YouTuber Exploring Long-Abandoned ‘SeaWorld Ohio’ Shows The Theme Park’s Unsettling State

From the time of its launch at the start of the 1970s SeaWorld Ohio drew millions of visitors to this corner of the American Midwest. And even after the famous zoological park closed its doors, the site remained functional, with a number of different franchises opening attractions there over the years. Then, in 2016 the shutters were pulled down over the ticket offices for a final time. 

In the years since, the site has sat empty and abandoned, its exhibits and attractions gradually reclaimed by nature. Access to the area has been restricted, with most would-be explorers usually chased off by security guards. Yet in recent video footage filmed by RnK, the crumbling shell of this forgotten park has been revealed.

Of course, SeaWorld Ohio was not the first of the famed marine parks to be built in the United States. Back in 1964 the original location in San Diego, California, opened to much fanfare and critical acclaim. And two years later, the attraction caught the eye of Earl Gascoigne, the man in charge of Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.

Originally, Gascoigne hoped to partner with SeaWorld to open a marine park adjacent to Cedar Point. But he failed to persuade George Millay, the founder of the iconic attraction, to get on board. Within two years, though, the brand was looking to expand into Ohio and the two men resurrected their stalled business relationship.

By that time, Gascoigne was managing Geauga Lake, an amusement park in the Ohio city of Aurora that had been open since the 1880s. Now struggling, the historic attraction desperately needed a boost in visitor numbers. And in 1968 it was announced that a new SeaWorld would be built on an adjoining plot of land.

Later known as SeaWorld Cleveland due to its proximity to the populous city, this new attraction seemed destined for success. After all, according to newspaper the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the region was home to some of the country’s wealthiest blue-collar workers at the time. And where better to build a park aimed at families with disposable income to burn?

So what happened to Gascoigne and Millay’s dream? And how did the ambitious SeaWorld Ohio end up as it is today — a haunting and abandoned shell? Well, at first there seemed to be no indication that the park would ultimately meet with a grim and depressing fate. In fact, when it opened on May 29, 1970, more than 5,500 visitors poured through the gates on the first day.

The result of almost two years of planning and a budget of $5.5 million, the park was truly a spectacle to behold. Covering 25 acres, its landscaped grounds were home to all manner of exotic sea creatures, including dolphins, walruses, sea lions and penguins, as well as one of the chain’s iconic orcas.

To begin with, at least, it was a recipe for success. According to reports, the park exceeded expectations, welcoming more than 1 million visitors over the course of its first season. And as the years passed, the attraction continued to grow, eventually expanding to cover in excess of 230 acres by the turn of the millennium.

Even these early years, though, were sometimes marred by tragedy and disaster. For example, in 1996 a water-skiing show descended into chaos when a motorboat driver lost control and crashed into a crowd of spectators. In the ensuing carnage, 22 people were injured — although thankfully no one was killed. 

Then in 2001 SeaWorld Cleveland — as it had by then been renamed — was purchased by the Six Flags amusement park franchise, a firm which had already acquired the neighboring Geauga Lake. Previously, the two attractions’ growth potential had been restricted thanks to their proximity to each other. But now, under the same ownership, it seemed the sky was the limit.

As Six Flags World of Adventure, the two parks were combined, covering a staggering 750 acres in total. The original SeaWorld site became a section known as Wild Life, while Wild Rides boasted many of Geauga Lake’s original attractions. Meanwhile, a new waterpark dubbed Wild Slides was also opened on the site.

But the transition from SeaWorld to Six Flags was not completely smooth. The marine life that had called the park home, you see, were not included in the original sale. Instead, the facility’s resident whales and dolphins were shipped off to the franchise’s other locations across the U.S.

To replace the absent animals, Six Flags sourced its own marine creatures, including a pod of three dolphins trained to perform a live show. And eventually, the park acquired its own killer whale, Shouka, borrowed from a facility in France. At the same time, a number of new rides and exhibits were added to the attraction.

The first full year after the merger of the two parks was 2001 and in this 12-month period a staggering 2.7 million visitors passed through the gates. But even these impressive numbers were lower than the attendance figures its ambitious owners had targeted. And in 2004 Six Flags gave up on the Ohio attraction, selling the site to local operators Cedar Fair instead.

In hindsight, this change in ownership spelled the beginning of the end. Reopened without its marine exhibits, much of the former SeaWorld site was closed off to the public when the attraction was relaunched as Geauga Lake in 2004. And the following year, a section of it was redeveloped as Wildwater Kingdom, a 17-acre water park.

As Wildwater Kingdom, the landscape of what was once SeaWorld Ohio was transformed. Previously, the site’s tanks and pools had been strictly for its animal inhabitants — but now slides and wave machines were installed to entertain human occupants. According to reports, there were even plans to add a swim-up bar so patrons could order refreshments without having to get out of the water.

But the addition of the water park was not enough of a draw to make up for the loss of SeaWorld’s animal attractions. And throughout 2004 just 700,000 people visited the two parks. Then, in 2007 the Geauga Lake section was closed down, leaving just Wildwater Kingdom as a standalone concern.

For almost ten years, Wildwater Kingdom remained open, attracting a crowd of dedicated fans. But eventually in 2016 Cedar Fair called it quits: that September, the park closed for good, writing the final chapter in the story of SeaWorld Ohio after more than 45 years. Two months later, some of the facilities were partially demolished.

But like many lost and forgotten amusement parks around the world today, SeaWorld Ohio has not completely disappeared. As the site continued to crumble and degrade, its eerie appearance began to attract a new breed of tourist: urban explorers, intent on documenting abandoned locations in various states of decay. 

One such explorer is a YouTuber known as RnK, the man behind the channel RnK All Day. After joining the video-sharing platform in 2015 this keen adventurer quickly made a name for himself by sharing footage of abandoned locations across the U.S. And in September 2018 he decided to pay a visit to the former SeaWorld Ohio.

According to footage uploaded on September 18, 2018, this wasn’t RnK’s first visit to the SeaWorld Ohio site. He says in the clip, “It’s been on my list for a little while now. I’ve actually been kind of inside those gates and got chased away. I’ve kind of been on that street and got chased away another time.”

The location, then, appears to be guarded by security staff keen on keeping explorers such as RnK away. But that hasn’t stopped him from returning for another attempt. According to the video, the YouTuber has been enjoying a road trip through the area when he decides to have a final go at accessing the former SeaWorld site.

And this time, RnK can roam apparently undisturbed. Entering the park through a row of gaudy buildings painted in turquoise and purple, he notices signs that things have been stirring behind the scenes. He says, “Last time I was here all these windows in the ticket booths were all broken, from I guess all the kids coming here.”

In RnK’s video, though, the glass windows have clearly been replaced. According to the YouTuber, there was a recent attempt to reopen the park, which might explain why the ticket booths have been repaired. As he ventures further beyond the walls, though, it becomes clear that any refurbishment plans must have been short-lived. 

Wandering down a wide, empty walkway, RnK finds himself in a sinister world where time appears to have stood still. At every turn, weeds are growing up through cracks in the concrete, while broken fences ring the edges of dried-up habitats and pools. In places, these enclosures once held more than 3 feet of water — but now barely a drop remains.

Exploring the park, RnK discovers abandoned exhibits that must once have drawn huge, delighted crowds: rocks and rivers where penguins and seals used to play. Now, though, the concrete channels are clogged with weeds, their appealing inhabitants long since replaced by the dirt and detritus of an abandoned and decaying site. 

In the video, RnK attempts to recreate the excitement of the past as he walks through the shell of the former park. He says, “You can only imagine all the work that they had done here, all the big pools that they had to put in for the whales that they had. They had whale shows, dolphin shows, seal shows, all those kinds of things that you would see in a normal SeaWorld.”

Continuing, RnK calls into question SeaWorld’s morals, suggesting that ethical concerns may have played a role in the park’s downfall. He says, “It’s a whole animal-abuse thing and all that stuff, and I don’t really like SeaWorld in my opinion. I like the fact that nature can stay out in nature and it’s not disturbed.”

“The fact of the matter is that killer whales don’t kill people unless they’re in captivity,” RnK continues, perhaps calling to mind the infamous incident at SeaWorld Orlando in 2010. That year, trainer Dawn Brancheau died when a performance with an orca went drastically wrong. And many believe that this accident, along with other animal-rights concerns, contributed to a subsequent downturn in fortunes for America’s marine parks, though the SeaWorld franchise seems to have since turned the corner.

Historically, though, few questioned the ethics behind parks such as SeaWorld Ohio, and the popular attractions became focal points within their communities. While filming, RnK encounters a woman exploring the lake on a kayak. And when he quizzes her, she reveals that she had once been an employee at the site.

Now, the woman returns to watch as nature reclaims her former place of employment. She says, “To me it’s not really ruining. It’s just rebirthing.” This theme, it seems, is echoed throughout the abandoned park, where rogue greenery is fighting to overtake and consume the concrete structures at every turn.  

In some places, RnK stumbles across relics from the park’s later incarnation as Wildwater Kingdom water park. But like the derelict enclosures, these broken slides and empty pools are merely shadows of their former selves. Elsewhere, scrawled graffiti and nondescript piles of rubble add to the derelict and haunting atmosphere.

Moving through the park, RnK spots relics that hint at the attraction’s lively past. In one spot, a long string of Six Flags coupons lays gathering dust on the floor. In another, dead leaves pile up in front of the counters of a long-abandoned food court. And throughout it all, peeling paint and overgrown weeds all contribute to the feeling of decay.

One location, though, is not quite as decrepit as the rest of the park. Opened back in 1970 the Japanese Village was originally the location for a unique interactive show. Dressed in costume, female divers known as Amas would demonstrate their skills in front of an audience, harvesting oysters from a large saltwater tank. 

Afterwards, reports claim, the pearls retrieved from the oysters would be used to make jewelry available for purchase within the park. Now, more than 50 years later, the precious gems have long since disappeared. But the pavilion which once hosted the impressive show still stands — and it’s in remarkable condition compared to the rest of the facility.

Moving on, RnK encounters an abandoned penguin enclosure, complete with the ladder once used by keepers to access the pens. Elsewhere, a lake covered in lily pads and an overgrown section of walkway continue the theme of greenery reclaiming an urban space. He says, “Just like the lady in the kayak said. Nature’s just taking it back.”

Towards the end of the video, RnK stumbles upon yet another abandoned enclosure, this time comprising an outcrop of towering fake rocks. He ponders, “I wonder what animals they had in here. It’s like a guessing game all around this place. What was this used for?” Mostly, such questions have remained unanswered — although some commenters have filled in the gaps with their own memories of SeaWorld Ohio.

Finally, having captured extensive footage of the abandoned attraction as it stands today, RnK’s visit comes to an abrupt end. As what he believes is a guard dog belonging to a security firm approaches fast, he exits the complex with some haste. Concluding the video, he says, “This place was absolutely ripped to shreds. But it has some great history behind it.”