The Forgotten West Virginia Carnival That Locals Say Was Cursed To Burn

Hidden in the quiet hills of Princeton, West Virginia, lies what locals call one of the state’s eeriest destinations – a forgotten amusement park said to be cursed and left to rust in silence. Lake Shawnee Amusement Park isn’t your typical roadside attraction. Beneath its rusted rides and overgrown paths lurks a history so dark that many believe the land itself carries a curse, one forged in bloodshed and tragedy that spans centuries.

Unearthing the Buried Truth

In the early 1990s, workers preparing the land for new development made a chilling discovery. As they dug into the earth, they unearthed human bones – lots of them. Archaeologists from Marshall University were called in, and what they found confirmed locals’ darkest suspicions.

Thirteen Native American skeletons were excavated from the property, mostly elderly individuals and children. The graves were ancient, predating the Clay settlement.

Countless artifacts revealed this had been sacred Shawnee burial ground. Building an amusement park here was more than disrespectful – it was a desecration. Many believe disturbing these graves awakened or intensified the curse. The land had tried to tell its story through tragedy, and now the physical evidence proved that joy was never meant to flourish where so much sorrow had been buried.

A Land Stained by Bloodshed in 1783

Long before the carnival rides appeared, this land witnessed unspeakable violence. Mitchell Clay and his family settled here in 1783, hoping to carve out a peaceful life in the Appalachian wilderness. But their dreams turned to nightmare when conflict erupted between the settlers and the Shawnee tribe.

Two of Clay’s children were killed during the encounter, and a third was captured and tragically burned in Ohio. The grief and horror of that day seemed to seep into the very soil.

Locals believe this brutal event planted the seeds of a curse that would haunt the land for generations. The blood spilled here created an energy so dark that nothing built upon it could ever truly thrive, setting the stage for tragedy after tragedy.

The Dream That Became a Nightmare

Fast forward to 1926, when entrepreneur Conley T. Snidow saw opportunity where others saw only farmland. He purchased the property and transformed it into Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, complete with a Ferris wheel, swing ride, swimming pool, and dance hall. Coal mining families flocked here for weekend fun and rare moments of joy.

For a while, laughter echoed across the grounds. Children squealed on rides while their parents danced under string lights.

But the park’s cheerful facade couldn’t mask what lay beneath. Unknown to Snidow, he’d built his carnival directly atop sacred ground, disturbing what should have remained untouched. The curse that locals whispered about was about to reveal itself in the most heartbreaking ways imaginable, turning innocent fun into unimaginable sorrow.

Death Came Swinging

One ordinary day at the park turned into every parent’s worst nightmare. A young girl was enjoying the swing ride, laughing and kicking her feet toward the sky. But tragedy struck when a soda delivery truck backed up without seeing her swinging path.

The impact was fatal. The girl died instantly, her joy extinguished in a horrifying moment.

This wasn’t just an accident to locals – it felt like the curse manifesting itself. The same swing set still stands today, frozen in time and rusted from decades of weather. Visitors claim the swings sometimes move on their own, even when there’s no wind, as if the girl’s spirit still seeks the simple pleasure that was stolen from her that terrible day.

The Pool That Claimed a Life

Water was supposed to bring relief on hot summer days, but the park’s swimming pool became another site of heartbreak. A young boy was enjoying a swim when he suddenly went under and never resurfaced. By the time anyone realized something was wrong, it was too late – he had drowned.

His death added another tragic layer to the park’s growing reputation as a cursed place. Families who once saw the park as an escape now saw it as dangerous.

The pool, like the swings, remains as a decaying monument to lost innocence. Some paranormal investigators report hearing the sound of splashing water and children’s laughter near the empty pool, even though it’s been dry for decades. The curse seemed determined to collect lives, one tragedy at a time.

Rusted Rides and Restless Spirits

Today, Lake Shawnee stands frozen in time, a ghostly monument to its tragic past. The Ferris wheel tilts at an awkward angle, its paint peeled away by decades of rain and sun. Swing sets dangle from rusted chains, and nature slowly reclaims what humans abandoned.

Walking through the grounds feels like stepping into another dimension. The air seems heavier here, thick with memories and maybe something else.

Visitors consistently report strange experiences: disembodied voices, the sensation of being watched, and equipment malfunctions. Paranormal investigation teams have captured unexplained phenomena on their devices. The site has been featured on numerous ghost hunting shows, drawing thrill-seekers from across the country. Whether you believe in curses or not, there’s no denying this place carries an energy that raises goosebumps and quickens pulses.

Visiting the Cursed Carnival Today

Lake Shawnee remains privately owned but welcomes the curious through guided tours, especially during October’s Dark Carnival event. This Halloween attraction transforms the already spooky grounds into an immersive haunted experience that blurs the line between performance and genuine paranormal activity.

Tour guides share the property’s layered history while leading visitors past decaying rides. Many guests report feeling cold spots or hearing unexplained sounds during their visit.

Whether you’re a paranormal enthusiast or simply fascinated by dark history, Lake Shawnee offers a hauntingly beautiful glimpse into West Virginia’s mysterious past. It’s a place where history, legend, and ghostly whispers intertwine under the Appalachian sky – a destination that reminds us some stories refuse to be forgotten, no matter how much time passes or how deeply we try to bury them.

The Phantom Ferris Wheel

The Ferris wheel stands as a skeletal sentinel, silently spinning tales of its own. Once filled with laughter, it now creaks in the wind, a ghostly melody echoing through the abandoned carnival grounds. Legend has it, anyone who rides during twilight hears whispers of past visitors.

Some claim the wheel turns by itself on moonlit nights, casting eerie shadows that dance across the deserted fairway. It’s a chilling reminder of the festivities that once breathed life into this now lonely place. Locals say it’s cursed, destined to burn, though no blaze has touched it yet.

Over time, the Ferris wheel has become more than just a relic – it’s a monument to memory and mystery. Adventurers and paranormal enthusiasts come from miles away, drawn by its haunting allure and the stories that cling to its rusted frame. Some leave offerings at its base – coins, ribbons, or faded tickets – hoping to appease whatever spirits linger there. Others swear they’ve seen the lights flicker to life for just a moment, as if the carnival were returning for one final night. Whether cursed or simply forgotten, the Ferris wheel endures, an eternal watchman over a place where joy once lived and time stands still.

The Haunted Carousel

The carousel, with its faded horses, seems frozen in time. Once the heart of the carnival, it is said to house spirits of children whose laughter echoes on the wind. Each horse bears a name, carved by a mysterious hand, telling stories of joy and sorrow.

Local folklore insists the carousel spins on its own, a ghostly symphony playing long after dark. Visitors report feeling a strange presence, as if unseen eyes are watching them. Despite its strange allure, the carousel remains untouched by flames, unlike other parts of the fair.

They say on certain nights, when the moonlight hits the chipped paint just right, the horses’ eyes glimmer as though alive. Some witnesses claim to have heard faint music drifting through the air – not from any nearby source, but from the carousel itself, creaking in rhythm with an invisible hand. The brave who’ve stepped closer describe feeling the ground subtly vibrate, as if the ride were waiting for someone to start it again. Yet no one dares to touch it. Time has turned the carousel into both a memorial and a mystery – a haunting reminder of fleeting joy, forever circling in the stillness of an abandoned fair.

The Enigmatic Funhouse

The funhouse is a maze of shattered mirrors and warped corridors, each twist playing tricks on the mind. Once a place of laughter and surprise, now its reflections seem to capture shadows of forgotten memories.

Locals say the funhouse is bewitched, its mirrors showing glimpses of another world where the past still thrives. Those who dare to venture inside often feel disoriented, as if the walls themselves are alive. Despite all odds, it remains standing, refusing to succumb to the fiery fate predicted by the curse.

On moonless nights, the funhouse hums with a low, almost imperceptible vibration – like the echo of distant carnival music trapped behind the glass. Some visitors claim to see figures moving in the mirrors, not matching their own gestures, as though the reflections belong to someone – or something – else. The deeper one goes, the colder the air becomes, carrying the faint scent of smoke, though no fire ever burns there. Locals warn that if you linger too long, your reflection might not follow you out. The funhouse, they whisper, doesn’t just distort reality – it collects it.