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Our History
Celebrating 60 Years
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Clay's Park was the vision and dedicated work of our grandfather, Mr. Otis D. Clay.
The property for the park was secured in 1945 through the purchase of several tracts of land just southwest of Canal Fulton, Ohio.
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Otis D. Clay |
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Plans were developed around Otis's vision and work began in 1947. A complete "Family Fun Center" was the goal. The first task after clearing the land, was to tap into the natural spring that fed another lake on the property.
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Countless man hours were spent on crafting this wonderous vision and on Memorial Day, 1948, Clay's Park officially opened it's gates to hordes of eager and curious visitors.
People came from miles around to take in the natural beauty and excitment generated by this new man-made wonder.
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According to the CEO, Kevin McQuaide and COO, Peggy Clay McQuaide, our growth has allowed us not only to develop one of the finest RV Resorts in America but also to expand our newly renovated Melody Barn for music lovers.
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Our grandfather's vision has now evolved to include two nationally known festivals at Clay's Park. For many years Clay's Park has been the host of thousands of people attending Yankee Peddler (36th year) and the ALIVE Christian Music Festival (21st year).
Rock N Resort Music Festival (5th year) and Fox Creek Outdoor Experience(6th year) are two new festivals that Clay's Park is also hosting.
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Swamp Became Beauty Spot 54 years ago
Monday, August 5, 2002
By GARY BROWN Repository Living section editor
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CANAL FULTON -- The park that was created by Otis D. Clay, and then named for him, existed only as farmland and swamp until he used it to fulfill a dream about five decades ago.
“Once it was an area of swampland and dense undergrowth, which hid the beauty of a small stream, Fox Creek,” recalled a story in The Repository in July 1952. “Bulldozers gave the land a good face-lifting. Swamps were filled in, roads built, hills resloped and a lake bottom gouged out. A dam was constructed across the creek to form the lake.”
Clay’s Park was born.
The recreational area was the vision of Otis D. Clay, who had been planning the park for 50 years before it was opened in 1948. Previously he had shared in the planning of Lake O’Springs, which was founded by his uncle, Marshall Clay.
“Given the opportunity, Otis D. Clay, a farmer near here, probably would convert a desert into a giant oasis,” said The Repository in its 1952 story. “He has been pushing sand around for years as a necessary task in the operation of his foundry sand company. Therefore, it was a comparatively easy matter for him to manicure 400 acres of farmland and shape it into a resort.”
By 1952, some 3,000 people were gathering every Sunday on the beach of Clay’s 40-acre lake, and at picnic tables nestled in groves of trees. “They came for swimming, fishing, hiking, boating, and just plain loafing,” said The Repository.
On land just two miles southwest of Canal Fulton, Clay turned a barn into a bathhouse, and converted another farm building into a picnic shelter. An oval track, one-third of a mile in circumference, replaced a marsh area.
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“Eight railroad cabooses, purchased at the Brewster rail yards, were placed in one wooded spot to accommodate vacationers,” said The Repository. “Each will sleep five persons comfortably. They are outfitted for cooking and are lighted by conductors’ lanterns.”
The facilities pleased Clay, but did not satisfy him, noted The Repository.
“Under Clay’s direction the park constantly is being improved,” the newspaper noted. “He expects to complete the development of a second lake in two years. It will cover about 12 acres and will include such features as forced circulation and underwater lighting. Natural springs supplemented by wells will provide clean fresh water.”
A new two-story bathhouse with several sun decks was planned near the pool. Clay also planned to plant 50,000 evergreen trees, reforesting certain regions with deciduous trees and purchasing such animals as buffaloes. When The Repository wrote its article in 1952, Clay already had six Mexican burros, numerous Brahman calves, and some pink-skinned horses grazing in enclosures in the park.
Many changes have taken place at Clay’s Park in the decades since its founder reached his dream. A bathhouse now houses a full restaurant, an adult lounge, a store, and an indoor swimming pool.
While the lake and surrounding recreational area serves the people that Clay originally intended it to — drop-in users, YMCA and Scout groups, people attending corporate picnics — it also is home to several musical festivals during the summer season, including the upcoming Gospel Music Summerfest Aug. 23 and 24. The first three weekends of September, of course, Yankee Peddler Festival sets up shop at Clay’s Park.
According to Chrissy Maibach, controller, Clay’s Park also offers a seasonal home to 350 campers.
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The cabooses are gone. They were removed long ago. But more modern facilities are offered for those seeking lodging other than campers and tents. Maibach said four new lodges were added to the recreational facilities this season. It is in keeping, she said, with the founder’s philosophy of continually improving Clay’s Park.
To Otis Clay, his dream always was a work-in-progress.
“I never expect to get the job completed,” Clay explained back in 1952. “I keep hatching new ideas.”
You can reach Repository Living Editor Gary Brown at (330) 580-8303 or e-mail: gary.brown@cantonrep.com
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For more information:
Clay's Park Resort
13190 Patterson St. N.W.
N. Lawrence, OH 44666 US
Email: info@clayspark.com
(330) 854-6691
1800 860-4FUN
Fax: (330) 854-6797
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