History: Heritage USA opened in Fort Mill, SC, in 1978, and by the mid-eighties drew in six million visitors each year. In 1986, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's Heritage USA was the third most-visited amusement park in the US, behind only Disney World and Disneyland. Now the park that once entertained millions of guests is falling to pieces, and looks more like the scene from a post-apocalyptic movie than a place for family fun.
After scandals regarding Falwell's fundraising efforts to build the park's never-completed hotel and the IRS's revocation of its tax-exempt status, Heritage USA was hit by another, more physical blow. Hurricane Hugo wreaked havoc on the park's buildings in 1989, and Heritage closed for good shortly afterward.
WOW.
ReplyDeleteI read a book once, when I was a teen, the forgotten game triliogy...
In one of the books, the alternate reality is a dark, forgotten, eerie Carnival/Amusement park type scene....
That's exactly what I would see in my head... those pictures above...
CREEPY!
Lil Sis-I agree. In fact, my dream writer's office is a recreated beaten down carnival inside of a big old scary barn. How's that for horror writing inspiration?
ReplyDeleteI sooooo wish that I could explore this piece of sprawling wreckage. Wow …
ReplyDeleteMe too, Bror! I'd love to own a few beaten up seats from rides to use in a writer's office.
ReplyDeleteWow this is awesome. I am a big carni/circus freak fan so if I came across this place I would have loved it!
ReplyDeletePhotographing an abandoned amusement park is on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteThose pictures make me so sad...
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