location & navigationBuckeye Lake
Buckeye Lake
Enjoy your visit . . stop by often
www.BuckeyeLake.org on-line community for the Lake
The Mission of this website is simple:
Benefit the people, places, schools, groups, organizations and businesses in the Area.
A common place to communicate about local issues, events and similar interests.
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State Looking For Profit From Boaters: Beware
Some E-mails are pretty funny..
Well, it can happen. Gambling in Ohio? legal? Yes it's now legal.
Just recently the Governor legalized slot machines in Ohio, so test cameras and slot machines have been installed ON the lake. That's right; there are actual floating cameras and slot machines on the lake. I'm sure by now everyone is aware of the outrage in Heath over the Red light and speed cameras. Well, move over Heath because Buckeye Lake is taking over the front page. After seeing these strange yet oddly familiar looking objects atop some buoys I thought I'd better see what Big Brother is up to now.
So I contacted Acting Deputy Director Richard Cranium with the Department of Under Secretary of Land and Waterways for the State Budget and Control of All if Anything Department of Exterior. Mr. Cranium was not available so his Assistant Alice P. Wingit took my call.
According to Ms. Wingit there are two (2) cameras and one (1) slot machine in operation at the Buckeye Lake Park. The first camera installed is located in an undisclosed location which takes pictures of boat hull numbers of boats which enter the No Wake zone with speeds exceeding the No Wake area, much like the Heath cameras which take pictures of speeding motorist.
The second buoy with a slot machine is located again in an undisclosed location next to Onion Island swim area. This slot machine is designed to take take money from unsuspecting swimmers who choose to put their money in. Ms. Wingit would not comment on what Richard Cranium does with the money but she did say is would be spent wisely
The third buoy with a camera who's location is apparently not a State secret. It is located in front of the new spillway near Seller's Point. The purpose of this camera is to take photos of boats which violate the Danger Buoy and proceed to close to the spillway. (Apparently so the state can send the last known picture to the family of the unfortunate boater.
Before our conversation concluded Ms. Wingit reassured me that the funding for the cameras and slot machines was in no way Pork Barrel Spending. The cameras and slot machines are an investment in our community, for our community. The revenue generated by the slot machines will give the State more money than they'll know what to do with.
I sure am glad I called and got all my questions answered, thank you Ms. Wingit.
Firemans Park
The Year 1950
The Columbus Fire Fighters purchased the land for Fireman's Park in 1950. The park is on the water located on Honey Creek Road in Thornville, Ohio
Fireman's Park is a private campground on Buckeye Lake, exclusively for active and retired Columbus, Ohio Firefighters. Guests with campers or motor homes may only camp with the permission of a Board Member, and payment of $15 per night camping fees. Tent camping is free on a temporary basis as long as you are with a CFD member.
• In February 2007 they put up their web site (Note: the web site is not compatible with all browsers)
• Starting in 2007 they have been hosting the "Fireman's Park Bash" Fund Raiser.
Photo looking from the launch ramp into the bay at the park.
Sayer Brothers
The year 1904
Alexander's Landing
The year 1870
Alexanders Landing was Originally known as Hamilton Place.
Located on South Bank Road in Millersport, Ohio
Donald Alexander's great, great Grandmother operated the business as a boat rental and boat landing, hotel and stable. It was known as a resting place for canal travelers and gathering place for local folks. The business name was changed to Alexander's Landing in 1925. Alexanders Landing was named a historical landmark by the Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society in June 2004.
Alexanders Landing Marina has been a Family owned business right from the start.
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• A great place to take a break since 1870
• Became Alexanders Landing in 1925
• Alexanders began selling Mercury Boat Engines in 1947
• Became a Gold dealer for Mercury / Mercruiser since 19__?.
• Added a new pier and pump out for boats in 2002
• Became a historical landmark in 2004
• A web site was added to help serve customers in February 2006. |
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Many generations of families in Central Ohio and on the lake know them well and have been depending on Alexanders for boats, motors, parts, service, storage and their extensive knowledge of boats.
| Photos from the year 1996 | |
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The Yacht Club
The year 1906
The Buckeye Lake Yacht Club was formed in 1906.
The reservoir's hidden trees and debris became a big problem especially in 1906 when a group of recreation minded gents came together to form the Buckeye Lake Yacht Club. The "stump skippers", as the yachtsmen sometimes refer to themselves, worked long and hard to reduce the hazards to the boats caused by the skeletons of old trees left in the former reservoir. The Yacht Club today is still a vigorus group of 400 members, headquartered where it has been since 1912 on a small island known as Watkins Island, which is connected to the North Bank by a bridge. It is a private club and the only Island Yacht Club in America. The Yacht Club sponsers several sail boating contests and an antique wood boat parade.
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These are photos of the club back then. |
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Buckeye Lake Designated as a State Park
The year 1949
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources became a reality and Buckeye Lake became a State Park
On May 21st In the year 1949, the General Assembly in the state of Ohio designated Buckeye Lake as a state park. The amusement park began to decline in popularity by the late 1950s and continued to deteriorate in the 1960s. The crowds that had once flocked to the park had disappeared, and buildings were torn down one by one. Visitors to Buckeye Lake today can find one remaining remnant of the old Buckeye Lake Amusement Park, a fountain that is located at the Buckeye Lake State Park's North Shore Ramp and park on rt. 79.
The Buckeye Lake Historical Society has a great Museum just a short distance west of the park with many old pieces from the park and other interesting items from the time.
Middle Wall Removed
The year 1920 ?
holder page for the removal of middle wall to open up the lake and join the two reservoirs
notes.. need info for wherle mansion, Thorn Twp abt 1920...
Buckeye Lake Recreation
The year 1902 is when Buckeye Lake had it's first actual Hotel built to stay in. By 1910, Buckeye Lake had 2 parks or amusement parks on its north shore side by side, as well as a number of hotels, restaurants, and other concessions that catered to tourists. In addition, speakers drew huge crowds as part of a traveling Chautauqua Assembly.
In the 1920s, members of the Ku Klux Klan leadership spent their summers at Buckeye Lake, and local newspapers attest to KKK rallies that attracted thousands of people to the area.
View a Photo Gallery of the Amusement Park 
The Wooden Roller Coaster was added to the big park in 1931, named 'The Dips', and it was fun to ride because it went out over the water. It was not huge like the ones today, but it was fun. A lot of us remember it well.
The Railroads
The year 1902
In 1902 the Columbus, Buckeye Lake and Newark Traction Co(CBL&N), a standard gauge rail line, ran 34 miles from Columbus to Reynoldsburg, Kirkersville, Hebron and Newark with a branch from Hebron to Buckeye Lake. In 1904 the line was built from Newark to Zanesville, a total of 30 miles. It acquired the CBL&N in 1906 and It became part of the Ohio Electric Railway Co in 1907 and back to CN&Z ownership in 1918.
The Ohio Electric Railway Company, formed in 1907 with the consolidation of 14 smaller interurban railways, was one of Ohio's largest interurban systems. It connected Toledo, Lima, Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati, Newark, Zanesville and Buckeye Lake providing efficient passenger service to scores of small towns in Ohio. The line evolved into the Cincinnati and Lake Erie Railroad and expanded its services. However, business conditions of the 1930s led to the complete replacement of interurbans with buses by 1939. The company changed its name to Cincinnati & Lake Erie Transportation, and it was absorbed by the Greyhound system in 1947.
Columbus & Buckeye Lake & Newark Interurban Rail Car
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, but the good stuff is up there ^
