10 Abandoned Theme Parks With The Creepiest And Most Captivating Backstories

The untold mysteries surrounding these lost worlds of fun.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• March 29, 2024

As children, the mere thought of an amusement park was enough to send us into spirals of excitement. It was a place where the magic was real, the rides were exhilarating, and the feeling was simply divine. 

But what happens when the laughter fades, the bustling crowds dwindle to a zero, and the only visitors that remain are eerie gusts of wind groaning between now-creaky rides and machines? 

Unfortunately, it’s a thing—theme parks can end up being abandoned, and as a matter of fact, this happens more frequently than you can imagine. The reasons could range from ghastly freak accidents to unfinished constructions or simply an unfortunate case of going out of business. 

They’re not your typical ghost towns; these forgotten wonderlands tell a story far different from the dazzling parades we usually associate theme parks with.

It’s a peculiar fascination, isn’t it? To wander through the remnants of a place designed purely for delight, now deserted and taken over by nature. It's as if these parks are frozen in time, caught between their glittering heydays and the inevitable progression of the world around them.

Well, as avid explorers, we can’t help but take the bait and dive into the many hidden secrets these former fantasy lands have to offer. So, grab your flashlight and a sturdy pair of boots as we venture into the abandoned corners of 10 once-thriving theme parks.

1. What-If Labs

In 1982, Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida unveiled a futuristic marvel known as the What-If Labs. Fast-forward to 1998, and this interactive wonderland closed its doors, making way for a new experience just a floor below.

Check out what’s inside

Creepy

2. Pripyat Amusement Park

Nestled in Pripyat, Ukraine, this park's story turned tragic in 1986 after the Chernobyl disaster. In a cruel stroke of fate, its opening was scheduled a day after the tragic incident, which led to an abrupt closure on that same fateful day.

Abandoned, but not forgotten

3. Nara Dreamland

Japan's Nara Dreamland, built in 1961, reflected the magic of Disneyland until its closure in 2006. With striking similarities to its American counterpart, it's a dreamy yet abandoned homage to the world of fantasy.

A closer view

4. Disney's River County

Bay Lake, Florida, witnessed the splashy debut of Disney's River County water park in 1976. Sadly, since 2001, its waters have stilled, leaving behind memories of joyful aquatic adventures.

Past memories of what used to be

5. Spreepark

Berlin's Spreepark shut down in 2002 due to financial woes. Since then, its doors have remained open to adventurers itching to explore the skeletal remains of its once bustling grounds. Interestingly, the former owner attempted to open a new park in Peru, but this quickly fell through after a 7-year prison sentence following a drug smuggling attempt gone wrong.

Would you step in?

6. Gulliver's Kingdom

Japan's enigmatic Gulliver's Kingdom was founded in 1997. Sadly, ticket sales weren’t exactly what they imagined, leading to an early closure in 2001. Many believed this had more to do with its ominous location between the Suicide Forest and the village headquarters of a doomsday cult.

Even in its abandoned state, it’s still a sight to behold

This would scare anyone

7. Discovery Island

Disney's Treasure Island was reborn as Discovery Island in 1974. Unfortunately, it only thrived until 1999, before it was left to the wilds. Despite fleeting hopes of rejuvenation, only the vultures returned.

Left to the wilds

All that remains of this island

8. Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Part of Walt Disney World Resort takes you on a journey through time, with special sections celebrating each decade from the 1950s to the 1990s. Plans were made to add another building that would honor the years 1900 to 1950. However, following the events of 9/11, this project was put on hold and never picked back up.

The building is larger than you think

9. Okpo Land

Tucked away in Geoje Island, South Korea, Okpo Land was quite the enigma. A string of tragedies involving deaths at the park eventually led to the owner's sudden disappearance.

Vegetation is taking over

10. Six Flags New Orleans

Originally 'Jazzland' in 2000, this New Orleans park was wrecked during Hurricane Katrina. After being engulfed by the floods, the park was abandoned, and talks about its revival remained non-existent.

Looks fun. If only it was functional.

Even in their silence, these abandoned wonders speak volumes. From forgotten dreams to creepy structures of what once was, their stories live on even though they now lie dormant.

Let their whispers of nostalgia and mystery inspire us to cherish the magic of every fleeting thrill life offers. So, here's to these lost playgrounds, forever etched in the fabric of time.

Jesse