Where have all the vinyards gone?

Ask THE STATE OF OHIO.

When they purchased most of the property, they insisted on the removal of the vinyards, and nearly stripped the Island BARE.

It's a CRYING shame to the residents and former workers on this Island.

What the! I lived and worked there back in the early 80's when Bob Gottasman from Silverton Winery. When and why did the State buy it? What happened to the Burras's and Jim and Sandy Yelensky? What has happened?

pheyden; Mr. Goddesman (sp?) passed away several years ago. The property now owned by the State of OHIO was purchased from Meier's wineries about 5 yrs ago. The "sale" of the vineyards on North Bass and Middle Bass Island was the result of a tragic event one summer day at the LONZ winery on Middle Bass Island. An overloaded terrace collapsed, resulting in several injuries and the death of one person. The lawsuits that followed caused the parent company, Meier's Wineries to go bankrupt. Dale Burris is still the "King of North Bass"... Herma Dopps is the "postmaster", her son Joe still works in the remaining vineyards. The one room schoolhouse is now empty.. Dale's son now flies to Put in Bay to attend High School classes... just like his father did many years ago in the Ford Trimotor.

I was born in Port Clinton and spent my summers there while growing up. We used to take the ferry to the Catawba and Bass Islands. In winter you could drive on the ice to them. Put in Bay ...boy what great memories. I was too young then to drink wine, but the wineries were so popular. I didn't know the state purchased the islands, and it's a shame. I had heard about a fire at one of the wineries one time when I returned there. Is there any truth to that. it's my first time on panaramio so please email me at angelsabove7777@yahoo.com I sure miss there, but not the winters. lol

Do you have any Port Clinton pictures to post on google earth panaromia? Last time I was there it was starting to look like a tourist town on Perry Street. Old downtown was still there.

Do you mean PERRY ST.. or MADISON ST?? It has taken me a long time to check my Panaramio "conversations", so please excuse me for that.

We have had a few fires on the Islands over the years.
In 1983 the BEER BARREL SALOON on Put in Bay burned to the ground in 45 minutes on Memorial Day weekend.

A terrace collapesed at LONZ Winery on Middle Bass Island, killing one person and injuring several others... in about 2002, or so. It has remained closed since then. The State of OHIO now owns all of the former LONZ WINERY property.

and Walleye's Bar on Middle Bass Island burned to the ground, a few years after that... and has been rebuilt.

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