20 Defunct Amusement Parks That Kids of the Past Loved
Here's a nostalgic journey through 20 beloved but now-vanished amusement parks that once filled kids' summers with magic, mayhem, and memories.
- Alyana Aguja
- 6 min read
Prior to the emergence of mega-theme parks and electronic entertainment, hundreds of neighborhood amusement parks were the center of childhood magic, featuring roller coasters, fairy tale kingdoms, and summer memories that would last a lifetime. This article examines 20 closed but once-beloved parks that brought imagination to generations, from the wild legend of Action Park to the fairy tale magic of The Enchanted Forest.
1. Action Park – Vernon, New Jersey (1978–1996)
Image from The Washington Post
Famous for its crazy, unsupervised rides and frenetic vibe, Action Park was loved and hated by children and teenagers. Dubbed “Class Action Park,” its rides featured looping water slides and go-karts with minimal safety concerns. In spite of its hazardous reputation, many recall it as the most exciting spot on the planet.
2. Six Flags AstroWorld – Houston, Texas (1968–2005)
Image from Wikipedia
AstroWorld was a Texas institution for children, featuring a combination of scary coasters and traditional carnival attractions. Its Texas Cyclone wooden coaster was one of the best-loved rides in the nation. The park suddenly shut down when the land value exceeded its operational capacity, leaving nothing but memories and concrete slabs behind.
3. Geauga Lake – Aurora, Ohio (1887–2007)
Image from Wikipedia
This park was initially a picnic area before expanding into a complete amusement park featuring roller coasters, a water park, and a zoo. At one point, it was among the largest in the U.S., but it closed with a gradual decline resulting from corporate changes in ownership and declining attendance.
4. Pleasure Island – Wakefield, Massachusetts (1959–1969)
Image from Mark Sardella
Nicknamed the “Disneyland of the Northeast,” Pleasure Island had a Moby Dick ride, pirates, and western entertainment. Children could take stagecoach rides and paddleboat rides in a completely themed setting. The severe New England winters and exorbitant maintenance costs ultimately put an end to it.
5. Dogpatch USA – Marble Falls, Arkansas (1968–1993)
Image from Wikipedia
Based on the “Li’l Abner” comic strip, Dogpatch USA was a quirky, hillbilly-themed park nestled in the Ozarks. It had trout fishing, rustic rides, and actors in character roaming the grounds. After the comic lost relevance, the park struggled to attract new generations and quietly faded away.
6. Boblo Island Amusement Park – Ontario, Canada (1898–1993)
Image from Wikipedia
A boat ride from Detroit was part of the magic for children visiting Boblo Island. With a lovely riverfront setting, it included a dance pavilion, carousel, and famous Sky Streak roller coaster. Growing larger parks and logistical problems ultimately closed it.
7. Freedomland U.S.A. – The Bronx, New York (1960–1964)
Image from Wikipedia
Meant to be the East Coast counterpart to Disneyland, Freedomland replicated American history in themed realms such as Old New York and the Wild West. With dazzling grandeur and initial crowds, financial woes led to its downfall in only four years. Today, the land is occupied by Co-op City.
8. Santa’s Village – Scotts Valley, California (1957–1979)
Image from Press Banner
This Christmas park thrilled children with reindeer rides, candy cane trim, and a year-round North Pole frozen landscape. It was like going into a living snow globe — even during July. Highway rerouting and competition from larger parks brought about its peaceful closure.
9. Heritage USA – Fort Mill, South Carolina (1978–1989)
Image from Wikipedia
Developed by televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, this park blended Christian themes with water slides, stores, and even a duplicate Upper Room. It was briefly the third most visited park in the U.S. before scandal and bankruptcy did it in.
10. Lake Dolores Waterpark – Newberry Springs, California (1962–2004)
Image from Wikipedia
This desert oasis was a DIY enthusiast’s paradise for adventurous kids and teenagers, with zip lines, ramps, and massive slides ending in a lake. Later, it was renamed Rock-A-Hoola but never returned to its former glory. Now, it’s a spooky, graffiti-tagged ghost park.
11. The Enchanted Forest – Ellicott City, Maryland (1955–1989)
Image from Wikipedia
This storybook park featured walk-through storybook homes, a Cinderella castle, and a giant Jack and the Beanstalk slide. For kids, it was an entry into a world of fantasy. The ascension of high-thrill rides at other parks rendered its sweetly charming nature outmoded.
12. Opryland USA – Nashville, Tennessee (1972–1997)
Image from Facebook
Originally constructed to accompany the Grand Ole Opry, this park combined live country music with roller coasters and water rides. It was a favorite among Southern families. Its shutdown to pave the way for a mall ignited mass outrage and nostalgia.
13. Lincoln Park – Dartmouth, Massachusetts (1894–1987)
Image from Art in Ruins
This classic New England theme park featured a wooden roller coaster, bumper boats, and a carousel that became magical at dusk. It drew primarily locals but had a core following. The closing of the park followed decades of deteriorating safety standards and a decline in visitors.
14. River Country – Walt Disney World, Florida (1976–2001)
Image from Abandoned Florida
As Disney’s first water park, River Country provided classic swimming holes, rope swings, and tire tube slides. Its natural environment attracted children who desired a less industrialized experience. However, health reasons and competition from new water parks ended it.
15. Magic Mountain – Golden, Colorado (1957–1960)
Image from Golden Landmarks Association
One of the first attempts at a theme park prior to Disneyland’s monopoly, Magic Mountain featured medieval motifs, animatronics, and quaint promenades. However, money troubles and insufficient public support closed it rapidly. Parts of it were reworked for subsequent parks, such as Six Flags.
16. Jazzland – New Orleans, Louisiana (2000–2005)
Image from Wikipedia
A short-lived park, Jazzland celebrated Louisiana’s musical heritage through themed sections such as Cajun Country and Mardi Gras. Children enjoyed the wooden roller coaster Megazeph and live jazz shows. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the park, and it did not reopen.
17. Chippewa Lake Park – Medina, Ohio (1878–1978)
Image from Third Stop on the Right
Now an abandoned lakeside resort, Chippewa was once a thriving resort town with vintage rides and dancehalls. Unchanged for decades, it acquired a nostalgic flair. It faded away quietly in 1978, and over time, nature reclaimed the property until demolition was initiated in the 2010s.
18. Americana Amusement Park – Monroe, Ohio (1929–2002)
Image from WCPO
Originally opened as LeSourdsville Lake, this park expanded with old-fashioned appeal, a wood coaster, and a water log flume classic. Fires and management issues took their toll. Though revived several times, it couldn’t hold a candle to larger, glitzier parks.
19. Fairyland Forest – Maggie Valley, North Carolina (1965–1983)
Image from Retirenet.com
Hidden in the Smoky Mountains, this fantasy park featured nursery rhyme characters, puppet theater, and a soothing train ride. It was ideal for very young children and school groups, but the fall of themed fairy tale parks during the ’80s caused it to close.
20. Steeplechase Park – Coney Island, New York (1897–1964)
Image from Wikipedia
One of the original Coney Island giants, Steeplechase featured roller coasters, mechanical horse racing, and funhouses that bewitched children in the early 20th century. It rode out fires, storms, and shifting tastes for decades. A disagreement with developers finally closed it, marking an end to an era.