Growing up in Ohio comes with a unique set of memories. From enjoying (sort of) fresh popcorn while you shopped to taking annual vacations to the world’s largest theme park, there was no place quite like the Buckeye State for a kid. The following are 8 places you might remember from your childhood, including department stores of yesteryear and long-gone amusement parks. Get ready for a trip down Memory Lane.
- Geauga Lake Amusement Park
Chris Hagerman/Wikimedia Commons You likely remember when this was once the thriving Geauga Lake Park, where a lot of your family vacations took place. Today, very little remains of the world’s largest theme park, which closed in 2000.
- Hills Department Store
Ichabod/Wikimedia Commons Remember the days of enjoying free popcorn while you shop? Most stores of this department store chain (founded in 1957 in Youngstown) were located in Ohio up until the late 90s when the chain was acquired by Ames.
- Gold Circle
Dirtyharry667/Wikimedia Commons This discount department store chain was sold and dismantled in the late 80s. It was founded in Columbus and its headquarters was stationed in Worthington.
- Sea World
Stig Nyggard/Flickr Once a neighbor to Geauga Lake from the late 60s until 1997, this beloved aquatic park left Ohio with nothing but memories of fun-filled, sea themed days.
- Lazarus
Vintage Columbus/Facebook This regional department store chain was a popular Christmas shopping destination, based in Columbus until the early 2000s. The F & R Lazarus and Co. made way for Macy’s in 2005.
- Big Bear
TheeErin/Flickr For nearly 75 years, Big Bear was a central Ohio institution with stores also operating in West Virginia. This supermarket chain met its final demise in 2004.
- Rolling Acres Mall
Kamil Dziedzina Photos/Flickr With more than 140 stores, a theater and a food court in its heyday, this Arkon-area mall officially closed in 2008. A few years later, two of its still-open stores, Sears and JC Penney, also closed, leaving it completely abandoned.
- Idora Park
Michelle Bada/Flickr Also referred to as “Youngstown’s Million Dollar Playground,” this beloved amusement park closed in the 80s.
Do you remember these places? What other places do you remember visiting in Ohio as a kid? Share your stories and memories with us!
Chris Hagerman/Wikimedia Commons
You likely remember when this was once the thriving Geauga Lake Park, where a lot of your family vacations took place. Today, very little remains of the world’s largest theme park, which closed in 2000.
Ichabod/Wikimedia Commons
Remember the days of enjoying free popcorn while you shop? Most stores of this department store chain (founded in 1957 in Youngstown) were located in Ohio up until the late 90s when the chain was acquired by Ames.
Dirtyharry667/Wikimedia Commons
This discount department store chain was sold and dismantled in the late 80s. It was founded in Columbus and its headquarters was stationed in Worthington.
Stig Nyggard/Flickr
Once a neighbor to Geauga Lake from the late 60s until 1997, this beloved aquatic park left Ohio with nothing but memories of fun-filled, sea themed days.
Vintage Columbus/Facebook
This regional department store chain was a popular Christmas shopping destination, based in Columbus until the early 2000s. The F & R Lazarus and Co. made way for Macy’s in 2005.
TheeErin/Flickr
For nearly 75 years, Big Bear was a central Ohio institution with stores also operating in West Virginia. This supermarket chain met its final demise in 2004.
Kamil Dziedzina Photos/Flickr
With more than 140 stores, a theater and a food court in its heyday, this Arkon-area mall officially closed in 2008. A few years later, two of its still-open stores, Sears and JC Penney, also closed, leaving it completely abandoned.
Michelle Bada/Flickr
Also referred to as “Youngstown’s Million Dollar Playground,” this beloved amusement park closed in the 80s.
For more nostalgic fun, check out our previous article: 13 Weird Side Effects Everyone Experiences From Growing Up In Ohio.
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Address: Ohio, USA
