What is your opinion on the spirits of those buried here from the Shawnee tribe? Snidow thought an amusement park would appeal to the families, and possibly encourage more people to travel to the region. The fatal incident involving the 32-year . The park attracted numerous people, but rare accidents claimed the lives of at least three children. In 1988 an archaeological dig on the site found 13 bodies, mostly children, confirming suspicions that it had been used as a Native American burial ground. Snidow purchased the land and commissioned the construction of the first amusement park in West Virginia. In addition to a Ferris wheel and a swing ride, the park boasted a dance hall, a man-made swimming pond, a race track, and cabins which the families could rent for the duration of their stay. Ive done my best to put together the most cohesive and true story possible, and if you want to hear about some of the other, more questionable things I found about Lake Shawnee in my research, make sure you listen to the podcast episode!). Another boy drowned to death in the park's swimming pool. Wanting to keep the land active, the Whites hosted several fishing tournaments in the lake, and came up with a plan to create a space on the property for a motor sport known as mud bogging. Right next to the park is Aokigahara Forest, better known as suicide forest, which is considered the second most popular suicide location after the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Referring to the girl who was killed on the ride in 1966, he said, " we believe that's her spirit." Financial issues, changes in ownership, and deaths attributed to the parks failure. Admission was only $1. [4] Maggies death is the only murder in the parks long history. While the park seems to be a hotbed of activity, most who visit say that they dont believe there is anything evil there, and that the haunting is more playful and childlike. [5] A total of thirteen skeletons were uncovered, mostly of young children. However, since 1966, the park has lied abandoned and forgotten after two tragic deaths. He wasnt scared, but the only thing he could think of was, Well, if you like this tractor so much, Im going to give it to you. So he got off of it and left it sitting there. 'She looked at me and as long as she looked at me, I couldn't move,' he said. It seems to be uncertain what year the incidents occurred, but we know that the drowning of a boy in the swimming pool caused it to be closed off and later filled with sand; some sources say that his arm was caught in a drainpipe, and others say he was simply discovered floating lifelessly in the water. Before he could reopen the park, however, Greco died, and the park was bequeathed to a group of nuns who maintained the grounds but never reopened it. [5] The park was closed in 1967 because of a failed health inspection. A rusted ferris wheel in the abandoned Lake Shawnee Amusement park in West Virginia. More abandoned places in the United States. Jun 7, 2018 - Explore Patricia Johnson's board "LAKE SHAWNEE AMUSEMENT PARK" on Pinterest. It seemed like the parks luck was about to turn around with Thompson managing, but in 1984, tragedy would strike the park again. West Virginia's abandoned Lake Shawnee Amusement Park shut down back in 1966 and has laid in ruins ever since. In 2021, Jack Osborne visited the location for his show Portals to Hell. His usual co-host, Katrina Weidman, was unable to attend, so he brought along another investigator, Heather Taddy. A wave of other settlers followed them. In the 1920s, Conley Sindow erected a circle swing on an unassuming plot of land. The park may have been forgotten, but the land remembers. The park was thoroughly demolished in 2007, leaving nothing behind except for the strange memories and photographs and the questions as to why anyone thought it would be a popular attraction. She was in a ruffled dress and she just appeared. Snidow purchased the land and began developing an amusement park for the people of Mercer County, West Virginia. Investigators immediately suspected members of the Pagan motorcycle gang, as they had arrested ten members of the gang for beating and stabbing three men in the parking lot of Dreamland Park on the same night Marilyn and Glenn were last seen. So, the amusement park has once again been reclaimed by the weeds. You might be an amusement park junkie, but we're warning you, hold on to your butts if you're headed to the Lake Shawnee Amusement park. Wed love to hear from you. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The Lake Shawnee Amusement Park was built on the site of the Clay family massacre. Unfortunately, high insurance prices caused the park to close again in 1988. (Plus we all needed a bit of a break after the intensity of Harold the Doll, am I right?). When near the offering site on the burial ground, while trying to communicate with the native spirits, the Rem Pod goes off and is followed by the howling of nearby coyotes. The campfire history and self-guided tour will be reinstated, allowing visitors to walk around the swings and Ferris wheel area and visit the grave of the Clay children, taking pictures if they wish. The Ferris wheel still stands today, unfinished and towering over the scene of destruction and the bumper cars are the strongest area of radiation in the park due to the overgrown vegetation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Have you had a paranormal experience you'd like to share on this blog? Sampson, who was 340 pounds and stood 6 . 276 Want to Visit? Lake Shawnee: An Abandoned Amusement Park With a History of Death, This Belgian theme park closed down when a boy lost an arm, Jungle Habitatsaw animal attacks, escapes, and disease before shuttering, Sitges Aquatic Paradise is an abandoned waterpark turned counter-culture mecca. The most well-known of the deaths occurred in 1966. Lake Shawnee Amusement Park didn't have much in the way of rides, but the few it . While Steve uncovers Native American attacks and multiple drownings, Amy uncovers a vengeful group of dead that will stop at nothing to get its land back. In the Register-Herald article, Chris explained that when the Discovery Channel was filming there, one of the investigators got stuck in that ticket booth and went into a panic which led her to being taken to nearby hospital in Princeton. Amusement parks are built to be place of thrills and entertainment, wonder and awe. in Rock. Aug 10, 2021 - LAKE SHAWNEE ABANDONED AMUSEMENT PARK There's something unnatural about this Mercer County attraction. There are several interesting videos of investigations that have taken place at Lake Shawnee, along with alleged EVPs posted on Youtube. The special was subsequently broken down into an episodic series. Martinolich and Stoltzfus would both be found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Not only has the park witnessed the death of several children, but it was built on the site of the burial ground for the Native American Shawnee tribe, who called this land their home in the 1700s. The child was killed on impact. After the murder, the park would continue to operate and grow in size, adding another rollercoaster, but tragedy would continue to plague it. Alaina gives us the intense history surrounding the land before it became a park, the horrible . Despite the closure of the amusement park, White continued to host fishing tournaments and similar activities on the property. But, some parks are shrouded in mystery and misfortune, causing fear and shivers instead. According to WV Lake Shawnee, the "Dark Carnival" continues to offer tours of the supposedly haunted park every year during the month of October. White said he has also seen the child's ghost, which appeared to him as a young girl wearing a dress that is covered in blood. The original swing ride, which still remains, is often where the spirit of the unnamed little girl is seen, and other eerie activity there has been attributed to her. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. Image by Jonathan HannaIn addition to skeletal remains, White says artifacts like this pot and pipe were discovered during the dig. After the park closed on Labor Day, 1976, Franklin Loftis shot and killed the parks owner Harry Koch and his sixteen-year-old stepson Carl Derk outside their trailer on the grounds of the park. It remains uncertain as to the reason why the park closed. It shut down in 1966 and has been derelict ever since. By Michelle James REGISTER-HERALD LIFESTYLES EDITOR, Shady edges Huntington on emotional Senior Night, Maiolo approved as new Woodrow softball coach, Amazing Grace hits game-winner, sends Summers to state tournament (With Gallery), Summers executes demons, beats Wyoming East (With Gallery), Children with an uncommon condition are being killed by West Virginia elected officials. Leave us a comment on any of our social media, share this post with your friends, and send us an email! The park would close in 1923 when automobiles made it easier for people to travel and the park admission declined. One hundred forty-three years after Mitchell Clay and his surviving family members fled the land, it was purchased by a man named Conley Snidow, Sr. As reported by Road Unraveled, the region had become a popular destination for coal miners and their families, who spent their summers vacationing along the banks of Lake Shawnee. Through all the happiness and memories, there is a dark mark on the parks past. Lake Shawnee Abandoned Amusement Park, Rock: See 24 reviews, articles, and 43 photos of Lake Shawnee Abandoned Amusement Park, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 3 attractions in Rock. Six kids mysteriously died at the Lake Shawnee Amusement Park between 1926 and 1966 - an attraction built on the site of a former burial ground. Mitchell was away hunting at the time. We said, This is pretty interesting. Media in category "Lake Shawnee Amusement Park" The following 22 files are in this category, out of 22 total. It will also help to fund the purchase of ghost hunting equipment so we can bring you stories of our own paranormal investigations in the future. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Autopsies would conclude that Marilyn had been raped repeatedly, and beaten, her head severely fractured, while Glenn had been shot in the forehead and side of the head and had also been beaten. He didnt know what it was, so one day he felt the weight and he turned around and the little girl from the swings was there. Improve this listing All photos (43) Top ways to experience nearby attractions National Park Whitewater Rafting in New River Gorge WV 186 They should give fond memories and bring smiles to faces. Deciding to leave well enough alone, and out of respect for the Shawnee tribe, the White family ceased their efforts to revive the land. With so much tragedy and history at one place, interest in Lake Shawnee grew. King was stabbed to death, and police arrested the men responsible, letting the two underage boys go, and brought charges up against Dwight Sayles and Victor C. Walker. Im just so glad to know that theyre here. Explore. [5] White briefly reopened the park, but it was closed after three years. The rusting skeletons of the Ferris wheel and swing ride still stand at Lake Shawnee. In the 1990s, they started offering tours and campfire story time during the Halloween season. Lake Shawnee Amusement Park in West Virginia has been eerily abandoned for decades. It is not known if any of the accidental deaths occurred on the ferris wheel. Touch device users, explore by touch or with . A historical marker on the road leading to the park commemorates their memories. Its sad, but Marshall thinks thats what wiped out this Shawnee tribe back in the 1700s.. Image: Visit Mercer County Before discussing the park though, it is important to discuss the history of the land. She couldnt get out and she was yelling for help, he said. Over the next decade, the family built a house and a working farm on their land - which had become their new home. Your contribution is appreciated. The tribe took a third child, Ezekiel, hostage.