Theme Parks you visited that no longer exist

[OhioTony]

LeSourdsville Lake ?later Americana just outside Cincinnati

I remember going there as a child. There was all the traditional small theme park rides but they also had a train that would take you across the lake . There was a western style town with shops and a saloon. It was back in the days when kids could go ride with older siblings. The parents would all go to the saloon of course.

 

[OhMari]

Went to the Wisconsin Dells as a kid and went to a park called Storybook Village or something....it was great. I cried when we had to leave!

Storybook Gardens is still there. It is set off the road a little, so it is easy to drive by. It is right next to Noah's Ark.

 

[WDWHound]

Don't remember that one, but I did just remember Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, Texas. Remember the swimming pig? They also had glass bottomed boats.

You can still ride the boats. tHe area is operated by Texas State Univcersity now. Sadly, the pig is gone.

 

[WDWHound]

The used tyo be a little park in San Jose, California called Frontier Village. Welived n San Jose for a few years when I was a little and I used to love to go to this park. Sadly, I understand it closed in the 80's.

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

The first two that popped in to my mind were "Circus World" and "Action Park" I know "Action Park" was closed for a while b/c people kept getting killed there but I think they tried to re-open it, anyone know if that's true? "Circus World" was cute we went there when I was a kid and had a good time.

 

[aprilgail2]

The first two that popped in to my mind were "Circus World" and "Action Park" I know "Action Park" was closed for a while b/c people kept getting killed there but I think they tried to re-open it, anyone know if that's true? "Circus World" was cute we went there when I was a kid and had a good time.

mountain creek-- http://mountaincreek.com/

 

[cristit14]

Opryland! We had season passes for a couple of summers when we lived close by. Loved the Wabash Cannonball and Rockin Roller coaster (I think that was the name of it). The shows were great too!

 

[lemondog]

Okay Opryland fans, I did a little research and found this tribute site.

www.thrillhunter.com

Click on the "Where Are They Now" link to find out the location of some of your favorite rides. FWIW, according to this site the Wabash Cannonball tracks were sold for scrap, and the cars are in storage somewhere in Belgium.

 

[NHAnn]

there was a place called paragon park on the beach on MA when i was a kid we went there all the time
its been gone for along time now but i remember it...

That's what I was going to say! Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach in Hull MA. I never went on that old wooden roller coaster, jsut like I will never go on Rock n Roller coaster at wdw

 

[Snoozan]

Paragon Park - right near Nantasket Beach in Mass. AAHHH, to spend the day "frying" on the beach and then going on the Whip that night. Such childhood memories......

We also had Mountain Park nearby in Holyoke that's been closed for years, too. Kind of like going to the county fair for rides - I imagine that's why my parents only brought us like once; not the safest of rides!

 

[Bill Lumbergh]

Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City Beach, FL

I have many memories of hanging out there with family and friends. Now it is closed forever. The Starliner wooden roller coaster was sold to the guy who owns Wild Adventures and Cypress Gardens. It's supposed to end up at one of those parks next year.

Here's a video of Miracle Strip Amusement Park that brought back many memories. It didn't have video of the cheesy and horrible haunted house though! Scroll down to the bottom for the video.

http://www.themeparkreview.com/contest2005/contest2005.htm

 

[sgtdisney]

I just read in a paper today that Santa's Village, by Chicago, is built on leased land. The land was leased in 1958 for 50 years, and the lease expires in 2008. Article was about taxes and whatnot. Long story short, it sounds like whomever owns the land that Santa's Village is sitting on wants it since real estate here in Chicago, as just about anyplace else, is going through the roof. They probably want to sell it to a developer.

So, if you always wanted to see the lovely Santa's Village you have less than three years to do so!

 

[bballmom56]

I went to Freedom Land when I was very young and the only thing I remember is that I came home with a parasol I loved! I've often thought about it, and couldn't have told you where it was located. Thanks for posting it was in the Bronx!

I was also at North Pole, NY. When my kids were small, I took my them to the Gingerbread Castle, which has been several failed night spots since it closed as a children's attraction.

We live about 10 minutes from Action Park, now Mountain Creek. I think we've been there twice - once to snow tube which didn't work out well, and once in the summer and we didn't stay long.

 

[Forevryoung]

Forevryoung,

I loved the carousel there, too. It's probably responsible for my need to collect carousel horses!

The mini golf was pretty good, too. One time, I remarked "I wonder what happens when you get the ball in the clown's nose?" and two second later, I did it. Bells rang and I got tickets for free mini golf.

Suzanne

It was my first carousel ride and I love carousel horses too!
I think the carousel is in Eisenhour Park now?

 

[Alice28]

Playland at the Beach in San Francisco.

We would take the L- Taravel Streetcar down to the zoo, walk in - get some "proof" we had been there, and walk a mile or two to Playland. The rollercoaster was big, wooden, and creaky. You had reason to fear that ride. The fun house was really fun. It was back when you were allowed to hurt yourself as a kid. I cannot count how many times I came back with friction burns on my butt from the huge wooden slide. For a hoot you would run through a rotating huge barrel. The operator would speed it up in case you thought you could leave without a lump on the head. I am sad that my son will never know the pleasures of Playland at the Beach.

Oh yeah, there is nothing like having a freshly made "It's It" ice cream treat - who cares if it was 50 degrees with the wind at a fast clip in the middle of Summer.

Those were the days.

It's it..................I'm drooling now................going to San Jose in 6 weeks....must get some It's its!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember Frontier Village in San Jose. It's been condos or houses for quite a long time.

 

[Virgo10]

That's what I was going to say! Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach in Hull MA. I never went on that old wooden roller coaster, jsut like I will never go on Rock n Roller coaster at wdw

It's because I never had the guts to go on the Paragon rollercoaster that I found the courage to do the Rock N Roller Coaster at WDW! That and the ToT. It wasn't until I got older that I realized that some things are more fun then they are scary. Maybe someday I'll get to MD and ride that white terror yet!

This is a super website and the pictures really bring back a lot of memories.
http://www.paragonparkmemories.com/PARAGON_NEWS.html

 

[ahutton]

For those that have mentioned it... Circus World became Boardwalk and Baseball... The Hurricane coaster apparently remained open with a new name?

 

[swea_pea1]

From the Pittsburgh area....White Swan Park and West View Park. Loved the Dips at West View.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Wow, Ocean View Amusement Park in Norfolk, Va, Seaside Amusement Park and The Loop at Virginia Beach, VA, Playland in Ocean City, MD, I don't remember the name, but there was an amusement park on a hilltop in Maggie Valley, NC, too.

This is so funny, because I was reading all about older amusement parks on a website about Defunct parks just today!

My husband remembers all the ones from VA. He was sad to hear that they had all closed. He lived in VA as a kid.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Long ago there was Olympic Park, Maplewood NJ, my "first" amusement park.

My whole family misses Opryland.

Bobbi