Goodbye, Coney
Parker's Grove in 1870 was an idyllic retreat along the Ohio River. Folks would pack their picnic baskets and lounge in the beautiful weather, surrounded by apple trees. Over time a couple of riverboat captains took notice, had an idea, and began ferrying guests down the river to what was then called Ohio Grove, the Coney Island of the West.
Eventually the popular park, now simply Coney Island, became one of the most highly regarded amusement parks in the country—at a time when such places were hardly anything you'd write home about. A famous cartoonist dropped by to see how they did things, looking for ideas he could adapt to a new concept he was working on for the orange groves of Anaheim.
Coney was indeed the cream of the crop for generations. It offered a clean environment, fun rides and attractions, and a family-friendly option for getting out of the house. The highlight was proudly revealed in 1925—the world's largest recirculation pool. Sunlite Pool has been a mainstay in the Cincinnati area ever since, even after the owners finally had enough of the constant floods that ravaged the park. A young Gary Wachs began the crusade to move Coney, eventually overseeing the opening of a brand new playground in 1972—Kings Island. But old Coney wasn't dead...yet. It's hung in there, with a changing mix of rides, attractions, and music...but always with the Sunlite Pool for summer fun.
Until now. Unless the petitioners manage to derail what's probably inevitable, the former apple orchard has been sold to Music & Event Management, Inc, a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Their plans? Convert the property into a state-of-the-art music and entertainment venue. It'll certainly make a statement in the region and the music industry overall. And maybe it's time—I've broached the idea, in these emails as well as in Imagineering an American Dreamscape, sometimes it's just time to let go. In some cases it's kinda obvious. In this case? I don't know. I'll let the locals comment on that, as it's their park after all. But i'm sure there are folks who will dearly miss having a place for summer fun, a place that's cheaper and less crowded than Kings Island. A place to just have a picnic, an afternoon swim, and go listen to music on the weekends.
Goodbye, Coney. It's been an amazing journey.
