Some Wisconsin residents may say these abandoned amusement parks are as empty as the Minnesota Vikings’ trophy case! But jokes aside, exploring abandoned amusement parks can present quite the opportunity for adventure—so long as you don’t scare easily.

Here with the creepiest abandoned amusement parks in Wisconsin is

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. Read on to learn about the parks’ history and what’s left of them today.

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Fort Dells Theme Park

Location: Wisconsin Dells, WI

Abandoned since: 1985

Is it legal to go in? N/A

From 1959 to 1985,

Fort Dells

was a favorite destination for families across Wisconsin and surrounding states to spend a weekend. The amusement park’s design was influenced by Frontierland at Disneyland, so this was a little taste of magic in the Midwest!

These were some of the most popular activities at Fort Dells back in the day:

Cruising along the Kilbourn and Western Railroad

Testing out the suspension bridge

Taking a fancy ride in a Dells Fargo Stagecoach

Watching traditional Native American dancing

Riding the Riverboat Ferry

Petting the animals at the children's farm

Riding in a miniature 1910 Ford

Watching Black Bart the cowboy get captured

Exploring the haunted house

These attractions don’t quite compete with the water parks, hotels, and shopping centers that are offered in

Wisconsin Dells

today. Nevertheless, Fort Dells had a fun 26-year stretch before ultimately shutting down in 1985.

Can you still visit Fort Dells Theme Park?

Unfortunately, hardly any of the original Fort Dells amusement park remains—it was almost completely bulldozed by 1997. In fact, you’ll find a McDonald's and Walgreens on the former theme park’s property now. So while you can certainly still visit the area, the experience might be a little underwhelming.

However, there still are a few Fort Dells artifacts in the vicinity. Keep an eye out for:

A wooden sign that says, “Bringing the Disney experience to Dells Visitors for 26 years”

A tombstone in the woods nearby that reads, “RIP Curly Bill. He dun died within his boots off. 1831–1871.5”

A nature trail behind McDonald’s and Walgreens where the railroad was—look for the remains of red wagons and an eerie cave

For those who want to reminisce from home, check out the Fort Dells

Facebook fan page

for some awesome old-school photos!

MORE: How to check for Wisconsin road closures

Vacationland Fun Park

Location: Crivitz, WI

Abandoned since: 2016

Is it legal to go in? Yes

In Northeast Wisconsin, entertainment can be hard to come by. But this scarcity is what made Vacationland Fun Park such a popular destination for locals! These were some of the attractions that had guests coming back again and again:

Go-karts

Bumper boats

18-hole miniature golf course

Paintball

Bumper cars

2 arcade rooms

Ice cream shop

Toddler play area

Unfortunately, the lights never turned back on one season. Although they began advertising their 25th anniversary in 2016, the gates were never opened. Nobody seems to know for sure why it was abandoned!

Can you still visit Vacationland Fun Park?

Yes! Vacationland makes for an interesting abandoned place to explore.

The attractions are now collecting dust. However, if you listen closely, you can still hear echoes of laughter from past guests. Kidding! But it is a little eerie to walk through empty mini-golf courses and go-kart tracks.

You can find a successful inspection posting for 2015 on the front gate, but you can see that it was covered up with a 2016 business resignation notice—it really makes you wonder what went down.

And then in 2021, there were murmurs on Facebook of a new owner with plans to reopen under the name Northern Lights Fun Park. A

website was even created

. Yet an official opening date hasn’t been announced.

Tips for exploring Wisconsin’s abandoned amusement parks

If you plan to visit the abandoned amusement parks in Wisconsin, you should have a detailed plan before you go. Here is a checklist to help you prepare:

Check property laws. Always verify if the property is public, private, or restricted before entering.

Leave it how you found it. Don’t ruin the experience for future explorers!

Dress appropriately. Abandoned amusement parks may be strewn with debris from deteriorating attractions. Therefore, it’s wise to wear protective gear like gloves and closed-toed shoes.

Bring a friend or make your location known. It’s always safer and more fun to explore with a buddy!

MORE:

Odd roadside attractions for your summer road trip

How to find affordable car insurance in Wisconsin

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