I used to love theme parks when I was younger, back when you had no sense of mortality and loved the thrill of the rides, screaming and laughing along with friends. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed an aversion to theme parks – something about them I find a little bit creepy. After reading this list, you might find them a little creepy as well…
1 - The Land of Oz, USA
Based on Frank Baum’s magical Land of Oz books, this theme park opened in 1970 in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Debbie Reynolds and her daughter, absolute legend Carrie Fisher, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. Guests began their journey in Kansas before travelling to the famous yellow brick road via tornado. All the characters would be waiting: the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the (somewhat misunderstood in my eyes) Wicked Witch.
On 28th December 1975, a fire, believed to have been deliberately started, destroyed buildings, props and costumes. Various items, including Judy Garland’s famous Dorothy dress, were stolen while the fire raged. Although they tried to rebuild the park, the costs were never recovered, and it closed down. Soon, nature began to take back what was originally hers.
2 - Dunaujvarosi Vidampark, Hungary
Opening in 1953, this theme park was built the year that Stalin died and was, unusually, created as a non-capitalist venture. Instead of being funded by visitors, the park was funded by the government. It closed in 1993.
3 - Pripyat Amusement Park, Chernobyl
One of the most famous of all abandoned amusement parks, it was due to open on 1st May 1986. However, the tragic Chernobyl disaster happened just days before, on the 26th of April, forcing the park to remain shut. One of its most outstanding features is the now iconic Ferris wheel, which stands 85 feet tall.
4 - Gulliver’s Kingdom, Japan
5 - Nara Dreamland, Japan
The park, which opened in 1961, took much of its inspiration from California’s Disneyland theme park. However, once Disneyland opened in Tokyo in 1983, it signalled the decline of the once popular theme park. It closed for good on 31st August 2006 and was left to overgrow; a haunting wasteland loomed over by the once busy castle. It was eventually demolished in 2016.
6 - Disney River Country, USA
Opening on 20th June 1976, this was the first waterpark at Disneyworld. It was constructed with a wilderness theme, designed to look like an old-fashioned swimming hole. Sadly, it seemed to be cursed after a series of accidents, some fatal. In 1980, an 11-year-old boy died after contracting an amoebic brain infection caused by the water. Three others died in similar circumstances in the same month. Two children died of drowning in 1982 and again in 1989. It closed on 2nd November 2001 and was supposed to re-open in 2002, but it was announced that it probably wouldn’t open again. It was permanently closed in 2005 and lay abandoned for 17 years. Creepily, the power appeared to have not been disconnected entirely as the River Country Closing Theme would continue to play and lights turned on long after its abandonment.
7 - Holy Land, USA
This park dedicated to the Bible was opened in 1955 in Waterbury, Connecticut, US. It was based on replicating Bethlehem and Jerusalem and recreated famous biblical scenes such as The Garden of Eden and Daniel in the lion’s den. The owner closed the park in 1984, intending to extend and upgrade, but he died in 1986, leaving the park unfinished. It fell into disrepair and suffered from vandalism after being broken into numerous times. Unfortunately, these break-ins turned tragic on 15th July 2010, after 16-year-old Chloe Ottman was raped and murdered at the site after being lured there by Francisco Cruz.
8 - Wildlife Wonderland – Bass, Victoria
In 2018, urban explorer Luke McPherson travelled to Wildlife Wonderland, a park that had closed in 2012. He recorded the video and put it on YouTube; at around 18 minutes, you can hear him exclaim, ‘What the hell?’. In front of him was a large fish tank that contained a great white shark. It turns out that ‘Rosie’, as she was known, had been caught in fishing nets in 1998. They killed her (hmmm) and preserved her body in formaldehyde within the tank. After the closure of the wildlife park, she was left alone and forgotten until McPherson discovered her. Rosie has since been rescued and restored and now resides at the Crystal World Exhibition Centre in Victoria, Australia.
9 – DadiPark – Belgium
DadiPark was opened in the 1950s and was originally a playground before developing in the 1980s into an amusement park. It was pulling in up to a million visitors a year in its heyday. Sadly, there was a series of serious accidents, including a 9-year-old boy losing his arm in 2000 whilst riding the Nautic Jet ride. This led to the permanent closure of the park in 2002.
10 - Blobbyland/Crinkley Bottom - UK
I’ve left this one till last because I found the whole concept seriously weird, possibly because of my mistrust of Noel Edmunds and the fact that Mr Blobby was fucking terrifying. The park was opened in 1994 in Somerset, when ‘Blobbymania’ was at its dizzying heights. It was only open for five short years before being closed and left forgotten until urban explorers discovered the remains in 2009. The buildings were still standing, including Mr Blobby’s home, full of family photos with mould creeping over them. The once garish pink and yellow park looked more like the setting of a dodgy B-movie. Sadly, it was demolished in 2014.
And there are a few abandoned theme parks from around the world. They give me the creeps, but I find something beautiful about Mother Nature simply hiding the evidence that there was ever anything manufactured in the area. Thanks for reading; let me know what you think in the comments, take care, and I will see you next time.
Hi! I spend a lot of time writing for the website, and I basically exist on caffeine and anxiety - if anybody would like to encourage this habit, please feel free to buy me a coffee!
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