Remember These Now Closed Texas Amusement Parks?

(Mix 93-1) One of the biggest joys in life is going to an amusement park. From adrenaline-pumping roller coasters to the calm, simple merry-go-round, amusement parks offer so many different types of rides and activities for any thrillseeker. For those non-thrill seekers, many parks offer some form of entertainment. From the sounds of these rides, to people having fun, to the smells of funnel cakes frying up and cotton candy in the air, amusement parks are a lot of fun.

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Texas Theme Parks Still Going Strong

Texas is very fortunate to have several established amusement, or theme parks, along with a few new ones on the way. Heavy hitters like Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World San Antonio, Schlitterbahn Water Park, Kemah Boardwalk, and Pleasure Pier in Galveston have entertained millions of guests each year. With newcomers like the Peppa Pig Theme Park near Fort Worth, COTALAND near Austin, and Universal Kids Resort opening in 2026 in Frisco, Texas, families now have more options than ever.

New Parks Bringing Fresh Fun to Texas

Of course, the goal for all of these parks is to entertain guests and make money, and unfortunately, not all amusement parks make it. Texas has seen some rather unique parks come and go, and the memories created at those parks will live on the minds of those who rode their rides and ate their cotton candy.

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Remembering the Parks We Lost

Recently, KXAN created a comprehensive list of amusement parks that once called Texas home. Unfortunately, these parks are no longer in operation and have been replaced with some other business, development, or are just an empty piece of land now.

A few of my childhood favorites appeared on the list and brought back some great memories. Growing up in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, my family would visit the International Wildlife Park in Grand Prairie, or Lion Country Safari, as I remember it being called. It wasn't too far from my house, and we would go through this drive-thru safari park, checking out all the wild animals. Then, not too far from there was the water park White Water, which I enjoyed as a kid.

Looking over the KXAN list, I realized I visited more amusement parks growing up than I thought, and now all of these places are closed. Sandy Lake Amusement Park in Carrollton, Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, Six Flags AstroWorld in Houston, and Seven Seas Marine Life Park in Arlington. Great memories were made at all of the places with family and friends.

The end of summer 2025 saw the closing of ZDT's Amusement Park in Seguin. These parks are simply memories now; however, more memories will be made at the new parks and the heavy hitters that are still going. I'm looking forward to what's in store at Six Flags Over Texas in 2026 as the park readies a new giga dive coaster and prepares to celebrate its 65th season.

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Share Your Favorite Texas Theme Park Memory

Whether you’re chasing thrills or chasing nostalgia, Texas theme parks continue to offer unforgettable memories for families year after year. Check out the list of defunct Texas theme parks and let me know about the memories you have of them in the comment section on our Facebook page.