6 Abandoned Amusement Parks in Florida That Time Erased

Florida’s landscape is dotted with the ghosts of once-thriving amusement parks that brought joy to millions of visitors. These forgotten playgrounds now sit silent, their roller coasters rusted and their midways overgrown with Florida’s persistent vegetation.

From baseball-themed attractions to miniature international landscapes, these parks once captured imaginations before economic challenges, changing tourist preferences, and fierce competition from bigger parks forced their closure.

Let’s explore six abandoned Florida amusement parks that have faded into history, leaving behind only memories and occasional remnants of their former glory.

1. Boardwalk and Baseball: Home Runs and Heartbreak

Located just off I-4 in Haines City, Boardwalk and Baseball combined America’s favorite pastime with classic amusement rides from 1987 to 1990. The park featured a professional-sized baseball stadium that served as the spring training facility for the Kansas City Royals, alongside wooden roller coasters and carnival games that mimicked classic boardwalk experiences.

Visitors could watch exhibition games, try their batting skills, or enjoy traditional rides like the Hurricane roller coaster. Despite its unique concept, the park struggled to compete with Orlando’s expanding attractions just 30 minutes away.

After only three years of operation, Boardwalk and Baseball struck out financially. Today, the 135-acre property has been completely redeveloped, with only local memories preserving this short-lived baseball paradise that once promised to be a home run with tourists.

2. Circus World: The Big Top That Folded

Circus World opened its gates in 1974 near Davenport, creating a permanent celebration of circus arts and entertainment. Backed by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, the park featured live circus performances, elephant rides, and circus-themed attractions that brought the magic of the big top to everyday visitors.

Children and adults alike marveled at trapeze artists swinging overhead while clowns performed throughout the grounds. The park’s iconic red and white striped tents housed exhibits on circus history alongside thrilling rides and animal attractions.

Financial troubles plagued Circus World from the beginning. After changing ownership several times, it was eventually transformed into Boardwalk and Baseball in 1987. Nothing remains of the original circus-themed park today, but for a generation of Floridians, memories of this unique attraction still bring smiles nearly as big as those painted on the faces of its performing clowns.

3. Six Gun Territory: Wild West Ghost Town

Six Gun Territory transported visitors to the frontier days when it opened in Ocala in 1963. This Wild West-themed park featured daily gunfight shows, stagecoach rides, and a recreated frontier town complete with saloons, jails, and general stores where costumed performers brought the Old West to life.

Families would gather to watch bank robberies and shootouts in the dusty main street while steam trains circled the property. The park’s popularity peaked in the late 1960s when Western TV shows and movies were at their height of popularity.

Changing entertainment trends eventually led to Six Gun Territory’s closure in 1984. Today, a shopping center stands where cowboys once roamed, with only a historical marker noting its existence. Former visitors still treasure souvenir sheriff badges and sepia-toned photos from this slice of the Wild West that once thrived in central Florida.

4. Pirates World: A Swashbuckling Memory

Pirates World sailed into Dania Beach near Fort Lauderdale in 1967, bringing pirate adventures and rock concerts to South Florida. The park featured pirate-themed attractions including boat rides through caves filled with animatronic buccaneers and treasure hunts that delighted young visitors seeking adventure on the high seas.

Surprisingly, the park became an unlikely concert venue where legendary bands like Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and Pink Floyd performed early in their careers. Teenagers would flock to the park not for the rides but for the music that would later define a generation.

Walt Disney World’s 1971 opening fired a fatal cannonball at Pirates World’s hull. Unable to compete with Mickey Mouse’s massive appeal, the park closed in 1975. The site was later developed into condominiums, erasing all physical evidence of the swashbuckling playground and unexpected rock venue that once made waves in South Florida.

5. Marco Polo Park: A World Tour That Ended Too Soon

Marco Polo Park invited visitors to travel the world without leaving Florida when it opened near Jacksonville in 1971. Named after the famous explorer, this unique park featured miniature versions of international landmarks from the Great Wall of China to the Eiffel Tower, allowing families to experience global cultures through themed pavilions and attractions.

Visitors could ride gondolas through “Venice,” explore Japanese gardens, or visit a Bavarian village; all within walking distance of each other. Educational shows featuring cultural dances and traditions complemented the international exhibits and rides.

Despite its educational value and novel concept, Marco Polo Park struggled financially from the start. The ambitious attraction closed after just three years in 1974, becoming one of Florida’s shortest-lived theme parks. Today, nature has reclaimed the site, with no visible evidence remaining of this early attempt at bringing international experiences to Florida tourists long before Epcot made the concept famous.

6. Splendid China: The Forgotten Eastern Wonder

Splendid China opened in Kissimmee in 1993 as a $100 million showcase of Chinese culture and history. The 76-acre park featured over 60 miniature replicas of famous Chinese landmarks, including a half-mile-long Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army; all meticulously crafted at one-tenth scale by Chinese artisans.

Visitors wandered through beautifully landscaped grounds while watching authentic performances of Chinese acrobatics, dance, and martial arts. Each miniature masterpiece included educational placards explaining its historical significance in Chinese history.

Despite its cultural value and artistic merit, Splendid China struggled to attract sufficient visitors in the shadow of Orlando’s larger theme parks. After years of declining attendance, it closed in 2003. The abandoned site became a target for vandals and urban explorers before being demolished in 2016. Today, only photographs preserve the memory of this unique cultural attraction that brought a taste of Eastern wonders to the Sunshine State.