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Hauntingly Beautiful Photos of 10 Abandoned Amusement Parks

  

Category:  Photography & Art

Via:  robert-in-ohio  •  9 years ago  •  35 comments

Hauntingly Beautiful Photos of 10 Abandoned Amusement Parks

A haunting collection of photographs have revealed the most haunting, abandoned theme parks across the world.

Seph Lawless, a photojournalist , has spent almost ten years documenting the most abandoned and forgotten cities across America.

His latest project - discovering the eeriest abandoned theme parks - has just been turned into a book , featuring more than 200 breathtaking images from derelict landscapes.

Among the spookiest images are rusting rides, complete with empty carriages left in the middle of the tracks, engulfed by moss, overgrown grass and bushes.

Seph explained that the images were all shot at sunsets, some taken during violent thunderstorms, producing the amazing backdrops.

But taking the photographs can include a minefield of problems, as Seph reveals he was arrested by German police for trespassing as he tried to capture images of the Spreepark in Berlin.

Check out the top 10 most haunted theme parks in the world below.

You can find out more about Seph and his work on his Facebook page .

10. Dogpatch USA, Arkansas

Seph Lawless Dogpatch USA; Arkansas

9. Shawnee Amusement Park, West Virginia

Seph Lawless Shawnee Amusement Park; West Virginia

8. Funtime Amusement Park and Zoo, Indiana

Seph Lawless Funtime Amusement Park and Zoo

7. Joyland, Kansas

Seph Lawless Joyland; Kansas

6. Enchanted Forest Playland, Southern USA [undisclosed location]

Seph Lawless Enchanted Forest Playland; Southern U.S

5. Spreepark, Berlin, Germany

Seph Lawless Spreepark; Berlin, Germany

4. Six Flags Amusement Park, New Orleans

Seph Lawless Abandoned Six Flags Amusement Park; New Orleans

3. Chippewa Lake Theme Park, Ohio

Seph Lawless Abandoned Chippewa Lake theme Park; Ohio

2. Geauga Lake Amusement Park, Aurora, Ohio

Seph Lawless Abandoned Geauga Lake Amusement Park; Aurora, Ohio

1. Wizard of Oz Theme Park, North Carolina

Seph Lawless Abandoned Wizard of Oz theme park; North Carolina

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/haunting-images-show-10-eeriest-5905107


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Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Beautiful photographs and I love amusement parks

Anyone familiar with these amusement parks of the past?

 
 
 
Nona62
Professor Silent
link   Nona62    9 years ago

WOW! They sure don't make them like that anymore! Nice find RIO!

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
link   Kavika     9 years ago

Haunting RIO.

I'm not familiar with any of them.

 
 
 
Cerenkov
Professor Silent
link   Cerenkov    9 years ago
I've seen the Oz one, but only after it had fallen to ruin.
 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

I went to Geauga Lake in the 80's with my two youngest sons and I had heard of the Shawnee Park in WVA but never been there.

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

R W

Glad you liked them

I agree in the decrepit and closed condition they are quite eerie.

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Cerenkov

Thanks for the feedback

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Nona

You are correct

Thanks for the feedback glad you liked the pics

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Kavika

Iconic entertainment form our past

Thanks for the feedback

 
 
 
Nowhere Man
Junior Participates
link   Nowhere Man    9 years ago

I remember this one from the '50's

Mountain Park Holyoke MA.

closed19.jpg Fond memories when I was a kid.

Closed in '87....

 
 
 
Nona62
Professor Silent
link   Nona62    9 years ago

RIO Smile.gif Smile.gif

 
 
 
Randy
Sophomore Quiet
link   Randy    9 years ago

The one where the Ferris Wheel is just a skeliton is my favorite. Really eerie!

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

TGD

A great shot - I agree

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

N M

Great shot thanks for sharing

 
 
 
Dowser
Sophomore Quiet
link   Dowser    9 years ago

I've actually been to Dogpatch USA in Arkansas, as a kid! It was great, back in 1961...

Abandoned amusement parks are always so spooky! To me, the worst one or most scary one is at Chernobyl, Russia:

1190_discussions.jpg?width=500

 
 
 
Dowser
Sophomore Quiet
link   Dowser    9 years ago

The one in Germany is still a pretty place! Grin.gif

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
link   Buzz of the Orient    9 years ago

I wonder if the one at Crystal Beach, across the Niagara River from Buffalo, is still in operation or has fallen into disarray. The roller coaster used to be incredible.

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Dowser

I have seen shots of the Chernobyl park in newscasts concerning the reactor and the dead zone etc

It is indeed an eerie sight

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Buzz

Unfortunately no

There is a great history of the park with pictures at

In 1989 the park changed hands with a partial buy-out and infusion of new investors. These new investors wished to build a marina, but did not want to put up the $15 - $20 million required to make the park competitive with amusement parks in that market. Poor weather and low attendance helped seal the park's fate. Even in the last season a go-kart track was installed (presumably as a concession, as the karts were not part of the closing inventory), but it was too little, too late, so the park ceased operations after the 1989 season.

Rides and buildings were auctioned off October 17th of that year with those unsold being demolished. Sadly, those not bought in whole included the "Laff in the Dark", "Giant" roller coaster and that beautiful ballroom - all of which were destroyed, save for a few mementos grabbed by collectors. "Laff in the Dark" was sold at the auction to Buffalo resident, David Arida for $8,000 (U.S.). He in turn sold "Laughing Sal" to Pete Szikura in New Jersey whereupon it was restored. She may now be seen in Lahaska, Pennsylvania at The Grand Carousel. No word on the rest of that ride, but presumably, it is separated now in various fans' collections.

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
link   Buzz of the Orient    9 years ago

When I was a teenager we used to hang out at Cronfelt's Loganberry (drink) stand across from the park entrance. Friends from Buffalo and Toronto (I was from Hamilton which is in between) used to meet there during the summer.

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Sounds like great memories

 
 
 
Dowser
Sophomore Quiet
link   Dowser    9 years ago

Remember that movie, On the Beach? This sort of reminds me of that...

 
 
 
Spikegary
Junior Quiet
link   Spikegary    9 years ago

I've heard lots of stories from friends that live in Niagara County about them growing up going there, Buzz.

Canada's Wonderland is the big park....BTW, in Port Dahlousie, they have a restored carousel, only a nickel a ride.

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Spikegary

A nickel a ride, wow

Where is Port Dahlousie?

 
 
 
A. Macarthur
Professor Guide
link   A. Macarthur    9 years ago

I wrote a short story about an abandoned amusement park I wonder if I can find it on the other site.

Great images!

 
 
 
pat wilson
Professor Participates
link   pat wilson    9 years ago

Great seed RiO ! I always click on these types of articles when I see them. So moody.

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
link   Buzz of the Orient    9 years ago

It's on Lake Erie's north shore west of Crystal Beach.

Here is a photo of the antique carousel, which is still running:

1191_discussions.jpg

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Wow, not so far away

I live on the other side of Lake Erie, not far from the lake between Erie, Pa and Cleveland

I may have to go check that out

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

A Mac

Thanks for the feedback

Glad you liked the pictues

 
 
 
Robert in Ohio
Professor Guide
link   seeder  Robert in Ohio    9 years ago

Pat

Thanks for the feedback and perspective - glad you liked the article

 
 
 
LightY
Freshman Silent
link   LightY    6 years ago

I was born and raised in Ohio (live in Vegas now) When I found out Geauga Lake closed, I was crushed. I went there every Summer with my family, and with MY kids in the early 90's. I would have loved to have gone there again, and was going to, until I found this out. Not happy.Angry

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
link   Trout Giggles  replied to  LightY   6 years ago

We went to Geauga Lake for our senior class trip.

 
 
 
LightY
Freshman Silent
link   LightY  replied to  Trout Giggles   6 years ago

The last time I was there was in 1997. Now my grand-kids wont have a chance to see it.

 
 
 
A. Macarthur
Professor Guide
link   A. Macarthur    6 years ago

Glad this was resurrected!

 
 

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