Waves of Transformation

Crystal Beach Park's Waterfront Legacy: A Cautionary Tale of the Negative Influence of Tourism Affecting Lake Erie

Sharon Foster

Niagara - 2024

For more than 100 years, Crystal Beach Park on Lake Erie, Ontario was where tourists and locals alike visited, time after time, all summer, generation after generation. "It was a part of people's lives."¹ Crystal Beach Park was not just an important contributor to tourism on the Great Lakes but rather, it was a part of the fabric of the lives of the people who visited and an integral contributor to the local culture. Despite the outward appearance of success, the evolution of Crystal Beach Park into a waterfront amusement destination is in fact, a cautionary tale of the negative influence that unchecked tourism development has on community, cultural integrity, and economic sustainability. This essay critically examines how Crystal Beach Park\'s growth led to the erosion of traditional values, created social divisions and economic disparities within the community, and highlights the consequences of prioritizing leisure tourism over the well-being of local residents and the preservation of community identity.

Crystal Beach Park began its story in 1888. The park was created by John Rebstock on the Lake Erie waterfront as a "Chautauqua show area, or religious campground".² Looking to attract more patrons, Rebstock added amusements, rides and sideshows to these campgrounds, to utilize the available space and time as profitably as possible. These shows grew to be forerunners to the amusement parks we know today. To encourage visitors, the entire experience was considered, and transportation supports such as The Canadiana and Americana passenger ferries, which operated out of Buffalo, New York were employed as just one of the ways that provided easy access to the park. Accommodations such as transportation services made Crystal Beach a popular tourist destination for both Canadians and Americans. Figure 1 gives us an idea of the fun that was promised at the park at that time.³

By 1896 the Ontario Southern Railway had also connected the park to the mainline rail station in Ridgeway offering even more opportunity for growth. At the time Crystal Beach advertising claimed that it was the "best place to go any time".⁴

"Families of the time were looking for fun and affordable outings, and Crystal Beach more than provided the entertainment of the day and an easy way to get there. The popularity of the park grew rapidly, and it was soon referred to as "Buffalo's Coney Island".⁵

Over the years, the park took on a number of owners. "In 1908, Rebstock sold the Crystal Beach Company to investors from Detroit and Cleveland, who renamed the venture the Lake Erie Excursion Company."⁶ The park changed hands again in 1922, under the new ownership of George C. Hall, one of the confectionery proprietors at the park. This was the most prosperous periods of Crystal Beach Park's history. The park thrived and grew under Hall's direction until his passing in 1973. By 1983 the park was in receivership, and "was managed by Ramsi Tick under an agreement with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce."⁷ "The following year, Edward Hall (one of Hall\'s elder sons), Rudy Bonifacio, Joseph Biondolillo, and J. Alden Bemel" took final control over Crystal Beach Park, until the parks closing in 1989. ⁸

A PBS documentary created about Crystal Beach Park, depicted many tourists and locals fondly recounting their "memories of the Canadiana Steamship, the Grand Ballroom, the Cyclone, Comet, Laff in the Dark, Magic Carpet, Hall's Suckers, Sugar Puff Waffles and more."⁹ Crystal Beach was a much-loved family destination for millions of people over the years, as seen in Figure 2.¹⁰

The early days of Crystal Beach Park were an era of much division of wealth. Vacations were previously a luxury for the wealthy, but after the great depression and post war period, amusement parks were set up to be an easily accessible and relatively affordable way for families to spend their hard-earned leisure time, and thus Crystal Beach began to thrive.

When a former beachgoer reminisced about the park, a memorable recollection was not about the rides but rather "the boat, the beach and the ballroom."¹¹ It was not just the park that was the draw, but the opportunity to travel out on the water with your family, wade into the large, shallow, crystal clear and warm lake, and then dance your troubles away in what was the biggest dance floor in the world at the time - holding over 3,000 dancers! For the youth of the day, this was the perfect opportunity to bring out a new outfit, meet some new people, and show off your much-practiced dancing skills. The Ballroom drew many visitors, many famous and popular entertainers of the time had showcased performances there. The appeal of the park was the escapism it offered for many. The dichotomy of the conservative neighboring areas compared to the decadent release that the park offered highlighted the social divisions and economic disparities within the community. Such a dichotomy enlightens one to the consequences of prioritizing leisure tourism over the well-being of local residents. The park was a fantasy land, and some residents grew to resent what the park was representing. The park owners continued to contribute to that fantasy over the years.

"What really put Crystal Beach Amusement Park on the map though was the Crystal Beach Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster that opened in 1927."¹² This coaster was a feat of engineering. Built on a small lot of land, roller coaster creator Harry G. Travers was forced to tighten up curves and shorten tracks with the effect of amplifying the intensity of the ride, depicted in Figure 3.¹³ By some it was lovingly referred to as "one of the greatest coasters ever made" -- by others as "the most frightening coaster in the world!"¹⁴

One of the most popular reads of the time was A guide book to Crystal Beach from 1922. This guide, pictured in Figure 4, was compiled by C.J. Pilkey and contained advertisements for local businesses, maps and information for lots and cottages available for purchase."¹⁵ Looking back on this publication offers some insight into the ads of the times, the cost of rentals in the area, and the attractions and treats offered as well.

The Golden Era of Crystal Beach Park was at its height in the mid 1900's, during a time after the war when families were eager to go out and travel and find some fun. "At its peak in the 1940s and early 1950s, the park had about 20,000 visitors daily throughout the summer, from Victoria Day through Labour Day"¹⁶ There was not much else comparable in size in the area, with such easy proximity, and with such a rich and engrained local history. For so many visitors, the park played a significant role in their lives and is referred to lovingly as its stories are recanted even today. Not all residents though have the same positive recollections. By the mid-century, there was growing competition for leisure time and tourism dollars. Car and plane travel was now becoming more accessible, other larger theme parks such as Disney were opening, and the look of leisure was changing.

The 1950's were really the point where outlying factors started to negatively influence the success of Crystal Beach. Climate and human impact may have begun to play a factor in the decline of the park at this time. With the growth of the population and industry on the Great Lakes, so began the noticeable pollution of the waters. What was once a beautiful "crystal clear" beach was now suffering the effects of years of neglect. The clear waters were beginning to turn brown and less appealing. As noted by Cleveland Business, it's "time to retake the lake waterfront from the industrial waste and sewage that prompted comedian Johnny Carson to quip: \"I heard Lake Erie is the place fish go to die."¹⁷

Further affecting the park was the political and social climate. The demographic make-up of America was changing, and the influx of African American consumers the park threatened their image as a safe, family retreat. "The park had been a unique and popular white enclave for more than 60 years, and when young African Americans began to integrate it, their presence was deeply resented by white patrons."¹⁸ These tensions came to a head in 1956. "The simmering ill will precipitated a riot that began with gangs of black and white teenagers, male and female, throwing bottles, assaulting people and terrorizing one another in the amusement park, along the adjacent beach and later aboard the Canadiana."¹⁹ While this was portrayed by the media as a juvenile issue, it was a thin veil covering the racial unrest of the times. These race issues had little long lasting effect on the park though, as the neighbours and residents kept a close watch on the park to ensure its well-being. "This concern was met with watchful eyes of residents and the initiation of resolutions when the need arose."²⁰ With the ease and advancement of car and plane travel over the decades, tourism opportunities were more accessible, and families were able to branch out further to faraway places that offered new, exciting adventures instead of being forced to stay close to home. The park was beginning to lose its relevance and tourism monopoly in the ever-changing times.

Further eroding the park's patronage was the introduction of more competition. Over the years, bigger, better and larger local entertainment opportunities had sprung up -- in local parks such as Darien Lake, Marineland, and Canada's Wonderland. The park still boasted a devoted following and continued to add more rides and attractions to continuously entice tourists. In the end, though it simply was not enough. These additional destination choices for vacationers thinned out the crowds that had previously patronized Crystal Beach alone. Adding to this, over the years the advanced age of the park and the continuously rising costs of operation coincided with the timing of economic struggles in the area. In the 1970's and 1980's we saw the Buffalo area lose much of its industry and employers. With so many factors and declining visitor numbers affecting the parks profitability, Crystal Beach was now struggling to stay open. In 1989, on Labour Day, Crystal Beach closed permanently.

As we look back on the park history, one of the lasting influences is the American ownership of the land. It is something that draws ire from local residents, as the area has now been turned into a private resort that no longer has public access. Even the iconic lighthouse no longer is accessible to the general public. "It was definitely a draw for American tourists to see their flag flown proudly at the park. They were welcomed with open arms. They invested their currency and time at a summer resort that recognized and welcomed American by-laws, holidays, American patriotism, and the American dollar."²¹

Without the draw of the large amusement park, tourism in the area looks quite different today. It is more about the quiet beach, and is influenced by the nostalgia of the area and the fond memories it holds. What was once the beach area at Crystal Beach Park is now known as "Bay Beach", but the access looks very different. According to the Fort Erie website, "Beachgoers must present one of three 2023 Bay Beach passes to access the beach."²² There is now a fee charged to enter the area. While this can be seen as charging money to experience nature, it is also a way to regulate the traffic and ensure the preservation of the area.

Despite the detrimental impact the park and its patrons had over the years, there has been a gentle and quiet resurgence in tourism in the Crystal Beach area over the past few decades. There has been a simplification to the beach area, with the focus on the water and the lifestyle it affords and without all the lights, games and action of its previous life. It has a much more residential focus, and the beach is simply that -- an area of sand to relax on. In addition, there are some local industries that have created new interest in the area and they are drawing back the day-trippers. The area is much more genteel and suburban now, as shown in this promotional real estate website for Crystal Beach. The area that a large part of the park previously occupied is now called Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club built in1992, shown here in Figure 5.²³

While the amusement park is long gone, "the town of Fort Erie has operated a public beach called Crystal Beach Waterfront Park to the east of Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club since 2005. It features a boat launch and was next to the Palmwood restaurant which closed in 2021."²⁴ There is still pride to be shared in the name "Crystal Beach" and the good memories associated with it. The journey of Crystal Beach Park has been a long, rich, proud and entertaining one that has left a mark on millions of hearts.

Further preserving the legacy is the group "Friends of Crystal Beach". They are like-minded people who are dedicated to preserving the past, present and future of the area. Their website proudly proclaims that they are "Working together for a better Crystal Beach."²⁵ Their Facebook page boasts over 1.6K members and they are working collectively to continue the growth and tourism in the community. "We sponsor community events like the free Waterfront Concerts every summer; the Circle of Art art exhibition every July. We have also donated to local charities and funded improvements to public areas in Crystal Beach."²⁶ This continuation and preservation of the legacy of Crystal Beach allows us to reflect on the past, to a simpler time, and consider the obstacles and influences that impacted the park in the end and how to now turn those negatives into positives. The local residents have also taken some history lessons away - when a new condo was proposed for the area in 2012, the locals loudly fought its development and did not approve the build. "This right here is a message that should go out across the province," said the town\'s MPP, Wayne Gates. "The message is that we shouldn\'t be developing our waterfronts with condos, we should be protecting them and making them accessible to the public."²⁷

While some lessons had to be learned, some of what happened was just a reflection of the natural progression and social change of our times. Memories of the park are kept alive in Western New York and Southern Ontario, where in certain shops you can still enjoy George Hall's suckers, the famous waffles, and the Loganberry drinks from the original Crystal Beach Park. A sweet reminder of adventures had for over a century. By continuing to tell the stories and share the experiences, and by learning from the history of events, Crystal Beach will remain alive in minds and hearts for generations to come.