© 2019 Rachel L. Shumate | All rights reserved.
Rusty remains of a forgotten amusement park loom wearily as the earth struggles to slowly reclaim the land. The rides haven’t been in motion since the 1960’s and now only the skeletons of the ferris wheel and the swings stand as a testament to a livelier era. Yet the remnants of Lake Shawnee still intrigue passersby and especially those interested in paranormal activity. Many locals declare the place haunted and even cursed.
Tragically, this park’s past is not at all amusing (nor is the land on which it sits). It was closed for good in 1966 after unfortunate youngsters kept meeting their untimely deaths. According to the articles I’ve read, a little girl was killed while riding on the swings when a truck backed into the path of the whirling apparatus. Another child, a little boy, drowned in the park’s swimming pond. However, Visit West Virginia states that the park claimed a total of six little souls.
It seems this plot of land has always been a volatile, unwelcoming place for children. Long before the park was constructed, it’s rumored that the land was home to Native Americans and that an archaeological dig once confirmed this, discovering the bones of 13 bodies …most of which were children.
Additional misfortune is displayed on a historical marker that stands near the abandoned park. It relays a brief account regarding Mitchell Clay, whose three children were killed by Native Americans. It seems that Clay and his family attempted to take possession of this abominable parcel of land and a turf war inevitably ensued. (See photograph of marker.)
Given its bloody past, paranormal investigators and thrill seekers alike have come from far and wide to experience a new kind of excitement that the park has to offer. Many individuals have witnessed strange goings-on, mysterious sounds, and even full apparitions (most notably a man sitting on the ferris wheel and the little girl who was killed on the swings). The site has also been featured on such shows as, Discovery Channel’s GhostLab, and Travel Channel’s The Most Terrifying Places in America.
Until recently, you could even experience the terror yourself every October when the gates opened around Halloween for ghostly tours. Unfortunately, the park’s latest owner has passed away, and I haven’t been able to find out if the tours still take place. I wonder what will become of the park now. Presently, it still sits shrouded in mystery and hidden by vines….
PS: You might also be interested in this article by The Register Herald with updated information and an interview with the owners!
