What remains of Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is settled in Princeton, West Virginia. Some say it’s one of the most haunted places in the United States. This park is known for its dark and tragic history, particularly its connection to the colonial era and the Civil War. The park is believed to be haunted due to the events that took place on its grounds.
Lake Shawnee Amusement Park’s History Sounds Like The Plot Of A Horror Movie
The Colonial era is full of disturbing tales, the land where Lake Shawnee Amusement Park sits is no different. The history of violence associated with this particular patch is among the more heartbreaking. It’s always harder to hear atrocities and the costs of war when it’s children who pay the price.
The area where Lake Shawnee Amusement Park now stands was originally a Native American settlement. In the 18th century, European settlers arrived, leading to conflicts with the indigenous population. The land was eventually “owned” and inhabited by Mitchell Clay and his family – the first white settlers in the area. A Native American war party attacked the family, which resulted in the several deaths, including two of Mitchell’s young children. A third child was reported to have been captured and later burned at the stake.
During the Civil War, the park’s location became a site of further tragedy. The park sits between two significant Civil War battles: the Battle of Princeton and the Battle of Athens. The battles claimed the lives of many soldiers, adding to the dark history of the land.
The land is said to have been cursed long before the Clay family stepped foot onto it. Any disruption to the land and potentially to any unmarked graves the indigenous people left, would awaken it. Some ancient evil
Unfazed by rumors of ghosts and hexes, entrepreneur C.T. Snidow bought the land and built the park. Concession stands, swimming pool, and a race track. It even had cabins in case you decided to stay overnight. It also featured a dance hall, swing ride, and a ferris wheel.
The same year the park opened its gates, the deaths began
In 1926 the park opened and a young girl was killed on the swing ride. Her death was followed by the deaths of two young boys, who drowned in the park’s lake. In 1966, a little girl was struck and killed by a truck near the park’s entrance. These tragedies, coupled with the brutal murders of its past, led the more superstitious to blame the curse. Some locals said there were ancient burial sites located on that land. They believed these new tragedies were a direct result of disturbing the unmarked graves. The evil spirits were angered and once again claiming the innocent lives of children.
The park had closures and brief re-openings over the years, money troubles, health code violations… Overall, it was opened 62 years before it was abandoned. Its last hoorah was the summer of 1987 before it permanently closed down in 1988.
All that talk about the park being built on an old burial ground, wasn’t just “noise” after all…
A group of construction workers discovered numerous Native American artifacts and human remains, many of which were children. It turned out, the ‘rumors’ of the amusement park sitting on an ancient Native American burial site wasn’t just a rumor at all. The human remains did predate the arrival of European settlers.
Abandoned for many years, the park became deeply ensconced in unsettling lore.
It’s said, even today, those who disturb the area risk awakening the curse. Whether that be with digging, building structures, or operating giant metal carnival rides.
Over the years, visitors and paranormal investigators have experienced eerie phenomena at Lake Shawnee Amusement Park. Many have reported seeing apparitions and hearing strange noises, including the sounds of children laughing and playing. Visitors have reported being touched or pushed by unseen forces, and others have reported feeling a sense of unease or dread while on the park’s grounds. Many believe that the spirits of those who perished during early colonial conflicts, the Civil War, and the accidents at the amusement park linger on, haunting the grounds.
In recent years, the park has hosted tours, and many paranormal investigators have visited the site in search of evidence of its haunting. Some of the most compelling evidence includes photographs and videos of unexplained orbs and apparitions, as well as recordings of ghostly voices.
Despite its tragic history and reputation for being haunted, Lake Shawnee Amusement Park remains a popular destination for thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts alike. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s no denying that this abandoned amusement park is a place rich with history and intrigue.
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