History of Wiegand's Lake Picnic Park and Event Catering

In 1932, Wilfred and Ella Wiegand, grandparents of the current owner, operated a small grocery store at Wade Park Avenue and East 82nd

Street in Cleveland. Wanting a place for their sixteen brothers and sisters, and their own children, to get out of the city and into the healthy countryside, they began looking for rural property. They found a abandoned farm which had once been a Kibbutz that had been repossessed by a failing bank. The Depression was still in full swing; the land was relatively cheap.

The Wiegands were one of twelve families to bring a line of electricity out from Cleveland on country Route 87. The lake was made by digging out the swamp with draft horses and dump wagons. The labor was provided by family, friends and grocery store customers who traded their labor for food or credit. Money was tight; frugality was the order of every day. As the lake filled and the derelict buildings were torn down, some people began to drive out to the park not to work but for pleasure. Grandma Ella’s goodwill pots of chili, originally intended to feed the workers, began to be stretched a little too far and thus came the beginning of the private park and catering business. They began to charge admission -- 25 cents per carload!! The first group picnic was, who else, the grocer’s association!

Wilfred and Ella floated a hefty loan in addition to using almost all of their savings to build the dance hall. They lived in Lyndhurst during the winter and built a small cottage at the park for their summer residence. From spring thaw to first snow, they operated what was now known as Wiegand’s Lake Park.

In 1962, the next generation, Robert Wiegand and his loquacious wife Bianca, assumed responsibility for the Park when Wilfred died. They were graduates of Case Western Reserve University, Robert in business and accounting, Bianca in biology and pre-med. With three young children to provide for, equity came in the form of long days of hard work. They made substantial improvements to the physical property and expanded the services and menus offered to the groups that came. Robert, a landscape enthusiast, began to bring home truckloads of trees and shrubs from auctions at local nurseries. The park filled with Rhododendron, hydrangeas, azaleas, mountain laurels, blueberry bushes, maple trees, spruce trees and dozens of other plants that flourish in this climate.

The Wiegands believed that their business should reflect their values. Seeing many country teens with few employment opportunities, they began to hire local youths. As the years passed, one of their greatest joys and contributions to the community was teaching these youngsters how to be good workers. Robert, the consummate teacher and mentor, worked with the boys, maintaining and improving the grounds and buildings. He felt teaching them to be hard workers was the most important skill they could leave with, no matter what their future pursuits. The girls worked with Bianca, preparing and serving food, while discussing boyfriends, school, parents, music, etc. etc. They could talk to her about anything! No girl or boy ever went home at night without receiving a hug and a “Thank you for your help!” from Bianca. Decades later, former employees still return to visit Robert and Bianca to relive the memories of their first “grown-up” jobs.

In 1987, Wendy Wiegand, Robert and Bianca's daughter, assumed management responsibility for the Park, which she still operates with business partner, Bill Frantz. Wendy handles the bookings, payroll, girls, cooking, and mountains of government paperwork! Bill cares for the buildings and grounds, taking care of the plumbing, electricity, tree-trimming, mowing, the BBQs, etc. He keeps the boys in line and is the resident computer whiz.

At 83, Bianca still helps with everything and Robert (at 85) works outside planting, fertilizing, trimming, and beautifying the gardens when he’s not immersed in the corporate income tax! Wendy has made substantial improvements to the park including new decks, walkways, restrooms, and pavilions, as well as a new playground, wading pool, paddleboats and boat dock. New for 2008 is the tractor-pulled wagon adventure ride.

The entire park is rented to only one company each day for their private, catered company picnic, clambake, or off-site meeting. The park can accommodate groups from 100 to 1600 or so and is never open to the public. Guests enjoy boating and swimming, and playing softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, cornhole, and horseshoes. There are extensive playgrounds, a large bi-level dance hall and pavilions, as well as refreshment stands where we serve the food. Guests “graze” all day long on our extensive, homemade, all-you-can-eat menus; our simplest menu offering well over 20 choices! The Wiegand family business, with three generations working together for over 75 years, is known for top quality food, plenty to do, and clean, beautiful grounds.