World’s Spookiest Amusement Parks No One Wants to Visit

Whenever we hear the word amusement park, we think of swings, merry-go-rounds, Ferris Wheel, and loads of fun-filled activities. But, the following amusement parks are anything but fun. These parks used to be an inviting place for the entire family but due to an unfortunate incident they had to be closed and completely abandoned. Now these parks are a sight of dismay and despair. Let’s have a look at the eleven spookiest amusement parks around the world.

If you want to know how a horror movie’s set would look like, visit the Geoje Island in South Korea where the Okpo Land Park is located. The duck-themed roller coaster pictured here used to be its main attraction but several unfortunate incidents generated the perception that it was haunted. Back in the late 1990s, this ride claimed one life, but the owner continued its operation unapologetically. Again in 1999, a young girl fell and died tragically. The owner shut down the park and disappeared. Rumor has it that the park got demolished in 2011 and there are plans to build a hotel in its place.

Located in Fort Mill, South Carolina, this Christian theme park was more like a vacation destination as it was a residential complex-cum-water park. Owned jointly by Jim Bakker, the noted PTL televangelist, and his then wife the late Tammy F. Bakker Messner, the park remained a financially rewarding business for the couple as they earned nearly $126 million annually. Built by the famous church builder Roe Messner, the park occupied a massive 2,300 acres, and remained operational between 1978 and 89. However, everything went downhill when Jim’s affair with Jessica Hahn got revealed and he was accused of fraud. The park’s tax exemption status was also revoked by the IRS and to make things worse it was hit by the Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. It got severely damaged and was closed. Some portions of the park have been sold and the rest is under redevelopment.

The Six Flags used to be a very popular amusement park before 2005, which is when the notorious Hurricane Katrina hit it and the property got seriously damaged. Ironically, the park was operational for just half a decade from its inaugural in 2000 as it had to be closed following the devastating Hurricane Katrina that took thousands of lives and displaced countless families. The park’s entrance still displays the sign Closed for the Storm, which adds to the creepiness of site. It has benefitted filmmakers though as some portions of movies like Jurassic World were shot there. 

If there is one abandoned park that has remained the eye candy of photographers around the world, it is Nara Dreamland. Since its opening in the 1960s, this park remained very popular among the masses until the late 1990s. From 2000 onwards the number of visitors started decreasing eventually leading to its closure in 2006. Interestingly, California’s Disneyland was the real inspiration behind this park as it also boasted of very colorful, fairytale like rollercoasters and rides. Sadly, it is now in a dismal shape and everything is rotting because of years of neglect and abandonment.

It is the first ever waterpark constructed in the very famous Walt Disney World resort complex. It was enjoying a good run and attracted large number of visitors until November 2001. The park had to bear the brunt of the negative consequences of 9/11 terror attacks in New York. Since then, it hasn’t been restored and is left to rot. It is one of the two parks built by Walt Disney World that got abandoned.

This Wizard of Oz themed park situated in North Carolina is probably the eeriest place in the entire US. Built in 1970 at an area of 16-acre, this park was massively popular among locals and tourists alike given its unusual theme and attractions. However, by 1975, the public’s interest in the movie and its amusement park decreased considerably and visitors’ turnout dropped every passing month. The rest of the damage was done by a fire that destroyed a big portion of the Land of Oz, leading to its formal abandonment. However, the park opens for public every year on Halloween.

This communist-themed free-for-all amusement park opened in 1953 but couldn’t survive long enough due to lack of funds. Communist government of the time provided funding for the park until 1993 but after the fall of the USSR it had to be closed. What used to be a sight to behold is now inhabited by ghouls.

Among all the abandoned amusement parks, the Pripyat is the unluckiest because it couldn’t even have a decent opening before it was closed for good. However, right before the opening of the park, a nuclear disaster occurred that affected the entire city and led to the closure of the Chernobyl Nuclear plant. Given the hazardously high radiation intensities around the area, the locals weren’t allowed to visit the park at all. The only thing lucky enough to touch and use the rides and all the amenities at the park is the mold.

What used to be the most popular place in park in the entire Kansas is now in a despicable condition. It remained popular for almost 55 years but when during 2006 the ownership of the park was shifted, its fate took a turn…for the worse. As evident, it is in a pretty bad shape and the rides are decaying, which makes it an ideal location for filming horror movies. The park’s demolition process is still underway though.

We all loved reading Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels but the park built on the same theme couldn’t get much admiration from the public. It ran for only four years and low number of visitors was the main reason behind its closure. The giant yet decaying and disintegrating statue of Gulliver is an utterly distressful scene for anyone, especially children.

It was a portion of the Noel Edmond’s famous Crinkley Bottom Park. It was inspired by a character Mr. Blobby from the hit television show in the 90s, Noel’s House Party. The park was closed and left unattended for years while the other part underwent renovation to build a hotel. It tops our list of spookiest abandoned amusement parks because it is the only park believed to be actually inhabited by ghosts and spirits. Rumor has it that this location is now occupied by ghosts and spirits and ghost-hunters from around the world visit it often to get a glimpse of the supernatural beings.