Coco Palms Resort, Kauai, Hawaii
The Coco Palms was at one point one of the most sought-after stays in Hawaii. Located in Wailuā, it is apparently located on the ground that belongs to ancient Hawaiian royalty. The first hotel on site started operating there in the 1950s, but it didn’t become very popular until 1953 when it was being run by Island Holidays Limited.
People used to come from all over to get married on the site and enjoy the tropical grounds. But in 1992, the area was hit by Hurricane Iniki and they were forced to shut their doors.
Hallsands, UK
Hallsands was a popular fishing village in the 18th and 19th centuries, inhabited by a steady number of local fishermen and their families, and those that came through its interesting location. But like too many small seaside towns, the close proximity to the ocean meant it was only a matter of time before it disappeared to sea.
In 1917, that’s just what happened when high tides combined with strong winds destroyed the town and left it mostly uninhabitable. The town is a popular theme in music and entertainment and has appeared in several songs and films, including 1964’s The System.
Battersea Fun Fair, London
The Battersea Fun Fair was an addition made to Battersea Park, a 200-acre area of London. It was a leisurely area complete with The Festival Gardens, which consisted of a Tree-Walk and plenty of fountains, alongside a water garden, and a football stadium that hosted games throughout the 1860s.
The Fun Fair was the portion of the ride of the park that included The Big Dipper rollercoaster, which killed 5 children in a 1972 accident and injured 17 more. What is arguably the worst accident in amusement park history caused a decline in attendance and eventually, in 1974, they completely shut down.
Ocean Beach, Rhyl
The Rhyl area of Wales became a popular vacation spot when their train station opened all the way back in 1848. The Ocean Beach amusement park was open from the early 1950s until the early fall of 2007. Since the 1960’s, not much money was put into keeping up with the park and, thanks to the lackluster experience, people seemed to lose interest in it.
Then, in 2007, the owners of the park shut everything down. In 2015, redevelopment plans for the area were approved and there is a new leisure complex in the works. The new development is set to be a smaller type of leisure area with mainly retail storefronts.
Rainbow Valley, Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
Rainbow Valley was a favorite amusement park among both tourists and Canadian locals alike for more than 30 years. The family-friendly park opened in the 1970s and remained in operation until 2005. Unique attractions included The Dark Ride, which took visitors on a boat ride during the rum-running days, and a flying saucer gift shop.
Today, the area is a natural conservation that has taken on a new name: Cavendish Grove. But people who visited the park won’t soon forget it. In fact, it was so popular that there was an entire documentary made about it in 2014.