These 10 Defunct Amusement Parks Are Totally Abandoned, But Are Actually More Fun That Way
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Sophia
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Fun and games definitely sell…except when they don’t. This country is filled with abandoned amusement and theme parks that, for one reason or another, have gone silent.
Check out this collection of abandoned parks across the nation. Many of these places are off-limits to visitors, but we do have a few haunting images of their once-brilliant attractions to remind us that nothing lasts forever.
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This park closed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Plans to redevelop the area into another theme park fell through in 2010, and today the amusement park remains covered in weeds and strewn with crumbling debris.
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This bible-themed amusement park was once the largest attraction in Connecticut. It was built by a Catholic lawyer in 1940, but fell into ruin after his death in 1986. Today, the amusement park is slowly decaying.
This Western-style theme park was opened in 1952 in the Adirondack Mountains. It featured a Pioneer Village, Indian Village, rodeo show and even a narrow gauge railroad. The park closed in 1998 due to waning attendance. Today, the park is overgrown and many structures are rotting.
This curious theme park was filled with miniature reproductions of iconic Chinese landmarks and religious sites. It opened in 1993 and closed a mere 10 years late. Most of the park has been torn down, though the rubble still contains pieces of the elegant replicas.
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The Rose Island amusement park opened in the 1920s and featured Ferris wheel, wooden roller coaster, and a racing derby. Animals were also a main attraction, with a number of wolves, monkeys and bears on display to the public. The park closed in 1938 after a severe flood. Today, the ruins of the park a beautiful place to stroll and explore.
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This former cement factory was once the site of a castle-themed amusement park. Sculptor Bob Cassilly took over the forlorn factory and began filling it with artwork and castle structures before his accidental death in 2011. Today, the park is a popular spot for urban explorers and art enthusiasts.
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Originally known as Picnic Lake, this waterfront amusement park opened in 1887 and once featured the world’s largest wooden rollercoaster, The Big Dipper. After closing in 2010, Geauga Lake is an eerie wasteland of crumbling attractions.
Located on Buck Mountain near Maggie Valley, Ghost Town in the Sky first opened in 1961 as a Western themed amusement park. The park was filled with replica frontier buildings and amusement rides. Eventually, the park closed due to faulty equipment and a lack of maintenance funding. Today the park stands abandoned, though there are plans to reopen the attraction in the future.
Dinosaur World opened in 1967, and featured over 65 acres filled with dinosaur and caveman sculptures. The park closed in 2005, though many of the sculptures (including a 40-foot King Kong) are still on the premises.
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This hillbilly-themed theme park opened in 1968 and was an almost immediate failure. The park featured a fudge shop, horseback riding, paddle boats and other activities that were meant to appeal to families. The park closed in 1993 after being sold several times. Today, the decaying frontier structures look almost more authentic than when they were first constructed.
Do you know of any other abandoned amusement parks in America?
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