Idora Park Fire

[Box 2565]

Originally posted 12-10-99 by PSIPVP.

How many Youngstown Firemen remember the Idora Park fire of 1984? Care to talk about it, We would love to hear it. Visit my Idora Park site dedicated to Saving Idora Park...
http://www.idorapark.org/

Thanks,
Matt Schwartz
matt@idorapark.org

[Box 2565]

Was this amusement park still in use when the fire happened?  How did the alarm come in?  Wasn't there a box out front?
 :shock:

[daysleeper47]

Hi Steve

The first fire occured as workers were preparing the park for the season. They were literally days from opening. A welder's torch caught some leaves or roofing material on fire (something like that) and then they all went to lunch. When they got back, they found quite a fire, notified the fire department, and the rest is history. The park was closed during the second fire in 1986 and third fire again in 2001. I don't anything else specifically about the alarm coming in. I am guessing the first in assignment would be Engine 13-8-15-Ladder 24-Car 31-32. I think Greg has the run card or knows the assignment. Greg, how close am I?

[Hazguy]

Was this amusement park still in use when the fire happened?  How did the alarm come in?  Wasn't there a box out front?
 :shock:

The first fire started inside of the Lost River water ride which was near the ballroom on the left side of the midway.  They were welding inside of the wooden structure.  Someone forgot to shut the torch off when they went to lunch ...... and the ensuing fire caught the Lost River, the office .. most of the left side midway and part of the coaster on fire.

 As for the box out front ... I believe someone we know owns that box ................................

[daysleeper47]

History of the Idora Park Fires


On April 26, 1984 the park, still on the market with no takers, was busy getting ready for opening day in May. The weather had finally given the crews a break with temperatures in the 70's and sunshine. This day they were working on the Lost River, a combination mill ride and shoot the chutes ride. Shortly before noon, as the crew was going to lunch, a welding torch was laid to rest inside the ride. Unfortunately, it was still hot. When Pat Duffy, Jr. noticed smoke from his office window, the fire was still manageable, so they tried to put it out themselves with extinguishers. They soon realized this was not going to work and called the Youngstown Fire Department. When the first of the firefighters arrived, they found a horrible situation: low water pressure in the park's only operating fire hydrant. A second hydrant was so old that it had been shut off. As the flames roared out of control from the Lost River, to the park office, to the Wildcat, a hose relay was set up to hydrants located outside the park on Rogers Road and Parkview Avenue, and an aerial truck began spraying down the park's carousel house. Employees scrambled to save park records, but only some current files were pulled to safety. Older files and historical records were lost to the flames. In less than an hour, the park office, eleven concessions, the Lost River and about a third of the Wildcat were gone. Nearly fifty firefighters, including a dozen who were off-duty and working without pay, finally controlled the blaze and kept it from spreading to other parts of the park, including the 1922, #61 PTC carousel. Idora opened on schedule that season, but it would be their last. Everything was put up for auction on October 20-21 and was conducted by Norton Auctioneers of Coldwater, Michigan.

In October 1985 Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church of Youngstown purchased Idora Park, and Rev. Norman L. Wagner announced plans for the construction of a $50 million religious community. This "City of God" would include a new church building, a seven-story prayer tower, a small shopping center, nursing home, private residences and educational buildings. The construction was scheduled to begin in the spring of 1987.

On May 3, 1986 Idora was hit with another fire. This time it destroyed the buildings in the northwest corner of the park, including the Kooky Castle, Laffin' Lena's Loonyland, the Helter Skelter bumper car ride and the Crazy Horse Saloon (Casino Theater, the oldest building in the park). Everything of value had been removed after the auction, but it was still a great historic loss.

Mount Calvary was unable to obtain the funds needed to pursue their "City of God" and in October of 1988 a foreclosure judgement was signed. The church owed half a million dollars to its creditors.

In 1992 the Idora Park Historical Society was formed. This group succeeded in getting the park put on the National Register of Historic Places and was attempting to purchase the property. Unfortunately, in January 1994, Mount Calvary was able to obtain the funds to re-purchase the property. The church announced its intentions to continue with their original plans for a "City of God", but there has been no action taken toward this end.

March 6, 2001 - This morning at approximately 10:00 am, the Idora Park Ballroom was destroyed by fire. There was debate about whether this building was salvageable, but no one ever made a monetary commitment. Another piece of Idora Park has been lost forever.

July 26, 2001 - 8:08pm. "The bulldozers are there!" This was the only thing my friend on the other end of the line had to say. I knew this night and the days following would be the true end. The Jack Rabbit and Wildcat coasters are gone, but not forgotten. Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church will finally have their "City of God".

http://idoraparkipmc.tripod.com/history/

[Bs918]

The way it was

[Bs918]

The end

[Bs918]

Wildcat defore the fire

[Bs918]

Another one

[Matt Schwartz]

Thats somewhat odd... I don't ever remember posting that first post that was quoted up top there...

Greg - you have a user PSIPVP? I didn't see one in your member lists.

I didn't even have the idorapark.org domain in '99

That is strange

Do you have the thread URL for that post?

[yfdgricker]

Do you have the thread URL for that post?

Humm that is odd. That post was from two or three message board incarnations ago.  I believe that might have been from the old free message boards we had or possibly the YaBB incarnation of the forums. That's all that remains of that post. It was lovingly carried over by our administrators so it wouldn't get lost.

Sorry Matt, that's all I know about it. If memory serves me correctly, I think that was posted as a guest so they never registered.

[daysleeper47]

Check out this website with great resources, images and news clippings on the Idora Park fire.

http://illicitohio.com/SBNO/idora/newsclips/idoranews.htm

[Bs918]

reat site Joe !