15 Defunct Amusement Parks That Were Once Packed
These once-thriving amusement parks were filled with laughter and excitement before closing their gates for good.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Some amusement parks had crowds lining up for rides, the smell of funnel cakes in the air, and music blasting from every corner. Now, those same places are covered in rust, weeds, and eerie silence. Some closed after disasters and others because of money troubles or changing times. These parks went from packed to abandoned, leaving behind roller coasters that will never run again.
1. Six Flags New Orleans - Louisiana, USA
Erik Jorgensen on Wikimedia Commons
This once-thriving park was left to rot after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Floodwaters submerged the attractions, making restoration too costly. Today, it stands as a hauntingly silent reminder of nature’s power.
2. Joyland Amusement Park - Kansas, USA
Larry Pieniazek, User:Lar, (primary) on Wikimedia Commons
For decades, Joyland delighted visitors with classic carnival rides. Poor maintenance and vandalism led to its closure, leaving its wooden roller coaster and aging attractions to decay.
3. Spreepark - Berlin, Germany
Colin Smith on geo.hlipp.de on Wikimedia Commons
Once a popular spot in East Berlin, Spreepark fell into financial ruin. Its abandoned dinosaur statues and rusting Ferris wheel now give it an eerie, post-apocalyptic feel.
4. Heritage USA - South Carolina USA
User:Toddbarwick on Wikimedia Commons
Built as a Christian-themed park, Heritage USA attracted millions before financial scandals led to its downfall. Today, it is a ghost town of water slides and deserted buildings.
5. Takakonuma Greenland - Japan
Jenny Mavimiro on Pexels
This park mysteriously shut down with little explanation. Urban explorers and broken attractions create an unsettling atmosphere.
6. Land of Oz - North Carolina, USA
Kinseikun on Wikimedia Commons
Inspired by *The Wizard of Oz, *this theme park thrived in the 1970s before falling into despair. Now, it only opens for special events, with remnants of Emerald City hidden in the woods.
7. Pripyat Amusement Park - Ukraine
Jorge Franganillo on Wikimedia Commons
Scheduled to open just days after the Chernobyl disaster, this park never truly had a chance. Its Ferris wheel and bumper cars remain untouched, frozen in time amid radiation warnings.
8. Geauga Lake - Ohio, USA
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rollercoasterphilosophy/ on Wikimedia Commons
What was once the world’s largest amusement park met its demise due to declining attendance. Now, its empty roller coasters stand as a bittersweet memory.
9. Gulliver’s Kingdom - Japan
DingRawD on Wikimedia Commons
Built near Japan’s infamous suicide forest, this park never gained popularity. Its eerie, oversized Gulliver statue only added to the unsettling atmosphere.
10. Camelot Theme Park - England
Robert Linsdell on Wikimedia Commons
Once a favorite for medieval-themed attractions, Camelot fell victim to financial struggles. Overgrown weeds and crumbling castles now dominate the landscape.
11. River Country - Florida, USA
Quarax on Wikimedia Commons
As Disney’s first water park, River Country entertained visitors for decades. Health concerns and competition led to its closure, leaving its slides eerily silent.
12. Lake Dolores Waterpark - California, USA
Ryan Hallock on Wikimedia Commons
A roadside attraction turned ghost town, Lake Dolores was once a desert oasis. Vandals and decay have now turned it into a surreal, forgotten landmark.
13. Fantasy Farm - Ohio, USA
Stephen McKay on Wikimedia Commons
This family-friendly farm-themed park thrived in the 1960s but could not keep up with bigger amusement parks. Now, only its abandoned barns and empty rides remain.
14. Berlin’s Blub Water Park - Germany
Neuköllner on Wikimedia Commons
Blub Water Park once had slides and pools but was closed due to hygiene issues and vandalism. Now, it is a graffiti-covered relic.
15. Miracle Strip Amusement Park - Florida, USA
Postcard from 1970s on Wikimedia Commons
Florida’s beloved beachfront park could not survive the changing tourism trends. Its rides were removed, leaving an empty space where laughter once echoed.