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Abandoned Williams Grove Amusement Park (PRIVATE)

1 Park Avenue, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania USA

No Longer Maintained

This location is no longer maintained in Roadtrippers. Please confirm location details before visiting.

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“There's nothing creepier than abandoned theme parks..”

This place is on private property. Listing for informational purposes only. Please do not visit without express permission from the land owner.

The Williams family began hosting picnics in 1850 in a small grove located in the village of Williams Grove outside Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The grove would within a few years grow into a park. Within two decades the park had grown into the Mechanicsburg Fairgrounds. After World War I, the park's ownership changed hands several times. In 1928, the first rides appeared at the park. The adjacent Williams Grove Speedway half-mile track opened in 1938.

Morgan Hughes purchased the park in 1972 for $1.2 million. Many of the rides were relocated to Williams Grove from the defunct New Jersey's Palisades Amusement Park, which closed in 1972. Williams Grove Park was nearly destroyed in the summer of the same year due to Hurricane Agnes and the subsequent flooding from nearby Yellow Breeches Creek. The park was rebuilt and operated until the end of the 2005 season, when the Hughes family decided to focus all of their energies on Williams Grove Speedway. Morgan Hughes, who was in his mid-80s when the park closed, attempted to sell the property in 2006 to a prospective owner who would keep the park intact and operational, but was unable to find a buyer. The rides were auctioned off the same year. Hughes died in his sleep at his Pennsylvania home on April 12, 2008 at age 88.

In the early 1980s the park erected The Wildcat, a steel Wildcat-style roller coaster. Upon the park's closing, the Wildcat was relocated to Adventure Park USA in New Market, Maryland.

The park's other coaster was The Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster erected in 1933, a revolutionary coaster of its time, reaching speeds of 65 mph.

As of November 2012, The Cyclone remains at the park in disrepair with the train parked at the loading station.
The cars of the Cyclone are recycled from the Palisades Amusement Park.

The park had two other coasters, Kiddie Coaster, 1992 until closing, and the Little Dipper, 1950 until 1963

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Reviewed by
VauVoom

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 08, 2014
Rated

We weren't able to get in, because of the locked gates on both sides of the property. The best address near the flea market to find it on your GPS is 1611 Williams Grove Rd, Dillsburg, PA 17019. Stay to the right as you drive in the flea market to find a small road near the steam engines. There is also a gated road across from the Williams Grove Speedway. Not worth going off your path unless you can some how get permission from the property owner. If not, you'll be trespassing.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
HARRIETCUDDEFORD

  • 2 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
July 07, 2014
Rated

This is amazing!! Not where you say it is but find the road which is the name of the park and follow signs to be flea market. Drive through flea market and down to the woods and it's there!! It's so worth it

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
david.wray.338

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
December 26, 2013
Rated

Jeez, this really brings back memories!!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
LUCKY_98

  • 2 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
December 24, 2013
Rated

They used to have a flea market in the actual park amoung the abandoned rides. It was really cool. The flea market is now in an upper parking lot area.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
AbbeyLutz

  • 2 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
June 25, 2016
Rated 3.0

I was just there about 2 weeks ago for a race and was inside the park and it looks like the old roller coaster has been torn down.

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Reviewed by
AlishaShaffer

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
February 21, 2016
Rated

the owner closed entrance to the park to flea market vendors due to a lady falling by the bathroom and breaking a leg even though the place was posted at own risk the person that fell sued the owner so she locked the gates if you attempt entrance from the top side of willams grove be advised if caught you will get arrested for tresspassing

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Reviewed by
mpreb17

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
December 28, 2015
Rated 5.0

12/27/2015 This place is pretty neat to see. It is quite a challenge to get in. However if you're young and dumb and willing to get caught, you can get in. After exploring, I found two possible routes. An easy way that's very open and not shady in any way. And a much harder way however is much more covert and less likely to be seen by anyone. So the first way, which is the way we exited, right on Millers Road, there is a steel beam bridge that runs right into the park. There is a big fence on the bridge, but is extremely easy to get by. You just go under it. Like I said, this way is very noticeable but we didn't care since we were already on our way out. The second way, the way we entered, is right by the flee market and there is a sign stating "Williams Grove Historic Steam Engine Association." By there, walk the train tracks back until you're about even with the roller coaster. From there you have to cut through the picker bush infested woods. It is quite a pain getting through. Make sure to wear jeans or long pants and a jacket or you will get torn apart. It's self explanatory from there. You're in. Once on the property, be careful. The owner's house is very close so be sneaky and please please please RESPECT THE PROPERTY. This is very cool stuff. It would be a shame if people trashed it. Just be respectful and mature and enjoy the beauty of this place.

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Reviewed by
timbbbb

  • 11 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
December 27, 2015
Rated 4.0

It's on Park Place, not park Ave. Couldn't get in, but creepy even viewed from afar. Can also see racing, flea market or ride a steam train if you time your visit right.

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Reviewed by
AbbeyLutz

  • 2 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
June 21, 2015
Rated 3.0

I attend the races at Williams Grove Speedway periodically and the amusement park is used as overflow parking. It is cool, but not a tourist attraction. It can be pretty creepy when you are returning to your vehicle late at night after a long day at the racetrack.

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Reviewed by
iismonsterr

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
January 07, 2015
Rated

Good luck getting permission to get in. We drove all the way out here only to find no way to get in. We thought talking to the people in the office would be helpful, but it's not. The men were nice, but the lady repeatedly shouted "no, that's my home!" Crazy. Oh well. It was cool to see from afar.

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Abandoned Williams Grove Amusement Park (PRIVATE)

1 Park Avenue
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
USA
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