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Amusement Parks have been a form of entertainment since the late 1800s.

Thousands of people would flock to these parks so they could experience the thrill of a wooden

roller coaster or a leisure ride on the antique carousel.

Later in the mid 1900’s we saw the brith of theme parks where a unifying theme tied

together the attractions like what was seen at Knott’s Berry Farm & Disneyland.

People soon began wanting more than just amusement, they wanted an escape.

Nowadays, you hear the term theme park used interchangeably, even if the park falls more

under an amusement park.

Either way, hundreds of these parks across North America have come and gone.

These parks are fascinating wether they’re closed for good and completely abandoned,

or just closed for the season.

It’s a much different perspective on a park than what were used to seeing while its in

operation.

So let’s explore this closed theme park.

On the south end of downtown Toronto in Ontario Canada, sits an island.

Well it’s actually a series of small islands, totalling about 820 acres in size.

The only way to access the area is by taking a fairy over from the city.

On the largest island, Centre Island, you’ll find the 14 acre Centerville Theme Park.

The park was built in 1967 by the Beasley family and at the time it was a great representation

of the classic amusement park, but it was also infused with thematic elements that would

have classified it as a theme park.

Built way before the days of Canada’s Wonderland, Centerville filled the amusement park void

in Toronto since the city lost Sunnyside Amusement Park at the end of the 1954 season.

The carousel from Sunnyside Amusement park in Toronto was actually purchased by Walt

Disney.

To this day its still used at Disneyland in California where it’s now know as King Arthur’s

Carousel.

Well when Centerville opened 1967, it was an immediate hit with families all across

Toronto.

The park was modelled and themed after a turn of the century town.

There were various slow moving tracked rides like the Antique Cars, a miniature train was

added around the property and the park had its very own antique carousel.

Operating during summer months and on weekends in may and september, Centerville’s a great

little park for families and has retained a lot of its charm.

Not much has changed since 1967 and it still resembles that simple classic amusement park,

well thats until it closes for the season.

It goes from being a park thats fully alive during the summer to looking like its shut

down and abandoned once the beginning of October rolls around.

This is a theme park sight you don’t normally get to see since after a park closes for the

season, the gates are usually shut and the park isn’t accessible by the public.

With Centerville, the park sits within the landscape of the island.

Aside from this front entrance, there’s no physical gate that separates the park from

the other areas on the island so anyone can just walk around freely at any time of year.

The park’s rides operate on a ticket system so there’s never a front gate fee to enter.

With a variety of different rides, its interesting to see how each of them is shut down for the

season, prepping the park for the snowy winter ahead.

So let’s take a look at the Carousel.

This antique carousel was built in 1908 and was purchased by the Beasly family in 1964

from Bushkill Park in Pennsylvania.

It’s actually only one of 9 antique carousels still in operation in Canada.

It’s also one of 30 carousels that are still operating made by the Dentzel Carousel Company.

King Arthur’s Carousel at Disneyland is another Dentzel Carousel.

Well during the summer at Centerville, you’re able to see right through this building while

getting a glimpse at the 52 hand carved animals under the roof.

After the season ends and the park closes, well the metal doors on the building are lowered

to conceal this antique ride and you’d never know that there’s over 110 years of history

sitting in that building.

Just across the way you’ll find the games area but there’s currently no prizes to

be won.

It too has its doors lowered, locked and even the lightbulbs on the tops of the buildings

have been removed on one side.

Just by looking at this image, you’d never really know this is a park that’s bustling

with people during the warm summer months.

Surrounding the carousel building you’ll find the games areas but there’s no prizes

to be won.

These buildings also have their doors lowered, locked and even the lightbulbs on the tops

of building have been removed on one side.

Just looking at this image, its kinda hard to image that this area is usually bustling

with people during the warm summer months.

It’s a ghost town everywhere you turn but there’s something so peaceful about the

area.

The mature landscape really adds to the charm of this place but while its completely empty,

you can see how easy it would be for mother nature to take this area over.

It wouldn’t take long for the trees, plants and animals to reclaim this land.

(insert frog ride path oct fade into summer)

Centerville is home to many family rides including a handful of simple spinning flat rides.

It isn’t long before these four giant bears are removed and it’s just the frame that

remains.

I mean with the wet leaves stuck to the asphalt, this footage would leave you to believe that

it was just left here to rot.

If it wasn’t for the odd glimpse of people you see walking around the perimeter of the

park, you could definitely convince someone that this theme park is abandoned.

Since a lot of the trees are still green, the yellow and brown leaves on the ground

give the impression that the area could have been deserted over multiple seasons.

Even though at this point the park has only been closed for about 2 weeks, you can see

how quickly cobwebs form when there’s limited traffic and movement through an area full

of dense nature.

Obviously this is all a much different vibe than a park that’s fully operational.

Some of the infrastructure really shows its age when the park is in this sate, like the

kiddie boat ride.

It hasn’t taken long for leaves, dirt and sand to find a home at the bottom of the tank.

A lot of tracked rides like the antique cars, fire engines are stored indoors and even though

this tunnel has a sign marked danger keep out, if you peek inside, this is where the

train hides to protect it from the elements.

One ride that’s always protected from the elements since its an indoor ride is the scrambler,

And Fun Fact, if you’ve seen the 2011 Rom Com Take This Waltz, this scene with Michelle

Willams was filmed on the Scambler at Centreville in Toronto.

Pretty much every outdoor ride has pieces removed and stored away for the winter months.

Take a look at the the ferris wheel.

It has an interesting windmill theme that looks great during normal operation then it’s

stripped to its shell.

Seeing the park this bare really shows how much work needs to be done in order to return

the park back to operation for the next season.

The mini mine coaster track twists and turns but there’s no train in sight.

All the ride vehicles have been removed from every attraction minus the twirling teacup

and Rockin’ Ferry rides.

Due to the ride’s designs, I’m guessing those vehicles can’t be removed but if you

look at the teacups, the teapot has been removed but the teacups are just sitting there collecting

leaves every single day.

Later in the fall they’re both eventually covered up with tarps to protect them from

the snow.

One distinct image that would lead one to believe that this park is abandoned is the

Saugreen Lumber Mill ride.

Usually the water is flowing and people are screaming as they plunge down the drop of

this log ride.

Saugreen Lumber Mill opened for the 1972 season and at the time the owner described it as

an improved version of the Shoot the Chutes ride.

Water rides that are classified as a Shoot the chutes usually have larger boats and go

straight up and come back down.

This water ride at Centreville manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, is fully classified as

a log flume since it has a few more twists and turns than an average shoot the shute,

not to mention the ride vehicles are actually logs.

Well right now, there’s no one waiting in line to get on this ride.

When the water’s drained and it’s closed up for the season, there’s an eriee feeling

looking at these empty waterways.

I mean you can tell that 40 years worth of people have floated through these paths just

by looking at them, but it makes you think.

What if this park was actually left forever, what would this ride look like in 5 years?

What would the entire park look like if it was abandoned?

Who knows.

What I do know is that Centerville continues to operate every season but I thought it was

really interesting to share this sort of behind scenes backstage look at what a theme park

closed for the season actually looks like.

So if you were given the opportunity to walk through a theme park while its closed, either

after hours or while its shut down for the season, which park would you chose?

I’d love to know!

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