1. Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, West Virginia
Lake Shawnee has a reputation as one of the most haunted parks in America, and for good reason. Built on a former Native American burial ground, it was the site of several tragic accidents during its years of operation. A little girl died after being struck by a swing, and a boy drowned in the park’s lake. Locals still say they hear the sound of children laughing, even though the park has been abandoned for decades.
Visitors who dare to sneak in often report cold spots and the feeling of being watched. Some even swear they’ve seen the swing set moving on its own when the air is perfectly still. The rusted Ferris wheel creaks as if someone is riding it, and people claim voices whisper when no one is around. Ghost hunters regularly stop by, convinced that spirits never left after the gates closed.
2. Six Flags New Orleans, Louisiana
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, this Six Flags was left to rot. Empty roller coasters stand like skeletons against the sky, and the once-colorful rides are now rusting shells. What’s eerie is how silent the place feels, except for the occasional flap of a tarp or creak of metal. Some urban explorers say they hear screams at night, as if the rides are still running.
Locals tell stories of shadowy figures darting between the attractions. There have also been reports of phantom music drifting across the grounds, even though the park’s sound system has long been destroyed. Security guards talk about lights flickering in buildings that no longer have electricity. The mix of tragedy from the hurricane and the eerie setting keeps the ghost stories alive.
3. Holy Land USA, Connecticut
Holy Land USA wasn’t exactly an amusement park in the traditional sense, but it drew crowds with its life-size biblical scenes. After closing in the 1980s, the park fell into disrepair, its statues crumbling and its paths overtaken by weeds. Visitors claim that after dark, the religious statues seem to move ever so slightly. Whispers of prayer have been heard in empty chapels.
The most chilling part is the site’s history of violence. In 2010, a young woman was murdered there, cementing its reputation as a place touched by tragedy. Since then, people insist they’ve seen ghostly figures walking the pathways, dressed in robes. Strange lights and unexplainable voices add to the unsettling atmosphere. Even with recent attempts at restoration, the park’s haunted past lingers.
4. Land of Oz, North Carolina
This Wizard of Oz–themed park opened in the 1970s but quickly closed after financial troubles and a fire. Though partially restored for seasonal events, much of it sits eerily empty most of the year. The Yellow Brick Road, cracked and fading, is said to echo with footsteps when no one is there. Some explorers swear they’ve seen Dorothy’s ghost wandering the park.
What makes it spookier is the feeling of being transported somewhere surreal and unsettling. Visitors describe hearing the faint sound of “Over the Rainbow” playing from nowhere. Costumes left behind from the original employees have been found mysteriously moved. The Emerald City ruins seem to have an unnatural chill, as though the storybook magic never faded, only twisted into something darker.
5. Dogpatch USA, Arkansas
Dogpatch USA was a quirky park based on the Li’l Abner comic strip, but today it’s better known for its eerie ruins. Empty attractions sit hidden in the woods, slowly being reclaimed by nature. Locals say they hear music and laughter at night, even though the park has been closed since the 1990s. Some claim to see ghostly figures wandering near the old roller coaster.
A common story is of workers who died in accidents during the park’s construction and operation. Their spirits are said to linger, unwilling to leave. Visitors often describe the uneasy sense that they’re being followed as they explore. Lights sometimes appear in buildings that haven’t had power for decades. It’s as if the hillbilly-themed park turned into something far more sinister after it was abandoned.
6. Okpo Land, South Korea
Okpo Land became infamous after several accidents, including the tragic death of a young girl on a duck-themed ride. After that, the park closed suddenly in the late 1990s, leaving everything as it was. The rides still stand, frozen in time, giving the place a haunting quality. People say they hear the cries of the girl who died on the ride echoing through the park.
Explorers often talk about a heavy sense of dread that hangs over the grounds. The duck cars from the ride still sit on the tracks, rusting away, and many believe they are cursed. Shadows flit across the grounds even when no one else is present. Locals stay away, convinced that the tragedies left behind restless spirits that will never leave.
7. Pripyat Amusement Park, Ukraine
Pripyat’s park is one of the most famous abandoned ones, frozen in time after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. It was supposed to open just days after the nuclear accident, but instead, the rides have stood still ever since. The Ferris wheel looms like a ghostly monument, its cars unmoving but filled with a strange energy. Visitors report feeling overwhelming sadness when they stand near it.
Many say the park carries the voices of the people who never got to enjoy it. Ghost hunters have claimed to hear the sound of laughter and carnival music in the air. Radiation meters often spike unexpectedly, making the experience even more unsettling. The entire site feels like a time capsule, but with a dark presence that keeps people whispering about spirits trapped there forever.
8. Chippewa Lake Park, Ohio
Chippewa Lake Park closed in 1978 and was left to decay for decades. Nature swallowed the roller coasters and Ferris wheel, turning them into haunting relics. Locals say that on quiet nights, you can still hear the sound of the midway, as if the park never shut down. Some even claim to see ghostly figures riding the rusted rides.
Stories circulate about a performer who died there, whose spirit still lingers. Paranormal investigators report disembodied voices and unexplained flashes of light. The creepiest tales involve laughter coming from the empty funhouse. Even though much of the park has now been torn down, its ghost stories continue to echo through the small town.
9. Heritage USA, South Carolina
Heritage USA was a Christian theme park founded by televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in the 1980s. After scandals and financial collapse, the park closed, leaving behind its eerie, deserted buildings. Visitors claim to hear hymns playing when there is no electricity. Some even report seeing figures praying in abandoned chapels.
The ghost stories intensified after the site became associated with financial ruin and betrayal. Tourists describe feeling watched as they walk the crumbling paths. The old water park is said to echo with the splashes of invisible swimmers. Even though parts of the property have been redeveloped, the abandoned areas keep their unsettling reputation.
10. Gulliver’s Kingdom, Japan
This park, built near Mount Fuji, was a strange idea from the start, featuring a giant statue of Gulliver. It never attracted many visitors and shut down in the early 2000s. Since then, it’s been a hotspot for eerie tales. People say they’ve heard whispers and cries around the massive Gulliver figure lying on the ground.
What makes it even creepier is its location near Japan’s infamous “suicide forest.” The area already has a dark reputation, and many believe the park absorbed that energy. Explorers often talk about feeling intense despair when they step onto the grounds. Shadows seem to move across the giant figure, and cameras sometimes malfunction there.
11. Spreepark, Germany
Spreepark in Berlin closed in 2002, but its abandoned rides still stand as haunting reminders. The swan boats, left to rot, have become a symbol of the park’s ghostly vibe. Visitors say they hear children’s voices in the air, despite the park being deserted. A giant dinosaur statue is said to be especially eerie at night, with glowing eyes seen by some explorers.
The park’s history adds to the ghost stories. Its owner was later arrested for drug smuggling, and many believe the chaos left an imprint. People describe strange cold winds sweeping through, even in the summer. The Ferris wheel occasionally creaks and turns a little, despite being broken for years.
12. Lincoln Park, Massachusetts
Lincoln Park operated for nearly a century before closing in 1987. It had its share of accidents, including a fatal roller coaster derailment that left a dark stain on its history. People say the spirits of those who died never left the park. Visitors claim to hear screams from the coaster tracks late at night.
Locals also whisper about shadowy figures near the funhouse ruins. Paranormal investigators have caught strange voices on tape, often calling out for help. Even long after its demolition, the land feels heavy, as though the past refuses to be erased. The tragic events that happened there gave Lincoln Park a haunted reputation that lingers.
13. Joyland, Kansas
Joyland was a family-run amusement park that delighted visitors for decades before closing in 2006. But after abandonment, it became more nightmare than dream. The park’s most infamous feature was a creepy robotic clown that once ran the carousel. Even when the park was shut down, people claimed to see its eyes light up.
Explorers reported hearing carnival music playing faintly across the grounds. Some say they felt tugged by unseen hands near the roller coasters. Locals insist that spirits of children linger, unwilling to let go of the fun. Though much of Joyland has been dismantled, its ghost stories keep the park’s eerie memory alive.