I am unsure where to post this. This isn't exactly a trip report, but it is about trips I take in the winter months. I have this new hobby. In the winter months, when all the parks around here are closed, I like to visit the defunct parks in this region. Today, I visited the site of Terrapin Park in Parkersburg, WV. The only thing left of the park is a hole in the ground that once held the park's lake. If someone was to go on the property(The Parkersburg YWCA is here), they may never know it was an amusement park because(other than the hole in the ground) there are no traces of the park left. The lake bed is surrounded by trees, but it is still there. When the dam that held the lake was broken(intentionally) back in 1917, a small stream was left behind and is still there there today. I have also checked out Moxahala Park(Zanesville, Ohio), Excelsior Park(Wheelersburg, Ohio), Millbrook Park(New Boston, Ohio), Coney Island(South Shore, KY), Cliffside Park(Ashland, KY), Chippewa Lake(Medina Ohio) and Olentangy Park(Columbus, Ohio). In checking out these lost fun spots, I have never went onto private property without first getting permission. I encourage all of you to visit the locations of defunct parks in you area if you have the time. When doing so, remember, do not go onto private property without permission. Some guy posted about on one of these discussion goups about going into Chippewa Lake and said it was illegal tresspassing. Folks this is not cool, this is stupid and it shows no respect for these old parks that are gone forever.
Darren Mullins
http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/bluestreak
