Wooden Rollercoaster, USA

This overgrown wooden rollercoaster was once the star attraction at this former theme park. The park has been disused and falling into disrepair for over a decade.

The theme park had humble beginnings in the 1850s, as the towns recreation park and fairgrounds. This venue of merriment was turned into a real amusement park in the 1970s, when rides were brought here from another recently closed park. Despite being nearly destroyed by a hurricane shortly after opening, the park enjoyed many decades of success and is fondly remembered by locals.

The owner decided his attention would be better spent on other endeavours, and tried to find a buyer for this site shortly after he closed it. Sadly, no one emerged to return the park to working order. Most of the rides were auctioned off shortly after the gates closed for a final time.

This rollercoaster is 65ft tall at the apex and would have travelled at top speeds of 45mph. This was a “homemade rollercoaster” constructed out of wood, built and maintained by the owner. The track length was over 2km long. There was a single train with two cars, which would have held 12 passengers per ride. The ride was originally built in the 1930s, but was damaged by a fire in the 1990s. After several months of closure, and a repair bill of over $500,000, the rollercoaster reopened and remained in service until the park closed 7 years later.