1. Six Flags New Orleans, Louisiana
You’d never guess this was once filled with the sounds of laughter and roller coasters. Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, flooding the entire park with up to seven feet of water and leaving it in a haunting, ruined state. Since then, it’s just been sitting there, rusting in the Louisiana sun, with faded signs still advertising long-gone attractions. There are abandoned bumper cars, cracked pathways overrun with weeds, and even a broken Ferris wheel that looms like a ghost of happier days shares FOX Weather.
Every now and then, photographers sneak in to capture the eerie emptiness. It’s like the whole place was suddenly paused and no one ever hit play again. Plans to revive it have come and gone, but so far, nothing’s stuck. For locals, it’s a reminder of a city that’s still recovering in more ways than one adds NOLA.com.
2. Spreepark, Berlin, Germany
This park looks like something out of a forgotten fairytale, with its collapsed rides and colorful relics now wrapped in vines. Opened in 1969 in East Berlin, it thrived for a while before closing in 2002 under a cloud of financial trouble and scandal. One of the most haunting sights is the giant Ferris wheel, which still turns eerily on windy days says Daily Express.
After it shut down, the grounds were left to rot, though curious explorers kept sneaking in. It almost became an urban legend, with stories of crocodiles in the old water rides and clowns hidden in the brush. Though there have been plans to redevelop it, nature has claimed it for now. It’s strange how a place meant for joy can feel so quietly haunting shares the Guardian.
3. Okpo Land, South Korea
Perched on a hillside overlooking the sea, Okpo Land could’ve been charming if not for its tragic history. It shut down in the late ’90s after a series of accidents, including one involving a young girl on a duck-themed ride. The ride was never repaired, just left dangling as if frozen in mid-flight, adding to the eerie vibe of the abandoned park.
Locals often spoke of the place like it was cursed, and for years, it was completely off-limits. Wind would whip through the hollowed-out rides, and you could almost hear the echoes of screams and laughter. The buildings were crumbling, the rust was thick, and no one seemed in a rush to tear it down. It was finally demolished in 2011, but those who saw it in its frozen state never forgot it.
4. Joyland Amusement Park, Kansas, USA
Joyland had been a staple in Wichita since the 1940s, with its retro charm and iconic wooden roller coaster. But after decades of wear and tear, it finally closed for good in 2006. The once-colorful clown mascot, Louie, sat weathered and peeling near the park entrance, greeting no one.
What makes Joyland so heartbreaking is how much love the community had for it. It wasn’t flashy, but it had character. Families made memories there, and now all that’s left are broken tracks, toppled signs, and a spooky silence. The decay feels personal, like losing an old friend to time.
5. Gulliver’s Kingdom, Japan
You can’t miss the enormous statue of Gulliver tied down in the middle of this abandoned park. Located near Mount Fuji, Gulliver’s Kingdom was a bizarre theme park dedicated to Gulliver’s Travels, and it closed just four years after opening in 1997. The location didn’t help either—it was eerily close to Japan’s infamous Aokigahara forest.
The whole place feels surreal, with oversized props scattered across empty lots. Slides curl into nothing, and footpaths lead to crumbling attractions. It’s hard to believe this was meant to be a family-friendly destination. Now, it’s more like a post-apocalyptic playground for thrill-seeking urban explorers.
6. Heritage USA, South Carolina
This one’s got a twist—Heritage USA was a Christian-themed park founded by televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in the ’80s. At its height, it welcomed millions of visitors every year, making it one of the top theme parks in the country. But after a scandal and financial fallout, it closed in 1989.
What’s left behind is a strange mix of faded piety and abandoned glitz. Crosses sit crooked on overgrown lawns, and old water slides lie dry and cracked. Some parts have been redeveloped, but others feel completely untouched. It’s like the spirit left long ago, and only the skeleton remains.
7. Pripyat Amusement Park, Ukraine
Possibly the most famous abandoned park in the world, Pripyat’s amusement park never officially opened. Scheduled to welcome guests on May 1, 1986, it was shut down days before due to the Chernobyl disaster. The Ferris wheel, still standing, has become an eerie symbol of what might have been.
Radiation keeps people at a distance, but the decay has its own tragic beauty. Rust covers the rides, and moss has crept into every crack. It’s frozen in the moment just before fun could begin. That contrast between joy and disaster hits you in the gut.
8. Enchanted Forest Playland, Rhode Island, USA
This tiny park was once a beloved local gem, filled with fairytale characters and low-key charm. It opened in the 1970s and closed in 2005, leaving behind whimsical structures that now look a little more creepy than cute. Think Sleeping Beauty’s castle with peeling paint and headless animatronics.
It’s easy to see the magic that once lived here, but nature didn’t wait around. Ivy has climbed over storybook cottages, and tree roots break through the pavement. What once delighted kids now draws curious photographers. It’s like time pressed pause halfway through a dream.
9. Land of Oz, North Carolina, USA
Once a vibrant tribute to The Wizard of Oz, this mountaintop park opened in 1970 and fell into decline just a decade later. A fire and financial problems shut it down, leaving behind yellow brick roads that now twist through weeds and fog. Dorothy’s house still stands, crooked and cracked.
Interestingly, some parts of the park reopen occasionally for special events, drawing nostalgic visitors. But most of the year, it sits in silence, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains. The contrast of fairy tale and decay gives it an unsettling edge. It’s like the story got stuck somewhere between Kansas and Oz.
10. Wonderland Amusement Park, Beijing, China
Touted as China’s answer to Disneyland, this massive park was abandoned before it was even finished. Construction stopped in the late ’90s due to land disputes, leaving behind half-built castles and incomplete roller coasters. For years, farmers grew crops right up to its crumbling gates.
The strange thing is how pristine parts of it still looked, as if someone might suddenly decide to finish the job. But no one ever did, and it became a ghost town of fairytales that never came true. In 2013, the unfinished structures were finally demolished. Still, for a while, it was a real-life reminder that not every dream gets a happy ending.
11. Rocky Point Park, Rhode Island, USA
This oceanside park was a summertime tradition for generations of New Englanders. After financial issues and a slow decline in attendance, it closed in 1995. The iconic Shore Dinner Hall and crumbling roller coasters were left to the mercy of time and salty sea air.
People still talk fondly about the clam cakes and the views of Narragansett Bay. Walking through the ruins, you’d see graffiti-covered funhouses and shattered game booths. In 2014, much of it was demolished and turned into a public park, but those eerie remnants lived on in memory. Sometimes, it’s harder to let go of places tied to childhood.
12. Dadipark, Belgium
One of Europe’s oldest amusement parks, Dadipark was originally a playground before evolving into a full-fledged theme park. It closed in 2002 after a boy was seriously injured, and nothing was done with the land for years. Slides and monkey bars were left to rot, and rusted swings dangled in silence.
The strangest part was how it all just sat there, untouched, as if waiting for kids to return. But they never did, and nature slowly moved in. Some said the decay gave it a peaceful, almost melancholic beauty. Eventually, it was cleared for redevelopment, but the ghost of the old playground lingers.
13. Fantasy World, Philippines
Set in Tagaytay with castle-like architecture and dreamy design, Fantasy World was built to be a Disneyland-style attraction. But when funding ran out in the early 2000s, the park was never completed. Its towers and gates are picture-perfect at first glance, but step closer and you’ll see peeling paint and empty interiors.
It’s still a popular spot for photoshoots and curious travelers, which is ironic given that it was never truly open. You can even pay a small fee to explore parts of it, though there are no rides or entertainment. It’s a castle with no kingdom, dreams half-built and then forgotten. If anything, it’s a monument to ambition outpacing reality.