I’ve never heard it said that the Ohio Players wrote “Love Rollercoaster” about Willow Beach Amusement Park, but I’ve never not heard it, either, so maybe you can be the judge after reading this weeks’ blog post, from John Dewees and Toledo Lucas County Public Library.
Willow Beach Amusement Park was a haven for games, food, gambling, rides, and entertainment in Point Place just north of Toledo, prior to it’s annexation by the city of Toledo. The park opened in 1929 and was the work of Jimmy Hayes. Unfortunately the park had setbacks not long after opening, including the stock market crash preceding the great depression occurring just months after opening, as well as a fire in 1932, and the permanent park closure due to a death on one of the rides in 1947.
The Jokel and Lange architectural firm of Toledo, Ohio was responsible for designing the layout for Willow Beach Amusement Park, as well as the many buildings and booths that filled the grounds. The firm operated between 1925 and 1933 and designed a wide array of residential and commercial buildings in the Toledo area.
John has also created a full digital exhibit for Willow Beach Amusement Park, you can visit it here. Thanks, John!
If your library or archive would like to highlight some of the items you’ve added to DPLA, let us know!