1. Six Flags New Orleans, Louisiana
When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Six Flags New Orleans never reopened. The floodwaters destroyed nearly everything, leaving behind twisted coasters, rusted rides, and eerie silence where laughter once echoed. For years, the abandoned park sat as a ghostly reminder of the storm’s devastation, attracting curious explorers and film crews who saw it as a perfect horror movie backdrop.
Walking through the park now feels like stepping into a nightmare. The once-colorful roller coasters rise out of overgrown weeds, and the old carousel stands like a skeleton of its former self. It is haunting because you can almost hear the music and the screams of joy that used to fill the air. Today, it remains a place where nature is slowly reclaiming what humans left behind.
2. Spreepark, Berlin, Germany
Spreepark was once East Berlin’s pride, a bustling amusement park that drew millions. But after it closed in 2002 due to financial troubles, it became famous for its abandoned Ferris wheel slowly turning in the wind. Even stranger, rides like the swan boats and roller coasters now sit cracked and rusting, surrounded by graffiti and weeds.
Locals tell stories about how eerie the place feels after dark, with the Ferris wheel groaning in the breeze like it’s alive. For years, curious visitors and photographers slipped inside to capture the park’s post-apocalyptic beauty. It has since been used in movies and even guided tours, but the haunting atmosphere remains.
3. Pripyat Amusement Park, Ukraine
Pripyat’s amusement park is one of the most famous abandoned parks in the world. Scheduled to open in May 1986, it never welcomed guests because of the Chernobyl disaster just days before. The Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and swing rides stand frozen in time, covered in rust and surrounded by radioactive soil.
It is impossible not to feel a chill when you see the bumper cars sitting quietly in their arena, as if children might return any minute. Instead, the park remains a silent monument to tragedy. Tourists can visit with protective gear, but the eeriness lingers long after you leave. It is a place where joy was stolen before it ever began.
4. Chippewa Lake Park, Ohio
Chippewa Lake Park operated for more than 100 years before shutting down in 1978. Once bustling with families, the rides were simply left to rot in the Ohio weather. Wooden roller coasters collapsed into the trees, and the lake that gave the park its name swallowed boats and piers.
When you walk through what remains, you can’t help but picture the kids who once rode the coasters or splashed in the water. Nature has fully taken over now, with vines crawling across rusted tracks and animals making their homes in what’s left of the funhouse. It looks more like a horror set than a family park these days.
5. Okpo Land, South Korea
Okpo Land was a small amusement park on Geoje Island that closed in the late 1990s. Its eerie reputation came from tragic accidents, including one involving a duck-themed ride. Locals say the ride sat abandoned, with its derailed cart still hanging in place as a chilling reminder.
For years, the park remained frozen, with its rides decaying and buildings collapsing. People whispered that the grounds were cursed, making it a magnet for thrill-seekers. Eventually, the entire park was demolished, but the stories and photos keep its ghostly legend alive.
6. Nara Dreamland, Japan
Modeled after Disneyland, Nara Dreamland opened in 1961 with its own castle, monorail, and rides. By the early 2000s, it couldn’t compete with Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios, and it closed in 2006. For a decade, it became one of the most famous abandoned parks in the world.
Explorers found decaying roller coasters, empty log flumes, and a castle that looked more haunted than magical. The eerie quiet made it feel like a forgotten fairytale gone wrong. Though it was demolished in 2017, photos of Nara Dreamland still give people chills.
7. Dogpatch USA, Arkansas
Dogpatch USA was a quirky hillbilly-themed park that opened in 1968, based on the “Li’l Abner” comic strip. For a while, it drew families with rides, shows, and trout fishing. But by the 1990s, it was struggling and finally closed in 1993.
The abandoned park quickly fell into disrepair, with cartoonish buildings collapsing and rides left to rust. Wandering through its remains feels like stepping into a creepy, forgotten backwoods carnival. Recently, there have been attempts to revive the property, but its eerie past still lingers.
8. Gulliver’s Kingdom, Japan
Built in the shadow of Mount Fuji, Gulliver’s Kingdom was a short-lived park that opened in 1997. Centered around a giant reclining statue of Gulliver, it was supposed to be whimsical but ended up unsettling. It closed just four years later, and the giant figure was left behind.
Overgrown paths, strange attractions, and the looming statue made it a bizarre and creepy place to explore. To make matters worse, the park sat near sites associated with darker history, adding to the uncomfortable atmosphere. It was eventually demolished, but images of Gulliver lying in the weeds still feel unsettling.
9. Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, West Virginia
Lake Shawnee is known as one of America’s most haunted amusement parks. Built in the 1920s on land with a tragic past, it saw multiple accidents, including drownings and ride fatalities. It was shut down in the 1960s, but the skeletal remains of its swings and Ferris wheel still stand.
Today, it is a popular destination for ghost hunters and curious visitors. The rusted rides and chilling backstory make it feel like something straight out of a horror movie. Locals say the spirits of children still linger, giving the park its eerie reputation.
10. Wonderland, Beijing, China
Wonderland was planned to be the largest amusement park in Asia, complete with a massive fairytale castle. Construction began in the 1990s but was halted due to financial issues and land disputes. The unfinished castle and half-built rides were left behind, standing in the middle of empty fields.
For years, it became a surreal landmark, looking more like the set of a dystopian film than a family attraction. Farmers even worked their fields around the abandoned structures. Eventually, the remains were torn down, but images of the half-built fairytale kingdom live on.
11. Joyland Amusement Park, Kansas
Joyland in Wichita entertained families for over 50 years with its wooden roller coaster and carnival rides. But after closing in 2006, it quickly fell into ruin. Vandals, fires, and weather destroyed much of the park, leaving behind a skeleton of what it once was.
Perhaps the eeriest relic was Louie the Clown, a mechanical organ player that was stolen and later recovered years after the park closed. People said Louie looked creepy even when Joyland was open, and his disappearance added to the haunted feel of the ruins. The once-joyful park became an urban explorer’s dream and nightmare.
12. Jazzland, Louisiana
Before it became Six Flags New Orleans, the park was known as Jazzland. It opened in 2000 with a local New Orleans theme, full of music and Mardi Gras flair. But financial trouble forced it to close just a couple of years later, before Six Flags took over.
Walking through the Jazzland remnants today feels like a double ghost town, a park that never really got the chance to thrive. The colorful facades and New Orleans-themed designs sit cracked and crumbling. It is almost too easy to imagine a horror story unfolding there after dark.
13. Takakanonuma Greenland, Japan
Takakanonuma Greenland was built in the 1970s and mysteriously closed after only a few years. Locals whispered about accidents, though official explanations pointed to poor attendance. The rides were abandoned in the foggy mountains of Fukushima, creating a chilling atmosphere.
For years, the fog made the park look like something out of a dream or nightmare. Rusted coasters and broken rides peeked through the mist, making it a favorite among urban legends. Eventually, the site was demolished, but its eerie reputation lives on in photos and stories.
14. Holy Land USA, Connecticut
Holy Land USA wasn’t your typical amusement park. Built in the 1950s, it featured religious dioramas and a giant cross overlooking Waterbury. It closed in the 1980s, leaving behind crumbling biblical scenes and weathered statues.
Exploring it today feels unsettling, as if you’ve wandered into an abandoned movie set. The faded signs and broken statues create an atmosphere that is equal parts fascinating and eerie. Though the giant cross was rebuilt, the rest of the park still feels frozen in time.