Summer Days at Euclid Beach: Euclid Beach Park

My mom would tell me stories about going to Euclid Beach Park when she was young. My grandma would also make references to the park in passing conversations. She would often tell stories of her summers there. The Euclid Beach fountain is on my wall in my vintage amusement park collection. 

Like Luna Parks, Coney Island also catalyzed Euclid Beach’s existence. 

Investors from Cleveland wanted the park to be patterned after New York’s leisure area. The 75-acre land was leased to the Humprey family. 

The park's arches were made as it resembled the letter H for the Humphery family. The first arch built in 1901 was only made of wood. The arches that stand today were built in 1921. It has been declared as a historic landmark. 

In the early years, there was a dance hall, roller rink, bathhouse, and fountain (a swing ride later converted into a fountain). 

In 1910, Euclid Beach installed a carousel designed by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. 

One of the park’s other early rides was Japanese Flying horses, unlike a regular carousel where the stationary horses were suspended in the air. A different thrill from your run-of-the-mill carousel. It ran from 1901 - 1934 and was replaced by a funhouse and the cursed Laffing Sal. She haunts the nightmare of the older generation of Clevelander. One person even had a YouTube video titled “Laffing Sal used to scare the hell out of me.” That’s how bad the emotional damage was. Also among the casualties is my mom. To this day, she refers to deranged people who scare her as Laffing Sals.  

As their name suggests, Laffing Sals were animatronic women who laughed widely with a tooth-gap smile and flailed their arms around. This nightmare of a tactic was to draw in patrons to the funhouse or rides. Many of them popped up around the United States at amusement parks, and Euclid Beach was no exception. Many times, this was to advertise a ride called Laff in the Dark. 

While many businesses suffered during the Great Depression, Euclid Beach did not. Admission was free, and the park still made money off popcorn sales, which were only a nickel a purchase. 

One thing that drew Euclid Beach patrons was 6-cent day tickets. On Saturdays and Sundays, each ride ticket was 6 cents. Nowadays, I wish it were still a thing.

Unfortunately, the park was not a stranger to controversy. There was a segregation policy where African Americans could only come on certain days of the week and, when admitted, were not allowed to interact with white park guests. It was sadly familiar for many businesses to implement this rule during the period and early on. As a result, it caused a riot in 1946, which resulted in the park being closed for a week by orders from the mayor. 

The Beach Boys referenced Euclid Beach in one of their songs, Amusement Parks U.S.A.

The Thriller was a nice long 71 ft drop, which would probably be small potatoes nowadays. Another beloved thrill ride was a bobsled coaster called the Flying Turns which the cars looked like mini fighter planes.

When highways were built in the 1960s, many people started driving to Cedar Point, Kennywood, and Geauga Lake. My mom, who grew up on the East Side, told me that before the highway was built, it would take 2 hours to get to Cedar Point; after construction, it took only 45 minutes to an hour. It also did not help that the neighborhood started becoming less safe, which deterred some potential patrons. In 1969, the park closed its gates. 

Of all of the defunct amusement parks in Northeast Ohio, it has the most active or repurposed rides from its days. The merry-go-round from the park can still be ridden in the Western Reserve Historical Society. Aside from the merry-go-round, some parts of kiddie ride-car vehicles also exist. 

A preservation group called the Euclid Beach Boys was formed. Their mission is to preserve the park's history and heritage. 

The creepy Laughing Sal animatronic is said to be still rented out for events—my condolences to any children who witness this nightmare in action. 

The Euclid Beach Rocket Ships was bought by Ron Heitman, who has a hobby of making custom cars and turning them into vehicles. These are usually seen at events or parties. I’ve personally ridden these guys at some events in the past. It’s more exciting than just driving in the car, though it’s going the same speed limit. A roller coaster car from Thriller received the same treatment and was also converted into a hot rod. 

The archway to the park remains standing to this day. In January 2007, however, an SUV driver crashed into it, causing damage. In June of that year, a rededication ceremony was held for the repaired archway. Of course, the rocket car was one of the attendees. 

The Humphrey Popcorn Company still sells Euclid Beach’s classic snacks, popcorn, and taffy via its website.  

Some rides were relocated to Humphery’s other amusement park, Shady Lakes, which opened in 1978 but only closed four years later. Rides that were harder to relocate were demolished with the rest of the park. The land received the Puritas Springs treatment, and the apartment complex now occupies the land named after the former park. 

At the Western Reserve Historical Society, the Carousel operates during opening hours and riders ride every 15 minutes. This is one of the two Euclid Beach attractions people can experience today. Before being home at the WRHS, it was sold to Palace Playland in Maine, where it would operate for twenty-seven years before closing and being auctioned off to Cleveland Tomorrow, where they would restore the carousel before it opened back up in 2014 at the WRHS.  There are also other rides cars and memorabilla showcased.

Another ride that is still active is Cedar Downs Racing Derby, which is now located in Cedar Point. When Euclid Beach Closed, Cedar Point purchased the ride and relocated it to the park. A plaque is dedicated to it from the National Register of Historic Places. 

While the park is no longer around, it remains beloved in the memories of Clevelanders who visited it. The pier has iron cast arches with images of rides paying homage to the park’s heyday.  The fountain's foundation remains but is filled in with sand and dirt. There are also supposedly guide wires that were used for antique cars around. Concrete footers from the Flying Turns Roller Coaster can be seen. Below is a side-by-side photo of the postcard I have of the fountain with the remains of the fountain today. 

While the rides and attractions are no longer there, many residents of the Cleveland area still visit the beach on lovely summer days. They swim in the lake like the park patrons who lived 100 years ago.