Chippewa Park is located on the shore of
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. Lake Michigan–Huron has a larger combined surface area than Superior, but is normally considered tw ...
, south of
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario and the second most populous (after Greater Sudbury) municipality in Northern Ontario. Its population i ...
,
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Canada. From May Long Weekend to Labour Day Weekend (Canadian dates) the park operates a children's amusement park which features a
C. W. Parker carousel that was built between 1918 and 1920. There was also a wildlife park that was home to a number of animals native to Northwestern Ontario. The zoo was closed to the public in 2017. There is a public beach and views of the "
Sleeping Giant". Chippewa Park also has cabin accommodation, RV sites and tenting sites.
Carousel
The Chippewa Park Carousel was built between 1918 and 1920 by the C.W. Parker Carnival and Supply Co., and bought by the
Fort William Parks Board in 1934. It is one of very few intact surviving carousels of its style, featuring hand-carved wooden horses and decorations. The Carousel was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1991.
After nearly a century of use, plans were developed by the Friends of Chippewa Park in 2016 to restore and rehabilitate the carousel. The work was funded from grants and community donations, and the carousel began running again in June 2022. As of 2025, there are plans to build an enclosure to further protect the carousel and to allow it to operate year-round.
Current activities
Chippewa Park is currently a public park maintained by the City of Thunder Bay, with a public beach, cabin accommodation, and RV and tent sites. Amusement rides, including the restored carousel, are open during summer months, as are concessions. The Pavilion, constructed in the 1920s, is available for rentals.
The Park is regularly the site of events such as the Thunder Bay Kite Festival.
References
External links
*
The Friends of Chippewa Park* https://saveourcarousel.ca/
Parks in Thunder Bay
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