During my childhood, Joyland, an amusement park in Wichita, KS, was a pretty cool place to go. It was home to a wooden rollercoaster, the Whacky Shack (my favorite) and various other awesome things. But due to financial woes, it was left to the birds in 2003. In 2006, apparently T-Rex (you know, T-Rex, the awesome band) leased the park and opened it for a season - but things didn't work out well enough to keep it running. Isn't that crazy? T-Rex?? Currently, there is an
online petition making its way around town (mainly on Facebook) to restore the park so that families of a new generation could enjoy it like we did. These photos are endlessly fascinating and haunting to me. A happy place turned into a ghost town.
Have any of you experienced this? All around this country there are remains of a happier time. It's devastating to see something that flourished for so long turn into rust, but I suppose that's just the way it goes.
Images and original article found
here.
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16 comments:
It makes me a little sad to think my kids will grow-up and have less of a childhood when things like this happen.
It is sad that places like this are being left to deteriorate. The photos are haunting, but I'd rather see it up and running! Hopefully someone will restore the park soon!
I love places like this. It's sad that it has come to this state, but it still looks eerily beautiful. And the fact that Marc Bolan was there makes this place even more special. He's one of my favorite musicians. <3
This post made my heart hurt. I hope that the park is able to get back up and running someday soon.
These pictures give me goosebumps, there are so many places like this, its so sad!
they pretty much revamped Coney Island ... 1 place i went to as a kid called 'Kingsburg' closed - it was SUPER sad, i atleast got to take my Niece befofe it closed
what neat photos! so sad it's closed
This place is incredible, but heartbreaking. My hometown is a little slice of Norman Rockwell, and I always worry that it will fall into disrepair one day!
that is really sad, I hope they can keep that place open. Kids need a place where they can go to have fun
Haha, no actually I can't! :D
How does the people of Chicago manage fast and easy makeovers then?!
Hugs and enjoy your Tuesday evening cupcake :)
I really do dislike stuff like this happens!I hope it get life back!
There's a few places in NJ that were closed down like this. It's sad, but beautiful in an empty way. I'd love to see this place restored and made a fun place for families again. I think the key is rethinking and trying to do some new things while keeping it nostalgic.
I had the same experience. There was an amusment park right around the corner from where I lived, and when I was a little girl it was just a magical place. At one point everything began to go down and it closed. It was creepy to see this beautiful place completely abandoned, until they took it down to make a parking space...so sad.
It is really sad to see these placed go and sadder still that kids today can't enjoy them. But these photos, although abandoned, are just stunning.
gorgeous photos! what a sad story. i hate going to the house i grew up in because the neighborhood has changed so much... for the worse. ah well, maybe someday the park will turn around! xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams
So crazy! I grew up in dallas with six flags but now we are in houston where they have torn down astroworld......
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