1. Six Flags New Orleans, Louisiana
When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Six Flags New Orleans was left underwater and never reopened. The rides rusted in place, and the entire park became a decaying time capsule of early 2000s amusement park life. Though there have been countless proposals to redevelop the site, from shopping centers to new theme parks, nothing has ever materialized. The eerie remains of roller coasters and water rides are still visible from the highway, making it a strange landmark.
What’s even stranger is that it still shows up on GPS and digital maps as if you could buy a ticket and walk right in. Locals joke that it has become a modern ghost town, with its faded signs and weed-covered parking lot standing as reminders of better days. Urban explorers often sneak inside to snap haunting photos, and movie productions occasionally use it as a backdrop. It may never roar with laughter and screams again, but on maps, it’s frozen in time.
2. Pripyat Amusement Park, Ukraine
The Pripyat amusement park is one of the most famous abandoned attractions in the world. Scheduled to open on May 1, 1986, it never welcomed visitors because the Chernobyl disaster forced the evacuation of the city just days before. The Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and swing rides still stand, slowly being swallowed by nature. Rust creeps across the structures, and weeds sprout from every crack in the pavement.
Even with its tragic history, Pripyat’s park remains on maps and travel apps, often marked as a “must-see” for tourists visiting the exclusion zone. Guided tours now stop there, giving visitors a sobering glimpse of what once was. Though no one ever really got to enjoy the park, its ghostly rides have become an iconic symbol of the disaster. Seeing it pop up on your phone map makes it feel almost alive again, even though it has been silent for nearly 40 years.
3. Miracle Strip Amusement Park, Florida
In Panama City Beach, Miracle Strip Amusement Park was once a summer paradise for families. Opened in 1963, it entertained generations with roller coasters, a haunted house, and carnival games. By 2004, though, it couldn’t compete with bigger parks and eventually closed. The rides were dismantled, and the grounds redeveloped, but many longtime locals still remember it fondly.
What’s strange is that the park still appears on some digital maps as if nothing has changed. It gives the illusion that families can still ride the Starliner wooden coaster or grab a cotton candy by the midway. Tourists unfamiliar with the area sometimes try to find it, only to realize they’ve arrived at condos and retail shops. It’s a reminder that maps often outlive the attractions they once highlighted.
4. Dogpatch USA, Arkansas
Dogpatch USA was a hillbilly-themed amusement park in northern Arkansas, inspired by the popular “Li’l Abner” comic strip. Opening in 1968, it was quirky, colorful, and filled with Appalachian-style charm. The park struggled financially almost from the start and finally closed in 1993. The land has been left to decay, with buildings crumbling and nature reclaiming much of it.
Even though it has been gone for decades, it still lingers on some mapping services. Travelers sometimes see it pop up while driving through the Ozarks, and curiosity leads a few to pull over. What they find are broken-down buildings and an overgrown property that looks like a set from a post-apocalyptic film. Maps may treat it as if it’s open for business, but the only guests now are weeds and wildlife.
5. Land of Oz, North Carolina
Perched high in the mountains of North Carolina, the Land of Oz theme park opened in 1970 as a whimsical tribute to the classic film. At its peak, families wandered along a yellow brick road and met costumed characters from the story. But the park faced financial woes and closed in 1980. Fires, theft, and weather damage further devastated the property.
Despite its closure, the park remains a strange presence on maps, likely because it does reopen briefly for special events like “Autumn at Oz.” Visitors who stumble upon it digitally sometimes assume it’s still a full-time attraction. The cracked bricks and faded decorations give off a haunting charm, especially for fans of the movie. On GPS, it still beckons travelers to follow the road less taken.
6. Holy Land USA, Connecticut
Holy Land USA in Waterbury was once a unique roadside attraction dedicated to Biblical scenes and replicas. It opened in the 1950s and was popular through the 1960s and ’70s before closing in 1984. For years, it sat abandoned, with giant crosses and crumbling miniatures dotting the hillside. Vandals and nature both took their toll, leaving behind a surreal landscape.
Even though it’s closed, Holy Land USA still shows up on maps, often marked as a tourist stop. Curious passersby sometimes find their way there, only to discover fenced-off ruins. Recently, volunteers have made efforts to clean up parts of the site and light its massive cross again. But on most days, it remains an odd ghost of its former self, still pinpointed digitally as though nothing changed.
7. Disney’s River Country, Florida
Disney’s River Country was the first water park at Walt Disney World, opening in 1976. It offered a rustic “swimming hole” vibe, with water slides, a sandy beach, and family-friendly pools. After 2001, it closed permanently, though Disney never demolished it. For years, decaying slides and overgrown pathways sat hidden behind gates, right in the middle of the resort.
Curiously, River Country has remained on many digital maps, making it seem like it’s just another stop in the Disney experience. Guests using GPS sometimes spot it near Bay Lake and assume it’s still operating. Instead, they’ll find fences and warning signs around what has become a forgotten piece of Disney history. In a place where magic usually lasts forever, River Country is an odd reminder that even Disney can leave something behind.
8. Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark, California
In the Mojave Desert, Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark opened in the 1960s as Lake Dolores. It went through several rebrandings and relaunches but finally closed for good in the early 2000s. The harsh desert climate has only sped up its decay, leaving behind sun-bleached slides and graffiti-covered ruins. Its isolated location makes it both eerie and fascinating to stumble upon.
Despite its long abandonment, Rock-A-Hoola still appears on digital maps, drawing the attention of road-trippers along I-15. Some stop to explore, not realizing the gates have long been closed. Urban explorers have turned it into a popular photography spot, capturing surreal images of water slides that will never see water again. Yet on a smartphone map, it still looks like a family fun destination.
9. Heritage USA, South Carolina
Heritage USA was a Christian theme park created by televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in the early 1980s. At its peak, millions of visitors came each year to see religious attractions, ride the tram, and shop at its giant mall. But scandal, financial troubles, and hurricane damage forced it to close in 1989. Parts of it have been redeveloped, but much of the property still sits vacant.
Despite this, Heritage USA continues to pop up on maps as if it were still an attraction. It confuses travelers who expect a theme park but instead find crumbling remnants. For locals, it has become a piece of quirky history and a reminder of a very strange era in American religion. On digital maps, though, it still carries the illusion of grandeur it lost long ago.
10. Enchanted Forest, Maryland
The Enchanted Forest opened in 1955 in Ellicott City as one of the earliest fairy tale theme parks in the United States. Families flocked to see giant storybook characters, castles, and themed rides. After years of decline, the park closed in 1989. Many of its figures were moved to a nearby shopping center, but the original grounds remain abandoned.
Oddly enough, the Enchanted Forest is still marked on certain mapping platforms. Curious tourists occasionally try to track it down, only to discover empty land and a few fading remnants. Locals have a nostalgic fondness for the place, recalling its charm even as it crumbled. Its presence on maps keeps its memory alive, even if the physical park is mostly gone.
11. Spreepark, Germany
Berlin’s Spreepark opened in 1969 and became a popular amusement park during East Germany’s communist era. After reunification, it struggled financially and finally closed in 2002. Since then, the park has sat abandoned, with toppled dinosaur statues and rusting rides dotting the overgrown landscape. Its surreal state has made it a favorite for photographers and filmmakers.
Even so, Spreepark still shows up on maps, almost taunting visitors with a ghost of its past. Tourists often set out to visit and find themselves walking through a locked, decaying playground. Guided tours occasionally allow people inside, but most of the time, the gates remain shut. On your phone, it looks like a fun day trip, but in reality, it’s a silent relic.
12. Gulliver’s Kingdom, Japan
Near Mount Fuji, Gulliver’s Kingdom was built in the 1990s as a family-friendly theme park. Its centerpiece was a massive 147-foot reclining statue of Gulliver from “Gulliver’s Travels.” The location was remote, and it struggled to attract visitors. Within just a few years, it closed and was abandoned, leaving the giant statue and empty attractions behind.
Despite its brief existence, Gulliver’s Kingdom still lingers on some digital maps. Adventurers who stumble upon it often share photos of the haunting giant lying across the landscape. The eerie emptiness of the park contrasts sharply with the joyful intent behind its creation. While the rides are gone now, its digital footprint keeps it alive in curious ways.
13. Joyland Amusement Park, Kansas
Joyland in Wichita, Kansas, delighted families from 1949 until it closed in 2004. Known for its classic wooden roller coaster and animated clown at the entrance, it was a beloved local spot. Years of financial struggles and safety issues eventually forced its closure. The rides sat rusting for years until many were removed or destroyed.
Yet, on some map services, Joyland still exists, sparking confusion for people who try to find it. The land is largely empty now, with only a few traces of its past left behind. For locals, the park is still a fond memory, even if it’s long gone in reality. On GPS, though, it remains a cheerful little icon of a place that no longer exists.