Dating back to 1583 when hawkers and roaming entertainers started coming down to a natural spring that was discovered in a forest north of Copenhagen, the Dyrehavsbakken in Denmark is today recognized as the oldest operating amusement park in the world.
The 33 rides that families come to experience in 2026 include traditional wooden roller coasters, spinning teacups, and bumper cars.
The vast majority of theme and amusement parks, however, will not stay in business even a fraction of the time as Dyrehavsbakken, given that aging ride infrastructure is expensive and often unprofitable to maintain.
Clementon Lake Park and Splash World makes “difficult decision to close”
On Sept. 9, the 119-year-old Clementon Lake Park and Splash World confirmed that it has “made the difficult decision to close the park and plan to offer the park for sale” after the summer season.
The theme park was built by New Jersey assemblyman and Civil War veteran Theodore B. Gibbs and his sons in 1907 as a way to drive tourist dollars from Atlantic City to the nearby Philadelphia suburb in the southern part of the state.
Related: 50-year-old theme and water park to close forever after summer season
The theme park went through multiple chapters in nearly 12 decades, including a period of expansion to build what were, in the 1920s, state-of-the-art rides, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.
A fire nearly destroyed the entire site in 1931, and the park also saw a period of decline when the area was used for dance performances and boxing matches between the 1940s and 1960s.
The Splash World water park section was added to the park in July 1993 following a $5 million renovation.
Clementon Park And Splash World
“We are hopeful that we will find a buyer”: Clementon Park and Splash World
Clementon Park and Splash World also changed hands multiple times. In 1977, the Gibbs family sold the theme park to Miami nightclub operator Abram Baker, who ran it with his family until it was purchased by Adrenaline Family Entertainment in 2007.
In 2019, the park was closed down to the public for two years after the company defaulted on a $4.5 billion loan from TD Bank before being purchased by current owners IB Parks & Entertainment.
More Travel News:
- Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.
- There is a very cool Irish version of swimming pigs in The Bahamas
- Unexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026
- Low-cost airline launches easier way to get to Sri Lanka
The latter company did not offer reasons for the abrupt shutdown but expressed optimism that a buyer will come along and resurrect the park, which, despite declining visitor numbers over the years, plays an important role in local history and the childhood memories of residents.
“After five memorable years, we are saddened to announce that we have made the difficult decision to close the park and plan to offer the park for sale,” Clementon Park management wrote in a Facebook post.
“It has been a privilege to care for a place that has meant so much to generations of families. We are hopeful that we will find a buyer who shares our love for Clementon Park and will carry its history and legacy forward.”
IB Parks & Entertainment added that it will post “additional details regarding the sale […] as they become available.” With no sale currently looming, the shutdown is being treated as permanent, given the lack of a 2027 opening date.
Related: Another airline shuts down after losing license, cancels flights