The Mysterious House In The Train Fort That Cannot Be Torn Down

[BoddaH1994]

 

[Tr0y]

On 7/15/2024 at 11:01 AM, BoddaH1994 said:

 

Great episode!

[BoddaH1994]

1 hour ago, Tr0y said:

Great episode!

Thanks!!!

[Outdoor Man]

That was a great episode!

 

[DonHelbig]

1 hour ago, Outdoor Man said:

That was a great episode!

 

Thank you! 

[jzarley]

I’ve never watched your podcast before—it’s really enjoyable.

I’m with Ryan that the requirement to not tear down the house seems like a weird thing to request. I wonder what the original sellers’ thinking was on that? I’m guessing it was some sort of homestead that had been in their family for a long time.

I have a feeling that requirement would have a difficult time being enforced at this point—first of all, someone from the original sellers would have to care enough to mount a challenge. Plus, KI has been sold three times since the original Taft Broadcasting land purchases—I doubt if that stipulation was included in the sale to Carl Linder, then the sale to Paramount, then the sale to Cedar Fair.

But, I guess at this point, what’s the point in spending the money tearing it down? It’s hidden away from view inside the fort, and it gives the park a nice bit of folklore (not to mention you guys a fun topic for your podcast )

[BoddaH1994]

12 hours ago, jzarley said:

I’ve never watched your podcast before—it’s really enjoyable.

I’m with Ryan that the requirement to not tear down the house seems like a weird thing to request. I wonder what the original sellers’ thinking was on that? I’m guessing it was some sort of homestead that had been in their family for a long time.

I have a feeling that requirement would have a difficult time being enforced at this point—first of all, someone from the original sellers would have to care enough to mount a challenge. Plus, KI has been sold three times since the original Taft Broadcasting land purchases—I doubt if that stipulation was included in the sale to Carl Linder, then the sale to Paramount, then the sale to Cedar Fair.

But, I guess at this point, what’s the point in spending the money tearing it down? It’s hidden away from view inside the fort, and it gives the park a nice bit of folklore (not to mention you guys a fun topic for your podcast )

I think they could get away with it now, but if it’s hidden in a fort and no one can go in there then why spend the money to tear it down at this point?

I didn’t completely believe that clause either until Dennis Speigel said that he believed that it was true.

[super7]

If they are going to to do any work in that area, they should clean up yo overgrowth on the fort. 

[BeeastFarmer]

1 hour ago, super7 said:

If they are going to to do any work in that area, they should clean up yo overgrowth on the fort. 

YOU of all people, are advocating for removal of vegetation at a Six Flags park?  I NEVER thought I'd see this day!

[Orion-XL200]

Hasn't the house all but collapsed? 

[BeeastFarmer]

38 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

Hasn't the house all but collapsed? 

Lots of good info on the podcast, I'd highly reccommend it!

[TombRaiderFTW]

54 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

Hasn't the house all but collapsed? 

I think it has collapsed collapsed at this point. You used to be able to just make out the brick chimney. It hasn't been visible for a few years.

[Platinum Bass]

I finally got to this episode recently. First let me say I love both Tower Topics and The Attractions Group podcasts. Always interesting stuff...

That house has fascinated me for some reason. At one point not too long ago I went down the rabbit hole of seeing what historical information might be available about the property online and learned quite a few things. None of that is super exciting, but perhaps a few details might be worth sharing...

Based on various property records, I believe the house was built sometime between 1954 and 1956.

I can't speak for or against the accuracy of the supposed agreement to not tear it down, but FWIW it was actually one of three houses side by side all along what was the east side of Columbia Rd that Kings Island left standing, and apparently used in some capacity, for many years. Each property had different owners prior to Taft purchasing each of them separately in early 1970. All 3 houses were still standing at least until 1986. 2 of the three until at least 1993. By 1997 only the one in the fort remained.

Hopefully I'm attaching these images correctly...

The first one is snip from a survey from 1984 showing each of the original property boundaries of the three houses KI kept around. The house in the fort is the southern most of the three plots in the red circle.

The other images below are all snippets cropped from aerial photos made available online by the Ohio Department of Transportation. In each one the "fort house" is circled in red.

Here is 1956. Fort house is recently built. The middle of the 3 houses is being built. No sign of the northern house yet. The old farm house further north in this photo would not survive the park opening.

 

Here is 1957. The middle house is now complete. The fort house has added a pond. Still no sign of the northern most house.

 

Here is 1964. The northern most of the 3 houses the park would keep is now present. The middle house has added a garage or large shed.

 

Here is 1970, the year Taft purchased each property. All 3 houses were purchased on different dates in Jan and Feb of that year. The northern most house looks to have added an addition to back since the 1964 photo. This one is at an angle that gives a reasonable idea of what the housed looked like before the park owned them. Also of note the old farm house further to the north is still standing at this point.

 

Here is 1972. The park is open now. All 3 homes are still standing. The older farm house that was further north is gone. This photo shows what Don described in the episode that the train did not originally come particularly close to the house.

 

Here is 1974. Cars parked at all 3 houses. This one is angled to show a bit of the front of the houses.

 

Here is 1975. Another one showing a decent look at the houses.

 

Here is 1986. All 3 houses still standing and appear to still be used in come capacity.

 

Here is 1993. The middle house is now gone. It would have been in the way of the re-route of the train for the water park. The fort is now build around the southern house. The northern house is still standing though.

 

Here is 1997. The northern most house is now gone, only the southern one inside the fort survived this long.

[BlondyRidesOn]

Very awesome find! I didn't realize the house was that young. It's also strange, and a little spooky in a way, to see aerial views of the site before Kings Island was built.

[BoddaH1994]

12 hours ago, Platinum Bass said:

I finally got to this episode recently. First let me say I love both Tower Topics and The Attractions Group podcasts. Always interesting stuff...

That house has fascinated me for some reason. At one point not too long ago I went down the rabbit hole of seeing what historical information might be available about the property online and learned quite a few things. None of that is super exciting, but perhaps a few details might be worth sharing...

Based on various property records, I believe the house was built sometime between 1954 and 1956.

I can't speak for or against the accuracy of the supposed agreement to not tear it down, but FWIW it was actually one of three houses side by side all along what was the east side of Columbia Rd that Kings Island left standing, and apparently used in some capacity, for many years. Each property had different owners prior to Taft purchasing each of them separately in early 1970. All 3 houses were still standing at least until 1986. 2 of the three until at least 1993. By 1997 only the one in the fort remained.

Hopefully I'm attaching these images correctly...

The first one is snip from a survey from 1984 showing each of the original property boundaries of the three houses KI kept around. The house in the fort is the southern most of the three plots in the red circle.

The other images below are all snippets cropped from aerial photos made available online by the Ohio Department of Transportation. In each one the "fort house" is circled in red.

Here is 1956. Fort house is recently built. The middle of the 3 houses is being built. No sign of the northern house yet. The old farm house further north in this photo would not survive the park opening.

 

Here is 1957. The middle house is now complete. The fort house has added a pond. Still no sign of the northern most house.

 

Here is 1964. The northern most of the 3 houses the park would keep is now present. The middle house has added a garage or large shed.

 

Here is 1970, the year Taft purchased each property. All 3 houses were purchased on different dates in Jan and Feb of that year. The northern most house looks to have added an addition to back since the 1964 photo. This one is at an angle that gives a reasonable idea of what the housed looked like before the park owned them. Also of note the old farm house further to the north is still standing at this point.

 

Here is 1972. The park is open now. All 3 homes are still standing. The older farm house that was further north is gone. This photo shows what Don described in the episode that the train did not originally come particularly close to the house.

 

Here is 1974. Cars parked at all 3 houses. This one is angled to show a bit of the front of the houses.

 

Here is 1975. Another one showing a decent look at the houses.

 

Here is 1986. All 3 houses still standing and appear to still be used in come capacity.

 

Here is 1993. The middle house is now gone. It would have been in the way of the re-route of the train for the water park. The fort is now build around the southern house. The northern house is still standing though.

 

Here is 1997. The northern most house is now gone, only the southern one inside the fort survived this long.

THIS is why I love the internet! 
 

This made my day!

In regards to whether or not the house had that tear down agreement, I always thought that sounded a bit absurd. I always assumed they since they actually used the house, and had it disguised, no one wanted to foot the bill for tearing it down and the “agreement” was just urban legend. The same day we recorded this episode, we spoke with a former park executive from that time period to verify the story. He said he “remembers something like that.” So that gives some indication that there may be some truth to it.

[Orion-XL200]

Wow great investigative work! I never knew there were 3 houses! 

Thanks for sharing! 

[Snowball]

On 11/3/2024 at 10:26 PM, Platinum Bass said:

I finally got to this episode recently. First let me say I love both Tower Topics and The Attractions Group podcasts. Always interesting stuff...

That house has fascinated me for some reason. At one point not too long ago I went down the rabbit hole of seeing what historical information might be available about the property online and learned quite a few things. None of that is super exciting, but perhaps a few details might be worth sharing...

Based on various property records, I believe the house was built sometime between 1954 and 1956.

I can't speak for or against the accuracy of the supposed agreement to not tear it down, but FWIW it was actually one of three houses side by side all along what was the east side of Columbia Rd that Kings Island left standing, and apparently used in some capacity, for many years. Each property had different owners prior to Taft purchasing each of them separately in early 1970. All 3 houses were still standing at least until 1986. 2 of the three until at least 1993. By 1997 only the one in the fort remained.

Hopefully I'm attaching these images correctly...

The first one is snip from a survey from 1984 showing each of the original property boundaries of the three houses KI kept around. The house in the fort is the southern most of the three plots in the red circle.

The other images below are all snippets cropped from aerial photos made available online by the Ohio Department of Transportation. In each one the "fort house" is circled in red.

Here is 1956. Fort house is recently built. The middle of the 3 houses is being built. No sign of the northern house yet. The old farm house further north in this photo would not survive the park opening.

 

Here is 1957. The middle house is now complete. The fort house has added a pond. Still no sign of the northern most house.

 

Here is 1964. The northern most of the 3 houses the park would keep is now present. The middle house has added a garage or large shed.

 

Here is 1970, the year Taft purchased each property. All 3 houses were purchased on different dates in Jan and Feb of that year. The northern most house looks to have added an addition to back since the 1964 photo. This one is at an angle that gives a reasonable idea of what the housed looked like before the park owned them. Also of note the old farm house further to the north is still standing at this point.

 

Here is 1972. The park is open now. All 3 homes are still standing. The older farm house that was further north is gone. This photo shows what Don described in the episode that the train did not originally come particularly close to the house.

 

Here is 1974. Cars parked at all 3 houses. This one is angled to show a bit of the front of the houses.

 

Here is 1975. Another one showing a decent look at the houses.

 

Here is 1986. All 3 houses still standing and appear to still be used in come capacity.

 

Here is 1993. The middle house is now gone. It would have been in the way of the re-route of the train for the water park. The fort is now build around the southern house. The northern house is still standing though.

 

Here is 1997. The northern most house is now gone, only the southern one inside the fort survived this long.

THIS is the kind of content I come to KICentral for! I just spent so much time looking at those pictures and comparing them to present-day!

[Platinum Bass]

I'm glad others found this stuff interesting. Here are the full un-cropped versions of the aerial photos I downloaded when researching the fort house. These versions show a much wider area, and include a few more years, versus what I included in my original post. Fort house is still circled in red in each of them.

 

1956 - Great shot of the entire land which Kings Island would later occupy

 

 

1957

 

1958

 

1960

 

1962

 

1964 - You can see the clearing for I-71 in progress

 

1967

 

1970

 

1972

 

1974

 

1975

 

1980 - A nice look at The Beast in its early days

 

1985 - King Cobra is visible

 

1986 - Real good look at the whole park here

 

1993

 

1997

 

[Platinum Bass]

If you're interesting in finding more historical aerial photos of the park or anywhere in Ohio, go to the link below. I've been using their Google Maps KML file to view images for years, but it appears they now have a web portal that presumably is much easier to navigate and work with.

Beware, this is an easy way to lose a few hours (or an entire weekend) if you start exploring that content.

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/working/engineering/cadd-mapping/survey/aerial-imagery

[KIfan73]

@Platinum BassThank you for doing all that work!  I am totally fascinated by seeing the land before Kings Island was built!

[medford]

I remember the "action" scene around the fort as a kid and I think I knew that the train route was rerouted when the water park was built, but watching this was the first time that I connected that my memories of the fort and action scene as a kid took place in a different fort than the one built around the house.  By the time the water park was built, I was to old and "cool" to make the train ride a regular attraction while at the park so there is a sizable (maybe longer than 20 year gap) b/w those days and when my oldest was built and the train went from a "once every handful of years" kind of attraction to a "must ride it every time" kind of attraction.  Sadly, I've come thru the other side with my 3rd child now tall enough to ride everything and the train is once again a "once every handful of years" kind of attraction".

 

It won't be too long (but hopefully not too soon either considering my oldest is just 16) before I circle back with grand kids and the train once again becoming a "must ride every time" kind of attraction

 

Thanks for posting this, it was an enjoyable watch.