1. Dogpatch USA – Arkansas
Tucked into the Ozark Mountains, Dogpatch USA was built around the comic strip Li’l Abner. Yep, an entire amusement park themed after a satirical hillbilly town. Opened in 1968, it featured trout ponds, “corny” shows, and characters like Daisy Mae walking around. But while the setting was quirky, the park’s remote location made it tough to attract enough visitors. As interest in the comic faded, so did the crowds shares the Travel.
By the ’90s, the park was struggling to survive. Developers tried to rebrand it into a nature park, but that never stuck. It closed in 1993 and has since been abandoned, with overgrown cabins and rusting rides giving it a truly eerie vibe. Some locals say it feels like the ghosts of comic strip characters are still lingering in those hills adds Only In Your State.
2. Heritage USA – South Carolina
Started by televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in the ’80s, Heritage USA was part amusement park, part Christian retreat, and 100% surreal. It had a water park, a replica of the Upper Room, and even a monorail. At its peak, it drew six million visitors a year, second only to Disney. But the whole thing crumbled after a massive scandal involving money, fraud, and an affair says WCNC.
After Jim Bakker went to prison, the park never recovered. Parts of it sat abandoned for years, including the eerie upper levels of the massive hotel. Today, some remnants have been converted into new ministries or torn down. But for a while, it was a strange, flashy monument to televangelism at its most theatrical adds FinanceBuzz.
3. Joyland – Kansas
Joyland in Wichita was once a bustling little park with wooden roller coasters, a creepy old clown organ, and classic carnival vibes. It opened in 1949 and had that charming, old-school feel that gave generations of Midwesterners their first taste of thrills. But over time, upkeep lagged and safety issues started stacking up. In 2004, a young girl fell from a ride and survived, but it shook public trust.
The park shut down not long after and was left to rot. Vandals, weather, and neglect turned it into a post-apocalyptic-looking ghost town. The broken carousel horses and silent clown faces only made things creepier. It was finally demolished in the late 2010s, but stories about Joyland’s haunted vibes still circulate.
4. Holy Land USA – Connecticut
Yes, there was a Bible-themed park in Waterbury, Connecticut that tried to bring scripture to life—complete with miniature Jerusalem. Built in the ’50s, Holy Land USA was a bizarre mix of devotion and kitsch. Tiny stone buildings, neon signs quoting scripture, and a giant cross loomed over the park. It became a local curiosity, drawing tens of thousands annually at its peak.
But it shut down in the ’80s and slowly decayed. Vandals and weather turned it into a haunting shell of itself. In 2010, a tragic murder occurred there, casting a dark shadow over the already spooky site. Though there’s been talk of revival, the strange mix of holy intention and eerie ambiance lingers in memory.
5. Land of Oz – North Carolina
Perched on Beech Mountain, this Wizard of Oz-themed park opened in 1970 and was truly unlike anything else. Guests followed a real yellow brick road through immersive sets and met Dorothy and friends along the way. At first, it was wildly popular, but a fire and financial troubles led to its quick decline. By 1980, it had closed to regular visitors.
Today, parts of it reopen for special events like “Autumn at Oz,” drawing nostalgic fans and curious newcomers. But walking through the crumbling Emerald City with fog rolling in? It’s more chilling than cheerful. It feels like stepping into an alternate Oz where something went wrong. You half expect flying monkeys to swoop down from the trees.
6. Ghost Town in the Sky – North Carolina
High atop a mountain in Maggie Valley, this Wild West-themed park opened in 1961 and was a major hit for decades. Visitors rode a chairlift to reach the top, where shootouts and saloon shows entertained the crowd. It really leaned into the cowboy aesthetic, with actors staging dramatic standoffs in the street. But the park faced constant weather damage and maintenance problems.
After multiple closures and failed reopenings, Ghost Town fell into ruin. The abandoned roller coasters and broken buildings now sit in foggy silence. Some say it feels like a real ghost town, just with the eerie twist of knowing it was once full of laughter. Attempts to resurrect it keep popping up, but nothing’s stuck yet.
7. Chippewa Lake Park – Ohio
This lakeside park operated for 100 years before it closed in 1978, almost overnight. No big farewell, no warning, just locked gates and a “thanks for coming” vibe. Rides like the Ferris wheel and the Wild Mouse coaster were simply left behind. Nature slowly reclaimed everything, with vines crawling over tracks and trees sprouting through picnic tables.
Urban explorers later discovered the site and turned it into a cult favorite. But those who visited described it as deeply unsettling—faded signage, overturned teacups, and eerie silence. A fire in 2020 destroyed many remaining structures. Still, the legend of this forgotten playground lives on among those drawn to abandoned Americana.
8. Prehistoric Forest – Michigan
Located along Michigan’s Irish Hills, Prehistoric Forest opened in 1963 and offered a drive-through dinosaur safari. Giant fiberglass dinos lurked in the trees, while a jungle cruise ride added to the adventure. It was kitschy, campy fun—until attendance began to drop in the ’80s. By the late ’90s, it had closed, and the dinosaurs were left behind.
Over time, the creatures cracked and faded, becoming part of the woods themselves. Some still stand, half-swallowed by nature and time. Explorers have likened the experience to walking through a lost movie set. It’s weirdly peaceful, but the stillness and looming T-Rex make it feel more like a horror film than a family attraction.
9. Lincoln Park – Massachusetts
Lincoln Park was a small-town favorite in Dartmouth, operating from 1894 to 1987. It had a classic wooden roller coaster called the Comet, which was both beloved and terrifying. But after a fatal accident in 1986, the park’s reputation never recovered. Financial issues and competition from bigger parks sealed its fate.
For years, the crumbling coaster and graffiti-covered buildings stood as a haunting reminder of what once was. People would sneak in to snap photos or shoot videos, capturing the surreal decay. It was eventually torn down, but not before plenty of ghost stories and urban legends formed. A once-cheery local gem became an eerie monument to amusement gone awry.
10. Enchanted Forest – Maryland
This fairy tale-themed park in Ellicott City opened in 1955 and was filled with giant storybook scenes. Think Humpty Dumpty statues, gingerbread houses, and oversized mushrooms. It was a kid’s dream—and a bit of a fever dream for adults. But by the ’80s, modern attractions elsewhere pulled families away, and the park shut down in 1989.
For years, the abandoned characters loomed quietly behind fences. Locals were equal parts nostalgic and creeped out. Some of the figures were relocated to a nearby farm that occasionally opened for tours. But the original forest, once magical, turned more macabre as it sat untouched.
11. Action Park – New Jersey
No list like this would be complete without the infamous Action Park. Nicknamed “Class Action Park,” it gained a reputation for dangerous rides and minimal supervision. Located in Vernon, New Jersey, it featured things like the Alpine Slide, a looping water slide, and motorboats that often caused collisions. Injuries were so common that there was a first-aid station constantly swamped with guests.
Despite—or maybe because of—its chaotic nature, it was incredibly popular during the ’80s. But lawsuits and growing safety concerns eventually led to its closure in 1996. Stories of broken teeth, concussions, and worse became part of its twisted legacy. A 2020 documentary helped cement its place in bizarre amusement history.
12. Spreepark – Germany
Though not American, Spreepark deserves a mention for its sheer surrealism. Located in East Berlin, it opened in 1969 as Kulturpark Plänterwald. After reunification, it was rebranded and became known for its odd attractions, including animatronic dinosaurs and a giant ferris wheel. When it closed in 2002, everything was left to decay in place.
Now, the park is like a dream turned nightmare. Swans sit frozen on a dry track, and vines grow through abandoned rides. It’s become a hotspot for urban explorers and photographers. While a few efforts to revive it have emerged, the sense of strangeness still hangs heavy in the air.
13. Jungle Habitat – New Jersey
Operated by Warner Bros., Jungle Habitat opened in 1972 and featured a drive-through safari where animals roamed free. You could come face-to-face with lions, elephants, and even baboons—all from the “safety” of your car. But things didn’t always go smoothly. There were reports of animals escaping, damaging vehicles, and in some cases, hurting people.
Despite decent attendance, the park closed just four years later in 1976. Everything was abandoned: cages, signs, and remnants of themed decor. Hikers still find odd leftovers in the woods near West Milford. It’s like the remnants of a jungle set plopped into a quiet corner of the Northeast.