In a city like Cleveland, there is no shortage of abandoned buildings. In fact, it’s estimated that around 11% of the properties in Cleveland are unoccupied. But there is something especially eerie and beautiful about this historic, ambitious, now-abandoned amusement park in Aurora, OH. The skeleton of this once-impressive theme park is a nostalgic walk through childhood summers, but also a sobering reminder of what we leave behind.

When operational, Geauga Lake was one of the foremost amusement parks in the country. It was opened in 1887. By 1925, it was home to the tallest, fastest rollercoaster in the world.

oblende/Flickr

The park changed ownership eight times, most notably to Funtime Inc. in 1970, which saw the partnership with SeaWorld, and Six Flags in 1998.

Patrick McGarvey/Flickr

Now, the park is being overtaken by trees, reclaimed by nature after being abandoned in 2008.

Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

The park continued to operate as a water park, Wildwater Kingdom, under Six Flags’ and then Cedar Fair management until 2016.

Andrew Borgen/Flickr

No part of Geauga Lake is functional as of December 2016. Rides have been sold, demolished, and dismantled since the 1970s. Some are still operational in other parks. The Big Dipper (pictured) was one of the last remaining rides, and was demolished in October 2016.

Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

In some places it looks as though the park was abandoned in a hurry, rather than over the course of several years.

Bill Baker/Flickr

Because of this slow decline and gradual shutting down of various parts of the park, some parts look entirely abandoned…

Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr

… While others are reminiscent of fun-filled summers.

Bill Baker/Flickr

There’s a certain amount of nostalgia in the bright colors and dilapidated buildings. But the empty windows and doorways give the whole place an eerie feeling.

Bill Baker/Flickr

Due to demolition and stripping of the buildings, what remains of the park is mostly just concrete and brick.

Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

Some parts of the park which could not be recycled or stripped remain as fascinating and unique reminders of this once-great park.

Bill Baker/Flickr

Many Clevelanders have memories of long summer days, thrilling rides, and carnival candies from Geauga Lake, and more recently from Wildwater Kingdom.

Rona Proudfoot/Flickr

Did you ever go to Geauga Lake, SeaWorld, or Wildwater Kingdom? We’d love to hear your memories of the parks in the comments!

oblende/Flickr

Patrick McGarvey/Flickr

Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

Andrew Borgen/Flickr

Bill Baker/Flickr

Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr

Rona Proudfoot/Flickr

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