Milton Gardens Craig's Amusement Park, Grandview Drive at Craig Drive, Lake Milton, OH. Postcard showing Craig Beach and the Milton Gardens in the watercolor photograph likely taken in 1920s. Source: Lakewood Park Charlette.
Milton Gardens Craig's Amusement Park, Grandview Drive at Craig Drive, Lake Milton, OH. Taken in 1950. Source: USGS.
Milton Gardens Craig's Amusement Park, Grandview Drive at Craig Drive, Lake Milton, OH. Dino had his start at age 17 to sing but professionally was much later according to Wikipedia. Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Milton Gardens Craig's Amusement Park, Grandview Drive at Craig Drive, Lake Milton, OH. . Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Milton Gardens Craig's Amusement Park, Grandview Drive at Craig Drive, Lake Milton, OH. Taken in 2021. Source: Google.
Milton Gardens Craig's Amusement Park
Grandview Drive at Craig Drive, Lake Milton, OH
Grandview Drive at Craig Drive, Lake Milton, OH
Milton Gardens was a roller rink in Lake Milton, Ohio. No address was available. But it was on a man-made lake, Lake Milton that the town, Youngtown (named after a couple who settled there in 1797 and returned back home due to homesickness in 1803). They had their home by the bank of the Mahoning River where Lake Milton is now). Other settlers came and they knew the Youngs lived there and that is how the name is from. The Youngs were from New York (State or City, we do not know).
Later, Youngtown purchased 3,416 acres in Milton Township in 1910 to construct a reservoir to be used as a water supply. So they built a 2,800-foot dam in 1913 impounding 1,640 acres on the Mahoning River. Lake Milton had a small 8 acres amusement park at Craig Beach with a swimming beach, roller coaster, boat trips and a busy midway.
Nearby were taverns, and residential neighborhood. It is not clear if the skating rink shared the same building as the ballroom. If it was, then it was true it was called Milton Gardens which refer as ballroom skating rink, a duel purpose center that were often more true than not at many amusement parks back the day. Some amusement parks in Ohio had dual purpose buildings including rink and ballroom under same roof. It is my opinion that it was the one and the same.
It is said that the rink closed, it became a bingo hall for the American Legion and then they closed the hall and now, it is filled with condos according to City-Data.
I believe the rink was declining along with the amusement park and the ballroom. Both the ballroom and the rink was on one side and the amusement park on the other side.
Interesting to note that it was the spot in the ballroom where Dino Paul Crocetti, the noted member of the Rat Pack of its day had his start. Known to you as Dean Martin. Legend has said that it was Dino's friends encouraged him to sing at the Ballroom and this was where it all began that he was a popular and excellent singer and went on to greener pastures to become a Rat Pack member along with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Peter Lawford, as well as Joey Bishop.
They changed hands of ownership a few times especially in 1950s leading to its closure in 1966 when they sold off rides to other surviving amusement parks. But the ballroom-roller rink survived to early 1970s then it became a Bingo Hall for the American Legion then they sold and demolish it to become condos which is still there today along with the two markers.
The Interior.
Likely Maple wood floor. Designed for ballroom-roller rink.
The Exterior.
Appeared from the postcard that it had Fire Engine Red Hip Roof with Bonnet roof. It also had White walls. I am sure of the structure if it was all wood or cinderblocks. Anyone?
It sat at the amusement park, the Craig Beach Amusement Park which was Ward Craig's 8 acres farm.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built/Renovations: 1920/1970s Demolished: 1970s. Now Condos.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood or Steel Trusses Wood or Cinderblocks - Walled Ballroom - like Building.
Roof: Hip with Bonnet Roof style.
Acres: ~ 8.000 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1920 to early 1970s.
Reason for Closure: Declining attendance.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/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:
Historical Aerial
Ohio Department of Natural Resources - The two Markers.
Craig Beach Village - Marker and info about town.
Lakewood Park Charlotte - Has a postcard about Craigs Beach Amusement park and the rink shown in postcard.
Wikipedia - Dino
Ohio State Parks - About Milton Lake/Craig Beach.
Date of issue: 28 August 2021.
For office use only: 6
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
Later, Youngtown purchased 3,416 acres in Milton Township in 1910 to construct a reservoir to be used as a water supply. So they built a 2,800-foot dam in 1913 impounding 1,640 acres on the Mahoning River. Lake Milton had a small 8 acres amusement park at Craig Beach with a swimming beach, roller coaster, boat trips and a busy midway.
Nearby were taverns, and residential neighborhood. It is not clear if the skating rink shared the same building as the ballroom. If it was, then it was true it was called Milton Gardens which refer as ballroom skating rink, a duel purpose center that were often more true than not at many amusement parks back the day. Some amusement parks in Ohio had dual purpose buildings including rink and ballroom under same roof. It is my opinion that it was the one and the same.
It is said that the rink closed, it became a bingo hall for the American Legion and then they closed the hall and now, it is filled with condos according to City-Data.
I believe the rink was declining along with the amusement park and the ballroom. Both the ballroom and the rink was on one side and the amusement park on the other side.
Interesting to note that it was the spot in the ballroom where Dino Paul Crocetti, the noted member of the Rat Pack of its day had his start. Known to you as Dean Martin. Legend has said that it was Dino's friends encouraged him to sing at the Ballroom and this was where it all began that he was a popular and excellent singer and went on to greener pastures to become a Rat Pack member along with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Peter Lawford, as well as Joey Bishop.
They changed hands of ownership a few times especially in 1950s leading to its closure in 1966 when they sold off rides to other surviving amusement parks. But the ballroom-roller rink survived to early 1970s then it became a Bingo Hall for the American Legion then they sold and demolish it to become condos which is still there today along with the two markers.
The Interior.
Likely Maple wood floor. Designed for ballroom-roller rink.
The Exterior.
Appeared from the postcard that it had Fire Engine Red Hip Roof with Bonnet roof. It also had White walls. I am sure of the structure if it was all wood or cinderblocks. Anyone?
It sat at the amusement park, the Craig Beach Amusement Park which was Ward Craig's 8 acres farm.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built/Renovations: 1920/1970s Demolished: 1970s. Now Condos.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood or Steel Trusses Wood or Cinderblocks - Walled Ballroom - like Building.
Roof: Hip with Bonnet Roof style.
Acres: ~ 8.000 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1920 to early 1970s.
Reason for Closure: Declining attendance.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/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:
Historical Aerial
Ohio Department of Natural Resources - The two Markers.
Craig Beach Village - Marker and info about town.
Lakewood Park Charlotte - Has a postcard about Craigs Beach Amusement park and the rink shown in postcard.
Wikipedia - Dino
Ohio State Parks - About Milton Lake/Craig Beach.
Date of issue: 28 August 2021.
For office use only: 6
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.