There is an undeniable allure to abandoned amusement parks. These once vibrant hubs of laughter and excitement, echoing with the joyous screams of thrill-seekers and the rhythmic clatter of roller coasters, now stand silent. The vibrant colors have faded, replaced by the muted tones of rust and decay. Nature, with its relentless persistence, reclaims its territory, weaving a tapestry of weeds and vines through the skeletal remains of mechanical wonders.
These neglected properties evoke a strange mix of emotions. Even for those who never experienced their heyday, a sense of melancholy and nostalgia lingers, a yearning for a past that is forever out of reach. There’s a certain voyeuristic fascination in witnessing the slow unraveling of these once-thriving destinations, as if peeking into a forgotten chapter of American leisure. It’s a glimpse into a world stripped of its artificial joy, revealing the raw, untamed power of time and nature. The concept of These Abandoned US Amusement Parks Are Equal Parts Creepy and Compelling draws us in.
Let’s embark on a journey through the overgrown pathways and explore ten abandoned amusement parks in the United States, each with its own unique story of rise, fall, and lingering echoes.
Six Flags New Orleans
Perhaps the most widely recognized abandoned amusement park in the country, Six Flags New Orleans stands as a stark reminder of the devastating power of Hurricane Katrina. Originally opened in 2000 as Jazzland, this Louisiana park was acquired by Six Flags in 2002 and rebranded. The park offered an exciting mix of thrill rides and family entertainment, quickly becoming a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
However, its success was tragically cut short in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans. The park was submerged under several feet of floodwater, causing irreparable damage to its infrastructure and rides. The financial burden of rebuilding proved insurmountable, and Six Flags made the difficult decision to abandon the property.
Today, Six Flags New Orleans remains a haunting spectacle. From Interstate 10, motorists can still catch glimpses of the skeletal remains of the Zydeco Scream roller coaster and the towering Big Easy Ferris Wheel, ghostly monuments to a bygone era. The park’s eerie silence serves as a poignant symbol of the city’s resilience and the enduring impact of Katrina. The theme of These Abandoned US Amusement Parks Are Equal Parts Creepy and Compelling is no where more evident than here.
River Country
No discussion of abandoned water parks is complete without mentioning River Country. Opened in 1976 at Walt Disney World in Florida, River Country holds the distinction of being arguably the world’s first major water park. While Wet ‘n Wild Orlando is often credited as the original, River Country predates it by a year.
Nestled beside the Fort Wilderness campground and integrated into Bay Lake, River Country was envisioned by Disney Imagineers as an old-fashioned swimming hole. Its rustic charm and natural setting offered a unique water park experience. However, Disney World’s subsequent construction of larger, more elaborate water parks, such as Typhoon Lagoon (1989) and Blizzard Beach (1995), gradually overshadowed River Country.
In 2001, Disney made the decision to close and abandon River Country. For years, the fenced-off property sat decaying, a forgotten relic of Disney’s early foray into water park entertainment. In 2018, the company announced plans to redevelop the site into a Disney Vacation Club resort, Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge. However, the project has been indefinitely canceled. The story of River Country underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the amusement park industry.
Geauga Lake
One of the oldest and most prominent amusement parks to meet its demise, Ohio’s Geauga Lake first welcomed visitors in 1888. For generations, guests flocked to experience its iconic Big Dipper wooden coaster, a beloved attraction from 1925 to 2007.
In its later years, Geauga Lake endured a tumultuous period marked by shifting ownership, including stints under Six Flags and Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. Ultimately, declining attendance and Cedar Fair’s strategic focus on its more successful Ohio parks, Cedar Point and Kings Island, led to the park’s closure in 2016. The sprawling property was eventually dismantled, leaving behind only memories and whispers of its rich history.
Land of Oz
Unlike the other parks on this list, Land of Oz in North Carolina has a somewhat happier ending. This park, which operated from 1970 to 1980, brought the magical world of "The Wizard of Oz" to life. However, a lack of reinvestment and vandalism led to its decline and eventual abandonment.
Fortunately, new owners stepped in to restore parts of the park, including the iconic Yellow Brick Road. Today, Land of Oz is not a fully operational theme park, but rather a unique museum that offers private tours and occasional events. Visitors can once again stroll down the flower-lined Yellow Brick Road, immersing themselves in the enchanting world of Oz.
Ghost Town in the Sky
Another North Carolina amusement park with a fascinating history is Ghost Town in the Sky. This Wild West-themed attraction, which opened in 1961, was perched atop a mountain, accessible only by chairlift or incline car. After repeated ride failures and financial difficulties, the park closed in 2002.
Despite several attempts by developers to revive the property, Ghost Town in the Sky remains abandoned. The Red Devil Cliffhanger roller coaster and other rides stand as silent sentinels, transforming the park into a veritable ghost town.
Rocky Point Park
Once a common sight along the American coastline, seaside amusement parks have largely faded into history. Rocky Point Park, located in Rhode Island, was one such casualty. This beloved park operated from the early 1900s through 1995, drawing crowds with its coasters, rides, and renowned "World’s Largest Shore Dinner Hall," famous for its clam cakes and clam chowder.
Changing tastes and evolving entertainment options eventually led to Rocky Point Park’s demise. The property is now a state-run park, where faint remnants of its amusement park past can still be discerned.
Lincoln Park
Another abandoned New England amusement park is Lincoln Park in Massachusetts, which operated from 1894 to 1987. Known as a "trolley park," Lincoln Park was originally owned and operated by the Union Street Railway Company. Trolley parks were designed to generate revenue on weekends when commuter traffic was light.
The rise of modern amusement and theme parks, easily accessible by car, led to the decline of trolley parks like Lincoln Park. The park’s stately wooden coaster, Comet, has been slowly decaying since its closure.
Chippewa Lake Amusement Park
Yet another Ohio amusement park claimed by time, Chippewa Lake, operated from 1878 to 1978. Dwindling attendance ultimately sealed the fate of this small park. Among its notable features was a wooden roller coaster dating back to 1885, where workers manually hauled the cars to the top of the hill. While much of the property has been razed, the rusting Tumble Bug ride remains as a poignant reminder of its past. The contrast between the park’s former glory and its present state truly embodies the idea of These Abandoned US Amusement Parks Are Equal Parts Creepy and Compelling.
Dogpatch, USA
A truly unique entry on this list, Dogpatch, USA, was based on the fictional town from Al Capp’s "Li’l Abner" comic strip. Situated in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, this park operated from 1968 to 1993. Dogpatch, USA, offered visitors a whimsical blend of rides, waterslides, and attractions inspired by the quirky characters and settings of the comic strip.
Like many abandoned parks, Dogpatch, USA, suffered from declining attendance and a lack of investment. Since its closure, several attempts to revive the park have failed. In late 2021, Johnny Morris, the owner of Bass Pro Shops, acquired the abandoned property, but his plans for the site remain undisclosed.
Joyland
This Kansas park entertained visitors from 1949 to 2006. Joyland’s signature attractions included the Nightmare wooden coaster and the Whacky Shack dark ride. The rise of larger, more sophisticated regional parks like Six Flags created intense competition for smaller parks like Joyland. After a tragedy, the park was unable to recover. In the early 2000s a young girl was seriously injured at the park. Several of the rides were destroyed over the years by natural causes, including a roller coaster that was destroyed by a hurricane, and some other attractions were damaged by fires. A couple now owns the park and has plans to turn the abandoned space into an event space. The narratives of These Abandoned US Amusement Parks Are Equal Parts Creepy and Compelling reflect a broader story of change in the entertainment industry.
These abandoned amusement parks, scattered across the United States, stand as haunting reminders of fleeting joy, economic shifts, and the relentless march of time. Their decaying structures and overgrown pathways evoke a sense of melancholy, nostalgia, and a strange fascination with the ephemeral nature of entertainment. While some have found new life as museums or event spaces, others remain in a state of arrested decay, their stories echoing through the weeds and rust. They are a testament to the power of nature to reclaim what was once man-made, and a reminder that even the most vibrant and bustling places can eventually fade into forgotten relics of the past.
