From The Archives: Surf Cincinnati on 35mm
Surf Cincinnati was the place where I first indulged in a curiosity of exploring abandoned locales, the place that turned a childhood interest with photography into a passion. I loved “Surf” as a 90s kid when it was alive just as much as I loved wandering through its derelict state later in life. The park has always stuck with me, a subject that still shines influence on my writing and photography to this day.
Fading Ads of (Surf) Cincinnati
This sign is a bit different than those found in the book with a similar name to this post, but it meets the basic criteria. It also has some personal significance.
Retro Surf Cincinnati Commercials circa 1988.
If you've followed QC/D for awhile you may be familiar with the saga of Surf Cincinnati. It was the first abandoned place I ever truly explored and photographed. On top of that, its story hit on several personal notes: I went here a lot as a kid and exploring an abandoned amusement park always made me reflective of the years I spent working in one myself. Photographs of the park when it was active are few and far between, and until this one, I had never seen a video or commercial from the park pop up online.
The Remains of Surf Cincinnati: A Followup
The story's been told here before. It's a place we spent countless hours exploring. It's a place many of us visited in its prime. It's a place documented here on QC/D in several articles. Ten years after first stepping foot into its abandoned state, I went to go see what, if anything, was left after the demolition.
Fueled by nostalgia, the story of Surf Cincinnati continues.
Return to Surf Cincinnati
It's been ten years since Surf Cincinnati was abandoned and over five years since most of it was demolished, it was time to go back.
Six Degrees of Abandoned Amusement Parks
Over the years, some of the most incredible abandoned places I've photographed have been defunct amusement parks. The six locations featured on this site all have a historical link to each other ...sort of.
Fortune Cookie Prophecy Part 2: The Surf Cincinnati Abandoned Miniature Golf Classic
The prophecy of a "delightful journey" laid out by the fortune cookie in Part 1 had so far come true when Gozer and I explored the remains of forgotten Lancaster Street earlier in the day.
Surf Cincinnati.
Once an iconic Cincinnati amusement park, the wave pool's been shut off and the lazy river is dried up.
How Things Came to Be - Part 1: Valentines Day 2006, Surf Cincinnati
Part 1 in QC/D's urban exploration origin story.