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After being a place of sanctuary and serenity, The Great Blue Hole closed its gates to visitors in the early 1990s. As the economy grew, and the tourism because big business in the states, small, quaint spots of yesteryear got pushed out of the mix.
Though the Blue Hole has been closed to the public for nearly three decades, its history and the legends surrounding it continue to intrigue those who long for a glimpse into Ohio’s unique natural heritage. The Castalia Blue Hole is a freshwater cenote, a type of water-filled sinkhole that forms in regions with limestone bedrock.
When and why did the Blue Hole in Castalia ever close back in 1992? Was it because of a safety concern? Is there a chance it will ever be back open to the public ever again?
From the 1920s to 1990 the Blue Hole was a tourist site, attracting 165,000 visitors annually at the height of its popularity, partly because of its location on State Route 269, about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.
Castalia, Ohio, is home to The Blue Hole, which was a tourist attraction for almost a century. WKSU’s “OH Really?” finds out why it’s been off-limits to the public for the last 29 years. “We went out and we tried to look for it. And we couldn’t find it,” says Catherine Kocina of Newbury.
The pond is fed by an underground stream and is anoxic due to its high mineral content. Its owner, the Castalia Trout Club, closed the Blue Hole to visitors in 1990 due to declining attendance and safety concerns.
During its heyday, about 165,000 people visited the Blue Hole on an annual basis, according to the book “Castalia, Cold Creek, and the Blue Hole.” Why? Mostly because of its size, about 75 feet in diameter, clarity, vibrant blue hue and mysterious “bottomless” appearance.
Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Christine Henry reveals some of the secrets behind her article in the Spring 2018 Issue of the SCA Journal, “Getting to the Bottom of Ohio’s Mysterious Blue Hole.”
The Blue hole, touted as one of Ohio’s natural wonders, has always loomed large in my imagination. Located just east of the town of Castalia, only six miles south of the shore of Sandusky Bay on Lake Erie, the Blue Hole was a mixture of sublime beauty and roadside attraction for nearly 75 years.
On sunny days, visitors could see to a depth of 50 to 60 feet below the surface. The sun illuminated the openings through which water surged from the underground streams. After more than six decades, interest in the Blue Hole began to wane. In 1990, the Castalia Trout Club closed it to the public.