THE FORMER SITE OF CRYSTAL BEACH PARK
Crystal Beach Park opened for the first of its 56 seasons on Decoration Day (now referred to as Memorial Day) Thursday May 30, 1907. The 42 ½ acres had been owned by the George Shadduck family since 1854. It was at one time a stagecoach stop and later became a popular picnic grove for an ever growing number of visitors.
The founders of Crystal Beach Park were George and Josephine Blanchat. They purchased the property in 1906. The twenty-two and a half acres along Lake Erie developed into the amusement park.
The twenty acres south along the roadway, where the shopping center is today, was the parking lot. The name of the park is attributed to Josephine Blanchat. This occurred when on a walk along the beach with her husband she had picked up a handful of sand and remarked, “It looks like crystal.”
Crystal Beach Park started with just a beer garden that later was turned into a dining hall. A carousel and shooting gallery completed the earlier attractions. Over the years a variety of other rides and concessions were added. There were popular rides like the Thriller, Tumble Bug, Dodgem. Ferris Wheel, Loop-O-Plane, Kiddie Rides, Left in the Dark and Rocket Ships. The park hosted at one time or another as many as 15-20 rides. A midway of concession games, a miniature 18 hole golf course, and for a time Jungle Larry’s Safari, offered other sources of enjoyment.]
During the big band era of the 1930’s through the 1950’s such band leaders as Tommy Dorsey, Stan Kenton, Guy Lumbardo, Gene Krupa, Louis Armstrong, Duke Elington, Les Brown with Doris Day, Vaughn Monroe, Sammy Kaya, Cab Calloway, Xavier Cugal, Ray Anthonly, Ralph Flanagan, and Woody Harman, performed before large audiences at the Crystal Beach ballroom. Singing groups such as the Everly Brothers, Four Freshmen, Four Lads and Kingston Trio later joined the list of famous entertainers.
Following the passing of George and Josephine Blanchat the ownership of the park was taken over by their daughters Thelma and Eleanor. With their husbands Jim Calvert and Jimmy Ryan (manager), and the grandchildren Marlene Calvert (Feldkamp), and Calvert (Mueller) and Tom Ryan the operation of a family owned park would continue until it was sold in 1962.
Dedicated to all those who worked at and remember Crystal Beach Park.
There is quite a bit written about Crystal Beach and here are a few links for you to explore.
There are loads of great photos here: https://www.vermilionohio.org/crystalbeach.html
And check out the coaster: https://www.vermilionhistory.org/articles/params/post/1762852/the-history-of-crystal-beach-park
Enjoy some memories of Crystal Beach: https://www.morningjournal.com/2007/08/05/memories-of-crystal-beach-of-vermilions-famous-park-from-1907-to-1962/
And there was a roller rink!: https://rink-history.weebly.com/crystal-beach-roller-rink-crystal-gardens-crystal-beach-amusement-park-vermillon-oh.html
Memories of Crystal Beach Park, Vermilion, Ohio Hardcover – September 1, 2007
English Edition by Sandra Calvert Mueller (Author), Marlene Calvert Feldkamp (Author), Tom Ryan (Author)
Recognize those names? Book is available on Amazon.