There's something strangely fascinating in the concept of a derelict theme park. A place once filled with laughter and excitement, suddenly reverted to an eerie silence, with only the rusty scream of an old ferris wheel to reassure you that you're not going mad.
Despite the obvious risks of 'injury, arrest and even radiation exposure' (1) many people still find excitement in sneaking into these dangerous places for the thrill of the emptiness.
1) Prypiat Amusement Park - Ukraine.
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| Photo from - http://hella19.deviantart.com/ |
The Prypiat Amusement Park was opened on April 27th 1986, according to popular belief this was also the exact same day it closed. This was because on the 26th, just one day before, was the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (widely believed to be 'the worst nuclear power plant accident in history' 2) that caused a city of 50,000 inhabitants to be abandoned. Although radiation levels are still dangerously high, this apparently is not enough to discourage intrepid travellers from booking tours to explore the park as well as wider Prypiat, (3).
Conclusion: Looking for a place to experience the full-blown-force of the next zombie apocalypse?
This is it!
2) Okpo Land - Geoje Island, South Korea.
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| Photo from - http://www.flickr.com/photos/racetraitor/4684661420/ |
This place isn't just creepy for it's setting, but the story behind it's closing is enough to scare you away from theme parks for life... The park was shut down in 1999, after 'a number of fatal "accidents."' (4.) The first fatality was in the 90s, when a young girl was 'killed by the park's duck-themed ride' (5.) Normally, any business would go all out to cover their tail by apologising profusely and doing something with the murderous ride. However Okpo Land continued to operate as normal, showing absolutely no remorse to the family and leaving the dangerous ride as it was, to carry many unaware families for the next few years. This was of course until 1999, when another young girl was thrown from the same ride to meet her death. Overnight, the owner, reluctant to face responsibility, disappeared and the park was closed and left to rot. Even the infamous duck-cart was just left hanging over the tracks...
Conclusion: In 2011 the park was demolished and the land is now up for sale, understandably, no-one is keen to buy.
3) Spreepark Berlin - Berlin, Germany.
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| Photo from - http://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/photographing-spreepark-berlin/ |
In 1989 Norbert Witte was tasked with creating a 'western standard' amusement park, however by the mid 1990s visiting numbers were down and business was doing badly. In 2001 the Norbert took his family and a few of the dismantled rides to Peru after the company declared bankruptcy, there, Norbert endured 'a number of heart attacks' (7.) He also became involved with drug-smuggling and was caught (along with his son) attempting to sneak 167 kilos of cocaine into Germany, using the 'Flying Carpet' ride as a cover up. Norbert was given 8 years in prison in Germany and was released after serving only 4, on the other hand his son, caught in Peru, was given 20 years for the same crime and is still in prison. Norbert now lives in a caravan in the grounds of his beloved park and his daughter; Sabrina Witte, gives tours of the grounds occasionally, often recounting her own childhood memories of the place to the visitors.
Conclusion: Not so much creepy as interesting, this park seems more like an adventure than a horror story!
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| Prypriat - http://abandonedkansai.com/2011/01/16/zone-of- alienation-pripyat-amusement-park/ |
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| Spreepark - http://blog.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/?p=11314 |
The most striking thing that I have personally found from the many images of the desolate parks is the colour contrast. The still bright remnants of peeling paint on the bumper cars and the signs, battling it out with the equally luminous, yet healthily natural, greenery that is tangling it's way back to prominence.
Almost like a battle of nature and human existence.
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| Okpo Land - http://www.flickriver.com/photos/wurzeltod/favorites/ |
These wastelands of fun were once in their heyday, they once had thousands of visitors and were as popular as any modern theme park. For people at the time, thinking of what these places would be in 20 or 30 years would have been like imagining 'Thorpe Park' or 'Legoland' becoming completely deserted; it just doesn't make sense at the time.
So now, just take a moment, dear readers, and think;
What would your busy places be like if all human life just disappeared from them one day?
Imagine London, completely overgrown and void of people, forgotten laughter still echoing through the streets...
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