The Ludlow Lagoon Is A Long Forgotten Amusement Park Near Cincinnati

Cincinnati is a popular destination for those who love amusement parks, and we are lucky to live in a city that has so many entertaining destinations. If you love thrill rides, head to Kings Island. If you’re into nostalgic fun, Carol Ann’s Carousel is a whirlin’ good time! And if you enjoy a hidden gem, check out Stricker’s Grove. These parks are all still operating today, but our area used to have others that were just as popular back in the day. Just across the river in Ludlow, KY, the Ludlow Lagoon was a beautiful amusement park destination that was innovative in many ways and once was one of the most popular in the world.

As the 19th century came to a close, and the World's Fair in Chicago wrapped up in 1893, inspiration was drawn to build an innovative amusement park right here near Cincinnati. The Ludlow Lagoon was a popular attraction from 1895 to 1917, but you'll be hard pressed to find any evidence of it today.

The Ludlow Lagoon was modeled after the structures from the World's Fair and was truly a scenic place to stroll around. It had a manicured, park-like setting, the buildings had electricity, and the midway had a plethora of games and food.

The park was named after the 85-acre manmade lake that was its main feature. The Lagoon was available for boating - both small and large boats - and made for stunning scenery throughout the park.

The boathouse was situated on the water so visitors could take advantage of the Lagoon. It's quite remarkable to think that this large lake was eventually filled in and that homes and businesses now stand on the same land.

The park was popular with locals and travelers alike and saw as many as 75,000 guests in one weekend. There are stories of visitors arriving in downtown Cincinnati and taking a trolley across the bridge to the amusement park.

Aside from the Lagoon, another main feature was the innovative Automobile Aerial Road. In photos, this looks like a roller coaster, but it was actually tracks on which to drive a car up and down rolling hills. This was an exciting ride at the time, and it was a favorite long before the classic car ride at Kings Island was ever created.

As wonderful as the park was, it dealt with quite a few setbacks. In 1913, a flood caused major damage to the park and the city of Ludlow. Two years later, in 1915, the park was nearly destroyed by a tornado. Evidence of that disaster can be seen in the photo below.

As if that wasn't enough, a horrific motorcycle accident during a performance caused the deaths of nine people. The final straw occurred during Prohibition when the park could no longer sell alcohol. It closed its doors in 1918 and almost all of the buildings have been destroyed since.

The story of the Ludlow Lagoon is fascinating, especially since many never even realized it existed. You can learn even more and see more images in the following video:

It’s so interesting to think about what other long-gone destinations that were once popular with locals that are now buried beneath the streets of Cincinnati and the surrounding area. Who knows what people living 100 years from now will think of Kings Island? Did you know about the Ludlow Lagoon? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

And if you want to go check out the historic town of Ludlow, be sure to stop for a bite here, a riverfront restaurant featured in a previous article.

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The Long Forgotten Cincinnati Amusement Park That Was Once The Most Popular In The World

Andrea Limke

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