18 Abandoned Amusement Parks from the ’80s You Can’t Visit
Several amusement parks that operated in the 1980s have since closed down and remain abandoned or demolished.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
The 1980s were a popular time for regional amusement parks across the United States and other countries. However, economic issues, safety concerns, and competition caused many to shut down. These parks now stand abandoned, overgrown, or completely erased from their original locations.
1. Six Flags New Orleans (Louisiana, USA)
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Originally opened as Jazzland in 2000, it was bought and rebranded by Six Flags in 2002. Although newer than the 1980s, its roots were planned during that decade. It closed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and never reopened. The site remains fenced off and overgrown.
2. Dogpatch USA (Arkansas, USA)
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Dogpatch USA opened in 1968 and reached its peak in the 1980s. Based on the Li’l Abner comic strip, it featured themed attractions and crafts. Declining attendance and financial trouble led to its closure in 1993. The park remains abandoned in the Ozark Mountains.
3. Heritage USA (South Carolina, USA)
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Founded by televangelist Jim Bakker, Heritage USA opened in 1978 and saw major growth in the 1980s. It included a theme park, water park, and Christian retreat center. Legal and financial issues caused it to close in the late 1980s. Some parts were repurposed, but much of it was left unused.
4. Miracle Strip Amusement Park (Florida, USA)
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Located in Panama City Beach, it opened in 1963 and was popular through the 1980s. It featured classic rides like a wooden roller coaster and a haunted house. Attendance fell as larger parks gained attention. It closed in 2004 and was later demolished.
5. Chippewa Lake Park (Ohio, USA)
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This park operated for more than 100 years and was active through the 1980s. It closed in 1978, but many structures remained standing into the 1980s. Nature overtook the site, and the rides decayed. It is now a fenced-off, wooded property with limited access.
6. Lincoln Park (Massachusetts, USA)
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Lincoln Park opened in 1894 and continued to run through most of the 20th century. In the 1980s, safety problems and a fatal accident led to its decline. It shut down in 1987. The abandoned structures remained for years before being torn down.
7. Joyland Amusement Park (Kansas, USA)
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Joyland opened in 1949 and was still running during the 1980s. It featured a wooden roller coaster and traditional carnival rides. Due to vandalism, financial problems, and safety issues, it closed in the early 2000s. The property still contains some remnants of the old park.
8. Rocky Point Park (Rhode Island, USA)
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This coastal amusement park operated for over a century and was popular during the 1980s. It included a midway, rides, and a large shorefront. Financial issues caused its closure in 1995. The site sat abandoned for years before being turned into a state park.
9. Williams Grove Amusement Park (Pennsylvania, USA)
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Williams Grove opened in the 1850s and added amusement rides over time. In the 1980s, it was still open and offered a small, traditional park experience. It closed in 2005 after storm damage and declining interest. Today, abandoned rides and buildings remain on the property.
10. Lakeside Amusement Park (Virginia, USA)
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This Richmond-area park opened in 1920 and remained open until the 1980s. It was a local favorite with classic rides and a family-friendly environment. Rising costs and reduced attendance caused it to close in the mid-1980s. The area was later redeveloped.
11. Fun Spot (Indiana, USA)
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Fun Spot opened in the 1970s and continued operating through the 1980s in Angola, Indiana. It offered go-karts, a small roller coaster, and family rides. It closed in 2008 after years of reduced attendance. The park was eventually demolished.
12. Bertrand Island Amusement Park (New Jersey, USA)
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This park opened in the 1920s and ran until 1983. It served local communities with water attractions and small rides. Development pressure and falling revenue led to its closure. The site was redeveloped into residential housing.
13. Jungle Habitat (New Jersey, USA)
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Opened by Warner Bros. in the early 1970s, this safari-themed park was still being talked about in the early ’80s. It featured drive-through animal exhibits and entertainment. It closed in 1976 but remained abandoned into the 1980s. The land is now part of a public forest area.
14. LeSourdsville Lake (Ohio, USA)
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Also known as Americana Amusement Park, it was active from the 1920s through the 1980s. The park featured roller coasters, carousels, and a lakefront. It closed temporarily in the 1990s and reopened briefly, but it shut down again for good in the early 2000s. Most of the land is now empty or used for events.
15. Enchanted Forest (Maryland, USA)
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Opened in 1955, it was a storybook-themed park that was still open in the 1980s. It focused on fairy tales and nursery rhymes rather than thrill rides. It closed in the early 1990s. Many of its structures were relocated to a nearby farm for preservation.
16. Castle Park (Michigan, USA)
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Castle Park was a small regional attraction in northern Michigan. It included basic rides and castle-themed decorations. It lost popularity in the 1980s and closed shortly after. Today, little remains on the original site.
17. Okefenokee Swamp Park (Georgia, USA – original version)
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In the 1980s, there was a themed version of this park that included boat rides and wildlife exhibits in a more commercial format. It declined due to a lack of funding and natural maintenance challenges. The original tourist-style version closed. The area remains a natural preserve.
18. Santa’s Village (California, USA – Skyforest location)
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Santa’s Village opened in the 1950s and was open during the 1980s. It was Christmas-themed year-round and had rides and shows. It closed in 1998 due to low attendance and rising costs. The location stayed abandoned until it was reopened under new ownership in the 2010s.