Chippewa Lake
Ohio is notoriously lacking in natural lakes thanks
to the smoothing effect of a long ago receding glacier, but Chippewa Lake is
the state's oldest natural-water exception, a rare Ohio lake that wasn't dammed
into existence. The glacier actually dug this 385-acre bowl as it receded more
than 12,000 years ago.
In the middle of the nineteenth century it was a
popular picnic and boating spot for families and sometime meeting place for
religious services and social clubs
Tranquil, stream-fed Chippewa Lake provides the
setting for an outstanding country dining establishment, the Oaks Lodge. Eight
acres of tall trees surround this rambling former estate, which rests a stone’s
throw from the water. Railroad industrialist J.F. Townsend remodeled this
former farmhouse in 1914, using it to entertain such captains of industry as J.
Pierpont Morgan. Townsend dubbed the place Five Oaks for the semicircle of oak
trees that graced the front of the home at the time.
Each of the four dining areas has its own distinct
character, and the large windows allow a view of the large patio, a perfect
spot for a cocktail or after-dinner drink, and the gazebo at water’s edge.
Dinner at the Oaks Lodge includes dishes such as rack of lamb, roast prime rib
(Friday and Saturday only), several cuts of steak, and veal gesina, which is
veal sautéed in wine, butter, and mushrooms. Seafood fans can choose from
Alaskan king crab legs, fresh pickerel, shrimp tempura, and the broiled shore
dinner, a combination of orange roughy, scampi, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers,
and onions served on a skewer.
Also located here is an abandoned amusement park on
the lake shore and they say it is even haunted. There are ghost stories told
about the Chippewa Lake Park, often about a fatal roller coaster accident which
never actually took place, but everyone seems to leave it off the
"haunted" lists for the time being. There's a spooky, cartoon like
kind of ambience to any abandoned amusement park, and the skeletal look of the
wooden roller coaster frame probably has something to do with it, but the
memories people have of this place aren't like those associated with a mental
hospital or a prison or even a school; these are happy memories, and it's still
a fun place to visit, albeit for different reasons, and nowadays you might want
to leave the little kids at home, unless they like to play with rusty metal and
broken glass.
Years ago a producer from the MTV show Fear wanted
to film an episode in Ohio and asked for recommendations. The producer said
that they were actually interested in shooting it in an abandoned amusement
park, and weren't there a couple of those in Ohio? Sure enough there was a great one.
Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your
travel reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website:
rawhidetravel.com.
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc.
6008 West Bell Road # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
602-843-5100
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