Pursuit of Leisure

Prior to the 1800s, most Americans spent a majority of time working to live. Farming, sewing, hunting, fishing, cleaning and building occupied their time. Following the Civil War and on the brink of the Industrial Revolution, Americans began to feel the need for recreation. They even began taking “holidays” for medical reasons. Physicians often prescribed vacations along lakefronts as being good for the body and soul.

Word of mouth about the Lake Erie Island’s wine industry soon lured steamboats from Cleveland, Detroit, Toledo and Sandusky. Summer cottages soon replaced vineyards.

Prior to 1870 the Cedar Point Peninsula was mainly used for fishing and hunting. However, that all changed with an editorial in the local newspaper in 1867 calling on “some enterprising person” to utilize the magnificent beach on the lake side of Cedar Point. In the summer of 1870, local businessperson Louis Zistel opened a small beer garden, bathhouse and dance floor on the peninsula. He would bring guests over to Cedar Point on his steamboat, Young Reindeer, for the modest price of 25 cents.
By the 1880s it was noted in the local paper that “sailing and bathing parties to Cedar Point are all the rage.” The history of thrill rides at Cedar Point began in 1892 with the introduction of the peninsula’s first roller coaster, the Switchback Railway. The addition of the 25-foot-tall, 10-mph scream machine would forever shape the future of Cedar Point. Later years would bring a wide variety of rides, roller coasters, games, shows and more. Today, the park is the top-rated amusement park in the world. Little do most people know that at one time, like many other amusement parks at the time, Cedar Point was slated to become a housing development.
Other resorts began around the same time, most with limited success. Johnson’s Island boasted two different resorts, one that began in 1894 that lasted four years, and another in 1904 that had a 2-year run.
Prior to the invention of the automobile, visitors arrived by elaborate Great Lakes steamers and, later, railroads. You didn’t visit a destination for a day or two. The expense and time involved with traveling meant you stayed several weeks. Huge hotels began to appear which could cater to all your needs, such as Cedar Point’s Hotel Breakers.

More than 100 years ago, South Bass Island State Park was the site of the magnificent Hotel Victory, the largest summer resort hotel in the world at that time. The hotel was built by a Toledo developer and opened in 1892. With more than 800 guest rooms, the hotel was 600 feet long and 300 feet deep. A massive dining room seated 1,000 visitors, and it was a popular site for conventions. Like other hotels of this era, the Hotel Victory was its own community, and employed a manicurist, dentist, tailor, and others to service its guests. The Hotel Victory also had the first swimming pool in the nation that permitted both men and women to swim together. Ruins of this landmark pool are still visible at the state park. Although the hotel was impressive, it was never financially successful because of the cost of doing business on an island plus a constant string of managers. The hotel burned to the ground in 1919. Artifacts from the hotel can be seen at the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum.

The Civil War took its toll on lives, spirituality and peace. In 1873, a group of Methodists organized a camp meeting revival in Lakeside. These revivals were nothing new; they’d been “at the center of rural religious life in Ohio during the early nineteenth century,” says the Lakeside web site. However, this particular meeting soon grew into the Chautauqua-style resort known as Lakeside. All denominations were invited. Soon, cottages, dormitories and in 1875, the Hotel Lakeside, were built. By 1874, as many as 5,000 visited Lakeside. Today, this community is a popular getaway for those seeking a peaceful, enriching Lake Erie experience.

Amusement parks, many built by trolley companies at the end of the lines to encourage use of the trolley systems, dotted the coastline. Places like Euclid Beach, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Puritas Springs, Walbridge Park, Luna Park the Toledo Beach Amusement Park came onto the scene between 1890 and the Great Depression.

Many of these resorts were destroyed by fire, poor management or the economy. Geneva-on-the-Lake still thrives and retains its ‘50s charm. What begin as a picnic ground in 1869, saw the addition of hotels and other attractions in the 1930s. In the 1940s, the famous "Strip" was lined with cars of the working class. The beaches and evening entertainment provided by bands such as Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Duke Ellington, lured visitors from throughout the region. The community attracted soldiers and veterans during the war years, who returned with their families during peacetime. Big Band ballrooms sprang up all along the coast, and some are now being restored to their original grandeur.

With the addition and continual improvement of vehicles and roadways, Americans began having more free time and the “weekend” was born. This led to even further growth within the Lake Erie tourism industry.

Improved water quality of Lake Erie has encouraged the return of many lakefront activities, such as boating, fishing, swimming, waterside entertainment, camping, and hotel and cottage industries. Today, tourism along Lake Erie is estimated to generate approximately $9 billion each year, employing more than 146,000.