16 Amusement Parks Decades Older Than Disneyland

Amusement parks have long been part of the American experience. Today's parks may dazzle with high-tech roller coasters and costumed mascots, but some have been delighting visitors since the 19th century. These historic parks offer more than thrills—they serve as living museums where old-fashioned amusements still enchant new generations.

Unlike modern theme parks designed around blockbuster franchises or corporate branding, many of these early parks began modestly and expanded gradually over time. Remarkably, several continue to operate today, blending contemporary rides with original attractions and structures that are over a century old. Each one preserves a distinctive slice of history, best appreciated by visiting in person.

To highlight these enduring treasures, 24/7 Tempo consulted historical records, local tourism boards, and amusement park preservation groups—including the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA), Smithsonian Magazine, and state heritage registries. Here are some of the country's most timeless amusement parks still welcoming guests.

Starting our list strong is Lake Compounce, the oldest continuously-running amusement park in the country. This 365-acre park is located in Connecticut. The park is massive and includes a beach, amusement park rides, and a water park. One of the most well-known rides in the park is the Lake Compounce Carousel. This classic carousel was built in 1890. It was originally at Savin Rock Amusement Park but was moved in 1911 to Lake Compounce. The Lake Compounce Carousel has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Another favorite is the Wildcat, a historic wooden roller coaster first built in 1927. The highest drop is 78 feet.

Following Lake Compounce is Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Before becoming a large amusement park, Cedar Point opened as a popular public bathing beach in 1870. It only kept growing popular from then on. In 1892, the Switchback Railway opened. It was the park's first roller coaster and had a top speed of 10 mph.

Over a century later, Cedar Point features 17 roller coasters and multiple family-friendly events throughout the year. The oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the park is Blue Streak. This 78-foot coaster opened on May23,1964. It has a top speed of 40 mph. Another old ride still standing in Cedar Point is the Cedar Creek Mine Ride. It opened on May24,1969, and features a 30-foot drop.

Six Flags New England is next on our list. It opened in 1870, like Cedar Point. Located in Agawam, Massachusetts, the park's original name was Gallup's Grove. Simple rides and a carousel were added in the early 1900s. Now, the park boasts about 62 attractions, including 11 roller coasters.

So, which is the oldest, still-standing coaster? The oldest roller coaster in Six Flags New England is the Thunderbolt. This thrilling ride soars 70 feet in the air and drops riders 40 feet. It's 2,600 feet long and opened in 1941. Although known for its thrilling rides and old age, Six Flags New England also hosts incredible events like the seasonal Fright Fest.

Hidden in the Laurel Highlands, Idlewild, and Soak Zone is an old amusement park with many names. It's often called Idlewild or Idlewild Park. It was first founded as a campground in 1878. Over a hundred years later, the park has expanded to house 40 attractions, including two roller coasters.

One of the oldest standing attractions in Idlewild is the Rollo Coaster, a thrilling wooden coaster. The wooden coaster was originally made using lumber from the park. It opened in 1938. Another old attraction is the Merry Go Round, which opened in 1931.

Also, an old amusement park in the United States is the Seabreeze Amusement Park. It is the thirteenth-oldest amusement park in the world, with an opening date of 1879. The park sits on Lake Ontario in Irondequoit, New York. The first ride was placed in the park in 1903 – a figure-eight roller coaster.

As of September 2024, Seabreeze Amusement Park contains 25 attractions. One of these is the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the U.S., the Jack Rabbit. It's a 75-foot wooden roller coaster that opened on May 31, 1920. Although not as old, the Bobsled ride is just as beloved. The first version opened in 1954, but the most recent form opened nearly a decade later in 1962.

Dorney Park wowed audiences when it opened in 1884, although its history dates back to 1860. The park is located in Dorneyville, Pennsylvania. The original attraction was a summer resort and trout hatchery featuring a restaurant, small rides, games, and a hotel. It grew quickly once the Allentown-Kutztown Traction Company purchased the park. They operated it until 1923.

Like most theme parks on our list, this one features an old and thrilling wooden coaster. Thunderhawk is an 80-foot-tall wooden roller coaster with a 64-foot drop. It opened on March30, 1924, and continues to operate. Another old ride in the park is the relaxing Zephyr Railroad. It opened in 1935 and takes passengers throughout the park on a gas-electric train.

Surrounded by stunning mountains, Lagoon Park, also known as Lagoon, is an 85-acre amusement park featuring at least 54 attractions. It didn't always look like this, though. Instead, Lagoon Park opened in 1886 as a resort called Lake Park on the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Just a few years later, in 1896, Lagoon opened in the previously popular Lake Park. Here, guests enjoyed warm summer days swimming in the enlarged lagoon.

Like most amusement parks, Lagoon struggled for a few decades. In the 1940s, the park was deteriorating and was almost demolished. However, it bounced back with the addition of new rides. While very few old rides exist in Lagoon, the oldest is the Roller Coaster, a 2,500-foot-long wooden coaster that opened in 1921.

All the way in charming Iowa is another historic amusement park, Arnolds Park, also known as Arnolds Park Amusement Park. It sits on about 20 acres of land and features around 23 rides.

While the park didn't open until 1889, its history stretches further. For instance, in 1864, Rev. J.S. Prescott purchased the land. After a few years, tourist parties enjoyed Prescott's property. Rides were added much later. The oldest ride still standing in Arnolds Park is a wooden roller coaster, which welcomed riders in 1927. It's the 13th-oldest wooden roller coaster in the country. Another older ride is the Rock-O-Plane, which has been standing since 1954.

Following Arnold's Park is the Carousel Gardens in New Orleans, Louisiana. This lovely amusement park is only open seasonally. You can find Carousel Gardens in City Park.

The most fascinating part of this park is the antique carousel. It's been operating for over one hundred years, first welcoming rides in 1906. Interesting fact, the ride still stands and uses the same motor engine it started with. So, what other rides exist in the Carousel Gardens? Well, also within this amusement park are the Wacky Shack, Lady Bug Rollercoaster, Music Express, and Bumper Cars.

Located in Wisconsin, the Bay Beach Amusement Park opened in 1892, making it over 130 years old. Originally, Mitchell Nejedlo purchased the land to build and sell summer cottages, but it quickly turned into more than that. First, it was called Bay View Beach. It wasn't initially very popular but featured a dancehall, bathhouse, and bar.

Before mechanical attractions were added, amusement parkgoers enjoyed swimming in the summer at the beach. Now, the park has expanded a lot. It includes dozens of rides, including thrill and family rides. Some of the rides you can find in the Bay Beach Amusement Park are Scat, Zippin Pippin, Merry-Go-Round, the East Train, the West Train, and Granny Bugs.

Pennsylvania is a popular state for amusement parks, especially historic ones. Conneaut Lake Park is no exception, as it has a history that dates back to 1892. The park sits on 200 acres of land and seasonally operates from May to October.

The first owner, Col. Frank Mantor, founded this park as Exposition Park. It was a permanent fairground that also held livestock. The park slowly began opening attractions, including a dancehall. Like most historic amusement parks, Conneaut Lake Park's first mechanical ride was a carousel, which welcomed guests in 1899. The park's name changed to its current title in 1920 as more rides were added. The oldest standing ride in the park is the carousel. Also, an old ride is the Devil's Den, a gravity-powered dark ride installed in 1968.

Also on our list of the oldest amusement parks in the US is Trimper's Rides and Amusements. It originally opened as The Windsor Resort in 1893. You can find this thrilling amusement park in Ocean City, Maryland at the south end of the boardwalk. This park is seasonally open from about early April to mid-September.

One of the first rides in the park was a beautiful 50-foot-wide carousel with 45 animals. It only costs a nickel to ride. Its prime location made this amusement park a very popular option for vacationing families. As of October 2024, the park has outdoor rides like Fun Slide, the Tea Cups, and the Tidal Wave.

Another Pennsylvanian amusement park makes our list, the Lakemont Park in Altoona. This vibrant park opened its doors in 1894 as a trolley park featuring picnic areas. By 1899, the location became an amusement park with growing attractions.

This seasonal park operated from May to Labor Day. One of the oldest rides in the park is the Leap-The-Dips. It's a wooden roller coaster built in 1902 and might be the last standing side friction roller coaster of the figure-eight variety. Also in the park are the Skyliner, C.P. Huntington Train, and Paddle Boats.

The Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is a delightful family-friendly park that has been around since 1895. However, the park and its attractions have a history dating back to the 1870s.

While it's hard to imagine what this park looked like over a century ago, it must have been magical. This amusement park sits on a beach and offers stunning views and fantastic rides. While here, you can ride the Bumper Boats, Scrambler, Crazy Dazy, and the Bomber. The park also features nerve-wracking ghost tours.

Nearing the end of our list is Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania. It's fourth-oldest amusement park in the state and one of the oldest in the country. The park first opened as a picnic area in 1896. The first few attractions in the park were a 1905 carousel, a singing German beer garden, and live music in a dancehall.

Although the carousel in the park is well-known, Waldameer Park's first roller coaster was the Figure Eight in 1902. It operated until 1937. The oldest standing roller coaster here is a wooden coaster named Comet. It began operating in 1951 and features a 25-foot drop.

Beech Bend Amusement Park is next at over one hundred years old. This historic amusement park has a little bit of something for everyone. It's filled with thrilling roller coasters, kiddie rides, a campground, and a race track. It opened in 1898 and was primarily used for picnics. The first ride in Beech Bend was a pony ride. Mechanical rides were added around the 1940s and on.

Over the years, Beech Bend has experienced a lot of changes. Very few rides older than the year 2000 continue to operate in the park.