February 2026.
Wonderland is a very curious lost neighborhood in Columbus. I was farting around on Google Maps by CMH and noticed a label for “Wonderland” on the northeast end of the airport, and I soon discovered that it was once a vibrant community of rustic cabins. However, it has since been entirely erased from the map. So, let’s make like Alice and go down this rabbit hole.
Wonderland was located on the far west side of Columbus, Ohio. The area is currently bordered by I-270 to the north, Big Walnut Creek to the south, Hamilton Road to the east, and the John Glenn Columbus International Airport to the west.
History
Historic photo of the neighborhood and its cottages. (Columbus Neighborhoods)
Wonderland was a small neighborhood of summer cottages that was established in 1927 by Dempsey-Forester Co. The cottages were first used as a resort during the summertime, with beaches, a forest, and a pier to fish and canoe that kept residents busy. Local rumors, however, claim that the community was established as a socialist utopia or something similar. During the Great Depression, these cottages were winterized, and they became permanent homes for their residents.
At its peak in the late 1930s, Wonderland had almost 100 homes. However, sweeping changes to the area started in the 1950s. Wonderland was annexed into Columbus in 1956, and the airport’s major expansion between 1953 and 1958 put its boundaries much closer to the community. I-270’s construction in the 1970s also put a highway right in Wonderland’s backyard, and several homes in the neighborhood were demolished for its construction. A final blow was the frequent flooding of Big Walnut Creek, which destroyed cottages and lowered the area’s property values.
A view of the forested character of the neighborhood. (Columbus Neighborhoods)
Wonderland’s demise came in the 1980s, when the airport planned to extend its northern runway. The airport tried to purchase the land from Wonderland residents, who refused to sell. After a court dispute, it was ruled that the airport could not force the homeowners to move. However, the city of Columbus doubled down, claiming that the homes were in a danger zone and using eminent domain to buy out the residents. With this, the neighborhood’s fate was sealed.
Some of the Wonderland cottages were moved to Agler Road in Gahanna (it’s unclear which ones, as they blend in well with the surrounding mid-century homes), while the remaining houses were demolished, and the site was fenced off. The only building that remained was Wonderland Community Church, as it was still in active use and on the northeast side of the neighborhood. Some land east of Hamilton Road was turned into Pizzuro Park.
Google Maps snapshot of the area and former roads.
Wonderland remains in the same state of limbo as it did in the 1980s, with Wonderland Community Church still standing and much of the former neighborhood being fenced off. The runway expansion was never built.
Photos
Wonderland only has one entrance, which is Swanson Avenue off of Hamilton Road. It is still partially open to vehicles, since the church remains open, but I was the only one there for the ~15 minutes I was stopped.
At the intersection of Swanson Avenue and Wonderland Boulevard:
You can see the airport in the background, along with the light towers that were built into the neighborhood. It honestly just looks like land fenced off to stop people trespassing into the airport…very weird to think that this used to be a neighborhood.
These next couple shots are at Thruway Drive, where it curves north to General Avenue. This first one looks south:
Unlike its original forested character, the land is kept very clear now.
Westward, towards the airport and abandoned segment of Thruway Drive:
General Drive headed north:
Based on the tree branches overhanging the power lines, this area doesn’t seem to be maintained very much, for better or for worse.
It really is incredible that the neighborhood was wiped clean 40 years ago and left completely alone since. It was very surreal being in a place where so many people once lived and played.
Looking north towards the church:
The metal structures to the left are part of a construction company, which likely opened after the neighborhood was demolished.
The church sits very forlorn these days. I’m sure Biretta Avenue, which is the street leading up to it, was once lined with houses:
The building dates to 1941 and is vernacular in its construction, with a simple belfry topped by a cross.
Biretta Avenue:
Frontal view of the church from Thruway Drive:
The warnings of these threatening signs are diminished by the fact that they’re being eaten by foliage:
The barbed wire on top is snared in the branches, too. Whatever rent-a-cops guard this place (if there even are any) don’t do well at keeping up its menacing, secured look.
Biretta Avenue:
On some of these former roads, the pavement is still mostly intact, though obviously not maintained as per the debris and grass growing in the cracks. The right-of-way is still visible through the trees.
General Avenue to the west:
I get a very Fallout-like vibe from this neighborhood. So many signs of civilization, yet there’s nothing there. It feels like traveling between landmarks in the game.
Some of the streets have been wiped out entirely, but their right-of-way is still intact by the topography and tree placement. This was once Janson Avenue:
Last one--here’s Fashion Avenue:
What a bizarre area of Columbus. I have to wonder what its ultimate fate will be. Maybe it will just continue to rot until the airport ever expands that way--I doubt it will ever be built upon again.
Sources:
https://columbusneighborhoods.org/story/remembering-columbus-wonderland-neighborhood/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/youknowyourefromcolumbusohif/posts/8385262044834237/
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