the 1870s through 1917, Silver Lake Park was one of Ohio’s most popular amusement parks. The park had a dance hall, steamboat rides, menagerie, aquarium, roller coasters, miniature RR, Chautauqua Auditorium, aviation field, and an arcade.
Silver Lake Park was created originally as a picnicking and swimming area but quickly grew into an amusement park featuring animal exhibits, a roller coaster, sports facilities, a dance hall, and a hotel. In its prime, the Park received over 10,000 visitors per day.