Numerous amusement parks in Pennsylvania have been left abandoned or demolished over the years—ranging from the creepy and overgrown Williams Grove to the still-standing Bushkill Park—there are countless cool destinations worth seeing.

Amusement parks in Pennsylvania began as a way for trolley companies to enhance weekend ridership by providing picnic areas, theater performances, and boat rides.

Rides and attractions were added as they were created, and while some are still operating in the Keystone State, many have since closed due to increased costs, severe storms, fires, and competing parks.

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, the car insurance

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, has put together a guide taking you through all the coolest abandoned amusement parks in

Pennsylvania

—from their history to their main attractions to what remains where they once stood.

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Williams Grove Amusement Park

Location: Outside Mechanicsburg, PA

Years Active: 1850-2005

History

Williams Grove began in the 1850s as an area for the Williams family to host picnics and other social activities. It wasn’t until 1928, that the first rides appeared at Williams Grove Amusement Park.

Morgan Hughes, an Irishman who had served in the British Army's Royal Irish Fusiliers during WWII, purchased the park for $1.2 million in 1972. Many of the rides from the now-defunct Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey, which closed the same year, were transported to Williams Grove.

Unfortunately, the park was nearly destroyed in the summer of 1972, shortly after Hughes purchased it, due to Hurricane Agnes and the subsequent floods from adjacent Yellow Breeches Creek. But, they managed to rebuild and stayed in operation for another 30 years.

Williams Grove was in operation until 2005, when the Hughes family opted to devote their entire attention and funds to the Williams Grove Speedway.

The majority of its rides were auctioned off, but the skeleton of a roller coaster remains—one of the few remaining traces of the area's history.

Main attractions

The Cyclone Roller Coaster: A wooden roller coaster with a height of 65 feet high and a top speed of 45 mph

The Wildcat: A steel Wildcat-style roller coaster

A large water park slide

What to know before you go

The amusement park is no longer in operation and has fallen into ruin, but there are still a few long-term residents that live where Williams Grove once stood. Trespassing on their private property is strictly prohibited—and is, in fact, illegal.

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Willow Mill Park

Location: 80 Willow Mill Park Rd,

Mechanicsburg

, PA 17050

Years Active: 1929-1989

History

As early as 1928, Willow Mill hosted picnics and had tables, benches, swings, and seesaws. Boats and canoes, a golf course, and the Willow Mill Farm Inn were added in 1931 when new management took over the park.

In early 1972, the Rohrbaugh family purchased the park and owned it until it closed. However, like Williams Grove, Willow Mill was struck by Hurricane Agnes and suffered major damages to its main attractions.

The park remained standing but not functioning until 1994, when Silver Spring Township purchased the park from the Rohrbaughs to sell the rides and transform the area into a public park.

Main attractions

A Merry-Go-Round, a water toboggan slide, speed boats, and pony rides were some of Willow Mill’s first attractions.

Later, a new carousel, a whip, sky fighter, and kiddie airplane ride were added.

The Blue Streak, the park’s first roller coaster, was added in 1935.

What to know before you go

Just as planned, Willow Mill Park is now a municipal park of the same name. It borders Conodoguinet Creek, where families can boat, fish, hike, and just enjoy the outdoors.

Though there’s nothing left standing from its days as an amusement park, the original Huston Mill is still located on park property and definitely worth viewing (from the outside)! There are gardens, an RC Race Track, picnic pavilions, and grills, so Willow Mill Park is definitely still worth the visit.

Nay Aug Park

Location: 500 Arthur Ave, Scranton, PA 18510

Years Active: 1931-1990

History

The park was operated by Karl and Ralph Strohl. It featured a variety of rides and a dance hall, which was later turned into an arcade.

Nay Aug Park opened in 1893 when the city of

Scranton

purchased two acres on the city's east side from the Beckett Estate. The population in the area was steadily increasing, and local leaders saw the need for a social hub.

The amusement park itself was operated by Karl and Ralph Strohl, featuring a variety of rides and a dance hall (which eventually became an arcade hall). Nay Aug’s amusement park closed down, and all of the rides were sold by 1990.

Main attractions

The Merry-go-Round, the Comet Coaster, a small wooden roller coaster, and a miniature Lackawanna Railroad train were some of the most popular rides.

A dance hall was active between the 1930s and 1940s where “Big Band” orchestra-style musicians would perform regularly.

This dance hall eventually transformed into an arcade hall with bumper cars.

What to know before you go

The land has been transformed into a green space where weekly concerts are held throughout the summer months.

The park also has two Olympic-sized swimming pools. They were recently remodeled and now feature two diving boards and two water slides!

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Bushkill Park

Location: Royersford, Montgomery County

Years Active: 1902-?

History

Thomas Long founded Bushkill Park in 1933, outfitting it with a hand-carved carousel that he and his father had purchased. The park began to struggle in the second half of the twentieth century, and by the 1980s, it basically shut down.

Current owner Neal Fehnel purchased the park in 1990 to host children’s birthday parties and company picnics, and his efforts helped Bushkill Park stay open.

Hurricane Ivan hit the park in 2004, causing a disastrous "100-year flood." This storm completely wrecked the “Haunted Pretzel” and a miniature golf course while severely damaging the park's bumper cars and "Whip" ride.

Though not officially closed, Bushkill is now practically deserted, giving the once-jolly amusements a creepy vibe. Fehnel still hasn’t given up on the park though and is hoping to slowly rebuild it to its former glory.

Main attractions

Antique rides such as bumper cars, "The Whip," "The Haunted Pretzel,” and "The Bar'l of Fun."

The "Bar'l of Fun" is the United States of America's oldest funhouse (though it’s not currently operating).

Two vintage carousels once stood on the park grounds, but the carousel building, unfortunately, collapsed in 2014.

What to know before you go

Bushkill Park is undergoing major renovations and restorations to its grounds and attractions.

As a private property, you could be ticketed or arrested for trespassing on their property, so take caution and just view from afar.

MORE: How to check for Pennsylvania road closures

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