Where Summer Once Crashed Like Waves
Southwest Ohio once had tasty waves, palm trees, sand volleyball courts, and The Beach!
The Beach Waterpark, just north of Cincinnati, opened in the mid-1980s like a mirage off I-71 amidst the trees and cornfields. Travelers on the highway had a close-up view of people plunging straight down from a massive, tall water slide that many claimed their bodies left the slide’s surface and fell momentarily in mid air before smoothly reconnecting in time for the surge into the pool.
The stream of traffic could also witness the giant wave machine in action as dozens of bodies surfed across the massive wave pool. Tucked behind these very visible sensations was a maze of waterslides and a lengthy lazy river for the more chill-mood summer vacationers.
Guests also enjoyed live music from Reggae bands and other artists across the musical spectrum.
It was a haven for the sound of flip-flops and laughter, the smell of sunscreen and pizza, sunglasses and towels among lounge chairs and Cabanas.
Then the tide turned!
King’s Island was just across the highway, and it too offered a waterpark expansion.
The drowning Beach finally went under in 2012. It was resuscitated a year later under new management. The waves and families rolled back to life. It thrived as a more economical summer pass compared to the behemoth Kings Island just around the corner. But when America closed in 2020, it, like many other venues, didn’t come back.
So, that magical vacationland fell silent and sun-bleached. It quickly took on an ominous vibe as its once colorful landscape decayed for all to see. The waves of Ohio’s seasons quietly eroded its allure.
But if you slow down, you may still hear an echo of the splash of summer fun at The Beach in Southwest Ohio rise with a strange mix of nostalgia and disbelief.
Explore more Vacationland: Echoes of Ohio’s Nostalgic Destinations
By Frank Rocco Satullo, The OhioTraveler, Your Tour Guide to Fun
