00:00Hello and welcome to the Dark Mystery Lounge.
00:03Have you ever looked at old vacation photos of your parents, grandparents, or even your great-grandparents
00:08and thought about those places they visited?
00:11Do they still exist?
00:13If not, what happened to them?
00:15That's what we're going to take a look at today.
00:17Let's take a look at 10 places you can't visit because they no longer exist.
00:221. Built between the 8th and 5th century BC, the Great Wall of China stretches over 13,000
00:32miles long and is considered one of the most impressive architectural feats in history.
00:38You can still visit the Great Wall.
00:40Unfortunately, due to erosion from sandstorms, destroyed parts of the wall, other portions
00:46are due to vandalism.
00:47People would steal bricks and sell them.
00:49Some attempts at restoration have been made, but the worst damage happened in 2023, when
00:55construction workers widened an already existing gap in the wall, causing irreversible damage.
01:01According to the Natural Cultural Heritage Administration, 22% of the Great Wall has vanished.
01:11Six Flags Astroworld, or simply known as Astroworld, was a seasonal operated amusement park in Houston,
01:18Texas.
01:19The park opened its doors on June 1st, 1968.
01:24It was developed originally as part of the Astrodomain, the brainchild of former mayor Roy
01:29Aufhines, who intended it to complement the Astrodome.
01:34It was sold to Six Flags in 1978.
01:37It was the first Six Flags park that was bought rather than built.
01:40Unfortunately, due to the park running at a loss, declining attendance, rising property values,
01:47and conflicts involving off-site parking at the Reliant Stadium, now known as NRG Stadium, were major issues.
01:56Astroworld's final date of operation was October 30, 2005.
02:00The rides were sold, and the land was turned into a parking lot.
02:05Palisades Amusement Park, located in New Jersey, across from the Hudson River, opened its doors in 1898 as a trolley park.
02:19It had an assortment of attractions, which included a ferris wheel, a baby parade, and diving horses.
02:26The attractions improved over time.
02:28In 1912, a saltwater wave pool was created, which was advertised as the largest saltwater pool in the country.
02:35A roller coaster and other rides littered the park.
02:39What made the park stand the test of time was heavy advertisement on radio and in comic books.
02:44Rock and roll shows were featured starting in the mid-50s.
02:48Despite the park being so popular, there were three factors contributed to the eventual closing of Palisades Amusement Park.
02:55Inadequate parking facilities, growing uncertainty about the park's future,
03:00and an increased number of injuries or deaths to the park's visitors.
03:04The park's owners, Jack and Irving Rosenthal, Jack died of Parkinson's disease in 1967,
03:12leaving Irving, who was already in his 70s, to run the park.
03:15There was no air to take over, and Irving didn't want to manage the park forever.
03:21Due to a lot of pressure, the park was sold and closed its doors on September 12, 1971.
03:27The park was replaced with a less exciting apartment complex.
03:31There is a small monument dedicated to Palisades Amusement Park, with a plaque that reads,
03:36Here we were happy, here we grew.
03:43Paragon Park was an amusement park located on Nantescat Beach in Hull, Massachusetts.
03:49Its doors opened on June 11, 1905.
03:51There were a large assortment of attractions and rides, like a traditional carousel, bumper cars, a ferris wheel,
04:00a horror-themed dark ride called Kooky Castle, and a wooden roller coaster known as the Giant Coaster.
04:06There was even a penny arcade, and various food vendors along the boardwalk.
04:11There was a miniature golf course under the roller coaster.
04:13And in the mid-1960s, local radio station, WBZ, sometimes had live broadcasts from Paragon Park.
04:22The park closed its doors in September 1984.
04:26The carousel was relocated next to the old train station and clock tower.
04:31The rest of the site is devoted to condominium development.
04:34Pennsylvania Station
04:40Pennsylvania Station, often referred to as Penn Station, was a historic railroad station in New York City,
04:46serving as a major transportation hub from 1910 to 1963.
04:52Designed by renowned architecture firm McKim, Mead, and White,
04:56it was a grand example of Beaux-Arts architecture and symbolized the peak of American railway transportation,
05:03passenger traffic began to decline after World War II.
05:08And in the 1950s, the Pennsylvania Railroad sold the air rights to the property and shrank the railroad station.
05:15Despite its architectural beauty, demolition started in 1963.
05:20The demolition was controversial and sparked widespread public outcry,
05:25leading to increased awareness of historic preservation efforts in the United States.
05:29The land is now home to Madison Square Garden.
05:33The current Pennsylvania Station occupies the same location, but is entirely a different structure underground.
05:40The new station opened in 1968 and served as a major transportation hub for Amtrak,
05:46New Jersey Transit, Long Island Railroad, and the New York City subway.
05:50Luna Park at Coney Island, opened in 1903, was a pioneering amusement park known for its innovative rides,
06:02colorful attractions, and electric lighting, which made it a beacon of entertainment during the early 20th century.
06:09Luna Park was founded by Frederick Thompson and Elmer Skip Dundee as competitors to nearby Steeplechase Park.
06:16It was designed as a whimsical and fantastical style featuring elaborate architecture, exotic themes, and a profusion of electric lights.
06:26Luna Park offered a wide array of attractions, including the iconic Trip to the Moon ride, which simulated a lunar voyage.
06:35Other popular rides included the Shoot the Shoot water ride, the Dragon's Gorge Scenic Railway, and numerous carousel rides.
06:42Unfortunately, due to a fire, which destroyed much of Luna Park, caused $800,000 in damage.
06:50The park closed its doors on August 13, 1944.
06:54The site of the park was redeveloped as the Luna Park houses between 1958 and 1962.
07:01Though another amusement park named Luna Park opened nearby in 2010, it has no connection to the 1903 park.
07:08Jansen Beach Amusement Park opened its doors on May 26, 1928, in Portland, Oregon, on Hayden Island in the middle of the Columbia River.
07:22Called the Coney Island of the West, it was the largest amusement park in the nation, covering over 123 acres.
07:29The park included a carousel, fun house, a roller coaster called the Big Dipper, golden canopy ballroom, four swimming pools, a train ride, and 25 acres of picnic grounds.
07:42In the late 1950s, attendance declined while the commercial value of the land increased.
07:48The park closed on Labor Day, 1970.
07:51Now the park is home to a less fun shopping mall.
07:54Opening in 1896, Sutro Baths was designed by Adolph Sutro as the world's largest indoor swimming pool complex.
08:06It featured seven large saltwater swimming pools of varying temperatures, as well as slides, springboards, and a diving platform.
08:15The entire structure was enclosed in glass and iron, creating a massive cathedral-like space along the rugged Pacific coastline.
08:23In addition to the swimming pools, Sutro Baths included a museum displaying Sutro's extensive collection of artifacts, an ice-skating rink, and various restaurants and cafes.
08:35The bath could accommodate thousands of visitors at a time and quickly became a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
08:43Over the years, Sutro Baths faced financial difficulties and changing recreational preferences, leading to its closure in 1966.
08:51Shortly thereafter, a fire destroyed much of the complex, leaving only a concrete foundation and ruins visible today.
09:01Despite its closure and subsequent destruction, Sutro Baths remained a significant part of San Francisco's history.
09:09The ruins are now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area,
09:12and attract visitors who come to explore the remains of this once-grand structure and enjoy the scenic coastal views.
09:24The Aquatorium opened in 1964 and sat on a 17-acre plot of land in St. Pete Beach, Florida, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
09:34Its main attraction being shows featuring trained dolphins, sea lions, and pilot whales.
09:41Shows were staged under a 160-foot golden geodesic dome, which sheltered the audience as they were seated around the world's largest circular marine tank.
09:51Due to the 1971 opening of Walt Disney World, as well as a gasoline shortage of the mid-1970s, tourism experienced a significant decline.
10:02In 1976, in order to combat the declining fortunes of the park, the owners, inspired by the popularity of the 1975 film Jaws,
10:12attempted to rebrand the Aquatorium as Shark World.
10:15Despite their efforts, the park closed at the end of the 1977 summer season.
10:21Condos now sit on the original site.
10:27Heritage USA was a Christian-themed water park, theme park, and residential complex in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
10:35Built by televangelists Jim and Temmie Faye Baker, founders of the PTL Club, which stands for Praise the Lord.
10:42The park opened in 1978.
10:45It occupied 2,300 acres.
10:48The facility included a 501-room Heritage Grand Hotel, the attraction Main Street USA, an indoor shopping complex,
10:57the Heritage Village Church, a 400-unit campground, the Jerusalem Amphitheater, and so much more.
11:05It was like a Christian Disneyland in a way.
11:08In 1987, Jim Baker got into some serious trouble.
11:12Heritage Park and PTL Club racked up a lot of debt.
11:16Televangelist Jerry Falwell conducted a fundraising drive to get PTL out of debt, which seemed to work.
11:23He promised if the goal was reached, he would slide down a water slide in a suit.
11:27$20 million was raised, so Jerry kept his promise.
11:31He plunged down a hellish water slide called the Typhoon.
11:35This fundraiser eventually took PTL Club and Heritage USA from Jim Baker.
11:40Then in 1989, Jim got into even more hot water.
11:44His former church secretary exposed Jim and another man for drugging and violating her,
11:50then giving her money to keep quiet.
11:52Jim was arrested on eight counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy.
11:58On August 28, 1989, Jim was found guilty on all counts and was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison and imposed a $500,000 fine.
12:10A sentence reduction hearing was held on November 16, 1992.
12:15And Jim's sentence was reduced to eight years in a minimum security federal prison.
12:19Of course, Tammy Faye divorced Jim.
12:22Tammy died of cancer in 2007.
12:25Jim is still alive and got into trouble again for peddling quack cures for COVID.
12:30The park closed down in 1989 after a severe drop in attendance thanks to Jim Baker's scandal.
12:37The IRS revoked its tax exemption status.
12:40Heritage USA sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with debts estimated at $72 million.
12:46Hurricane Hugo swept through, leaving the park severely damaged.
12:51Throughout the years, many redevelopment efforts were made.
12:55The property still has the original hotel, but everything else was demolished.
12:59Housing developments, a church, a convenience store, and a florist are what sits on the property today.
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13:12Thank you for hanging out with me in the Dark Mystery Lounge.
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