Entrance to High Bridge and Caves Park circa 1890, with Prospect Street Bridge in background (CFHS).

High Bridge Glens and Caves Park opened in 1879 and closed sometime around 1910. At the height of its popularity, the Cleveland, Mount Vernon and Columbus Railroad ran four daily express trains, with 60 cars per day bringing people to the park. Patrons could dance to popular bands, ride the mechanical rides, enjoy several restaurants or bring a picnic, and explore the gorge on trails and cross a swinging bridge to the Chuckery Trail that took one to the Big Falls, Old Maid’s Kitchen and back up Front Street to the amusement park.

A cave on the west side of the Gorge with a park building c. 1890 (SCHS Pockrandt Collection).

High Bridge Park closed for many reasons. As Cuyahoga Falls grew, its sewerage was dumped into the river, making the lower trails and caves less inviting. Then, Northern Ohio Traction & Light Company built the electric plant along Front Street in Akron and a dam slightly downriver. The dam backed water into the gorge and created a water pool which covered many caves, trails, and cut off the access from the Chuckery Trail to Big Falls. The Flood of 1913 also changed the gorge and it destroyed the remaining stairways and trails.

On the left, are stairs to the High Bridge Glens and Caves Park and at its base, a suspension bridge used to reach the Grand Promenade and Chuckery Race.