The Shady History Of The Cursed Lake Shawnee Amusement Park

May 2024 · 1 minute read

One hundred forty-three years after Mitchell Clay and his surviving family members fled the land, it was purchased by a man named Conley Snidow, Sr. As reported by Road Unraveled, the region had become a popular destination for coal miners and their families, who spent their summers vacationing along the banks of Lake Shawnee. Snidow thought an amusement park would appeal to the families, and possibly encourage more people to travel to the region.

In 1926, Snidow opened the Lake Shawnee Amusement Park. In addition to a Ferris wheel and a swing ride, the park boasted a dance hall, a man-made swimming pond, a race track, and cabins — which the families could rent for the duration of their stay.

According to The Register Herald, Lake Shawnee Amusement Park remained a prominent tourist destination for 40 years. However, a series of tragedies eventually prompted the closure of the popular park.

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