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List of defunct amusement parks

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The following is a list of amusement parks and theme parks that have been closed, demolished, or abandoned:

Africa

Umoja Children's Park, Tanzania

Egypt

Rwanda

Tanzania

Asia

People's Republic of China

Hong Kong

Iran

Japan

The castle at Nara Dreamland in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan

Malaysia

Philippines

  • Boom Na Boom Carnival (1987–1994)
  • Fiesta Carnival (1975–2005)

Singapore

Taiwan

  • Encore's Garden, Dakeng (?–1999)
  • Katoli World, Dakeng (1983–1999)

Europe

Belgium

Dadipark

Bulgaria

The main entrance to Sofia Land, Sofia, Bulgaria

Denmark

England

American Adventure in 1991, Derbyshire, England
The disused entrance for the Granada Studios Tour, Manchester, England

Finland

France

Germany

The Swivel House in 1923, Lunapark, Berlin, Germany

Hungary

  • Budapesti Vidámpark (18??–2013)
  • Dunaújvárosi Vidám Park, Dunaújváros (1952–1993)[7]

Ireland

Isle of Man

Italy

Netherlands

Russian Federation

Scotland

Spain

Turkey

Ukraine

The Ferris wheel at Prypiat amusement park in Ukraine, still stands abandoned.

Wales

North America

Former main dock to Boblo Island Amusement Park, Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Sunnyside Amusement Park in 1931, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Canada

Mexico

Mexico City

  • Plaza Show, Lago de Guadalupe, Dinosaur Park is now a university, UVM Lago de Guadalupe (1980–1989)

Monterrey

  • Mundo de Adeveras (2005–2009)

United States of America

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

An abandoned billboard for Dogpatch USA, Marble Falls, Arkansas

California

Chutes Park, Los Angeles c. 1906

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

File:Cypress Gardens Adventure Park topiary.jpg
Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Florida, United States of America

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Playland postcard

Kansas

Sign at the entrance to Joyland Amusement Park on South Hillside, Wichita, Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Six Flags New Orléans, which was abandoned after being critically damaged by Hurricane Katrina

Maine

Maryland

  • Bay Shore Park, Edgemere (1906–1946) - property bought by Bethlehem Steel but never developed, now a Maryland state park
  • Carlin's Park, Baltimore (?–1959) - also known as Liberty Heights Park, razed to become Carlin's Drive-In Theater; theater was razed in the early 1980s for above-ground section of Baltimore subway system
  • Electric Park, Baltimore (1896–1915) - razed in 1916
  • Enchanted Forest, Ellicott City- a strip mall was built on part of the property; closed in the early 1990s when a lawsuit made it unprofitable to keep the park open
  • Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo - closed in 1968, reopened in 1971 as an art and cultural center by the National Park Service
  • Gwynn Oak Park, Woodlawn (189?–1973) - park suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Agnes in June 1972; many buildings were set on fire by arsonists through the late 1970s until all remaining structures were razed; property is now a Baltimore County park; carousel relocated to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., still in operation
  • Marshall Hall, Charles County (189?–1980) - located on the Potomac River, across from Mount Vernon, Virginia, the home of George Washington; the National Park Service gained control of the park after Congress, acting upon a request from the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, mandated that the views from Mt. Vernon had to be protected and returned to something resembling the days when George Washington sat on his colonnaded porch and looked across the Potomac;the Park Service tore down all vestiges of the amusement park in 1980, whose popularity had declined due to competition by larger, newer parks
  • Pen Mar Park, Washington County - open 1877 to 1943, reopened in 1980 as a county park
  • Pleasure Island, Edgemere (1947–1962) - also known as New Bay Shore Park; bought by Bethlehem Steel but never developed
  • Riverview Park, Baltimore (18??–1929) - razed to build Western Electric plant
  • Six Flags Power Plant, Baltimore - in the late 1980s in what is now a concert venue, used to sit a small amusement area; there were no rides but were three or four sets of amusement attractions, including what was called a "4D" movie, which used 3D technology and added special scent fans in the backs of the seats to create the 4th dimension
  • The Wildlife Preserve, Largo (1973-1980) - drive-thru safari park; now the site of Six Flags America
  • Tolchester Beach, (1887-1962)

Massachusetts

White City (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts) in 1908. The colossal figure of "King Dodo" guards the entrance to the fun house.

Michigan

Minnesota

The Wyer House, which served as the home for park managers; Excelsior Amusement Park, Excelsior, Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Celebration City's gate, Branson, Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

Interior of Luna Park, Coney Island at night, 1905. Electric tower in the foreground. New York, United States of America.
The steeplechase ride, Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, New York, United States of America

New York

Dreamland tower and lagoon, Brooklyn, 1907

North Carolina

Gold City

Ohio

A picture of Euclid Beach Park taken some time between 1895 and 1910, Euclid, Ohio
Chippewa Lake Park's Ferris wheel in 2007, left standing like many rides, but overgrown with foliage; Chippewa Lake, Ohio
Lake house at Olentangy Park, Columbus, Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Name Location Opened Closed Notes Ref.(s)
Alameda Park Butler
1901
1942 c. 1942
Aliquippa Park Aliquippa
1877 c. 1877
1906
Park closed when it was purchased by Jones & Laughlin Steel company.
[33][34]
Angela Park Hazleton
1956
1989
Beechwood Park Havertown
1907
1909
[35]
Beury's Grove Lavelle
1930 c. 1930
1960 c. 1960
Burke Glen Park Monroeville
1926
1974
Bushkill Park Easton
1902
2004
Calhoun Park Lincoln Place
1895
1911 c. 1911
The park was closed several years before the land was sold, in 1916, to a real estate company which developed it into homes.
[36][37][38]
Cascade Park New Castle
1891
1986
Discontinued as an amusement park; still functions as a community park today.
Central Park Allentown
1892
1951 - 1957 c. 1951 - 1957
[39]
Coney Island Neville Township
1907
1908
Only operated for two seasons. Coney Island was intended to be reopened under a different name in 1909, but the park was sold instead, per court order. After the sale, the park operated as a standard park, not an amusement park.
[40][41]
[42][43]
Dream City Wilkinsburg
Dreamland Park Ruscombmanor Township
1950s c. 1950s
Eldora Park Carroll Township
1904
1940s c. 1940s
Forrest Park Chalfont
Hanson's Amusement Park Harveys Lake
1891
1984
1891-1934 as Harvey's Lake Picnic Grounds.
[44]
Harmarville Park Blawnox
Homestead Park Homestead
Island Park Sunbury
1923
1970s c. 1970s
[45]
Junction Park New Brighton
Lakeview Park Royersford
1987
Lenape Park Kittanning
1899
1936
Lenape Park West Chester
1980
This park is currently known as Brandywine Picnic Park.
Luna Park Johnstown
1905
1922
Sold to city of Johnstown in 1922 and renamed Roxbury Park; now a municipal park.
Luna Park Pittsburgh
1905
1909
Luna Park Scranton
1906
1916
Grounds now mostly covered by Interstate 81
Maple Grove Park Pittsburgh
Mapleview Park Canonsburg
Nay Aug Park Scranton
1931
1990s c. 1990s
[46]
Northern Electric Park Clarks Summit
1908
1925
A fire destroyed the major attractions in the park.
[47][48][49]
Oakford Park Jeannette
Oakwood Amusement Park Crafton
Olympia Park McKeesport
1902
1942
Paxtang Park Harrisburg
1893
1929

[50][51]

Playtown Park Springfield Township
Poconos' Magic Valley Bushkill
1977
1982 c. 1982
The park was renamed Magic Valley and Winona Five Falls around 1981. The park closed sometime after 1982.
[52]
Rainbow Gardens White Oak
1924
1968
Originally started with a roller rink and swimming pool, with an amusement park and drive-in theater added in the 40s. Everything was razed or sold in 1968 for a proposed PA Route 48 expressway, which never materialized.

[53]

Rock Point Park Ellwood City
1884
1911
[54]
Rocky Glen Park Moosic
1886
1987
Rocky Springs Park Lancaster
1899
1980
The park closed in 1966 and was reopened for two seasons in 1979 and 1980. The park was auctioned off in 1984.
[55]
Rolling Green Park Hummels Wharf
1908
1971
Sanatoga Park Pottstown
Sans Souci Park Hanover Township
1880
1970
Wilkes-Barre/Nanticoke environs
Southern Park Carrick
Swatara Park Middletown
1955 c. 1955
1968 c. 1968
West Point Park Upper Gwynedd Township
1868
1988
West View Park Pittsburgh
1906
1977
White Swan Park Moon Township
1955
1990
Williams Grove Amusement Park Mechanicsburg
1850
2005
Standing, but not operating.
Willow Grove Park Willow Grove
1896
1975
Willow Mill Park Mechanicsburg
1931 c. 1931
1996

Rhode Island

Rocky Point Amusement Park, Warwick, Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

View from the Skyride circa 1975. The "Tin Lizzies" old-timey car ride is visible. Opryland USA, Nashville, Tennessee.

Texas

Texas Cyclone at 4:30 p.m. on October 30, 2005, AstroWorld's last day of operation. Houston, Texas.

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Luna Park Seattle, Washington, 1910. In the foreground is part of the Great Figure Eight roller coaster. At right rear is the Zeum carousel, and to its left the natatorium.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Oceania

The SegaWorld Sydney building in 1998, Sydney
Robson's Figure Eight in 1908. Dreamland, St. Kilda, Victoria
The roller coaster at Leisureland Fair, Langwarrin, Victoria
A scene at Wobbies World, Nunawading, Victoria

Australia

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

South Australia

  • Dazzleland, Adelaide Myer Centre - on the top floor of Rundle Mall's Myer Centre lived a roller coaster, along with many other activities including a ball crawl
  • Luna Park, Glenelg, South Australia - On October 8, 1930, tens of thousands of people flocked to the opening of Luna Park on the foreshore at Glenelg. The bright lights and thrilling rides provided some cheerful relief to the gloom of the Great Depression. It was Australia's second Luna Park, the first having been opened in Melbourne's St. Kilda eighteen years before. One difference between the two parks was that Glenelg did not have the 'laughing face' entrance. Entrepreneur David Atkins saw the possibilities of such a venture in Adelaide and encouraged the Melbourne owners to open a Luna Park here. He became the park's general manager. Glenelg's Luna Park operated for almost five years when a mixture of economics, non-negotiable council rent, tension with local residents and pressure from church groups not to run rides on Sunday saw its closure. The rides and machinery were packed up and sent to the site still occupied by Luna Park in Sydney.
  • Magic Mountain, Glenelg - operating between 1982 and 2004, this popular park boasted four waterslides built into an artificial mountain; since demolished as part of a redevelopment of the foreshore and replaced by a new park called The Beachouse
  • Puzzle Park, Murray Bridge - adjacent to the Callington exit on the South East Freeway; now closed although many items of equipment still remain on the site[59]

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

New Zealand

South America

See also

References

  1. ^ Gulliver's Kingdom
  2. ^ Expo 58 at the Roller Coaster DataBase
  3. ^ Lunapark Antwerp at the Roller Coaster DataBase
  4. ^ Lunapark Antwerp 30 at the Roller Coaster DataBase
  5. ^ www.rcdb.com
  6. ^ www.rcdb.com
  7. ^ A szomorú vidámpark. Szellemváros blog. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Ghostly Chernobyl now hot with tourism – 10/06/05". Retrieved 2007-11-04.
  9. ^ "Panoramio – Photo of Prypjat Vergnügungspark". Retrieved 2007-11-04.
  10. ^ Venice Amusement Pier Venice, California History Site
  11. ^ Ocean View
  12. ^ Watermania Florida
  13. ^ Tropical/Florida Wonderland
  14. ^ Aerial view
  15. ^ Pictures
  16. ^ "Coasting to a stop at Whalom Park", The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), October 19, 2006, Jenna Russell
  17. ^ Young, Gordon (1 November 2015). New York TImes http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/01/education/edlife/international-students-find-the-american-dream-in-flint.html?_r=0. Retrieved 2 November 2015. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ^ The Comet
  19. ^ [1]
  20. ^ Racer Dips
  21. ^ another The Comet
  22. ^ The Flying Turns
  23. ^ [2]
  24. ^ Funland Amusement Park
  25. ^ Westworld (Old Vegas) Theme Park Sign | Flickr – Condivisione di foto!
  26. ^ Old Vegas (Westworld), Henderson, Nevada | Flickr – Condivisione di foto!
  27. ^ Old Vegas neighborhood in Henderson, Nevada (NV), 89015 subdivision profile - real estate, apartments, condos, homes, community, population, jobs, income, streets
  28. ^ Pine Island Park
  29. ^ National Amusement Park Historical Association: Olympic Park
  30. ^ Monument memorializes the site of Olympic Park | NJ.com
  31. ^ McGregor, Kenneth. "Brady Lake Electric Park". Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  32. ^ American Pickers episode, Oct 30 2013
  33. ^ "P&LE Sells Aliquippa Park". New Castle News. September 20, 1905. p. 2. Report has it that Jones and Laughlin Steel Company will in future, use it as industrial site - Rail and Roundhouse News.
  34. ^ "Dismantling Picnic Ground; Aliquippa Park Is Making Way for New Steel Mills". The Daily Notes. Canonsburg. January 15, 1907. p. 1.
  35. ^ Davis, Michelle R. (December 1, 1991). "Short-lived Trip: Taking A Trolley To Rides At Park". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  36. ^ "Railway Cripples Organize". Altoona Tribune. May 14, 1895. p. 7. ...it has been decided to hold a picnic at Calhoun park, the new pleasure resort on the Monongahela river...
  37. ^ "Calhoun Park for Lot Plan". The Pittsburgh Post. November 16, 1916. p. 14. The Homestead Realty Company has purchased from the Philadelphia Company the old Calhoun park property for $28,000.
  38. ^ Ackerman, Jan (October 21, 2002). "Small city neighborhood caught in fight over land for community center". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 21, 2015. One of the most interesting things they found was that an amusement park called Calhoun Park was opened in 1895 by Pittsburgh Railways Company on Mifflin Road, where the trailer park now stands. The park closed about 1910.
  39. ^ Whelan, Frank (August 26, 2011). "Central Park once the Lehigh Valley amusement mecca died 60 years ago this summer". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  40. ^ "Public Sale: Coney Island Amusement Company". The Pittsburgh Gazette Times. November 8, 1908. p. S5-5.
  41. ^ "Neville Island Park. Bathing Beach With 1,000 Bath Houses to Be Feature at New Resort". The Pittsburgh Post. October 21, 1906. p. 11.
  42. ^ "Another "Coney Island."". Reading Times. October 25, 1906. p. 4.
  43. ^ "Coney Island's Opening". The Pittsburgh Gazette Times. May 26, 1907. p. 27. The new Coney Island Park, located on Neville island, some seven miles down the Ohio river, will be opened to the public on Saturday, June 8.
  44. ^ "Hanson's Amusement Park" (PDF). Harveyslake.org. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  45. ^ "Shamokin Men Head Project For A Big Park Near Sunbury; Corporation, Headed by Selin M. Wiest of This City, Closes Deal for Eighteen-acre Site on Island Park, Sunbury. Plan Outlay of $150,000 for the Erection of Buildings and Amusement Devices". Shamokin News-Dispatch. May 24, 1923. pp. 1, 4.
  46. ^ "Strohl to Proceed With Dance Building". The Scranton Republican. January 26, 1931. p. 3.
  47. ^ "An Amusement Park For Clark's Summit". The Scranton Truth. February 13, 1909. p. 8.
  48. ^ "Northern Electric Park Opens Today". The Scranton Truth. May 21, 1910. p. 9.
  49. ^ "No title". The Scranton Republican. August 15, 1925. p. 8. The closing of Northern Electric Park as an amusement resort eliminates one of the best known local places of the kind.
  50. ^ "Paxtang Park. Attractions Which Will Be Added to the Grounds in a Short Time". Harrisburg Daily Independent. July 20, 1893. p. 1.
  51. ^ "Paxtang Park Is Thing Of Past; Remove Houses". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. April 21, 1930. p. 1. Paxtang Park, whic [sic] used to be a trolley park when local residents rode out into the country at Paxtang for five cents, is a thing of the past.
  52. ^ "Magic Valley theme park opens". The Pocono Record. June 30, 1977. p. 13. The Poconos' first theme park officially opens its doors today at the base of Winona Five Falls near Bushkill.
  53. ^ O'Malley, Meg (November 24, 2014). "Rainbow Gardens". Popular Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Sports and Recreation. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  54. ^ "Rock Point". Pittsburg Gazette. June 20, 1884. p. 2. The Rock Point property has been purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad and elegauntly [sic] fitted up for Picnic and Pleasure Parties.
  55. ^ "Rocky Springs Park History". Rocky Springs Park, LP. 2003. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  56. ^ Aerial view
  57. ^ Lake Front Stadium - DrumCorpsWiki
  58. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19981102&id=1cwiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Hy8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6572,6472035
  59. ^ http://www.weekendnotes.com/puzzle-park-adelaide/
  60. ^ BULLEN'S AFRICAN LION SAFARI (PERTH) PTY LTD ACN#008742201 - Deregistered - ASIC Company Search and ASIC Extract
  61. ^ White City: State Library of Western Australia
  62. ^ Footrot Flats Revisited | visualhumor
  63. ^ http://www.localhistoryonline.org.nz/cgi-bin/PUI?e=-----------1-0-0&a=d&c=supercol&cl=CL2.L.Leisureland%20Theme%20Park&d=wanw-WNI-AAA-4965
  64. ^ PlayCenter