7 Forgotten Amusement Parks In California Now Left To Decay

California once boasted magical playgrounds beyond the famous Disneyland and Universal Studios. Hidden throughout the Golden State lie the crumbling remains of forgotten amusement parks, now silent and overgrown.

These abandoned wonderlands tell stories of bygone eras when roller coasters roared and carousel music filled the air, before financial troubles, changing tastes, or natural disasters sealed their fates.

1. Pacific Ocean Park: Santa Monica’s Seaside Ghost

Once rivaling Disneyland in popularity, this oceanfront wonderland welcomed millions before closing in 1967. The spectacular entrance featured enormous sea horses and a bubbling Neptune fountain.

After bankruptcy, the deteriorating structures became a surfer hangout and movie backdrop until fires consumed most remains. Ghost stories persist of phantom carousel music playing on foggy nights, though nothing visible remains today except memories and vintage postcards.

2. Jungle Island: San Bernardino’s Lost Safari

Nestled in the foothills of San Bernardino, this quirky safari-themed park operated from 1957 to 1974. Visitors rode miniature trains past concrete animals and through artificial caves while costumed performers staged mock tribal rituals.

Financial mismanagement and changing entertainment tastes ultimately doomed this peculiar attraction. Today, nature reclaims the site where giant giraffe statues peek through overgrown vegetation, creating an eerily beautiful tableau of concrete wildlife slowly returning to the earth.

3. Wonderland: Sacramento’s Forgotten Fantasy

If you traveled through Sacramento’s northern suburbs in the 1980s, you might have glimpsed this short-lived fairy tale-themed park. Wonderland featured modest rides centered around classic children’s stories, including a charming castle and storybook village.

When the owner faced legal troubles, the gates closed permanently in 1988. Curious urban explorers occasionally report finding faded murals of fairy tale characters smiling eerily from crumbling walls, while twisted metal frames mark where carousel horses once pranced.

4. Marineland: Palos Verdes’ Submerged Memory

Before SeaWorld dominated marine entertainment, Marineland of the Pacific delighted visitors in Palos Verdes from 1954 to 1987. Famous for its performing killer whales and pioneering underwater viewing tunnels, the oceanfront park drew Hollywood celebrities and everyday families alike.

When SeaWorld purchased and abruptly closed the park, they relocated the animals but left structures standing. Though eventually demolished for luxury development, concrete foundations and mysterious pipes still emerge from clifftop soil after heavy rains, like ghostly artifacts from California’s past.

5. Busch Gardens: Van Nuys’ Vanished Brewery Paradise

Though hard to imagine today, from 1966 to 1979, a lush 17-acre tropical paradise bloomed beside the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Van Nuys. Visitors toured brewing facilities before relaxing in spectacular gardens featuring exotic birds, boat rides, and cascading waterfalls.

Unlike other abandoned parks, little physical evidence remains of this verdant wonderland. The monorail tracks were dismantled, lagoons filled, and birds relocated. However, former employees still gather annually to share memories of the unexpected oasis that once flourished in the San Fernando Valley.

6. Kiddieland: Oakland’s Miniature Marvel

Throughout the 1950s and 60s, pint-sized thrill-seekers flocked to this charming children’s park near Lake Merritt. With scaled-down versions of adult rides including a tiny roller coaster, miniature train, and child-sized Ferris wheel, Kiddieland created magical memories for countless Bay Area families.

Competition from larger parks and rising insurance costs forced closure in 1974. Urban renewal claimed most physical remnants, yet scattered pieces live on elsewhere. The beloved miniature train was reportedly purchased by a wealthy collector and still operates on private property somewhere in Northern California.

7. Enchanted Forest: San Jose’s Forgotten Fantasy Realm

In the heart of San Jose lies the forgotten Enchanted Forest, a place once alive with whimsical wonder. This magical park captured the imagination with fairy-tale castles and enchanting rides. Today, its structures stand silently, wrapped in nature’s embrace.

The fading paint of the storybook cottages whisper tales of joy and adventure. As the wind rustles through the rusted rides, one can almost hear the echoes of children’s laughter. The forest reclaims its dominion, weaving through the park like a tender memory.