Newark High School Class of '59 Memories
Buckeye Lake, Playground of Ohio
 The J.B. Taylor known as the Queen of the Lake. |
Before Kings Island, before Cedar Point, before Disney World there was Buckeye Lake Amusement Park. Almost everyone from Newark, Ohio, at some point in their lives, made the seven mile journey down Route 79 to the Playground of Ohio. All of the large factories in Newark had their summer picnics there. Wehrle, Ownes Corning, Pure Oil and many other organizations had their own Saturday designated a holiday at the park. Big national acts made it to the Crystal or Pier Ballroom including Guy Lombardo, Spike Jones, Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, Lawrence Welk, and Louis Armstrong. Hollywood actors Johnny Weismuller and Buster Crabbe along with the Flying Wallendos entertained 50,000 visitors a day in the Forties and Fifties. Share your Buckeye Lake photos and stories with us. Visit the Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society: buckeyelakehistory.org. |
 Crack the "Whip" and go home with neck pains. Just ask Janice and Mary Lou Piper. |
 Ride 'em Cowgirls, Janice and Mary Lou enjoy the Wehrle Picnic at Buckeye Lake. |
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All us wimps loved the gleaming silver Rocket Ride and the wonderful cool breeze it provided, not to mention a great view of the park. This ship can be seen today at the Buckeye Lake Historical Society Museum. 
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The "Dips" Roller Coaster was the biggest draw at the park until the crash of
1958. This signaled the end of the glory days of the park and it finally closed in 1970.
Buckeye Lake
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