Wilson's Camp - Then & Now

While doing some research at the Avon Lake Library last week, I happened to be thumbing through a battered photocopy of the 1941 Directory of Avon Lake Village and I saw an interesting full-page ad. It read:

WILSON CAMP

CABINS, ROOMS AND TRAILER CAMPS

Home Cooked Food

The Only State Approved Trailer Camp in Avon Lake

32485 LAKE ROAD AVON LAKE, OHIO

PHONE 35798

18 Miles from Cleveland Public Square on Route 2 & 6

Beach Privileges

AD. R. WILSON, Manager

Since trailer camps date back to the early days of auto travel, I figured wherever this place was, it must be long gone by now.

Elsewhere in the directory there were a few photos of some Avon Lake businesses. To my surprise, one of them was labeled "WILSON'S CAMP, AVON LAKE, OHIO."

Here's the photo. 

It looked only vaguely familiar to me, but if you're from Avon Lake, I'm sure you recognize it as the former Herb's On the Lake restaurant and the current Jake's on the Lake. (Jake's website has some nice vintage photographs of their building as well.)

Driving by there to grab my 'now' shot this past weekend, I circled it a few times. The huge, wide open lot behind it could have easily accommodated cabins, etc.

Here's my 'now' shot from last weekend. 

A Lorain Creamery ad in the same 1941 directory stated, "You will find us in your community at Wilson's Camp Stop 52 Lake Road."

Anyway, it's always nice to see a vintage roadside business still thriving on US 6.