In Clark County, Indiana, there sits a spectacular and underappreciated place by the name of Charlestown State Park. The park sprawls across 5,100 acres and sits on the bank of the Ohio River.

Rose Island is on the north bank of the Ohio River, and easy to find from the state park.
Charlestown State Park/Facebook
Trail #7 will take you there.
But within the park is a second park, this one long-abandoned and completely forgotten by the past.
Jonathan Parrish/Flickr
It was called Rose Island Amusement Park, and for a few years, it enjoyed relative success.
To find Trail #7, one must first take Trail #3 to the bridge.
Jonathan Parrish/Flickr
Cross the bridge and check out the "island", which is actually a peninsula.

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Founded as the site for an amusement park in 1923 by David Rose after decades of bouncing to a few different owners, the park enjoyed a steady stream of visitors.
Jonathan Parrish/Flickr
There was much to do here. Some activities included dancing, golf, and a mini-zoo.
The park did well until the Great Depression slammed into Indiana head-on.
Jonathan Parrish/Flickr
From that fateful year forward, the park struggled. Finally, a catastrophic flood put it out of its misery in 1937. From there, it closed for good, a shell of its former self.
In 1995, after the land had once again bounced around to multiple owners, it was donated to the state park.
Charlestown State Park/Facebook
Today, guests can explore what's left of the amusement park on their own, or take a tour offered by Charlestown State Park. As far as they're concerned, it's there to stay.

For more information about the park including hours, fees, licenses, tour info and more, visit their website here.

Have you ever visited this awesome abandoned wonder? What did you think? Tell us your stories in the comments!

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