I’ve always loved seeing the surviving remnants and relics of memorable places that no longer exist in the way that they are most fondly remembered. It is a sort of bittersweet fascination with exploring the overlap between past and present through surviving artifacts and memories.

As a child, this mainly involved hearing stories from my parents about Euclid Beach Park and reading a book about the park that my mom had at home. My parents also took me to see the 1994 “Euclid Beach Park Days” event at Euclid Square Mall, where I first got to see Laffing Sal and other fantastic memorabilia on display. In what now feels like a prime example of foreshadowing, I even made it into a TV report about the event! (My parents were able to record the broadcast, which I’ve recently shared on YouTube. That’s me eating a Humphrey popcorn ball as a 5-year-old! Click here to see the recording!)

As an adult, however, I have become an active collector of memorabilia from over 20 historical amusement parks and other nostalgic Northeast Ohio places! I’ve been exhibiting my collection annually at Euclid Beach Park Now’s “Remembering the Sights & Sounds of Euclid Beach Park” event since 2013, as well as at other events hosted by the Cleveland History Center and other local organizations. In a “full circle” moment, my 2022 display at the museum was included in a TV news report. This time, I was one of the participants interviewed!

I joined the EBPN board of directors in 2018, and since October of 2024, I’ve been serving as Vice President! Through that role, in addition to my independent collection and research, I am wholeheartedly committed to preserving and honoring the history of Northeast Ohio’s bygone amusement parks and other nostalgic places. I’m especially interested in pursuing this passion in ways that can be appreciated & enjoyed by all present and future generations! I’m always interested in new opportunities to share with others, and to learn more myself, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for any reason!

I hope you enjoy your visit to Kevin’s Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories, and please come again soon!