Boatman55
15 posts
Mar 27, 2015
8:23 AM
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One of my favorite memories of living in Dayton in the 60's was our annual trip to Russells Point, OH to Indian Lake. Does anyone remember the Amusement Park. It was a very old park with a walk bridge that took you from the rides and such across a channel to a Pavilion where they had live bands and dancing. It started downhill in the early 70's due to competition from Cedar Point and eventually Kings Island, but the real kiss of death was a bunch of troublemakers that would come up there on the 4th of July and cause major problems, and in some years small riots. They destroyed a wonderful place to go and have fun.
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tlturbo
650 posts
Mar 27, 2015
9:08 AM
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Most definitely. But I think the 4th of July stuff started in the mid 60's. We went up for that a few times around 67-68. I remember the park well. Big wooden rollercoaster on the right and the carousel on the left. They had a ride across the canal that I rode once and said never again. It had a center post with two pendulums hanging down with a car at the bottom. The whole post rotated and the pendulums swung up and down and the car at the end rotated. You were going many directions at the same time and it really bounced you around inside. I'll ride anything but that was the only ride I said Never Again. We also used to take my ski boat up there for the weekend and sevral times went to the dances at the pavilion. Agree, those small parks were great fun. These mega parks are so cold. I also loved Lesourdsvelle Lake. Kings Island killed that one.
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1987 Buick GN
Last Edited by tlturbo on Mar 27, 2015 9:08 AM
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Daytongirl01
67 posts
Mar 27, 2015
2:53 PM
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Tlturbo, I'm with you about the rollercoaster...I was about 14 and my little cousin was 9 or so and we talked my dad into getting on it with us....WOW...as you said never again. She almost flew out, under the bar across the seat..the sounds the old thing made was enough to make you scream for HELP... My dad, in his wisdom, warned us about going on it...but OH NO we had to go, NEVER AGAIN. We loved all the other stuff though, especially the cotton candy and popcorn, game stands..what a good memory of the place.
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tlturbo
651 posts
Mar 28, 2015
6:11 AM
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Daytongirl - I think you mis-interpreted me. I loved the roller coaster - it was that OTHER ride that I said NEVER AHAIN. To this day, I'll ride any coaster I can find.
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1987 Buick GN
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Daytongirl01
68 posts
Mar 28, 2015
8:18 AM
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Hey tlturbo, you're right, I re-read your post...sorry, I should have read slower or closer one or the other. Thanks for the correction.
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tlturbo
653 posts
Mar 28, 2015
9:44 AM
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Wink wink
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1987 Buick GN
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tlturbo
654 posts
Mar 28, 2015
9:49 AM
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Check this out. https://www.google.ca/search?q=indian+lake+amusement+park&lr&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&imgil=_Q5o6jadOGKaGM%253A%253BpROp5zFbEgwuoM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Findianlakearea.com%25252FIndian-Lake-History.htm&source=iu&pf=m&fir=_Q5o6jadOGKaGM%253A%252CpROp5zFbEgwuoM%252C_&usg=__4GXlFOzZFKRmzSuwBcmG_nwMJV4%3D&biw=1600&bih=754&ved=0CCgQyjc&ei=pNoWVaHvKZPdsASdvoHwCw#imgrc=_Q5o6jadOGKaGM%253A%3BpROp5zFbEgwuoM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Findianlakearea.com%252Fimages%252Fhistory%252Fil01.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Findianlakearea.com%252FIndian-Lake-History.htm%3B372%3B224
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1987 Buick GN
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ketteringken
16 posts
Apr 20, 2015
7:58 AM
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I moved from kettering to indian lake in the 70s the bridge you were refurring to is still there. I worked for the power company and got the opportunity to take pictures of the old rides including the rollercoaster.
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Nile
181 posts
Apr 20, 2015
5:15 PM
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I have a story about Russell's Point. I moved to the Chicago area in 1970 and did not do any kind of checking before I made a tour of the Dayton area to reminisce. This was in 1985, or so and my wife is not from the area. I pumped her up about Russell's Point. I talked about so much like, "We are gonna have a good time at Russell's Point", and all that. When we got there, all that was left was a metal rocket ship that was about 8 feet tall and was part of the entrance gate to the park. It was painted red and blue; remember that? We were so disappointed, I think more my wife than me. I went to an antique shop there and asked the lady clerk there, "What happened?" She told me of the waning years when the park just sat with the rides in there and the kids going in there and the graffiti and the drinking and the fires. I said, "I am so sorry it is gone". She said, "I'm glad it's gone." It was like a magnet for kids to in there and the devilment and the drugs etc. What a source of fun for me when I was a kid. My parents would take me up there; what fun. But, life and times change.
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RicMan
2 posts
Apr 29, 2015
8:03 AM
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Hey Boatman55 I remember going up there with my Nana Suzzi Mantia in the 1960s up to her Maple Street cottage, The Amusement Park, Antonio's Restaurant and yes the troubles and little riots... I miss you Nana in heaven!
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