Touring Arizona’s Desert Abandoned Amusement Parks
Arizona’s scorching desert hides some seriously spooky secrets, and I’m talking about abandoned amusement parks that once buzzed with laughter and fun.
These forgotten places now sit empty under the blazing sun, with rusty rides and faded paint telling stories of happier times. Exploring these ghost parks is like stepping into a time machine where cotton candy dreams turned into dusty memories.
1. Legend City, Phoenix
Back in 1963, Phoenix got its very own Disneyland-style park that made kids go absolutely wild with excitement. Legend City packed in roller coasters, a log flume, and even a spooky haunted house that gave everyone the chills.
The park closed its gates in 1983, leaving behind empty ticket booths and silent carousel horses. Today, a shopping center sits where screams of joy once echoed through the desert air.
Old photos show families posing with costumed characters and munching on funnel cakes under the Arizona sun.
2. Bedrock City, Valle
Yabba-dabba-doo! This Flintstones-themed park brought prehistoric cartoon fun to life right off Route 66 near the Grand Canyon. Giant dinosaur statues and stone-age buildings made visitors feel like they’d traveled back to Bedrock itself.
Kids could slide down Dino’s tail and explore Fred’s house with all its wacky stone furniture. The park shut down in 2019 after decades of welcoming road-trippers and cartoon fans.
Now the colorful dinosaurs stand silent, slowly fading under the relentless desert weather and blazing sunshine.
3. Santa Claus, Arizona, Near Williams
Imagine celebrating Christmas every single day in the middle of the scorching desert, that was the wild idea behind this quirky park! Santa Claus, Arizona opened in 1937 as a roadside attraction where kids could meet jolly old Saint Nick year-round.
The town had a general store, post office, and even reindeer trying to survive the brutal heat. Most buildings crumbled by the 1970s, though some structures still stand as eerie reminders.
It’s pretty weird seeing Christmas decorations covered in dust and tumbleweeds instead of snow!
4. Cracker Jax, Scottsdale
During the 1980s and 90s, Scottsdale families flocked to Cracker Jax for birthday parties, mini-golf, and go-kart races that left tire marks everywhere. This family entertainment center was the coolest place to hang out on weekends and summer breaks.
Arcade games beeped and flashed while kids competed for the highest scores and prize tickets. The park eventually closed, leaving behind empty batting cages and overgrown mini-golf courses.
Some locals still remember the smell of pizza and the sound of happy chaos filling the air.
5. Jungle Jim’s, Glendale
How awesome would it be to explore a jungle-themed playland with giant slides and maze-like tunnels? Jungle Jim’s made that dream come true for Glendale kids who needed an escape from the desert heat.
The indoor playground featured colorful tubes, ball pits, and climbing structures that seemed to reach the ceiling. After closing down, the building sat vacant with its wild animal murals slowly peeling off the walls.
Many adults today have fond memories of celebrating birthdays in this now-silent jungle paradise.
6. Dogpatch USA, Valle
Though the famous Dogpatch USA was actually in Arkansas, Valle had its own roadside attraction inspired by the Li’l Abner comic strip. This quirky stop featured hillbilly-themed buildings and characters from the beloved comic that made travelers laugh out loud.
Visitors could snap photos with cartoon cutouts and buy souvenirs celebrating the backwoods humor of the 1960s. The attraction faded away as Route 66 lost popularity to faster interstate highways.
Today, only scattered remains hint at the goofy fun that once entertained passing tourists.
7. Geronimo Park, Apache Junction
Apache Junction once boasted this Wild West-themed park named after the legendary Apache warrior and leader. Geronimo Park offered stagecoach rides, cowboy shows, and opportunities to experience frontier life without the actual danger.
Kids could pan for fool’s gold and watch shootout reenactments that made them feel like real cowboys. The park closed decades ago, leaving behind wooden structures that weathered into ghostly shapes.
It’s kind of spooky thinking about how lively gunfight sounds were replaced by nothing but desert wind.
8. Phoenix Trotting Park, Goodyear
Horse racing fans once gathered at this harness racing track to watch trotters compete in thrilling races around the oval. Phoenix Trotting Park brought the excitement of horse racing to the West Valley during its heyday.
Spectators cheered from grandstands while horses and drivers pushed for victory in cloud of dust. When the track shut down, the grandstands and stables were left to slowly decay under Arizona’s punishing sun.
Now only concrete foundations and faded track lines remain where champions once galloped to glory and fame.
9. Old Tucson, Tucson
Built in 1939 as a movie set for Western films, Old Tucson became a working theme park where visitors could walk through authentic-looking frontier streets. Hundreds of movies and TV shows were filmed here, making it Hollywood’s favorite desert location.
Guests enjoyed stunt shows, gunfight performances, and exploring buildings that appeared in countless classic Westerns. A devastating fire in 2020 destroyed much of the park, leaving its future uncertain and many structures in ruins.
The charred remains tell a bittersweet story of entertainment history going up in smoke.
