Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. It was an opening day. Ribin was cut. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. A postcard of what it was like in the Casino edition of the rink at the Crystal Beach Amusement Park. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. A postcard of what it was like in the Casino edition of the rink at the Crystal Beach Amusement Park. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. A postcard of what it was like in the Casino edition of the rink at the Crystal Beach Amusement Park. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. A postcard of what it was like in the Casino edition of the rink at the Crystal Beach Amusement Park. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. The map of what it was like in 1915 The new Crystal Gardens was not yet built. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. The map of the park in 1948. Big difference than the 1915 which was just the beginning. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. Postcard. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. The roller rink served as dance floor as well at the Crystal Gardens. Noticed a familiar stool on the edge of the rink? That was an Usher/Floor Guard stool. The stage is seen in this photo on the right. This place really lit up well during the day because of huge windows. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. Big bands played and big names as well. The band in session was the Jimmy Dulio Band. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. Big bands played and big names as well. Recognize them? The well-knowns were at a Jazz Jam Session, a Jazz music festival going on. From Left to Right: Coleman Hawkins, Jack Jenny, Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Harry James, Bunny Berigan, and Count Basie. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. Sometimes before demolished. At the height of the park. The old Crystal Gardens Ballroom/Rink and the Casino are shown. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. Sometimes before demolished. The old Crystal Gardens Ballroom/Rink. Source: Vermillion Ohio History.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH. Today view of former Crystal Gardens. Source: Google.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens) Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Vermillon, OH
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino and Crystal Gardens) was located at Crystal Beach Amusement Park in Vermillon, Ohio. It was part of the amusement park. The location would be comparative at 4700 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion, Ohio.
First the history background on this park. Native Americans settled in this area at one time, but were forced out. Twice. Then the Americans settled in the area. Then a farm was set by the shores in this area until 1874, pioneer farmer George Shadduck decided to transform his 23 acre farm on the shores of beautiful Lake Erie from cow pasture into a picturesque public picnic grove and a beach. It was becoming a park.
Because of the popularity of this basic recreation facility, George soon added a beer garden, gaming devices, and a dance hall. The dance hall was just very basic small design with just a Hip roof and the capacity was small.
But in 1902, an local businessman, George H. Blanchat, purchased the property with the intention of an expansion. It is said that when George and his wife, Josephine had an inspection of the property. Josephine took up a handful of sand from the beach taking notice of its crystal-like qualities of the sand as it ran through her fingers. So, on May 30, 1907 the Crystal Beach Park opened for business.
As time went along, they added a carousel, shooting gallery, ice cream parlor, boat rental and landing, a bowling alley, a bigger refreshment facility, a Shoot-a-Chute ride, were added to the park.
On the night of April 20, 1947, a fire destroyed the two-story pavilion housing the roller-skating rink, penny arcade, refreshment stand, and several other rides located at the back, or northern part, of the park. But by July 4th of the same year a new single-story building housing the arcade and refreshment stand was built to replace the one lost in the fire. Roller-skating activities were moved to the Crystal Gardens facility.
James M. Ryan, Blanchat's son-in-law, had assumed management of the park after Mr. Blanchat passed away in 1938. When Mrs. Blanchat died in 1952, park ownership passed to her daughters, Thelma and Eleanor. Ten years later they sold the park land to the Crystal Development Corporation, headed by Vermilionite James M. Fisher.
In November of 1962 20 frame buildings, rides, and equipment belonging to the Crystal Park were sold at auction. Over 700 people withstood the cold and rain to witness auctioneer Jim Wagner sell the midway rides and concessions. Paul J. Kopsch, then Lorain County Coroner, purchased the shooting gallery complete with targets, and pumpguns. But Francis Dean, a former mayor of Vermilion-On-The-Lake, captured the big prize - Crystal's big coaster.
Built at a cost of perhaps $50,000 in 1928 the estimated cost of building the ride in 1962 was around $250,000. Mr. Dean paid a whopping $400 for the ride, a four room cottage, and 12 of the coaster's cars. Dean dismantled the coaster and sold the wood for building purposes, and the iron for scrap. The electric motor for the ride fetched $900. His son, Dr. Norman Dean, recently wrote me to say, "It was a fluke that Dad got the roller coaster for $400. The lawyers who came to buy it did not bring cash, a stipulation of the auction."
And that was the end of the Crystal Beach. For a time plans were in the works to remodel the ballroom that had been the site of, perhaps, a million love stories, and make it into a summer theater for the community but that failed.
It became an apartment complex and where the former Crystal Gardens used to be, it is now a Key Bank.
Original location in Casino building--
The Interior.
It is said it had Maple hardwood floor on the second floor of the old Casino building. Accessible by stairs above Concession and other means.
The Exterior.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built/Renovations: N/A. Demolished: April 20, 1947 due to a fire. moved skating to the Crystal Gardens as they rebuilt the new one story Casino.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood Trusses wood-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Hip..
Replacement at the Crystal Gardens --
The Interior.
It was equally amount of space between the rink overall floor square footage as it was to the entire Crystal Gardens building to accommodate 2,000 dancers on the floor as they would off the floor as well. it had a stage for the orchestra playing. It was a night club feel interior with a lot of windows wrapped around the building. It was unique in design. Similar concept of design to that of another competing amusement park roller rink, the Coliseum in the same state, Ohio.
It had only steel pipe style rails separating the roller rink floor from off the floor. There were no supporting bars under the main rail top! Anyone would fall close would fall through under the rail easily. They did not think of safety at the time which can injure other skaters off the floor or severely injured the fallen skater under if you get my drift. I am trying to keep this rated G here.
This photograph I see of the rink had nice Maple hardwood floor, non-painted, in Log Cabin layout. Looks pretty large and the building itself too.
I did see they even had floor guard chair there! Yes, right by the entrance/exit of the main roller/dance floor. yes, they had ballroom dancing at the facility as well.
The Exterior.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built/Renovations: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Unique.
Acres: 22.5000 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1874 to end of season/November 1962..
The Park of a Thousand Trees: 1874 to May 30, 1907. (Non-skating)
Crystal Beach Amusement Park: May 30, 1907 to 1967. (Non-Skating, the park itsefl)
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino): May 30, 1907 to April 20, 1947.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens): April 20, 1947 to November 1962.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
The Park of a Thousand Trees: Sold to George H. Blanchat
Crystal Beach Amusement Park: Went out of business.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino): Fire in April 1947
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens): Went out of business.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Vermilion Photo Journalist - Crystal Beach Amusement Park.
Morning Journal - Crystal Beach Amusement Park,
Morning Journal - webcapture.
Main Street Vermilion - Postcard.
Vermilion Ohio - Crystal Beach.
Date of issue: 26 July 2021.
For office use only: 15p.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
First the history background on this park. Native Americans settled in this area at one time, but were forced out. Twice. Then the Americans settled in the area. Then a farm was set by the shores in this area until 1874, pioneer farmer George Shadduck decided to transform his 23 acre farm on the shores of beautiful Lake Erie from cow pasture into a picturesque public picnic grove and a beach. It was becoming a park.
Because of the popularity of this basic recreation facility, George soon added a beer garden, gaming devices, and a dance hall. The dance hall was just very basic small design with just a Hip roof and the capacity was small.
But in 1902, an local businessman, George H. Blanchat, purchased the property with the intention of an expansion. It is said that when George and his wife, Josephine had an inspection of the property. Josephine took up a handful of sand from the beach taking notice of its crystal-like qualities of the sand as it ran through her fingers. So, on May 30, 1907 the Crystal Beach Park opened for business.
As time went along, they added a carousel, shooting gallery, ice cream parlor, boat rental and landing, a bowling alley, a bigger refreshment facility, a Shoot-a-Chute ride, were added to the park.
On the night of April 20, 1947, a fire destroyed the two-story pavilion housing the roller-skating rink, penny arcade, refreshment stand, and several other rides located at the back, or northern part, of the park. But by July 4th of the same year a new single-story building housing the arcade and refreshment stand was built to replace the one lost in the fire. Roller-skating activities were moved to the Crystal Gardens facility.
James M. Ryan, Blanchat's son-in-law, had assumed management of the park after Mr. Blanchat passed away in 1938. When Mrs. Blanchat died in 1952, park ownership passed to her daughters, Thelma and Eleanor. Ten years later they sold the park land to the Crystal Development Corporation, headed by Vermilionite James M. Fisher.
In November of 1962 20 frame buildings, rides, and equipment belonging to the Crystal Park were sold at auction. Over 700 people withstood the cold and rain to witness auctioneer Jim Wagner sell the midway rides and concessions. Paul J. Kopsch, then Lorain County Coroner, purchased the shooting gallery complete with targets, and pumpguns. But Francis Dean, a former mayor of Vermilion-On-The-Lake, captured the big prize - Crystal's big coaster.
Built at a cost of perhaps $50,000 in 1928 the estimated cost of building the ride in 1962 was around $250,000. Mr. Dean paid a whopping $400 for the ride, a four room cottage, and 12 of the coaster's cars. Dean dismantled the coaster and sold the wood for building purposes, and the iron for scrap. The electric motor for the ride fetched $900. His son, Dr. Norman Dean, recently wrote me to say, "It was a fluke that Dad got the roller coaster for $400. The lawyers who came to buy it did not bring cash, a stipulation of the auction."
And that was the end of the Crystal Beach. For a time plans were in the works to remodel the ballroom that had been the site of, perhaps, a million love stories, and make it into a summer theater for the community but that failed.
It became an apartment complex and where the former Crystal Gardens used to be, it is now a Key Bank.
Original location in Casino building--
The Interior.
It is said it had Maple hardwood floor on the second floor of the old Casino building. Accessible by stairs above Concession and other means.
The Exterior.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built/Renovations: N/A. Demolished: April 20, 1947 due to a fire. moved skating to the Crystal Gardens as they rebuilt the new one story Casino.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood Trusses wood-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Hip..
Replacement at the Crystal Gardens --
The Interior.
It was equally amount of space between the rink overall floor square footage as it was to the entire Crystal Gardens building to accommodate 2,000 dancers on the floor as they would off the floor as well. it had a stage for the orchestra playing. It was a night club feel interior with a lot of windows wrapped around the building. It was unique in design. Similar concept of design to that of another competing amusement park roller rink, the Coliseum in the same state, Ohio.
It had only steel pipe style rails separating the roller rink floor from off the floor. There were no supporting bars under the main rail top! Anyone would fall close would fall through under the rail easily. They did not think of safety at the time which can injure other skaters off the floor or severely injured the fallen skater under if you get my drift. I am trying to keep this rated G here.
This photograph I see of the rink had nice Maple hardwood floor, non-painted, in Log Cabin layout. Looks pretty large and the building itself too.
I did see they even had floor guard chair there! Yes, right by the entrance/exit of the main roller/dance floor. yes, they had ballroom dancing at the facility as well.
The Exterior.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built/Renovations: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Unique.
Acres: 22.5000 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1874 to end of season/November 1962..
The Park of a Thousand Trees: 1874 to May 30, 1907. (Non-skating)
Crystal Beach Amusement Park: May 30, 1907 to 1967. (Non-Skating, the park itsefl)
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino): May 30, 1907 to April 20, 1947.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens): April 20, 1947 to November 1962.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
The Park of a Thousand Trees: Sold to George H. Blanchat
Crystal Beach Amusement Park: Went out of business.
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Casino): Fire in April 1947
Crystal Beach Roller Rink (Crystal Gardens): Went out of business.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Vermilion Photo Journalist - Crystal Beach Amusement Park.
Morning Journal - Crystal Beach Amusement Park,
Morning Journal - webcapture.
Main Street Vermilion - Postcard.
Vermilion Ohio - Crystal Beach.
Date of issue: 26 July 2021.
For office use only: 15p.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.