Foot Bridge and Harbor Views
A Historical Marker west of the public landing reads:
The footbridge crossing the Russells Point Harbor was constructed in 1924 by Samuel “Pappy” and French Wilgus at a cost of $15,000. It connected the east side of the Sandy Beach Amusement Park to eateries and other attractions on the west side. The bridge closed along with the amusement park in the early 70s. A lack of continuing maintenance over the years led to the decking being removed in the mid 80s as a safety precaution. While new development began surrounding the bridge, the lighted steel structure became a widely recognized symbol for Indian Lake. Having grown up in the heyday of the Sandy Beach Amusement Park, the new developer, Mr. William “Bill” Reed, made sure the bridge remained. In 2009, after his death, the Reed family teamed up with the Indian Lake Area Historical Society to revive the bridge for enjoyment by the community and visitors. Fund raising began in earnest in 2010, with contributions from generous donors and active community support. Four years later, the largest crowd in the Russells Point area since the amusement park days witnessed the dedication of the refurbished Sandy Beach Bridge and William and Marjorie Reed Memorial Walkway, on August 23, 2014. The bridge, walkway, benches, and these historical markers are all part of the theme “Bridging the Past Into the Future”. We hope you enjoy your visit.
The Plaza Show Boat was designed by Nathan Coon for French Wilgus and opened in 1936. It was one hundred and four feet long and thirty feet wide, and could accommodate 600 guests. The main deck consisted of a large dining area with a large dancing area in the middle. More dining space could be found on the second deck, while the third deck accommodated office area and space for small private parties. Surrounding the main deck was an open-air promenade with chairs and tables for patrons to overlook the harbor. The boat’s appearance, complete with pilot house, masts, and smoke stacks, gave the impression of a tall yacht ready to sail to distant ports, but the Plaza Show Boat was actually permanently moored on the west side of the Russells Point Harbor, just north of the foot bridge.
After the Second World War more people began to acquire their own boats. The popularity of commercial boat rides declined and by the late 1960s such boats were nearly extinct. It was in these later years that the “Mark Twain” became the most popular tour boat on Indian Lake. Built in the style of a steam “paddle wheeler” by local resident Floyd Dever, this steel hauled, double-decked boat measured 18 feet wide by 60 feet long and could seat 175 passengers. This postcard is from the early 1960s and shows the sternwheeler Mark Twain approaching the steel bridge that spanned the harbor.
Shown in the background are the Old Vienna Gardens on the west side of the harbor. The motorboat Miss Cruisefast was owned by Henry Blum, who owned several speed boats.
Photographs taken during the 1960s. The Old Vienna Gardens was located at the site of the Dreamland Ballroom. After enlarging the building and changing the name, nightly vaudeville and music shows were presented every night that the Amusement Park was open. In its heydays, the shows were advertised as having fifty people on the program, including eighteen girls in the chorus line and a fourteen piece orchestra.
Undated photograph showing the foot bridge in the later stages of life before restauration.
Vintage Postcards of Indian Lake, Ohio 