Posted in South Carolina Attractions, Fun Adventures January 25, 2023 by

The Remnants Of This Abandoned Theme Park In South Carolina Are Hauntingly Beautiful

Heritage USA is an abandoned theme park in South Carolina, sitting in plain view — and it’s hauntingly beautiful. Many remember the former Heritage USA theme park and water park in South Carolina. In its heyday, the park was 2,300 acres and included everything from a waterpark and Main Street USA, to a chapel, a skating rink, an amphitheater, and a campground. Today, the Charlotte suburb of Fort Mill, South Carolina has grown so much that what was once a thriving theme park, now eerily has ruins and remnants still standing amidst the new development. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “what happened to Heritage USA?” we have the answers. Take a look.

Heritage USA, an epic theme park in South Carolina, opened its doors in 1978. Just eight years later, their annual attendance had exploded to a whopping six million visitors per year.
Heritage USA
Flickr/Joe Nitz
Photos of the old Heritage USA are all over the Internet. Here's one, taken in 1988, of a Heritage USA theatrical performance of The Passion Play. But just a year later, the park would close in 1989 due to financial issues.
Flickr/Joe Nitz
At Heritage USA now, there are still remains of this once-thriving Christian theme park that drew so many to South Carolina. But much of the land has been purchased; buildings have been repurposed, and attractions demolished.
Google Maps [satellite view, enhanced]
The former iconic water park at Heritage USA is now a subdivision on the famous Heritage Lake. But if you look closely, then you'll find an occasional slight shred of existence - like this obviously fake rock wall that was still on at least this part of Heritage Lake in 2016.
The former Heritage USA is a favorite spot among urbex explorers. It's not difficult to find "before" photos like the top one here, to pair with "now" shots. If you look closely, you'll see the slab of concrete still in place - and just how close that row of townhouses was built to the castle. Imagine having a view of a castle out your window (for a while, at least)!
Google Maps [streetview May 2015]
Some remains are an eerie reminder of the family-centered activities found at Heritage USA, like this decaying Heritage USA gazebo, now located right behind a row of houses.

The old cabana in the main entry to Heritage Island was still standing as of May 2015 when Google captured this image with their streetview technology. There used to be a bridge leading from this main building. Visitors would walk across it to get to the Heritage Island.
Today, Heritage USA continues its descent into oblivion. You can see the sad decay taking place in this park that once brought so much joy to families from all over the world. You can also see part of the bridge that's still standing.
Google Maps [streetview March 2016]
The owners of Heritage USA had high hopes of turning this skyscraper into condos owned by frequent guests. But that's one of the elements that fell apart in the end, causing this park to close. According to the Heritage USA Wikipedia entry, the building was completely restored and now functions as a hotel, conference center and private condominiums. The property was purchased by Heritage International Ministries and the hotel's atrium serves as a church for a local congregation.

This was a massive attraction and its size reflected its owners' original vision and optimism. But time can be a cruel, cruel thing.
Across the street is the chapel of the former theme park. It was called the "Upper Room" when the park was open.
Google Maps [streetview February 2017]
As you can see, it's a grand building. It sat dormant for years before being purchased and restored by a Christian music promoter.
Now called "Upper Room Chapel," it's open again, serving as a beautiful and useful facility again for prayer and worship. It also streams live video of an informal pulpit 24 hours a day, whether there's a sermon or not.
Google Maps [streetview, February 2017]
Driving around the area that used to be Heritage USA seems to yield all sorts of probable park ruins to gawk at. This rock wall may have been part of the park, but who knows? It left a big impression, with many still wondering "what happened to Heritage USA?"
Further down Regent Parkway from the Upper Room Chapel, you'll find the infamous pyramid. You may remember seeing this on the news when the former owners, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, were frequently in the news around the time Heritage USA closed. The pyramid building is still standing and is now occupied by Laura Ashley, North America.
Google Maps [streetview]

The remains of Heritage USA are still around in Fort Mill. It’s a sad and eerie feeling to see the ruins and remnants of this park amid so much new growth springing up. Do you remember Heritage USA? What were your favorite things about this Christian theme park in South Carolina… did you ever visit, or know anyone who did? We’d love to know in our comments!

There are lots of intriguing historic sites and abandoned places in SC. If you love exploring ruins, you’ll love seeing the photos of this abandoned plantation in the Palmetto State. And if you’re up for an epic tour de force of all things abandoned in South Carolina, definitely check out this road trip we put together.

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Address: Fort Mill, SC, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

Heritage USA

May 04, 2022
Sarah M.

Is Heritage USA the only abandoned theme park in South Carolina?

Absolutely not! We’ve featured abandoned places on Only In South Carolina before, like the Bon Haven mansion in Spartanburg and the infamous abandoned asylum in Columbia, but did you know that there is an entire neighborhood that was mysteriously abandoned in the Palmetto State? In a sense, you could almost call it a ghost town, even though it was never really an official town. Back in the 1930s, this neighborhood in Lee County, South Carolina, became known as "Ashwood Plantation." It was developed as part of the New Deal's "Resettlement Act" during the Roosevelt Administration. The project was an effort to resettle families in hardship onto farmland. In all, Ashwood Plantation boasted 11,336 acres with at least 153 homes, some of them brand new, others newly remodeled. The project included 745 acres dedicated to a school and gymnasium. It also built and developed community services, including a cotton gin, livestock corral, and loading chute, hatchery and brooder, sweet potato curing plant, feed and grist mill, general store, repair shop, garage, and a gas station. In other words, Ashwood was designed to be a thriving and bustling community, but sometime in the late '30s and '40s, pretty much everyone had up and left.

What are some other abandoned places near me in South Carolina?

If you're into exploring the forsaken and abandoned, this abandoned places road trip through South Carolina is for you! If you enjoyed learning about Heritage USA, the abandoned theme park in South Carolina, you'll be delighted to learn that this road trip ventures to Springs Recreation Park, another abandoned park in the Palmetto State with a similar story. This road trip ventures straight through the heart of South Carolina, in fact, so there are sure to be some awesome abandoned places to explore in your neck of the woods!