'Erie Beach Park' existed from 1887-1930 on the north shore of Lake Erie ...a mile or so west down the shore from the old town of Fort Erie in Ontario Canada. The park catered primarily to Buffalo residents, as the owners provided a ferry service from the All America city to their own pier at the park's east end. Visitors alternately arriving by river ferry at Fort Erie town pier could ride the park's own 'Sandfly Express' railway to the entrance. From the main gate, visitors could gambol down the beautiful lakefront promenade to the various midway concessions, casino with adjacent swimming pools, roller coaster rides, elegant hotel ...and two small stadiums featuring circus acts, as well as equestrian shows.
Despite the half million dollars the owners invested in building new roller coasters and other upgraded facilities throughout the 1920's, they never realized the profits they were hoping for. The ever expanding Crystal Beach Amusement park just a few miles down the shore was drawing more and more visitors away from Erie Beach with newer and more exciting rides. Of most serious import though .. was the stock market crash of 1929, the beginning of the Great Depression...and the alarming subsequnt drop in attendance in the summer of 1930. These factors were the final death knell for Erie Beach Grove. The elegant park was closed just after Labour Day 1930, and demolished.
Click here for further reading ..and historical pictures of Erie Beach Park
Western NY Heritage Website about Erie Beach
Erie Beach Grove, September 14, 2006Photography by Phil Coman
Initially I wondered what could have possibly caused the near total destruction of the glorious promenade, in addition to the pier and lakefront ride foundations? Petty vandalism would be impossible. In fact is was caused by the decades of rising lake ice each winter crushing in with incredible force. The same rising crushing ice which destroyed the first two original forts at the site of Old Fort Erie down by the riverbank in the mid to late 1700's.
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