The Ghosts of Lake Shawnee Amusement Park

You might expect to see ghosts and ghouls on a ghost train - but if you go to a theme park in West Virginia, you might see them for real!

Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is known for its haunted history. This theme park was built on the site of an old Native American burial ground - always a bad place to build a house, as we learned from the Amityville Horror story!

But it's not just the Native American burial ground that causes this theme park to be a hotspot for hauntings - the land also has a tragic history that includes conflicts between settlers and Native Americans, as well as several tragic accidents that occurred during the fairground's operation.

During the 1770s, Mitchell Clay and his family emerged as the county's earliest English settlers in Lake Shawnee, but they didn't have a peaceful time. In 1783, tragedy struck when members of the Shawnee tribe murdered their children, Tabitha and Bartley, on their property. Mitchell's investigations led him to Ohio, where he discovered his son Ezekiel had suffered a brutal fate, being burned at the stake. The property became the resting place for all three children, now commemorated by a monument that stands as a poignant memorial to their heartbreaking story.

The land remained peaceful until the amusement park opened in 1926 - but the fairground fun was short lived, as the 1950s brought a new wave of tragedy to the area. A young girl's life was tragically cut short on the swing ride when a delivery truck collided with her seat. Another heart-wrenching incident saw a young boy lose his life in the swimming pool after becoming ensnared in a drain pipe. The accumulation of these unfortunate events culminated in the closure of Lake Shawnee Amusement Park in 1967, leaving the land in a state of dormancy until it reopened in 1987. Unsurprisingly, high insurance premiums meant it shuttered forever in 1988.

But new owner Gaylord White hadn't finished yet, and he investigated using the park for other outdoor activities. When preparing the ground, he discovered Native American artifacts and graves, and began to offer supernatural tours and Halloween events on the ground.

Some reported paranormal occurrences at Lake Shawnee Amusement Park include:

• Visitors and staff members have reported seeing ghostly apparitions, often in period clothing, roaming the grounds. Could this be Mitchell Clay and his tragic family?
• Unexplained voices, laughter, and whispers have been heard throughout the park, even when no one else is present.
• The young boy who tragically lost his life by drowning in the lake is said to manifest his presence across the entire park. His ethereal presence appears to be drawn to the park's front area, where he seems to extend a welcoming and protective aura towards visitors. This act of guardianship is thought to reflect his inability to safeguard himself during his lifetime.
• One of the most famous ghosts appears on the swing set where the young girl lost her life. Visitors claim that the swings move on their own, even when there's no wind.
• Many people have reported feeling uneasy or watched while exploring the park. Some even claim to have experienced physical sensations, like being touched or pushed.
• Shadowy figures have been seen moving among the funfair rides and attractions, often disappearing when approached.
• People have captured strange orbs, mist, and unexplained anomalies in photographs taken at the park.

The park's haunted reputation has led to paranormal investigations, ghost tours, and documentaries. While some visitors have reported eerie experiences, others remain sceptical.

At We Are Tricycle, none of our rides are haunted, and thanks to our exceptional funfair health and safety standards, we keep them free of spooks and hauntings! Look through our website and discover what we could bring to your next event.

Check out more funfair ghost stories here!