Cincinnati’s Coney Island

Posted: 02.13.2025 | Updated: 02.13.2025

Coney Island would become something that Cincinnati children dreamed about, and families looked forward to seeing, but this amusement destination hasn’t been all smiles throughout its history.

The year 1867 was a tumultuous one in rapidly changing times for America. The Reconstruction Act was signed, giving the Confederate States a pathway to rejoining the Union after the Civil War. Russia received the princely sum of $7.2M from the United States as Alaska became a US territory. 

For the residents of Cincinnati, OH, however, 1867 had its very own Sir Issac Newton-style epiphany under a tree when the owner of an apple orchard saw the fruits of the future and began the city’s love affair with a place that would entertain generations to come. 

Seek your thrills and chills on a Cincinnati Ghost Tour.

Why Is Coney Island in Cincinnati Haunted?

Cincinnati’s Coney Island Amusement Park would become a staple of family life for countless people growing up in the area, but for decades, rumors have swirled. Sightings of strange ghostly goings-on have been reported. 

Some have theorized that these phenomena can be traced to tragedy and even Native American history. Keep your hands inside the car at all times. Let’s take a roller coaster back in time.

Cincinnati’s Historic Theme Park

Around the time the US was purchasing Alaska, James Parker of Cincinnati purchased a 20-acre apple orchard and looked for the fruits of his labor on the grounds. 

In 1870, when Parker rented the land for a private picnic, he had an epiphany—and it didn’t involve many apples. 

Parker foresaw a place where people would have all the amenities that a family would want in a setting that was pleasing to the eye. Slowly but surely, as the apple trees died, they were replaced by maple trees to provide shade for people. 

Guests went to and from enjoying the dance hall, dining hall, and even bowling alley that Parker had installed. ‘Parker’s Grove’ had become a local fixture.

The venture’s success brought suitors, and in 1886, the same year, a new sugary delight was introduced: Coca-Cola. A fairground favorite, it was sold in an Atlanta pharmacy. The Ohio Grove Corporation purchased the business and land from Parker.

It was renamed ‘Ohio Grove, the Coney Island of the West.’ The effort to market the venue with New York’s own Coney Island in mind went full swing in 1887 when ‘Ohio Grove’ was dropped from the name. Coney Island had arrived. 

The addition of the Sunlite Pool in 1925 made it the world’s largest freshwater outdoor recirculating pool. The burgeoning park had reached a new high. However, the venue was as popular as it was prone to flooding because of its riverfront location. 

What Happened to Coney Island?

In 1969, Taft Broadcasting bought the business so that the entire park could be moved to a new location on Kings Island. Coney Island closed on September 6th, 1971, with most of its major attractions moved to the new Kings Island Theme Park. 

Ironically, Taft Broadcasting’s expansion elsewhere meant their intention to redevelop the former Coney Island land became an afterthought. A mere two years after it had closed its doors, Coney Island reopened, albeit with fewer bells and whistles. 

In 1984, the Riverbend Music Centre concert venue opened on the site of former amusement rides, adding a new dimension to the location. 

2019 would mark the beginning of the end for Coney Island as all amusement park rides were removed, focussing instead on the Sunlite Pool and water features. 

In 2023, nearly 140 years since James Parker had seen the future, Coney Island finally passed into history and permanently closed its doors.

The Hopewell Of Coney Island

While the park has a long and winding history, that passage of time pales compared to the prior residents of Coney Island. The Hopewell culture of Native Americans frequented the land between 1500 and 2000 years ago. There have been suggestions that the spirits of these ancient Americans may still roam the park’s site.

Mound-building people, several examples of their elaborate burial mounds, can be found on the land today. When explored, these mounds have revealed secrets of the Hopewell culture in the form of pottery, pipes, and decorative items made from surprisingly exotic materials.

The Hopewell Native Americans were part of what became a vast trade network that stretched across extensive routes from the Great Lakes, the Gulf Of Mexico, and the Rocky Mountains. Waterways such as the Ohio River made this expansive trading possible and created an interconnectivity between other ancient Native American peoples.

The passage of millennia means that knowledge of this ancient culture often remains an undiscovered secret in itself. It is believed that around 500 A.D. (the beginning of what is considered the Dark Ages in Europe’s history, the Hopewell people stopped making burial mounds.

Some have speculated that the advent of the bow and arrow caused massive overhunting or even war between peoples. A bow and arrow was a deadly development, and it has been theorized that conflicts between tribes may have had a devastating effect on the people of the Ohio River.

Intriguingly, there have been numerous reports of Native American chanting carrying on the air within the park after closing. A dense mist has been known to descend on the park, while the surrounding area remains clear and untouched. Perhaps these ancient people still watch over the land or yearn to return to the mortal comforts they knew. 

Deaths at Coney Island Cincinnati

For some, a day at Coney Island would tragically prove to be their last. Death has lurked in the shadows of this place of joy through the year. Many believe some souls may reside here because of it.

• Amusement Park Chief George F. Schott – 1935

The park’s former owner, Schott, was attending a business function at the park’s Moonlite Garden and dropped dead unexpectedly.

• Josephine Rosenfeld – 1947

Rosenfeld fell from a merry-go-round horse after becoming dizzy, striking her head on the ground, and she landed. Initially taken to hospital, Rosenfeld died 45 minutes later from a fractured skull.

• Lucille Clemons – 1947

1947 saw a tragedy that clearly linked to the park. Riverboats regularly ferry passengers to and from the park, and the Island Queen was well-known in the area for just that purpose. 

The passenger vessel exploded near Pittsburgh, killing 19 people. Witnesses described the explosion as ‘an atomic bomb.’ 

1947 also marked the opening of the park’s ‘Shooting Star’ ride. Lucille Clemons is said to have moved to grab a hat while on the ride, throwing her to her death below. 

Controversially, her husband later claimed that she didn’t own hats, throwing her death into question. The park investigation found the ride to be in full working order.

• William Bomkamp, 18 year old student – 1966

18-year-old Bomkamp had decided to squeeze in one last ride on the park’s ‘Shooting Star’ ride before evening fell and the park closed. Bomkamp was seated in the back row of the ride when the train pulled away. 

When the train returned to the station, Bomkamp was nowhere to be seen, the lap bar still secure. His slumped body was found at the base of a dip, a short distance from the station.

Coney Island Hauntings

Numerous eyewitness accounts, particularly by staff over the years, have described disturbing spectral sightings at the park. During the park’s heyday, one security guard described apparitions of shadowy figures roaming the park at night. 

They are particularly active around the Moonlite Gardens, where George Schott passed away. The disembodied sound of screaming and the clattering of ride cars has also been heard in the dark, empty park.

Haunted Ohio

While Coney Island now becomes a memory for Cincinnati residents, rumors of permanent residents persist. An area so immersed in ancient Native American history, tragic deaths, and the site of one of America’s most celebrated amusement parks may still have many stories to tell. Find your own tale on a Haunted Cincinnati ghost tour.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for haunted stories from around the nation, and keep reading our blog for the best-haunted history in America.

Sources:

• https://www.redfin.com/blog/what-is-cincinnati-oh-known-for/#:~:text=Cincinnati%20is%20celebrated%20for%20its,creative%20spirit%20and%20artistic%20vitality.
• https://kicentral.com/forums/topic/12947-paranormal-activity-at-coney-island
• https://www.citybeat.com/news/coney-island-12183416
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-visit-ohio-first-world-heritage-site-hopewell-mounds
• http://retrospect.sid-hill.us/moments_in_time/coney_history/cincinnati_coney_island_history.htm
• https://coneyislandcentral.com/history/