Russell Wintner, owner of Cleveland's Memphis Kiddie Park, dies at 70

If you grew up in Cleveland, you knew this place. I'm not sure, but it may be where I had my first roller coaster ride.

They still have that Herschel ride I think.
We lived on the west side when I was in grade school and I was considered “too old” for Kiddie Park and as a result I never went. My dad made it clear that our yearly trip was to Cedar Point and as a result acted as if other regional parks (Euclid Beach, Geauga, Conneaut, Chippewa etc) didn’t exist.
I eventually found the way to most of them on my own, but Kiddieland is a park credit I’m still missing.

It was certainly my first rollercoaster ride.
That’s me on the right at 3 1/2 years old with my 2 year old brother & father.

I've got a similar photo somewhere. And also a similar photo with my daughter riding that ride.

If there's a photo of me, it's from the 70's, and probably lost to film. I know I had been to the park very young, as it was less than ten minutes from where I grew up. But what I can't tell you for sure is whether that or the coaster at Shady Lake across town was my first. As I recall going to Shady Lake with my stepfather (age 6+), it had to be the Memphis ride first.

Grew up at the place as well, before upgrading to Geauga Lake. Still live about 10 minutes away from it and happy it has been able to remain open throughout the years. Last time I was physically there was for some ACE event that had a combined MKP/GL event.

Jeff:
Shady Lake across town was my first

Shady Lake unfortunately had a really short period of operation, 78-82. (https://www.wrhs.org/blog/s...en-and-now) I was there once, but that was it. Too bad, as it might have been a real nice place had it survived a bit longer.

Wasn’t Shady Lake what became of some of the flats from Euclid Beach?
I always wanted to go there but never bothered.

RCMAC:
Wasn’t Shady Lake what became of some of the flats from Euclid Beach?

Yep. Many of the flats from Euclid Beach went there, including the Sleepy Hollow Express. I was there once as a kid, and it was fun. Small but fun. Unfortunately, the sad part is when the park closed, the rides were sold to Old Indiana, and we know what happened there.

As an East Sider, I never went here and didn't even know of its existence until I was an adult. I did all of my riding and ride graduations in house at Geauga Lake. And it looks like the old school Rainbow Island area at GL I grew up with is comparable to the offerings here.

I just looked at the website and I love the fact that admission is free and ride tickets never expire. It looks like a wonderful place for what it is, and I'm so glad it's survived into the 21st century.