Indianola Park
Status | Defunct |
---|---|
Opened | 1905 |
Closed | 1937 |
Indianola Park was a
Currently, the land, which extends from 18th Avenue to Norwich Avenue and 4th Street to Big Four Street, is occupied by the former
Location
The entrance to Indianola Park was at N 4th Street and E 19th Avenue. The park itself covered approximately 30 acres (120,000 m2) and extended north from E 18th Avenue north to E Norwich Avenue, and east from N 4th Street to Big Four Street and the railroad tracks.
History
Miles' vision
Indianola Park was established by dentist-turned-developer Charles Miles, who was president of the Summit Land Company, which developed residential neighborhoods in the former farmland across High Street from the
In its original configuration, the park featured a
In 1908, a
A year later, the park underwent major renovations. The band shell area was expanded, and a
Indianola enjoyed sustained popularity through the 1910s. Crowds as large as 10,000 flocked to the park on
Revitalization
In 1923, the park underwent a change in management. The new owners invested thousands of dollars in renovations. For weeks before opening day, advertisements trumpeted "A Greater Indianola" and "The Biggest Year of All". The dance pavilion was remodeled for The
Indianola also became much more aggressive in advertising and promotions, aiming to create "a clean and orderly park for clean and orderly people". The park gradually dropped vaudeville and band concerts. The dance pavilion orchestra was replaced with local and touring jazz bands, which were favored by flappers, with two of the most popular bands being Phil Baxter's Texas Tommies and Tom Howard’s Melody Lads.[6]
The park continued to do well into the mid-1920s. However, in 1927, the park sold its land north of E. 19th Avenue to the Columbus Board of Education for the construction of a new school, Indianola Junior High School, which opened in 1929.[10]
Reduced to just its core, the dance pavilion and the pool, Indianola stayed open into the 1930s. The Great Depression made a challenging situation even more difficult, because few people had money to spare for a day at the amusement park. However, the record hot summers of the early 1930s helped keep the park afloat during the lean years, with temperature at nearly 100 °F for weeks on end. When the hot summers passed after the 1937 season, Indianola Park closed.
Shopping center
In 1948, Indianola Park was converted into Indianola Park Shopping Center, and the pool was filled in and paved over for a parking lot. The former dance pavilion became an Ohio Giant Market, and a dozen or so other shops and restaurants were built around its perimeters by 1952, such as a
With the influx of students at the end of the
In 2006,
Attractions
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In the 1910s, the Columbus Panhandles played at Indianola Park.
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This is the pool of Indianola Park, as viewed from the southwest.[15]
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In 1909, the park was its largest size.[4]
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There were multiple roller coasters.[16]
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The Dance Pavilion is the only part of the park still standing today.[17]
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Scenic railroads were popular at the time.[16]
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The park had a carousel.[16]
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The Seaplane Swing was a favorite.[16]
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There was a massive picnic area, with streams and bridges.[18]
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The band shell had various famous acts in its day.[19]
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The Ingersoll was the "smoothest and fastest" roller coaster in existence.[9]
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The Thriller was a roller coaster at the park.[9]
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Circus acts and diving horses were popular.[20]
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Indianola Park had a large swimming pool and a notable dancing hall.[21]
See also
- Olentangy Park
- Minerva Park
References
- ^ Indianola Park: "Entrance"
- ^ Indianola Park
- ^ a b c Indianola Park: "1905"
- ^ a b c d e f Indianola Park: "1910s" (page 2)
- ^ a b The Coffin Corner: "The Panhandles: Last of the Sandlotters" Archived May 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Indianola Park: "1920s"
- ^ a b c Indianola Park: "2007"
- ^ a b Google Maps: "Indianola Shopping Center"
- ^ a b c Indianola Park: "Roller Coasters"
- ^ a b Indianola Park: "1929"
- ^ Indianola Park: "1948"
- ^ Indianola Park: "1968"
- ^ Indianola Park: "1998"
- ^ Indianola Park: "1929" (page 2)
- ^ a b Indianola Park: "1908"
- ^ a b c d Indianola Park: "Amusements"
- ^ Indianola Park: "Dance Pavilion"
- ^ Indianola Park: "Picnic Grounds"
- ^ Indianola Park: "Band Shell"
- ^ Indianola Park: "Entertainment"
- ^ Indianola Park: "1910s" (page 1)