The Abandoned Carousel

Stories from the most interesting abandoned amusements and theme parks in the world.

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Carousel #15

PTC Carousel #15. 113 years old. 56 horses. 4 amusement parks. 2 malls. 1 World's Fair. 1 incredible machine. Listen to the #podcast history of this wonder today! #podernfamily #carousel #historypodcast #StayHome

This week, we’re going to refocus ourselves from the external chaos. Let’s set aside a space where we can go back in time, one hundred and thirteen years ago, and maybe even a bit before that, too. This is a story about a survivor. Can we call an inanimate object ‘plucky’? Maybe. Today, the history of Philadelphia Toboggan Company’s Carousel #15.

(This is primarily a podcast! Click play on the…

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Royal Land

An abandoned theme park that's only a haunting castle gate: it's Royal Land, Meridian, MS. There's also Elvis, Buckwalter Stadium, minor league baseball, and a train. Listen! #podernfamily #ladypodsquad #podcastrecommendation

(This is a podcast! Press play in the embedded player below to listen, or subscribe in your favorite podcast app!)

Picture yourself driving down I-20 in Meridian, MS. It’s your average American town, with Motel 6s and McDonalds. As you near the exit, you decide to turn off because there’s something interesting just off the front road, glinting in the sun. You turn onto Sowashee St. 

The…

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Dinosaur World, or "John Agar's Land of Kong"

On The Abandoned Carousel this week: Dinosaur World, or "John Agar's Land of Kong", a now-abandoned roadside attraction/amusement park in Arkansas. #ladypodsquad #podernfamily #abandonedthemepark

Once a prime draw for adventurous motorists, dinosaur-themed roadside attractions once ruled the day. Some, like Dinosaur Park in South Dakota, persevered, while others, like today’s focal point, Dinosaur World in Arkansas, faded away into obscurity. Today, the history of the American freeway, the rise and fall of the roadside attraction, the sculptures of one Emmet Sullivan, and the…

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Wobbies World

Wobbies World! Long gone, this once-abandoned theme park in Australia had a transportation theme and is remembered with some notoriety. Pissweak World! Listen today! #ladypodsquad #podernfamily #podcast

This week, I’m going to tell you a little bit about a crazy unique transportation-themed park from down under. It’s Wobbies World! (Click the player below to listen!)

Intro

I moved the topic of today’s episode from my master list of parks to my short list based on the name. Just a silly, wacky name, and I expected grand things from it. What I learned once I began my research is that the…

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A Town Called Santa Claus

Season's greetings! For your listening pleasure, tune in and check out America's first theme park and the curious history of towns called Santa Claus! #podcast #podernfamily #ladypodsquad #abandonedthemepark

Today, I offer you season’s greetings. I’m taking you on a winding road through the history of Santa Claus, the history of the towns of Santa Claus, and the history of America’s first theme park. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Credits: Podcast cover background photo is by 4045 on freepik.com. Image of Santa billboard from Santa Claus, AZ is public domain. Theme music is from…

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Gaslight Village

This week's #podcast: a history of Gaslight Village in Lake George, NY, a long-gone, much beloved theme park. Experience vaudeville and mellerdrama, and see what made this park so special. #ladypodsquad #podernfamily #theabandonedcarousel

This week, we return to our intermittent miniseries on the surprising hotspot of theme park activity, the Adirondacks. I’m going to tell you the story of a legacy. In its abandonment, the park wasn’t much to look at.  you might think of a famous quote: “she doesn’t look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid.” In its heyday, though, the park was magical, full of life and community, and…

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Discovery Island

This week: the story of Disney's Discovery Island, abandoned at Walt Disney World for decades. The island formerly was a bird sanctuary (home to the last dusky seaside sparrow); and before that, even more. Listen! #ladypodsquad #podernfamily

In the world of abandoned theme parks and places, Disney’s Discovery Island is one of the more popular, or perhaps just one of the more well-known. Since it’s Disney, there’s a plethora of information and research out there. And after all, it’s a physical place on Disney property, in plain sight of the more than 57 THOUSAND people visiting Walt Disney World in Florida each day. Despite this,…

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Okpo Land

An in-depth history of Okpo Land - discussing the truth and the rumors. Was there a deadly duck-themed sky cycle ride here? Listen and find out. Thanks to Jon Dunbar / daehanmindecline for permission to use his fantastic images. #ladypodsquad #podernfamily

If you’ve ever searched the internet for abandoned theme parks, this place is the home to one of the popular images that comes up. Honestly, it’s one of the more spine-tingling images I’ve seen. Have you ever seen a coaster-like ride with duck faces, eyes staring vacantly in odd directions, mouths gaping? Yep, that’s Okpo Land.

When I started my research for the last episode, Takakonuma…

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Takakonuma Greenland (高子沼グリーンランド)

Takakonuma Greenland (高子沼グリーンランド). Yes, an urban legend and creepypasta, but it was also once a real local theme park and an abandoned urbex haikyo destination. #ladypodsquad #podernfamily #podcast #theabandonedcarousel

This week on The Abandoned Carousel, something not too familiar, but not too not familiar. I’m going to tell you a spooky story about one of the most well-known, spookiest abandoned theme parks. And then I’m going to tell you the truth behind the legend. This week, the story of Takakonuma Greenland.

Listen or read this episode of The Abandoned Carousel. Both versions are below.

The Creepypasta:…

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This episode covers Joyland Park's operation under new management, with rises, falls, closures, abandonment, and lots of fires. Abandoned, Joyland in Wichita, KS became a magnet for urban explorers and vandals, and an example of the changing face of the amusement industry. (ICMYI: last week, we covered the first decades at Joyland under the operation of the Ottaway family.  (https://youtu.be/9NYYxh4NaJk) Joyland is a beloved amusement park and theme park that once operated in Wichita, Kansas.)

Complete transcript and references: http://abandonedcarousel.com/7. You can subscribe to the audio podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts (I like the Overcast app!).

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This week on The Abandoned Carousel, I'm talking about Joyland. In its abandoned state, Joyland is infamous for delightfully creepy pictures. But the story of Joyland goes much deeper than that - this is a story about communities. This family-run park goes back decades and holds a special place in the heart of many people who grew up in Kansas. In part one of my two-part series on Joyland, I talk about the Ottaway family and their special miniature steam train that provided the impetus for amusement parks, as well as about the early history of Ottaway ownership at Joyland. Yes, I even talk about Porky the Paper Eater.

Find complete show notes and references for this episode at https://theabandonedcarousel.com/6.

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This is the history of the Magic Forest Amusement Park in Lake George, NY. The park was once home to a polarizing collection of fiberglass figures from Prewitt and International Fiberglass, and is now undergoing massive changes with new ownership in the 2019 season. Other history highlights include 25 different rides, a 1937 Disney Snow White animatronic display, and a "diving horse". Some have called the park abandoned while it is still open. Find complete shownotes and references at https://theabandonedcarousel.com/5.

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https://theabandonedcarousel.com/5

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https://theabandonedcarousel.com/4

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https://theabandonedcarousel.com/4

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Elektrenai Children’s World, an abandoned Soviet-era theme park in Lithuania.

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The abandoned Castlewood Inn & Suites in Moran, Michigan.