Oldest Amusement Park

By Mark McConville

EERIE video and images have revealed the abandoned remains of the oldest amusement park in America.

The haunting pictures and footage show empty grounds of the amusement park as well as long-forgotten bumper cars collecting dust inside an otherwise empty building.

The shots also show inside a funhouse with a hall of mirrors, wobbly staircase and an antique wooden slide still in place.

The incredible images and video show Bushkill Amusement Park and Rolling Rink in Pennsylvania and were taken by an urban explorer known as The Unknown Cameraman.

“Bushkill Park is famous for its antique rides such as bumper cars, ‘The Whip’, ‘The Haunted Pretzel’, and ‘The Bar’l of Fun’,” he said.

“It is home to one of the nation’s oldest funhouses, the ‘Bar’l of Fun’. Inside the funhouse, aside from the rotating barrel is a maze-like layout in a dark room with mirrors.

“In the past, there has been a flashing strobe light in the corner of this room. Beyond the maze is the famous barrel, a multi-person ‘sit-and-spin’ style ride, and a wobbly staircase.

“Upstairs is the Hall of Mirrors, and a rolling walkway that looks out onto the park. Finally, there is an original antique wooden slide that goes from the second floor to the first.”

Bushkill Park opened in 1902 and ran continuously until 2004 when it was flooded after Hurricane Ivan struck. The park opened again in the summer of 2006 but has been closed since then.

“In 2004, Hurricane Ivan struck, and the park suffered a devastating ‘100-year flood’,” said The Unknown Cameraman.

“This flood completely destroyed the Haunted Pretzel and a miniature golf course, while inflicting major damage on the park’s bumper cars, and its ‘Whip’ ride.

“The park has been hit by three consecutive floods since, and did not open at all in 2005. The park remains in a flood zone, being nearly surrounded by the Bushkill Creek.”

“There are currently plans to re-open the park, but many people are not optimistic this will happen.”

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