1. The Original Disneyland Skyway
If you ever rode the Disneyland Skyway as a kid, you probably remember the thrill of gliding high above the park in those colorful little buckets. It felt like flying, and for many of us, it was the most exciting part of a school trip to Disneyland, especially if you were afraid of the rollercoasters. The Skyway gave you an overhead peek at Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, a view that made the magic feel even bigger. It opened in 1956 and quietly closed in 1994, long before many younger generations ever had the chance to ride it shares Wikipedia.
The closure was mostly due to changes in park logistics and maintenance challenges. For field trips in the ’70s and ’80s, though, it was iconic. Teachers loved it because it was calm and easy, and kids loved it because it was just the right amount of adventure. Now, all that remains are a few vintage photos and wistful memories of dangling feet and wind in your hair adds AllEars.net.
2. Marineland of the Pacific
This coastal California marine park was once a staple for school field trips, especially for kids growing up in the Los Angeles area. Located on the cliffs of Palos Verdes, Marineland opened in 1954 and featured orca shows, dolphin encounters, and a glass tunnel that made you feel like you were walking through the ocean. For many kids, it was their first up-close look at sea life shares Reddit.
Marineland shut down in 1987 after being bought out by the owners of SeaWorld, who quickly transferred the park’s orcas to San Diego. The closure left behind an empty cliffside and generations of students who still talk about those dolphin shows. It was educational but fun, with just enough spectacle to feel like a treat. Now, it’s all high-end homes and luxury resorts, but those who visited as kids still remember feeding fish and peering into giant tanks with wide-eyed wonder says Los Angeles Times.
3. Freedomland U.S.A.
This Bronx-based theme park was short-lived, but if your field trip landed during its brief existence from 1960 to 1964, you hit the jackpot. Freedomland was meant to be an East Coast rival to Disneyland and had themed lands tied to American history, like the Old West and the Civil War. It wasn’t just entertaining, it was educational too—sort of. Kids got to pan for gold, ride stagecoaches, and watch dramatic reenactments that may not have been totally accurate, but definitely were exciting.
The park didn’t last long due to financial issues and competition from the growing World’s Fair site nearby. It was eventually torn down and replaced by Co-op City, but memories of the park live on. For those who went, it was a wild blend of textbook and thrill ride. Looking back, it was one of those oddball places that felt more like a dream than a real memory.
4. The Enchanted Forest in Rhode Island
Not to be confused with other parks of the same name, this Enchanted Forest was a charming little fairy tale theme park that opened in 1971 in Hope Valley, Rhode Island. It was built for younger children, making it a go-to for kindergarten and elementary field trips. You could climb inside a giant pumpkin, visit a tiny castle, or see Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall. Everything felt like it had been made out of papier-mâché and imagination.
The park closed in 2005 after years of declining attendance, and its faded figures became the stuff of eerie internet photo galleries. Still, kids who visited in the ’80s and ’90s remember it fondly as a place that brought storybooks to life. It wasn’t flashy, but it was whimsical in the best way. For many New Englanders, it was a rite of passage field trip destination.
5. Old Chicago Amusement Park
This indoor amusement park in Bolingbrook, Illinois was the first of its kind in the U.S., combining a full theme park and shopping mall under one roof. Opened in 1975, it quickly became a popular choice for Midwest school trips, especially during colder months. The climate-controlled setup meant you could ride rollercoasters in January without needing a coat. It was loud, colorful, and chaotic—in the best way possible.
But Old Chicago didn’t last long and closed in 1980 due to financial troubles and declining attendance. Its rides were dismantled, and the mall was eventually demolished. Still, many kids remember that surreal experience of eating cotton candy indoors while riding bumper cars. It was a strange, short-lived wonderland that still comes up in nostalgic conversations.
6. The World’s Fair Pavilions
Back in the day, a school trip to a World’s Fair was a huge deal. Depending on the year and your location, you might have gone to the 1962 fair in Seattle or the 1967 expo in Montreal. These events were sprawling showcases of science, technology, and global culture, with futuristic rides and international foods you probably couldn’t pronounce. It was supposed to be educational, but let’s be honest, the real fun was riding the monorail or seeing a robot talk.
The golden age of these expos faded out by the ’80s, and most pavilions were dismantled shortly after the events ended. Today, only a few scattered structures remain, and full-fledged World’s Fairs have become rare. But back then, they were considered must-do field trips. Kids came home with buttons, brochures, and stories that made them feel like they’d visited the future.
7. Santa’s Village in Illinois
If you grew up near East Dundee, Illinois, there’s a good chance your elementary school loaded everyone onto a bus to visit Santa’s Village at some point. This Christmas-themed amusement park was open from 1959 until 2006, and it blended holiday magic with classic carnival rides. Even in May or June, the snowmen and twinkling lights gave it a kind of frozen-in-time charm.
The park eventually closed due to dwindling attendance and changing tastes, although it did reopen years later in a new, reimagined form. Still, the original version is the one that lives on in old photos and childhood memories. For kids, it felt like visiting the North Pole without needing a passport. There was something special about eating ice cream while surrounded by elves and reindeer.
8. The Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts
Before its move to Pier 15 in 2013, the original Exploratorium at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts was a field trip staple for Bay Area schools. It was part museum, part playground, and all curiosity. You could touch, twist, and explore everything—making it a teacher’s dream and a kid’s paradise. The domed building made it feel even more magical.
When it moved to its sleek, modern facility, many of the exhibits came too, but the vibe shifted. The original space had a quirky, hands-on energy that’s hard to replicate. Kids from the ’70s to early 2000s will always remember the echo tube, the shadow wall, and the spinning magnet wheel. It was messy and weird and exactly what a field trip should be.
9. Ghost Town in the Sky
Located in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, this mountaintop Wild West theme park was accessible only by chairlift or incline railway. For decades, it was the ultimate school trip for Southern kids, offering stunt shows, shootouts, and saloon reenactments. You felt like you’d walked into an old cowboy movie, complete with wooden sidewalks and dusty trails.
The park struggled with maintenance and ownership changes, and it finally closed for good in 2009 after several failed reopenings. For kids who went, it felt like the edge of the world, and getting there was half the adventure. The idea of a theme park on top of a mountain sounds like fiction now. But for a time, it was very real—and very cool.
10. Six Flags AstroWorld
Houston kids growing up in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s almost certainly had a field trip or class celebration at AstroWorld. It was one of those places you waited for all year, filled with rollercoasters, water rides, and sticky-sweet treats. There was something especially fun about seeing your classmates scream on rides instead of in math class.
AstroWorld closed in 2005, and the land still remains undeveloped, which somehow makes its absence feel even sadder. It’s one of the few defunct amusement parks that still sparks real frustration among locals. For generations of students, AstroWorld was more than a park, it was a memory-making machine. Field trips there were the stuff of school legend.
11. The Liberace Museum
Yes, this was an actual school field trip destination in Las Vegas—and yes, it was just as over-the-top as you’d expect. The Liberace Museum, which opened in 1979, showcased the entertainer’s flashy cars, rhinestone-studded costumes, and bejeweled pianos. For students, it was like stepping into a music box filled with sequins and history.
It closed in 2010 due to declining attendance, but those who visited remember it vividly. It wasn’t your typical museum, and that was exactly why it worked. Teachers appreciated the educational slant on performance and history, while kids were just mesmerized by all the glitter. It was weird, wonderful, and totally unforgettable.
12. Sea-Arama Marineworld
Located in Galveston, Texas, Sea-Arama was a regional marine park that gave school groups a budget-friendly alternative to SeaWorld. It opened in 1965 and closed in 1990, but during its peak, it offered dolphin shows, sea lion performances, and even a pirate-themed area. The animals were the stars of the show, and kids loved getting splashed in the front rows.
As the years went on, it couldn’t keep up with bigger parks and eventually shut down. The site sat abandoned for years, turning into something of a local ghost story. But for those who visited, it was pure magic at the time. Few things beat a day watching sea creatures instead of sitting in science class.
13. Heritage USA
This Christian-themed amusement and water park in Fort Mill, South Carolina, was founded by televangelist Jim Bakker in the late ’70s. At its peak in the ’80s, it was one of the biggest attractions in the country, complete with a Bible-themed hotel, a massive waterpark, and even a working replica of the Upper Room. Field trips there often included live shows, religious lessons, and lots of splashing around.
The park collapsed in the late ’80s following scandals and financial issues, and it was mostly abandoned by the early ’90s. For many kids, though, it was a field trip they never forgot, for better or worse. It was a unique blend of church retreat and amusement park energy. Now it’s part of a complicated chapter in history, but back then, it was just a really big, really unusual day off from school.