Monday, August 15, 2022

Fort Firelands

My family used to regularly visit the Marblehead/Lakeside area of Ohio back in the 1960s, whether we were going to East Harbor State Park or Cheesehaven. On the way, I remember seeing (but never stopping) at Fort Firelands at 5650 East Harbor Road in Lakeside, Ohio. Back then, Fort Firelands was a tourist attraction consisting of a pioneer fort, museums, a trading post and a restaurant. 

Above is a vintage postcard of the outside of Fort Firelands. The back of the postcard reads, "FORT FIRELANDS at the juncture of Routes 163 and 269 near East Harbor State Park is an authentic reproduction of 18th Century Forts. There are Military, Pioneer and Indian Museums, Burial Grounds and Relics. Antiques, military accouterments, souvenir Indian items, etc. are offered at the Trading Post."

Here's another postcard view of the outside from a slightly different angle.

And here's a view from the inside.

The back of the postcard reads, "Interior view of the Fort showing the main entrance. These Forts for the most part were built by the early settlers for defense against the savage tribes, and had the same basic design. Fort Firelands has a fine Military and Indian Museum, Trading Post, Country Store, "Westward Ho" Restaurant, Gun Smith and Armory with a gun collection dating back to the era of the Fort with many of the pieces for sale.
Anyway, by 1972 there were big changes taking place at Fort Firelands. The article below, which appeared in the Journal on August 6, 1972, explains how the new owners were in the process of converting the Fort into a summer resort. They added a swimming pool, campsites, a fish pond, a stage & outdoor theater, and efficiency apartments in house trailers. 
As the article notes, the original Fort Firelands tourist attraction itself was now "a free admission place with the historical displays plus gift and craft shops, a restaurant and an arcade."
Here's a souvenir pennant of the "new" Fort Firelands.
Today, Fort Firelands is an RV Park. Its website includes a page with some vintage postcards.
A 2018 View
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6 comments:

  1. -Alan D HopewellAugust 15, 2022 at 9:24 AM

    Was that anywhere near Firelands Boy Scout Camp? I got to go there as a Cub Scout.

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  2. LHS Blazer ManAugust 15, 2022 at 11:57 AM

    Don't feel bad, Dan. I never even knew about Fort Firelands. And my family never stopped to see the Blue Hole in Castalia, either.

    Hey! Maybe the stagecoach that was rumored to have sunk in the Blue Hole came from Fort Firelands!!

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  3. UnknownAugust 16, 2022 at 9:09 AM

    Dan, As you know... Prehistoric Forest was just down the road. Here is a link to what is there today. Bill N.... https://forestrvpark.com/

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  4. Dan BradyAugust 16, 2022 at 8:13 PM

    Thanks for the link, Bill--good to see that the property was put to good use and that they kept the volcano.

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  5. AnonymousAugust 19, 2022 at 8:56 PM

    Such a distinctive looking building. I’ve passed it on my way to East Harbor so many times, but have never stopped to see it up close. Was not aware of its history.

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  6. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2024 at 11:54 AM

    That Prehistoric Forrest property made an appearance in the movie "Tommy Boy".

    ReplyDelete