2 photos merged together: Kevin standing in front of his display at the 2025 Amusement Preservation Museum Open House, and the museum's sign listing examples of amusement parks featured in their collection

Highlights of My Experience Displaying at the 2025 Amusement Preservation Museum Open House

June 10, 2025June 23, 2025Kevin F. Smith

This past weekend (June 7 & 8), I participated in the Amusement Preservation Museum’s 2025 Open House as a guest exhibitor. This was, by far, my largest display to date, and to paraphrase one visitor, the most impressive amusement park memorabilia display he had ever seen! Despite the weather being (unfortunately, yet also appropriately) as inconsistent as a roller coaster’s elevation, an estimated 200 guests came to see the museum’s extensive collection of ride cars and other artifacts, as well as my display!

2 photos merged together: Art Steele on the original Thriller platform, and Kevin on approximately the same location in the present day with the original ride operator's phone

A Thrilling Acquisition!

June 3, 2025June 10, 2025Kevin F. Smith

I recently acquired a very special, one-of-a-kind item for my collection: the ride operator’s phone from the Thriller roller coaster at Euclid Beach Park!

Kevin on the Euclid Beach Grand Carousel at the Cleveland History Center. Both Kevin and the pictured carousel horse are wearing party hats.

Happy 115th Birthday to the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel!

May 17, 2025June 10, 2025Kevin F. Smith

I spent most of today at the Cleveland History Center, celebrating the anniversary of the carousel’s debut at Euclid Beach Park in 1910! There was a steady flow of riders throughout the day for the occasion, and while I was not officially scheduled to participate in the event, I came prepared with several vintage items from my personal collection that have direct connections to the carousel! (Please see the photos below for more detailed descriptions.)

Amusement Preservation Museum (Photo from 2024 open house)

I’m Participating in the Amusement Preservation Museum’s 2025 Open House!

April 28, 2025April 29, 2025Kevin F. Smith

I’m thrilled to announce that I will be displaying my collection at the Amusement Preservation Museum’s open house this year on June 7th and 8th! Please take a look at my new event listing, as well as the host’s website, for further details!

Visiting TWO Former Kiddie Park Locations!

March 31, 2025April 3, 2025Kevin F. Smith

I took a couple of trips this past month to the locations where two of Northeast Ohio’s classic kiddie parks once operated! Westlake Kiddie Park and Kiddie Playland are among the parks I hear about least often, but they were undoubtedly fun for youngsters who lived nearby in the 1950s and 60s! Here’s what I’ve recently learned about these two parks, and seen at their original locations:

Thank You, Geauga Lake – Jacqueline Vanni Gross

March 23, 2025March 23, 2025Kevin F. Smith

I spent my teenage years with my friends at Six Flags World’s of Adventure/ Geauga Lake. We all had season passes, and our moms took turns dropping us off between 2003-2006, when we could finally drive. We used to absolutely lap the coasters there and had no idea how incredible of a coaster lineup we had in our own backyard.

My Final Geauga Lake Visit – Troy Parsh

March 22, 2025March 22, 2025Kevin F. Smith

When I was young, my family would go to Cedar Point and Geauga Lake a few times each year. I remember being fascinated by the way rides like Mr. Hyde’s Nasty Fall, Top Thrill Dragster, and many others functioned.

Giant Penny Paperweight from Summit Beach Park

March 18, 2025March 22, 2025Kevin F. Smith

Summit Beach Park was a noteworthy attraction in Akron for over 40 years, quickly growing to absorb the neighboring Lakeside Park. I have personally seen very few surviving Summit Beach relics, but I’m excited to share that I’ve acquired a very nice souvenir paperweight from the park! Essentially an oversized penny, one side is nearly identical to a similar one I own from Euclid Beach, other than the park’s name. However, the other side of this one is completely different, featuring an embossed image of a Native American.

“Why I Keep The Essence Of Euclid Beach Park Alive” (Poem)

March 18, 2025March 22, 2025Kevin F. Smith

I wrote this poem around 2011 to honor the legacy of Euclid Beach Park and everyone who was a part of its history. It also doubles as an expression of my commitment to keeping that legacy alive for current and future generations.

Julie Smith’s Euclid Beach Park Memories

March 12, 2025March 15, 2025Kevin F. Smith

Even though I was only 14 years old when Euclid Beach Park closed, I still have wonderful memories of that special place. It had its own unique sounds, smells, and “feel.” When I told my brother of my involvement as a board member of Euclid Beach Park Now (EBPN), even he said, “That was your favorite place in the whole world!”

Kevin's Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories

Author: Kevin F. Smith