Themed Attraction.com

HHaase · Site Admin Joined: 06 May 2011 Posts: 49 Location: NY

http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/05/creepy-crusty-crumbling-illegal-tour-of-abandoned-six-flags-new-orleans-75-pics/

This link popped up on some pinball forums that I frequent. Another spooky, abandoned, never to re-open amusement park.

And my insane mind kept thinking "Yeah, I can fix most of that".

-Hans

grumpyfan · Joined: 23 Jun 2011 Posts: 8

These pics and many other videos of this that I've seen floating around the net really depress me. Anytime I see an abandoned theme park, or even land that once had a theme park, I can just see/imagine all the laughter and screams that once was elicited there, but is now replaced by sadness and a sense of loss.

Sorry, don't mean to be a downer. I just love theme parks and the feelings and memories that they create for people, and it just saddens me when I see former places of such. It's like somebody killed the laughter.
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Joey · Joined: 29 Mar 2011 Posts: 53 Location: London, England

I really love deralict spaces from an artistic point of view. I guess it's an appreciation for the way nature reclaims everything.

You guys seen this video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcja8UBtXdk

I find the "clsoed for storm" sign so haunting...

I almost find msyelf hoping that many derelict spaces end up left they way they are. They are rare pockets of human failure, and they are facinating. At the same time, I find the idea of wasted potential infuriating.

I wrote a bit in my essay on themed environments about this whole issue of resturation and preservation of history.
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grumpyfan · Joined: 23 Jun 2011 Posts: 8

I've seen that. It's some great work from a thematic/dramatic video perspective, but I hate the dark foreboding overtones used. It could easily fit into some kind of horror movie. It's the kind of stuff I alluded to in my previous comment. It's a sad and depressing video of what once was such a fun place.
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HHaase · Site Admin Joined: 06 May 2011 Posts: 49 Location: NY

Depressing, yes, but I find these stories fascinating in so many ways.

One is that every one of these failed parks has a story behind it, and lessons to learn from it. Why did it fail? In this case it appears to be a park that was only marginally profitable, in the midst of a re-branding after being bought by Six Flags, and just wasn't cost effective to repair after the hurricane. As someone who is looking into this industry, this is info I'd love to dig into.

Yet there are also a good number of similar stories where these parks do get resurrected. Action Park is one example that I love to read about. Once considered the most dangerous amusement park in the country (and maybe the world), it's now thriving under new ownership and steady improvements throughout the park.

Heck, even old Cypress Gardens has hope. Apparently it's been bought by Lego and is re-opening as Legoland Florida in October. Just found this one out, and that's just really fun to think about. Though I'm sure not much will be left of old Cypress.

-Hans