I too grew up playing on the remains of the burned shell of the coaster. I remember the fire when I was very young. We lived on w 189 then w 197th after land was cleared from the park being torn down. What great footage. Love it.
This footage is OUTSTANDING! My parents were one of the first residences built on the old Puritas Springs property by Harsax Homes. I was always curious about the park (I was born after the park had closed.) As kids in the development we would venture "down the hill" and view the remains of the old roller coaster. Many many thanks for sharing this rare footage!
Was very surprised and happy to see this vidio. The guy first holding the lion cub, in the animal park was my father, Jack Brothers, other wise known as "Safari Jack". "Gungle Larry" is holding the cub around his shoulders. My brother Jerry and I went to Puritas about every other weekend with dad. Had a ball handling the animals and riding the rides. Sure would be a money maker today!!!!
I forgot to thank the poster for the memories !! Besides working there I also ran the old wooden cage ferris wheel at chippawa lake park for parker beach.. Was a lifeguard and ran speedboat at times.. I lived over the bathhouse in a dormatory,, Boys on one side Girls on the other.. We had some great beach parties after the park closed at night...Them were the days....
I worked at the park in my teens. I ran a few rides and was a skate guard at the roller rink. Jimmy and Randy Gooding ran the park and lived in it in a big house righr in the park... That was over 55 years ago.. It was a shame to see it go but to many fires there closed it down..
My father Charles Doehner fought the fire that destroyed the park and he was later killed in an explosion ath Walford Park in 1966. Engine 33 rescue squad.
@jeffpolara R.I.P. Mr. Doehner and a man that died trying to protect the people of his community, so honorable and rare these days. Never knew the man but I call him a hero...
Oh, my gosh! This was fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing this video. I, too, have always had a fascination w/Puritas Springs having grown up in the area, but never saw it as it closed the year I was born. My parents going there by streetcar and having lots of fun. I never thought I would see anything but stillshots. Thanks a million! :)
Excellent stuff there!!! Thanks for sharing this. I have had this fascination with Puritas Springs Park for many years and have collected quite a few photos from ebay. There are photos for sale on there now including nice aerial views.
Only footage I have ever seen of Puritas Springs. As a kid in 50s and 60s I went to Euclid Beach and Geauga Lake but never made to this park. Was told the coaster was awsome.
Dad took me on the Cyclone when I was 5 and never rode a coaster again till I was in my teens. Also took skate lessons in the rink. At that time it was owned by the Goodings of Gooding Amusement and they lived in the house on the NE side of the Park.
The footage came from Dudley Humphrey's home movies, 16mm, and was transferred in the early 80's. I'm sure a number of patrons shot footage of the park, but all these years since '58 and this seems to be all that turned up.
@caddyfam Wow that's fascinating! The cyclone has remained one of the most mysterious John miller coasters-it was really buried in the woods and there is so little footage of it availible. Im sorry to ask such a pestering question but, how was it? From what i've read it was one of the most intense and best terrain coaster ever constructed.
I too grew up playing on the remains of the burned shell of the coaster. I remember the fire when I was very young. We lived on w 189 then w 197th after land was cleared from the park being torn down. What great footage. Love it.
holliwood0311 2 months ago
I lived on Thornridge Circle which is the land under the cyclone, based on aerial maps. Thanks for posting. . .
caseyspack 1 year ago
If only the Cyclone was rebuilt. :(
AdrenalineAddict610 1 year ago
This footage is OUTSTANDING! My parents were one of the first residences built on the old Puritas Springs property by Harsax Homes. I was always curious about the park (I was born after the park had closed.) As kids in the development we would venture "down the hill" and view the remains of the old roller coaster. Many many thanks for sharing this rare footage!
kmk9901 2 years ago
Was very surprised and happy to see this vidio. The guy first holding the lion cub, in the animal park was my father, Jack Brothers, other wise known as "Safari Jack". "Gungle Larry" is holding the cub around his shoulders. My brother Jerry and I went to Puritas about every other weekend with dad. Had a ball handling the animals and riding the rides. Sure would be a money maker today!!!!
cuzbro18 2 years ago
I forgot to thank the poster for the memories !! Besides working there I also ran the old wooden cage ferris wheel at chippawa lake park for parker beach.. Was a lifeguard and ran speedboat at times.. I lived over the bathhouse in a dormatory,, Boys on one side Girls on the other.. We had some great beach parties after the park closed at night...Them were the days....
ohiotrucker090 2 years ago
I worked at the park in my teens. I ran a few rides and was a skate guard at the roller rink. Jimmy and Randy Gooding ran the park and lived in it in a big house righr in the park... That was over 55 years ago.. It was a shame to see it go but to many fires there closed it down..
ohiotrucker090 2 years ago
My father Charles Doehner fought the fire that destroyed the park and he was later killed in an explosion ath Walford Park in 1966. Engine 33 rescue squad.
jeffpolara 2 years ago
@jeffpolara R.I.P. Mr. Doehner and a man that died trying to protect the people of his community, so honorable and rare these days. Never knew the man but I call him a hero...
jgrogan02 5 months ago
@jgrogan02 Thanks I appreciate that.
jeffpolara 5 months ago
WOW! JUNGLE LARRY AND CAPT.PENNY!!!
dadgenius 3 years ago 2
Where exactly was this? Grew up off of Puritas, but it must have already been torn down when we moved there.
1075008 3 years ago
This was on the right just before you go down into the park !! All Apartments and houses now..
ohiotrucker090 2 years ago
The "god-ole days"! That will never happen again!
GBS1043 3 years ago
I grew up right down the street from the defunct park and used to climb on the old cyclone tracks as a kid.
mtfbwy 3 years ago 2
Oh, my gosh! This was fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing this video. I, too, have always had a fascination w/Puritas Springs having grown up in the area, but never saw it as it closed the year I was born. My parents going there by streetcar and having lots of fun. I never thought I would see anything but stillshots. Thanks a million! :)
murfy813 3 years ago 2
Yeah I remember it. My parents use to take me when I was a kid, but I think it closed when I was 9 or 10, so never got to go as a teen.
Only went to Euclid Beach once.
ClevelandHost 4 years ago
Excellent stuff there!!! Thanks for sharing this. I have had this fascination with Puritas Springs Park for many years and have collected quite a few photos from ebay. There are photos for sale on there now including nice aerial views.
swampfoxer 4 years ago
Only footage I have ever seen of Puritas Springs. As a kid in 50s and 60s I went to Euclid Beach and Geauga Lake but never made to this park. Was told the coaster was awsome.
misterrnr 4 years ago 2
Dad took me on the Cyclone when I was 5 and never rode a coaster again till I was in my teens. Also took skate lessons in the rink. At that time it was owned by the Goodings of Gooding Amusement and they lived in the house on the NE side of the Park.
The footage came from Dudley Humphrey's home movies, 16mm, and was transferred in the early 80's. I'm sure a number of patrons shot footage of the park, but all these years since '58 and this seems to be all that turned up.
caddyfam 4 years ago
@caddyfam Wow that's fascinating! The cyclone has remained one of the most mysterious John miller coasters-it was really buried in the woods and there is so little footage of it availible. Im sorry to ask such a pestering question but, how was it? From what i've read it was one of the most intense and best terrain coaster ever constructed.
cannibalonXthedead 6 months ago