The carnival is a creepy enough place to begin with: clowns, piping organ music, a mysterious atmosphere, and very overpriced food. The spooky allure of a fair is made all the stronger when it’s an abandoned amusement park in Pennsylvania. The rotting structures of the Williams Grove Amusement Park near Mechanicsburg are hauntingly beautiful.
Please note: Though the Williams Grove abandoned amusement park is no longer in use and has fallen into disrepair, the property itself is not abandoned. In fact, it is still inhabited by a few long-time residents. Trespassing onto the property is strictly forbidden – and illegal. We hope that you enjoy these photographs, but please do not explore the area yourself.
dfirecop/ Flickr
Families began picnicking at the site in the 1850s, although it wasn’t until 1928 that the first rides appeared at Williams Grove Amusement Park. As you can see above, mother nature is completely reclaiming what was once the crowning glory of the park, The Cyclone roller coaster.
dfirecop/ Flickr
dfirecop/ Flickr
The park was almost completely destroyed in Hurricane Agnes in 1972. After some rebuilding, however, it opened back up and remained operational until 2005, when it was closed.
Darren Ketchum/ Flickr
The amusement park shut down because the family who operated it (the Hughes) decided to focus entirely on the Speedway, which is still a major attraction in the area.
Darren Ketchum/ Flickr
David Trawin/ Flickr
What a creepy ice cream truck that sits empty at the site. Imagine the little kids who at one time ran after it. Watch the video below to see some more of this abandoned amusement park in Pennsylvania.
David Trawin/ Flickr
Williams Grove Amusement Park/ Facebook
Pretty scary right? Had you ever been to this amusement park in Pennsylvania before it was abandoned? What was it like then? Let us know in the comments! If you’re intrigued by abandoned places, follow this abandoned places in Pennsylvania road trip.
Williams Grove Amusement Park/ Facebook
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Address: Unnamed Road, Dillsburg, PA 17019, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
abandoned amusement park in Pennsylvania July 10, 2020 Beth Price-Williams Can I visit any abandoned places in Pennsylvania?
Ironton Rail Trail Abandoned PA Turnpike
You’ll probably want to start a bucket list – that’s how many abandoned places in Pennsylvania you’ll find. If you enjoy hiking, follow the Ironton Rail Trail, which spans just under 10 miles in Whitehall. The trail leads to abandoned cement kilns, a restored train car, and the remains of an abandoned cement factory. Have you heard of the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike, a stretch of turnpike that was shut down decades ago? Today, it’s popular with hikers and bikers and is definitely worth a visit. Here is some amazing drone footage of the Abandoned PA Turnpike. Are there any ghost towns in Pennsylvania?
Centralia East Fork Eckley Fricks Lock
Pennsylvania is home to several ghost towns, the most well-known of which is probably Centralia. (Unfortunately, visitors are no longer allowed to visit Centralia.) The town has been “on fire” for decades after a fire started in the underground mines back in 1962. For years afterward, curiosity seekers would visit the town, spray painting the road (which was recently paved over). Today, less than a handful of residents remain in the otherwise ghost town. While you can’t visit Centralia, you might want to check out East Fork, Eckley, Frick’s Lock, or other ghost towns in Pennsylvania. What are the creepiest cemeteries in Pennsylvania?
Erie Cemetery Gettysburg National Cemetery Coulterville Cemetery Strasburg Cemetery
If you equate haunted with creepy, you’ll be happy to learn that we have quite a few creepy cemeteries in Pennsylvania. For one of the spookiest experiences, go to Erie Cemetery. More than 50,000 souls are resting at the cemetery, although there are a few of them who are restless. A black dog, for example, is often seen at the cemetery, though he disappears when you get too close.
The OIYS Visitor Center
abandoned amusement park in Pennsylvania
July 10, 2020
Beth Price-Williams
Can I visit any abandoned places in Pennsylvania?
Ironton Rail Trail Abandoned PA Turnpike
You’ll probably want to start a bucket list – that’s how many abandoned places in Pennsylvania you’ll find. If you enjoy hiking, follow the Ironton Rail Trail, which spans just under 10 miles in Whitehall. The trail leads to abandoned cement kilns, a restored train car, and the remains of an abandoned cement factory. Have you heard of the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike, a stretch of turnpike that was shut down decades ago? Today, it’s popular with hikers and bikers and is definitely worth a visit. Here is some amazing drone footage of the Abandoned PA Turnpike. Are there any ghost towns in Pennsylvania?
Centralia East Fork Eckley Fricks Lock
Pennsylvania is home to several ghost towns, the most well-known of which is probably Centralia. (Unfortunately, visitors are no longer allowed to visit Centralia.) The town has been “on fire” for decades after a fire started in the underground mines back in 1962. For years afterward, curiosity seekers would visit the town, spray painting the road (which was recently paved over). Today, less than a handful of residents remain in the otherwise ghost town. While you can’t visit Centralia, you might want to check out East Fork, Eckley, Frick’s Lock, or other ghost towns in Pennsylvania. What are the creepiest cemeteries in Pennsylvania?
Erie Cemetery Gettysburg National Cemetery Coulterville Cemetery Strasburg Cemetery
If you equate haunted with creepy, you’ll be happy to learn that we have quite a few creepy cemeteries in Pennsylvania. For one of the spookiest experiences, go to Erie Cemetery. More than 50,000 souls are resting at the cemetery, although there are a few of them who are restless. A black dog, for example, is often seen at the cemetery, though he disappears when you get too close.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
- Ironton Rail Trail
- Abandoned PA Turnpike
You’ll probably want to start a bucket list – that’s how many abandoned places in Pennsylvania you’ll find. If you enjoy hiking, follow the Ironton Rail Trail, which spans just under 10 miles in Whitehall. The trail leads to abandoned cement kilns, a restored train car, and the remains of an abandoned cement factory.
Have you heard of the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike, a stretch of turnpike that was shut down decades ago? Today, it’s popular with hikers and bikers and is definitely worth a visit. Here is some amazing drone footage of the Abandoned PA Turnpike.
Are there any ghost towns in Pennsylvania?
- Centralia
- East Fork
- Eckley
- Fricks Lock
Pennsylvania is home to several ghost towns, the most well-known of which is probably Centralia. (Unfortunately, visitors are no longer allowed to visit Centralia.) The town has been “on fire” for decades after a fire started in the underground mines back in 1962. For years afterward, curiosity seekers would visit the town, spray painting the road (which was recently paved over). Today, less than a handful of residents remain in the otherwise ghost town. While you can’t visit Centralia, you might want to check out East Fork, Eckley, Frick’s Lock, or other ghost towns in Pennsylvania.
What are the creepiest cemeteries in Pennsylvania?
- Erie Cemetery
- Gettysburg National Cemetery
- Coulterville Cemetery
- Strasburg Cemetery
If you equate haunted with creepy, you’ll be happy to learn that we have quite a few creepy cemeteries in Pennsylvania. For one of the spookiest experiences, go to Erie Cemetery. More than 50,000 souls are resting at the cemetery, although there are a few of them who are restless. A black dog, for example, is often seen at the cemetery, though he disappears when you get too close.
