John Cloos wrote:

[quote]Having said that, you can see much of the collection of the streetcars and smaller interurbans that were/are stored at the Cleveland lakefront site on sites such as Flickr. Simply search for the usual,, Trolleyville, Lake Shore Electric Museum, etc.
One such search earlier this evening brought me some really interesting photos of what's apparently an abandoned amusement park in Chippewa Lake, Oh (Same person has some LSE photos). Very interesting to see an abandonded roller coaster (as one example) overgrown in the trees and weeds, especially when you consider all the vast concrete and lack of uncontrolled vegetation at a place like Great America (for example)[/quote]

The pictures you saw were of Chippewa Lake Amusement Park. It closed in 1978. In its heyday it was served by a loop track off the B&O RR (gone in the 50's) and the Cleveland, Southwestern and Columbus Interurban (until abandonment in 1931). The park property looks much different today from the photos mentioned. All the tree's and brush were cleared away this past spring. The amusement rides still stand. A developer has bought the property and is creating a mixed use development called Chippewa Landing. It is advertised to include a luxery hotel with a health spa, meeting facilities, a culinary institute, townhomes and condominiums. There are more aspects to the project that I can't recall at this time. Their web site is http://www.chippewalandingohio.com if interested. The ROW of the Northern Ohio Railway Museum ends adjacent to Chippewa Landing properties.

There is a RR connection in all this. At the former picnic grounds of the amusement park was a very old wooden Grand Trunk Caboose. It was in poor condition even before the vandals got to it. With the past year it was torched and sustained heavy damage. A couple of months ago vandals got to it again and finished the job. It was burned down to the steel frame. The Chippewa Landing organization offered it to the Northern Ohio Railway Museum for salvage. Museum volunteers are currently working to remove the arch bar trucks and other salvageable car components from the site.

Steve Heister

I recall two other things about this trolley park... from a visit in the 80s.
1) I think there was still much of the park train rails, maybe 12" gauge, in place. I wish I had the nerve to find a hole in the fence and go in to explore. The only other place like this I have experienced was House of David in Michigan.
2) It is not too far away from NORM to consider running to the park. That could be a great combination. Though there was some development that included the right of way, I don't recall any structures built on it. Having a destination for your museum ride is a good thing, I think.