Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, Abandoned amusement park in the United States
Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is a closed amusement park in Princeton, West Virginia, where the original ride structures and buildings have been left standing on the grounds. Rusting swing sets, overgrown ticket booths, and a weathered ride frame are among the features still visible across the property.
The park opened in 1926 and ran for about four decades before closing in 1966. Before the park was built, the land had served as a burial ground for Indigenous people and was later the site of a settler homestead in the 1700s.
The name "Shawnee" refers to the Indigenous people who once lived on and around this land, and that connection is still felt when walking the grounds today. Some of the old ride structures remain standing, slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding trees and grass, giving the site a layered quality that goes beyond a typical abandoned park.
The site is open to visitors through guided tours, which are offered regularly and more frequently around Halloween. Wear closed shoes with good grip, as the ground is uneven and some paths are partially covered by overgrowth.
Archaeological digs on the property have uncovered human remains and Indigenous artifacts, making it an officially recorded archaeological site. The family that owns the land has chosen to keep it largely as it was after closing, rather than clearing or redeveloping the grounds.
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