Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, located near Princeton, West Virginia, is an old run-down amusement park that was plagued with violent deaths, freak accidents and happened to be built on an ancient Native American burial ground. In the late 1700s, the Clay family settled the area but had a turf war with a local tribe which resulted in the deaths of three of his children and many tribesmen. Over 100 years later the land was purchased and turned into an amusement park by Conley Snidow where he hoped the families of nearby coal miners could enjoy the outdoors. He built a Ferris wheel, a swing ride, a pond and swimming hole, but after six deaths he had to close the park. In the 1980s, Gaylord White tried to bring the park back to its former glory, but after his construction crews began digging, they found a mass grave and Native American artifacts. Any hopes of rebuilding it was shut down.
Many feel a strange energy there and report a feeling of being watched or followed. Some have heard children laughing as well as seen full-body apparitions of children running through the park. Mysterious chanting and drum beats have been heard, and many have seen the apparitions of Native Americans in the darkness. Some have smelled concession food and seen glowing orbs throughout the grounds. The swings, the most haunted spot in the park, tend to move on their own and many have witnessed a little girl in a bloody dress who died there many years before in a horrific accident.
Joins us on episode 122 to hear more about this haunted amusement park!
Sources: visitmercercounty.com, nydailynews.com, atlasobscura.com, roadunraveled.com, theculturetrip.com, visitwv.com, theconstantrambler.com, medium.com, ranker.com, mysteriousuniverse.org