Euclid Beach Park ran 74 seasons on Lake Erie — taxes and losses ended it

Euclid Beach Park opened in 1895 beside Lake Erie in Cleveland, and from 1901 it was run by the Humphrey family, who took over the lease at $12,000 a year after earlier management had lost money. Their formula was 'one fare, free gate and no beer' — a wholesome family park whose popcorn and taffy became famous in their own right. In 1924 it added the Thriller, a $90,000 Philadelphia Toboggan coaster that ran until the final day.

By the 1960s the numbers turned. Property taxes on the lakefront site were too high relative to revenue, crowds were shrinking as recreation habits changed, and the park lost money for at least five consecutive seasons. In 1965 the family demolished the Aero Dips coaster and sold the Great American Racing Derby to stay open; the cuts were not enough.

On 28 September 1969 Euclid Beach Park closed permanently after 74 seasons. Smaller rides were moved to Shady Lake Park, a short-lived successor the Humphreys ran in Portage County, and the lakefront site was sold to developers. The funhouse burned in a December 1971 fire, and apartment blocks and a trailer park eventually covered most of the grounds.