YouTuber Exploring Long-Abandoned ‘SeaWorld Ohio’ Shows The Theme Park’s Unsettling State
Armed with a camera and a sense of adventure, YouTuber RnK arrives at the gates of SeaWorld Ohio. For 30 years, the park was one of the region’s top attractions. Many locals still hold it dear. But the intrepid explorer is about to reveal what’s now hidden behind these walls. And it appears the park has succumbed to a rather sad fate.
SeaWorld Ohio
It wasn’t always like this. Once, SeaWorld Ohio drew millions of visitors to this corner of the American Midwest. Even after the park closed its doors, the site was used by other franchises. But in 2016 the shutters were pulled down for the final time.
Empty and abandoned
In the years since, the site has sat empty and abandoned, its exhibits and attractions gradually reclaimed by nature. Access is restricted, and most would-be explorers are usually chased off by security guards. RnK isn’t deterred, though. And thanks to him, we can now see the crumbling shell of this forgotten park.
SeaWorld San Diego
Of course, SeaWorld Ohio was not the first of the marine parks to be built in the U.S. Back in 1964, the original location in San Diego, California, opened to much fanfare. And two years later, the attraction caught the eye of Earl Gascoigne. He was the man in charge of the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.
Cedar Point
Originally, Gascoigne had hoped to partner with SeaWorld to open a marine park close to Cedar Point. And while at first he failed to persuade George Millay, the founder of the iconic attraction, to get on board, he eventually found success. A couple of years on, the SeaWorld brand looked to expand into Ohio, and the two men resurrected their stalled business relationship.
