Olentangy Park

Olentangy Park (1880 to 1939) was an amusement park in Columbus, Ohio. The park was once the largest in the United States.

Olentangy Park was located in what is now the southwest corner of Clintonville. The park boundaries on its west and east sides were the Olentangy River and north High Street, North Street on the south, and nearly to West Tulane Road on the north.

Prior to 1880, Olentangy Park was a wooded area on the Olentangy River which was popular for picnics and swimming. There was a mill in the area north of Ackerman Road. In 1880, Robert M. Turner purchased the area. The first development of this property was the building of a formal picnic ground and swimming area in 1881. Then a tavern was built on the site and Turner renamed it "The Villa." Between 1881 and 1895, little changed. A few small amusement rides, a carousel, and possibly some pony rides were added.

In 1895, the Columbus Railway, Power and Light Company purchased "The Villa." "The Villa" lay at the northern end of the company's North High Street trolley line. The trolley house was located nearby on the corner of North High Street and Ackerman Road. The company hoped to use "The Villa" to attract riders to its North High Street trolley route. Electric lighting was added to the park in 1896. The tavern continued to operate.

In 1899, 100 acres of "The Villa" were purchased by the Dusenbury brothers of New Lexington, Ohio. They renamed the area Olentangy Park and developed the amusement park concern. The first addition was a roller coaster called "The Figure Eight." The 1904 World's Fair was held in St. Louis. At its conclusion, the Dusenbury brothers purchased the "Japanese Gardens" exhibit and installed it at Olentangy Park. The gardens became a beautiful, tranquil retreat from the Park's rides and noise. By 1910, the brothers had added considerably to Olentangy Park. A zoo with monkeys, bears, and elephants was built near the Park's southern end. A boat house, known as the "Canoe Club," was constructed along the banks of the Olentangy River. Visitors could rent a canoe for a quiet afternoon of boating on the Olentangy. An arcade was constructed along the northern end of the Park which featured rows of enclosed rides such as "The Olde Mill," and the "Tunnel of Love." A restaurant replaced the tavern. Near the river, a large theatre was constructed. At the time, it was the largest theatre in the United States. A formal picnic area was cleared in the ravine which separated the north and south ends of the park. Wooden walking bridges were built over the ravines connecting the Park's various points. Electric lighting was added throughout the Park. The North High Street Trolley was diverted into the Park. Trolleys could exit North High Street at North Street, travel through a large "castle gate" and arrive at the Park's exclusive trolley stop. Olentangy Park became one of a growing number of "Trolley parks" becoming more common at the time in the United States. Visitors could reach such a park from every corner of their city.

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