Crystal Beach, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Crystal Beach is a community within Fort Erie, Ontario
with a population of 3,800. It was named for the "crystal-clear" water conditions present when it was founded on the northeast shore of Lake Erie
, across from Buffalo.
Crystal Beach Amusement Park occupied waterfront land within Crystal Beach from 1888 until the park's closure in 1989. The property was once a health spa whose buildings were sited near and on a natural sand dune fifty feet high and 1,200 feet long parallel to the shore. Part of the dune was excavated to open up land for the spa. In 1888, the spa was replaced by the amusement park, which has since itself been replaced by Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club, a gated community
.
first opened in 1888, steamboats shuttled patrons from nearby Buffalo, New York
to and from the park. At its peak in the 1940s and early 1950s, the park had about 20,000 visitors daily throughout the summer, from Memorial Day through Labour Day. Boat service connected the city with the park until 1956. The main passenger vessels used for these journeys were called the Canadiana
and the Americana, each of which could carry 3,000 passengers per trip. The Ontario Southern Railway also provided a short-lived connection between the park and the mainline rail station at Ridgeway. This service consisted of a unique elevated monorail style train, and ran for only three summers from 1896 through 1898.
The park was famous for the Crystal Beach Cyclone
, which was built in 1927. The Cyclone was an intense roller coaster
with a full time nurse on-hand to revive passengers who had passed out during the ride. In 1946, high operating costs forced the Cyclone to close. Many of the materials from the Cyclone were reused in the construction of the Comet.
Following the park's closing in 1989, the Comet was moved to The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom
in Queensbury, New York
where it still operates today. A roller coaster known as the Silver Comet has been built at Martin's Fantasy Island
in nearby Grand Island, New York
with a loading platform and signage similar to the original Crystal Beach Comet. The Ferris wheel
from the park remains in operation at Centreville Amusement Park
in Toronto, Ontario.
that at one time served the Canadiana and Americana remains in a state of disrepair, and is currently owned by the Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club development.
Crystal Beach is still a popular vacation and second-home area. The town of Fort Erie operates a free public beach directly adjacent to and to the west of the Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club and Crystal Beach Hill. West of the public beach are private homes, as well as frontage owned by the Bay Beach Association, which provides beach access for a membership fee. Crystal Beach Waterfront Park is a municipally-owned park with a publicly accessible boat-launch and picnic area immediately east of the Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club.
Fort Erie, Ontario
Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly across the river from Buffalo, New York....
with a population of 3,800. It was named for the "crystal-clear" water conditions present when it was founded on the northeast shore of Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
, across from Buffalo.
Crystal Beach Amusement Park occupied waterfront land within Crystal Beach from 1888 until the park's closure in 1989. The property was once a health spa whose buildings were sited near and on a natural sand dune fifty feet high and 1,200 feet long parallel to the shore. Part of the dune was excavated to open up land for the spa. In 1888, the spa was replaced by the amusement park, which has since itself been replaced by Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club, a gated community
Gated community
In its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
.
Crystal Beach Amusement Park (1888-1989)
When the amusement parkAmusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
first opened in 1888, steamboats shuttled patrons from nearby Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
to and from the park. At its peak in the 1940s and early 1950s, the park had about 20,000 visitors daily throughout the summer, from Memorial Day through Labour Day. Boat service connected the city with the park until 1956. The main passenger vessels used for these journeys were called the Canadiana
Canadiana (Steamship)
The SS Canadiana was a passenger ferry that primarily operated between Buffalo, New York and the Crystal Beach Amusement Park at Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada from 1910 to 1956...
and the Americana, each of which could carry 3,000 passengers per trip. The Ontario Southern Railway also provided a short-lived connection between the park and the mainline rail station at Ridgeway. This service consisted of a unique elevated monorail style train, and ran for only three summers from 1896 through 1898.
The park was famous for the Crystal Beach Cyclone
Crystal Beach Cyclone
The Crystal Beach Cyclone is one of a 'Terrifying Triplet' of highly extreme and vicious Roller Coasters designed and built by Harry G. Traver in the late 1920s. The Cyclone was located at the Crystal Beach Amusement Park in Ontario, Canada.-History:...
, which was built in 1927. The Cyclone was an intense roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
with a full time nurse on-hand to revive passengers who had passed out during the ride. In 1946, high operating costs forced the Cyclone to close. Many of the materials from the Cyclone were reused in the construction of the Comet.
Following the park's closing in 1989, the Comet was moved to The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom
The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom
The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom is an amusement and waterpark located in Queensbury, New York. It is advertised as being located in Lake George, New York...
in Queensbury, New York
Queensbury, New York
Queensbury is a town in and the county seat of Warren County, New York, United States. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county. The population was 25,441 at the 2000 census. The town is named in honor of Queen Charlotte, the consort of George III of Great Britain and Ireland. It...
where it still operates today. A roller coaster known as the Silver Comet has been built at Martin's Fantasy Island
Martin's Fantasy Island
Martin's Fantasy Island is an amusement park located in Grand Island, New York.- History :Fantasy Island opened in 1961 and went bankrupt in 1982. It was acquired out of bankruptcy by Charles Wood, the original owner of Storytown USA. He sold the park to International Broadcasting Corporation in...
in nearby Grand Island, New York
Grand Island, New York
Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
with a loading platform and signage similar to the original Crystal Beach Comet. The Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
from the park remains in operation at Centreville Amusement Park
Centreville Amusement Park
The Centreville Amusement Park is a children's amusement park located on Middle Island, part of the Toronto Islands, offshore of the city of Toronto in the Canadian province of Ontario. The park was built in 1967 with a 1900 turn-of-the-century theme, and includes a miniature railway and the Far...
in Toronto, Ontario.
Books
Several books have been written about the history of Crystal Beach Amusement Park:- Crystal Memories: 101 Years of Fun at Crystal Beach Park - Rose Ann Jankowiak-Hirsch (2004)
- Crystal Beach: The Good Old Days - Erno Rossi (2005)
- Steamers of the Crystal Beach Line - William Kae (2007)
- Crystal Beach Live: Buffalo and Toronto Entertainers and More - William Kae (2009)
- Crystal Beach Park: A Century of Screams - William Kae (2011)
Documentaries
Several documentaries have been produced about the history of Crystal Beach Amusement Park:- The Life and Times of Crystal Beach - Pacific Productions (1994)
- I Remember Crystal Beach - WEX Studio (1998)
- The Canadiana and Crystal Beach - WEX Studio (1999)
- One Last Ride: Crystal Beach Amusement Park - Last Ride Productions (2000)
- Thanks For The Memories - RDPK Productions (2006)
- Remembering Crystal Beach Park - WNED-TVWNED-TVWNED-TV is a Public Broadcasting Service member Public televisionstation in Buffalo, New York. Owned by the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association, it broadcasts on digital channel 43 from studios in downtown Buffalo and a transmitter located in Grand Island, New York...
(2008)
Crystal Beach Hill Cottagers Organization (1983-present)
In the 1930s many amusement park employees were allowed to build cottages on the Crystal Beach sand dune, so that they could live near their jobs. The area was called "Crystal Beach Hill" and eventually grew to 43 cottages. Before the park closed, the residents of "the Hill", fronting on the lakeshore, jointly purchased it and formed the Crystal Beach Hill Cottagers Organization. Crystal Beach Hill is now a family-oriented community, with many cottages owned by second- and third-generation descendants of early residents. "The Hill", the highest vantage point for miles around, offers elevated views of the beach, Lake Erie, and Point Abino, to the West.Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club (1992-present)
Land where the amusement park stood was converted into a gated community called Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club in 1992. The pierPier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
that at one time served the Canadiana and Americana remains in a state of disrepair, and is currently owned by the Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club development.
Crystal Beach is still a popular vacation and second-home area. The town of Fort Erie operates a free public beach directly adjacent to and to the west of the Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club and Crystal Beach Hill. West of the public beach are private homes, as well as frontage owned by the Bay Beach Association, which provides beach access for a membership fee. Crystal Beach Waterfront Park is a municipally-owned park with a publicly accessible boat-launch and picnic area immediately east of the Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club.
External links
- Fort Erie - Crystal Beach
- Historic Niagara Digital Collections - Crystal Beach
- Closed Canadian Parks - Crystal Beach Amusement Park
- Urban Exploration - Crystal Beach Amusement Park
- StaffAnnouncer.com - Crystal Beach Page
- Friends of Crystal Beach
- Crystal Beach at Yahoo! Groups
- Western New York Legacy - Crystal Beach Photographs
External links
- Crystal Beach at Geographical Names of Canada