Long defunct parks...what is left of them?

[cathyJ]

Looking at the pics of the defunct Opryland and the few parks in and around Cleveland had me wondering about all of the other parks that are no longer with us. Any pieces left as reminders that an amusement park was once there?

 

Last month I was in Denver and according to a friend of mine who works for that city, he was telling me that above the Cherry Creek Shopping Center there are still to this day, some parts of the rides from a roof top kiddie park are still on the roof on that shopping center even though that park has been closed way back in the 60s. Not talking about the Cherry Creek Mall that has Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Ave, but the small plaza beside it that is the home of John Elway's restaurant and some international market. I myself didn't see any of it however I can't say that my friend was wrong about that bit of info though.

 

Maryland's Glen Echo park I heard that pieces of their Coaster Dips are still in the woods there. Last time I was there I did see some track of something in the woods but I'm not sure its from the their coaster or from the old trolley that used to serve that park.

 

Chicago's Riverview, according to a clip I saw on You Tube a few years back even as recently as 2005, there are still "reminders" of that park deep inside the woods where a lot of that park once stood.

 

any other examples?

[Kennyweird]

There's a defunct park out in Medina, Ohio named Chippewa Lake Park. Here's a link to an article I found about it:

www.defunctparks.com/parks/OH/ChippewaLake/chippewa-lake.htm

This is probably one of the best examples of a defunct park that is still standing.

[TheRapidsNerd]

The original Elitch Gardens in Denver (now a housing developement that still uses the carousel house) and Geauga Lake's ride side come to mind. Americana or Fantasy Farm in Ohio? Lincoln Park in...?

 

Hope those are some decent leads. Wish I could be more specific and helpful here.

[Homer]

Boardwalk and Baseball's site has now become a large outdoor shopping mall with a recently opened Target, Best Buy, Belk, and JC Penney's.

[Erik Johnson]

Six Gun Territory in Ocala Florida has been under a strip mall for quite a while. At least they named it, "Six Gun Plaza".

[Skramp]

The original Elitch Gardens in Denver (now a housing developement that still uses the carousel house) and Geauga Lake's ride side come to mind. Americana or Fantasy Farm in Ohio? Lincoln Park in...?

 

Hope those are some decent leads. Wish I could be more specific and helpful here.

 

American is still there. The rides that are left can still be seen from the road. An RV dealership bought the site and you can see everything behind their setup. Fantasy Farm is still there but a little harder to make out everything. Many of the buildings are still there, but you have to try really to find anything there.

[astroworldfan1]

The Pedestrain bridge ,above the 610, that linked Astroworld and the parkinglot is still standing.

 

-Tatum

[downunder]

Wonderland Sydney is an industrial estate.

[DBru]

Does anyone know what became of Ghost Town on the River (Fountain Ferry Park)???

[coastercrazed49]

I have always wanted to walk around one of the parks that are just abandoned and overgrown. They always looks really interesting to see what condition they left the parks in. It almost seemed like one day no one showed up for work and never went to clean up the park.

[supermanrosfan0810]

My local ghost park is Rocky Point in Warwick, Rhode Island. When it closed in 1996, they had an auction and whatever wasn't sold was left.

 

The entrance sign is still there.

 

The actual park now.

[winningfreak]

I have always wanted to go to a defunct park with a coaster still standing and set up and get a few friends to push a car up the chain lift and ride it. Way to dangerous though

[noyzz]

My local ghost park is Rocky Point in Warwick, Rhode Island. When it closed in 1996, they had an auction and whatever wasn't sold was left.

 

The entrance sign is still there.

 

The actual park now.

 

Rocky Point was a blast!!!!!! For 12 bucks you could ride all the rides!!!! I had my first freefall ride there when I was 10. You couldn't beat RP for the money and fun that it packed! I have to say though, the "FLUME" had to of had the biggest drop on any flume i've ever been on. The House Of Horrors was one of the oldest dark rides i've been on. I think some artist from RI help with the design or something like that. Two Coasters,Freefall,Flume and a bunch of flat rides was once RP!

[orangecats2]

^^I have too, in my day dreams. But you're right, I would never actually do it.

 

About 10 years ago I flew over Chippewa Lake Park and could see the roller coaster standing. It looked fine from the air, it was whole, almost like the park was still open. I would love to see it up close on the ground.

 

I have the book from Idora Park. I didn't think it was that great. I read the whole thing and they mostly talk about the music and shows that the park had over the years.

[missingmusician]

Boardwalk and Baseball's site has now become a large outdoor shopping mall with a recently opened Target, Best Buy, Belk, and JC Penney's.

I noticed that the other day on the way to Tampa. Kinda disappointing. I miss the baseball stadium.

[Mr Stratosphere]

MGM Grand Adventures in Las Vegas is now the MGM Grand Conference Center, Pool, and Signature Condo Towers.

 

A small part of the facade of the old Haunted Mine and food shacks are still left. I will hopefully stop by the pool and Signature towers to snap a few shots of what is left.

 

Wet 'N Wild that was next to the Sahara is now a construction site for a new casino.

 

John

[FlyingScooter]

Some would say Conneaut Lake could be called defunct.

Hasn't opened in two years, had the ballroom fire and generally looks abandoned.

Sad.

[JimBeach]

The Pike in Long Beach, CA was a great fun old park. No admission, it was a pay-as-you go park. Huge in the 1940's through the early 70'sa. They had various carnival type rides and midway attractions including a large ferris wheel, an indoor saltwater pool/spa, and an old wooden rollercoaster which went out over the ocean and many times you would get wet, not intentionally, just the way it was. Located near the port of Long Beach and a naval shipyard it denigrated into a sailors hangout with more and more tattoo shops and dive bars. It officially closed in the mid 70's and was raised. All that remains is the original roof of the building that housed Loof's Lite-A-Line, a skee-balltype attraction. The vacant property remained for over 20 years as no one could come up with a development. Disney had proposed a new park but negotiations fell through. (It later became DCA). Finally in/around 2004 it was developed under the new name The Pike at Rainbow Harbor and contains The Aquarium of the Pacific, upscale dining, movie theatres, and a ferris wheel. There is also a bridge which architecturally mimics the design of the old roller coaster. The old roof from Loof's is still sitting there.