Eldridge Park Cache Multi-Cache
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Welcome to Eldridge Park. We spent time here growing up in the 70's and 80's when it was a thriving amusement park. We made this a MICRO due to the openness and increase in activity in good weather. It's a very short, easy 2 part Cache. Bring your own pen.
The best way to access Eldridge Park is from The Clemens Center Parkway. When you get to the intersection of the Clemens Ctr. Pkwy and Woodlawn Ave/Thurston Street you will want to turn onto Woodlawn Ave and make an immediate right onto Eldridge Park Rd. next to Robinson Lumber, follow the road in.
The coordinates will take you to a sign. Information from this sign will give you the actual Cache coordinates.
1) N42* 07.977 - # of black line miles = N42* 0_._ _ _
2) W076* 49.620 - # of green line miles = W076* _ _._ _ _
Use the proper decimal placement.
The 135 year history of this place is quite interesting.
Please read on if you are interested.
Eldridge Park had its beginnings in 1870 after the property was purchased by Dr. Edwin Eldridge. It covered 89 acres. He turned its swampy primitive condition into a beautiful park filled with planted trees, ponds, lakes, fountains, statues, winding walkways, and a 7 story towering Casino which was near the lake. He lined the edge of the lake with willow trees, some of which still exist today. Beginning in 1872, hundreds of people would visit on Sunday afternoons to listen to the sermons in the Chapel Grove area of the park. After Dr. Eldridge's death in 1876, the City of Elmira bought the property and continued to develop it.
Prior to 1896, a railroad station was built near the Erie Railroad tracks and railroad excursions carried thousands of people to the park. It was later converted into a dance pavilion around 1930. Park visitors could visit the bear pit where two Rocky Mountain grizzlies and one cinnamon bear lived. The carousel was built in the late 1890's and installed at Eldridge Park in 1924. The wooden animals on it were all hand-carved. If a person riding it was lucky enough to grab a brass ring as it went around, the ring could later be turned in for a free ride. Some people kept their brass rings as souvenirs and still have them today.
Throughout the years it was a very popular place for many company and family picnics. Amusement park rides were added such as planes that flew out over the lake, the whip, the bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, a spook house, a dragon boat named "Jasper, kiddieland, the carousel, and a wooden roller coaster called "The Speedway". There was also an arcade, a shooting gallery, miniature golf, and live monkeys and bears and high-wire acts on a theatre stage. Everyone that knew about Eldridge Lake had heard the tale that it was "bottomless" and connected to Seneca Lake. The best candy apples and vinegar French Fries were served among several other foods.
The amusement park deteriorated in the 1980's after rising expenses forced its closure. In August 1989, the carousel ran for the last time and the wooden animals were sold at an auction in NYC. The City of Elmira in recent years has been trying to revive Eldridge Park. Today, 16 acres remain and soccer fields and softball fields have been built. Walkers, joggers, and in-line skaters can use an asphalt trail and a skate park was added in 2001. There is an annual fishing derby and it's a great place to watch 4th of July Fireworks. With a lot of community effort, donations, and volunteers, the carousel has been restored to its original condition piece by piece. It began operating again in the Spring of 2006. The carousel is open for rides from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend on Friday evening, Saturday evening, and Sunday.
When you visit Eldridge Park, you will see five buildings. The largest one contains the carousel and the round one next to it housed the "Whip". The "whip" building was converted into a dance hall in the Spring of 2007 and a stage near the lake was also built at that time. The carousel and the dance hall (whip) are the only two buildings that are original from the 1940's. A new pavillion and a train on train tracks are other additions currently in the planning stages. It will be hard to imagine that this area was a very popular, fun park for over 135 years.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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