As Huey Lewis once sang, I'm going back in time. To a place I remember very well and fondly. Idora Amusement Park. Located off Glenwood at 900 Billingsgate Avenue. The photo above is all that is left.
There used to be an Idora Park sign right in the center of the street offering us visitors who would be appearing on the weekend and any other special offers and deals.
If you decide to venture down to see what is left, let me tell you now. There is absolutely nothing left at Idora Park. I mean nothing. Not a single building. Not a single sign. Not a single ride or attraction. Absolutely nothing. Just a big old landscape filled with tall weeds. Walking paths are gone. However, you can still walk and navigate the park. You can find an entrance into the park. Trust me.
By the way here is the sign last standing from years ago I photographed.
Hey, it appears that on Wednesday LOTGK was the honored guest appearing. By the way, we had a blast on that Wednesday)
At the Canfield Fair last year, the Idora Park Hook And Ladder No 1 firetruck was showcased. They would not allow me to drive it. But I asked so nicely.
This is what Idora Park looks like today. I will tell you though, it is much more overgrown than what you see in the picture above.
One more photo of Idora Park. This was the main entrance to the park. There used to be a little shed by the yellow entry bars and you would pay 50 cents to a dollar to enter the Idora Park parking grounds.
Before I go, my favorite Idora ride was of course the Wildcat. Back in the day, it was baddest, fastest, wildest ride in the land. Well, at least in Youngstown it was.
I must have gone there hundreds of times in my life. As soon as Summer vacation started, we rode our bicycles the several miles to the park. We parked the bikes at the provided bicycle racks. We would spend the entire day and part of the evening riding ride after ride.
Ohhh, the memories. I loved Idora Park. I was always hoping that some business would purchase the park and land and restore Idora Park from the ground up. If that happened, (Happens) it would be a tremendous endeavor for the entire region. To have Idora Park restored to its original glory.
And, one more thing. Idora Park french fries were the best damn french fries in the land. Bar none.
I'll leave you with.... I'm still hoping. Still hoping.
LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL
