You Must Pay This Much To Ride
Thrill-seekers everywhere look forward to their summers, because that’s the time they’re able to jump back onto their favorite roller coaster. There are many high-quality amusement parks out there that can bring a day of fun and excitement to anyone's life, but be warned: many amusement parks are lackluster at best. To avoid any potential ruined days, be aware of these low-rated amusement parks.
1. Mt. Olympus
This combined theme and water park is located in Wisconsin, and features all-season activities for the whole family. While it has pretty affordable prices, visitors have said that it was poorly organized, with operators not checking restraints or paying attention to awaiting guests.
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2. Marineland
This Niagara Falls theme park operated from 1961 until 2024. While a popular attraction in the 20th century, the theme park came under fire for its treatment of marine animals. Over 20 marine mammals died between 2019 and 2024, likely due to poor water quality and stress.
Arnaud 25 & Jean Loup P on Wikimedia
3. Six Flags America
Often considered the worst Six Flags park in all of America before it shut down, this Washington state park regularly suffered from regular ride closures, poor upkeep and staffing, and long waiting times. It’s also said that it was terribly overpriced, considering its overwhelming mediocrity.
4. Indiana Beach
Obviously located in Indiana, this theme park is often cited for its beauty, set against the Tippecanoe River. However, the park is beginning to decline in quality, with guests finding that conditions are dirty and underperforming. It seems that this once beautiful park is losing its charm.
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5. Diggerland
This New Jersey theme park is completely construction-themed, where you get to ride on cranes, tractors, and 4-wheelers. While it has a fun concept not seen anywhere else in the United States, guests have stated that it's terribly overpriced and has a lack of shade to escape from the hot sun.
6. Busch Gardens
We’re talking about the Tampa location here. Busch Gardens is meant to be a thrill-seeker’s haven, focusing on roller coasters and drop towers rather than the slower rides found in other well-known Florida parks. Sadly, guests say that this park has not been kept up to par, as many rides and animal exhibits appear to be run down.
7. Pedroland Park
This small amusement park has operated in South Carolina for decades and began as a rest spot for folks traveling to and from the USA-Mexico border. Sadly, the park seems to be an ongoing disappointment, and mimics that of a seasonal fun fair rather than the real thing.
Leonard J. DeFrancisci on Wikimedia
8. Elitch Gardens
This Colorado combination theme and water park has been open for 130 years, and it's clearly reflected in its rides. The park seems to consistently struggle with ride reliability and poor maintenance, understaffing, and some pretty haughty parking prices.
9. Nickelodeon Universe
This park is located in Minnesota and features themed rides from all your favorite childhood TV shows. While it should’ve been comparable to the likes of Universal Studios, visitors have cited feeling unsafe, unwelcome, and unclean when entering the space.
Michael Hicks from Minneapolis, MN, USA on Wikimedia
10. Lake Compounce
This Connecticut-based park has more than just themed rides; it also provides access to a water park and a beach area. While the beach and water park areas seem to be just fine, many guests have found that the thrill rides are in poor condition. Guests have also noticed issues with overcrowding, dirty facilities, and a general feeling of disappointment.
11. Frontier City
Located in Oklahoma, this Six Flags theme park has a good mix of roller coasters and family-friendly fun. However, there appear to be ongoing issues with ride reliability, with many of the bigger rides constantly closing down for maintenance.
12. Action Park
Located in New Jersey, this infamous theme park had a notoriously poor safety record during the 80s and 90s. The site is still used for a water park today, although it's now called Mountain Creek. It appears to have more safety features than its predecessor, but guests still claim that it's too expensive for what it's worth.
Joe Shlabotnik from Forest Hills, Queens, USA on Wikimedia
13. Seaworld
This Florida park is often linked together with the other Orlando staples and claims to offer a close-up experience to a variety of aquatic animals. Like Marineland, many ethical concerns have been raised about the park’s treatment of the animals, citing small enclosures and reports of depression due to boredom and stress.
14. Six Flags Darien Lake
This New York state park is a combination theme and water park, with an attached concert venue. It’s a popular spot for concert-goers, as they often get free admission to Darien Lake when they purchase a ticket. Sadly, the park has terrible parking, with many guests finding they’re stuck in hours of traffic just to leave the parking lot.
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15. La Ronde
This theme park is located in Montréal, Québec, and holds one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in North America. Sadly, guests have cited the park as being quite disorganized and having a poorer quality in comparison to other Six Flags parks.
16. Six Flags Mexico
This park is located in Mexico City and has been met with positive reviews regarding ride selection and quality. However, other guests have also said that this park’s high food prices don’t often reflect the quality, and that certain rides have been closed unexpectedly even when wait times were short.
17. Castles N Coasters
This Arizona park comes with rides, mini golf, and even an arcade, promising a day of fun for the whole family. Unfortunately, the park recently came under fire for some safety issues after a video was posted of someone's lap bar releasing mid-ride. Other guests have noticed a general decline in ride and park quality as well.
Mene Tekel from flag on Wikimedia
18. Valleyfair
This Six Flags park is located in Minnesota and boasts over 75 rides and attractions, including a water park called Soak City. While some guests have said that the park is underrated, others have noted their experience with poor service, long wait times, and a lack of shade.
19. Adventuredome Theme Park
The Adventuredome is located in Nevada along Las Vegas Blvd, and includes an RV Park, circus acts, and neon nights that fit with the glitz and glamor of the Las Vegas scene. Like Las Vegas, it’s also been said that this park is way too overpriced, has poor service, and generally seems unfriendly.
20. Michigan’s Adventure
This amusement park is located in, you guessed it, Michigan. While the park is cited as the state’s largest amusement and water park, guests believe that its parent company, Cedar Fair, hasn’t properly invested in the park for years. Guests note poor cleanliness, ride efficiency, and high ticket prices.
