Clearwater Park marks 75 years of family fun in Lake Township

Edd Pritchard, The Repository
·4 min read
Clearwater Park, which is part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp-Resorts network, is marking 75 years in business this year. "This whole place is based on families and nothing but," co-owner Mert Yoder said.
Clearwater Park, which is part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp-Resorts network, is marking 75 years in business this year. "This whole place is based on families and nothing but," co-owner Mert Yoder said.

LAKE TWP. – Locals know the place as Clearwater Park, but for folks outside the area it's a popular stop in the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts network.

The 46-acre campground is celebrating 75 years in business this year, with the past 20 years under the ownership of Mert and Charlene Yoder.

Located at the intersection of Hoover Avenue and Edison Street NW, the park features Stark County's largest swimming pool. It also has 175 camp sites — including 10 cabins — for recreational vehicles or tent campers.

It's all about family entertainment, Mert Yoder said.

"This whole place is based on families and nothing but," he said.

Clearwater Park, part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts network celebrates 75 years in business this year. "This whole place is based on families and nothing but," co-owner Mert Yoder said.
Clearwater Park, part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts network celebrates 75 years in business this year. "This whole place is based on families and nothing but," co-owner Mert Yoder said.

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The park opened in 1947. Originally owned by the Hostetler family, the park started with a mini-golf course followed by a large swimming pool. Families would come to Clearwater for mini golf and swimming, then pitch a tent to camp overnight and repeat the fun the next day.

"The camping was kind of an accident," Mert Yoder said.

Erin Colston serves as the operations manager at Clearwater Park, which is part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts network. Clearwater Park is celebrating 75 years in business this year.
Erin Colston serves as the operations manager at Clearwater Park, which is part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts network. Clearwater Park is celebrating 75 years in business this year.

Everybody loves Yogi Bear

Campers come for weekends, weeklong vacations and even the entire season, which runs from early May through the end of October. Erin Colston, the park's operations manager, said about 65 spaces are set up for season-long camping.

Many campers are from the area, with the majority driving about three hours or less to reach the park. But being part of the Jellystone network brings visitors from around the country. A few years ago, vehicles from 42 states visited the park during a single season.

Clearwater has been connected with Jellystone since 2013 and operates as the Akron Canton Jellystone Camp-Resort. The Cincinnati-based company approached Clearwater about joining the network and the arrangement has worked well for the park, Mert Yoder said.

Clearwater Park, which is part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp-Resorts network, is celebrating 75 years in business this year.
Clearwater Park, which is part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp-Resorts network, is celebrating 75 years in business this year.

Along with camping, swimming and mini-golf, the park offers an assortment of activities aimed at keeping children between the ages of 3 and 12 entertained. That includes visits with Yogi, Boo Boo and Cindy bear — cartoon characters made famous by Hanna-Barbera.

"Everybody loves the bear," Colston said of Yogi and his friends.

The Yogi Bear theme is featured throughout the park. For example, there is the Pic-A-Nic Basket where guests can get snacks, including homemade ice cream made by Charlene Yoder.

There is a family fun zone on the grounds that features archery, basketball, a bike track, playground and other activities.

While campers from outside the area frequent the park, it remains popular with locals, Colston said. Area residents visit to use the pool, get ice cream or play mini-golf. Memberships are available. Only campers and members can use the swimming pool on Saturdays.

The park has a management team of eight. While the Yoders help at the park, they leave key management duties in the hands of their staff.

During the summer months, with campers filling the park, staff numbers rise to more than 50. Many employees are high school students or teachers who have free time in the summer, Colston said.

Clearwater Park, which is part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp-Resorts network, is marking 75 years in business this year. "This whole place is based on families and nothing but," co-owner Mert Yoder said.
Clearwater Park, which is part of the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp-Resorts network, is marking 75 years in business this year. "This whole place is based on families and nothing but," co-owner Mert Yoder said.

Chamber business expo on Thursday

The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce has its 2022 Business Expo on Thursday at the Kent State University Stark campus.

Local businesses will showcase products and services. Area restaurants are participating in the "Taste of Stark," sponsored by Spectrum.

The annual event, presented by AultCare, is from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Conference Center.

ProVia nets Energy Star award

Sugarcreek-based building material manufacturer ProVia has received the Energy Star award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The agencies presented the 2022 Energy Star Partner of the Year–Sustained Excellence Award to the company. It's the 15th year that ProVia has received the award.

The award recognizes companies that lead their industry in production, sale and adoption of energy-efficient products, along with services and strategies. In addition to making energy efficient doors, the company follows multiple practices aimed at helping to keep the environment clean.

ProVia building products include entry doors, storm doors, patio doors, windows, vinyl siding, manufactured stone and metal roofing. The company has three facilities in Sugarcreek, along with sites in Strasburg, Baltic and Booneville, Mississippi.

New vehicle sales down

Sales of new vehicles continue to trail 2021 numbers, according to the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association.

Northeast Ohio dealers sold 16,936 new vehicles in April, a 34% drop from the 25,667 sold a year ago. Through the first four months, dealerships in the 21-county region have sold 67,020 vehicles, a 22.6% drop from 86,609 sold in 2021.

The availability of new vehicles isn't keeping up with customer demand, said Louis A Vitantonio, the dealers' association president.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Lake Township's Clearwater Park marks 75 years offering family fun