Tamsin Park Revisited – Part 2

The back of this postcard reads, “Navajo Rugs are among
the fine Indian Arts & Crafts displayed at the Indian Mill.

Tamsin Park’s unique, rustic atmosphere can largely be attributed to the strong American Indian influence.

From the colorful totem pole in front of the Ranger Station, to the collection of Indian arts and crafts inside the Indian Mill and, later, the American Indian Art Hall of Fame, it’s easy to see why Tamsin had such a special appeal.

But things began to wind down in the 1980s.

This September 1, 1983 Akron Beacon Journal article by Staff Writer Francis B. Murphey noted that the museum was going to be closed for good on November 20th, 1983.

Tom and Bertha Jones had operated the museum since 1973. (It was mentioned in one of the clippings here on the blog yesterday.)

Although the museum was closing, the article notes that the Indian Mill gift shop was going to stay open.  But the “For Sale” sign in front of the Mill and museum surely was a harbinger of things to come.

But the campground kept on going for a while. Here’s a wistful photo that appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal on September 30, 1985.

As I noted in my original blog series on Tamsin, it’s unclear exactly when the park closed. It was still open in the late 1990s, but by 2003, construction of 300 homes was planned for the property.

Here’s a Google maps aerial view of the former park property today.

As you can see, the two park lakes are still there, and figure prominently in the name of the housing development: “Hidden Lakes.”

But for those of us that camped at the park, we’ll always remember it this way (below) – as it looks on vintage postcards.

Squirrel Ridge Camping Area

The Ranger Station at the Campground Entrance

Tamsin Park Revisited – Part 1

Vintage Postcard

It’s been about twenty years since Tamsin Park closed, but it lives on in the pleasant memories of the people who camped there. The privately-owned campground was located in Peninsula, Ohio on the old alignment of Ohio State Route 8, near the Ohio Turnpike interchange.

“Memories of Tamsin Park,” a five-part series here on the blog from 2015, continues to elicit comments that are conversational in nature. People reminisce not only about the park, but also their fellow campers, mutual friends, and even the park owners and staff.

I’ve assembled some additional Tamsin Park newspaper articles and postcards since my original blog posts, and present them here for the enjoyment of anyone who ever picnicked or camped there.

Here’s an early article from the Plain Dealer about Tamsin’s transition from being just a picnic grounds to also including family camping. It ran on June 10, 1961.

The Akron Beacon Journal used to run a column entitled ‘Good Afternoon,” written by Francis B. Murphey. It was a collection of small news items about the surrounding communities. Tamsin Park was featured many times.

This snippet from the July 25, 1963 column mentions some of the park’s new color postcards.

Here’s the Deer Lick Meadow postcard mentioned in the clipping.

An article in the Plain Dealer on June 10, 1965 praises Tamsin Park as "one of the best" campgrounds in the Cleveland area.

Another article in the Plain Dealer praises Bob Kruty’s management of the camping operation at Tamsin. It ran in the paper on June 18, 1970.

This October 21, 1971 piece from the “Good Afternoon” column in the Akron Beacon Journal highlights the Conestoga-style wagon rides there were available at Tamsin Park that upcoming weekend.

And here's the same oxen on a Tamsin postcard (below). The back of the card reads, “THE INDIAN MILL at TAMSIN PARK. Each Fall the Urbank Family takes children for rides through Tamsin Park in their hand built covered wagon. Oxen and Pioneer dress create a scene from yesterday."

Here’s another “Good Afternoon” column piece, this one from the July 23, 1972 Akron Beacon Journal. It mentions the return of a 7-foot wooden Indian that had been stolen from the porch of the Indian Mill at Tamsin Park’s entrance.

Here’s the unnamed Indian at his post in front of the Indian Mill. 

The back of the postcard reads, "THE INDIAN MILL. This rustic 140 year old building is an Ohio Landmark. Inside is the Largest Collection of American Indian Art in the Mid-West."

The postcard also notes that “Children love to play with Indian Joe while their parents stroll through the store.”

Here’s Joe on another vintage postcard.

Be sure to stop back here tomorrow, Campers, as I fold up the tent on this return visit to Tamsin Park.

Memories of Tamsin Park – Part 5

In the summer of 1992, I made a trek out to Peninsula to see how Tamsin Park was doing. But the day that I went, I was unable to access the park property, due to road construction if I remember correctly. I did notice that the Indian Mill near the entrance to the park had been renamed Ye Olde Mille, and was now hosting events such as the Arts & Craft Fair held in August that year.

So how long did the park stay open? According to various online accounts, Tamsin Park was still hosting campers as late as 1997. Its glory days were passed, however, and the park eventually closed within a few years.

In 2003, according to the Cuyahoga Valley Arcadia Book, “the property laid idle awaiting annexation to Cuyahoga Falls and the construction of nearly 300 homes."

Indeed today, the former Tamsin Park property is home to a huge residential development called Hidden Lakes.

Although I haven’t had a chance to drive out there and take some pictures, some aerial views available online tell the story.

Remember the 1964 park map (below)?

Well, here are a few aerial views showing the progression of the residential development.

Courtesy of Bing Maps

Courtesy of Google Maps

And what about the Indian Mill featured on the postcard (below)?

It was listed for a sale just a few years ago, and some listings from that era still survive online. Here’s a photo (below) courtesy of zillow.com.

Happily, the Indian Mill found new life in 2014 as the Wine Mill (below). Here’s a link to the restaurant’s Facebook page.

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Well, that wraps up my weeklong series on Tamsin Park. Hopefully, other people that camped there in its heyday will find these posts and enjoy some of the postcards and brochures.

To some, it might seem silly to be nostalgic about a campground that’s long gone. But you’ve probably figured out that it’s not just about the campground itself, or the real estate it sat on. For me, it’s about memories of a simpler time when my parents were both alive and my siblings and I were young and innocent.

Happy memories of camping, shared by anyone who ever pitched a tent in a wooded meadow, helped set up a pop-up camper or sat in the darkness in front of the glow of a warm campfire with their family, toasting marshmallows.

Tamsin was the perfect backdrop for those kinds of memories.

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UPDATE (August 12, 2020)
Be sure to visit my new 2-part series on Tamsin Park with additional postcards, as well as news articles!

Memories of Tamsin Park – Part 4

The Cleveland Plain Dealer published an excellent article about Tamsin Park and its new management in its June 25, 1971 edition. It’s written by James and Barbara Newman, and includes a detailed history of the park.

The article mentions that the park was founded in 1953 as a picnic park that quickly expanded into camping. It also states that Tamsin was Ohio’s first privately owned campground.

The new owners of the park at the time of the 1971 article were Bob Kruty and Ray Flegel. Bob Kruty had been managing the park for the previous owner, and Ray Flegel had worked there as well.

Here’s the article. (Give it a click so you can read it.)

Next: The rest of the story and Tamsin Park today

Memories of Tamsin Park – Part 3

Here’s a rare Tamsin Park collectible that I’ve never seen online: a six-page brochure and a rate sheet from the 1964 season. I’m not sure why my parents kept them, but I sure am glad they did.

The brochure is loaded with great photos of the park, and includes some well-written text. Part of the copy reads, “Tamsin has the atmosphere of a western national park!” is a remark often heard from campers. The spaciousness of the beautifully wooded campground with great oak trees, hand-hewn log buildings and hand-carved signs, all combine to preserve and enhance your joy of the great-out-of-doors.

“The scenic grounds are large enough to accommodate thousands of people, yet the campgrounds are privately located away from daily park visitors. A variety of camping sites ranging from deeply wooded areas to sunny, “Deer Lick Meadow” is sure to provide you with a camp setting to your likings. You’ll also enjoy Tamsin’s complete and extensive recreational facilities which are all available to the camper and within short walking distance from your campsite.”

Here’s the front of the rate sheet (below). (Note it includes the same great illustration of the iconic totem pole as seen on the decal that I posted on Part 1 of this blog series.)

On the back is a great map of the park.

Next: Tamsin in the news, and some history of the park

Memories of Tamsin Park – Part 2

Vintage postcards seem to be the only evidence that Tamsin Park ever existed. The top two postcards are ones my parents saved. Looking at them sure bring back some great family memories.

As I mentioned yesterday, the park had a rich, unique atmosphere tied in with American Indian culture that distinguished it from your average Mom-and Pop campground. The colorful, iconic totem pole, the Indian Mill with its collection of artifacts, and the Indian-themed park signage all contributed to a fun and memorable visit for kids.

Although we really weren’t that far from our home in Lorain, when we camped at Tamsin it felt like we were at a real National Park. The Ranger Station and the large, engraved sign at the park's entrance reinforced that feeling as well.

That sign is another one of those images that’s etched into my memory forever.

Anyway, here’s a June 1963 photograph (below) of Mom, my siblings and me in front of the totem pole seen on the postcards. We’re all wearing swimsuits, as well as hats for protection from the sun. You’ll note my brothers and I are wearing our Bar-X Ranch cowboy hats.

I'm the one wearing sunglasses.

Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at a vintage Tamsin brochure.

Memories of Tamsin Park – Part 1

Vintage decal

(Courtesy of Worthpoint.com)

Was your family a camping family like mine?

Like many Northern Ohioans in the early 1960s, my family jumped on the summer camping bandwagon with great enthusiasm.

We towed our pop-up camper to a lot of parks around Northern Ohio in those early years, including Aurora Lake Park, East Harbor State Park, and Findley State Park. But it's the memories of camping at Tamsin Park on Route 8 in Peninsula, Ohio, that make me feel wistful.

Why? For two reasons. One: the park’s rustic Native American atmosphere and fine lakes made it a lot of fun for our family, and two: a housing development sits on the former park property, practically erasing all evidence that it was ever there.

So please join me as my blog takes its annual weeklong vacation from Lorain County, and I set up camp at Tamsin Park – if only in my mind – one more time.