Does anyone remember Dogpatch USA? It was a hillbilly themed park in north-east Arkansas. I went there once when I was a kid and now can only remember fragments of the trip.The park has sadly been abandoned for years now. It closed its doors in 1993, I believe. For years, I didn't know about its closing, until we passed by and saw its condition.
It is sad, but there is a haunting beauty to it all. Check out these pics:
So do any of you remember Dogpatch? There's a ton of pics around the Internet showing the park in its abandoned state, but none of its heyday.
If you have any pics or memories to share, please, do. I would love to see them!!
14 comments:
That was awesome....I have been thinking about a park when I was little called Ghost Town in The Glann in Pennsylvania....going to check it out....I love the pictures...love ghost towns and ghost parks...
Smiles,
Sonia ;)
oops Not Glan...Glenn
my bad...
Smiles,
Sonia ;)
Wow, I've never heard of Dogtown. So sad to see it there, and yes hauntingly beautiful...wow, such a shame noone is doing anything with the property...might make a pretty farm, at least.
Never heard of it...but what wonderful photography potential!
Those pictures brought back a few memories. We visited Dogpatch once when I was a child. I had forgotten about it until I saw your post.
Back in CA we had "Santa's Village". Same thing... deserted and now gone :( It was funky like your Dogtown. We also had a park with giant cheeseball dinosaurs. Fake cavemen. No clue what happened to all of that. Loved your photo's. Looks like it was fun to walk thru. Thanks for sharing :)
I didn't know there was an actual amusement park, but I recall the newspaper cartoon, "Lil' Abner," from my childhood. It took place in "Dogpatch." I suppose the park was a take off from the cartoon. The women were these big buxom chicks wearing what else, "Daisy Mae" shorts, because they were named after Abner's love, Daisy Mae. Wow, I'm really dating myself....you yung'ns don't remember any of this!! LOL You probably weren't even born after the cartoonist retired.
Georgina is right about the connection between the comic strip and Dogpatch the park. I'm aging myself too!!! It has been a long while since I even heard the name Dogpatch, but I definitely remember it.
Laurie
I remember Dogpatch commercials but never went to the park and wish I have.
In the past 6 years I have been to the park many times - last time I had permission from the owner to be there and take photographs.
Great place! Sad that it didn't last.
You should see it now. Everything has been remodeled...trash taken out. New roofs on structures that could be saved. It's looking good. Can't get a straight answer as to what the plans are for the park.
Thanks for the blog...enjoyed the pics. Good memories!
I worked there in 1977 in the charactor troupe, I do miss the place. Worlds largest reflector oven, we used to say. workers there had the weirdest tanlines by the end of the summer. I used to come in early and open up the greenroom, get dressed and be out to meet the tram when they came down first thing in the morning. We'd rob the train, do puppet shows and skits in the square, hang out at "our" cabins and generally have a good time, playing with tourists. Everyone had a schtick that they did, mine was balancing things, brooms, sticks chairs, ME! I used to lie down on the rope that closed off the exit from the train ride or climb up on fenceposts and stand there. I hated when it went under and I'm glad to see that someone is doing something there.
I went there once when I was a kid. I think it was 1983 or so. I remember looking at a few of the rides thinking I don't think so....
I was there in the 60s on one of our cross country summer jaunts in my gramma's un air conditioned dodge dart.
remember loving the goat on the roof.
Wellston, OK to Gulf Shores, AL.
saw a number of Caverns and rattlesnake farms that trip.
If there are pictures, they are buried amongst 1000s of others in my mom's stuff.
Ahh so many great memories there :)
We only went twice when I was a kid but I loved the place.
I think what I remember most about it was the grist mill. I remember the first time I walked in there, the wonderful aroma of mesquite from the logs it was made from filled the air. I remember thinking at the time that the building must be nearly brand new for the logs to still have their scent like that. To this day, when barbecuing, I'll stick my nose in the mesquite bag and take a good whiff and remember that beautiful mill.
That was also where my dad bought me a pop-rifle. I took the string off the cork to see just how far it would go. It sailed for a couple of dozen yards down the road in front of me never to be seen again ha ha.
Hey Good news guys!!! I see that no one has posted on this for two years but just thought some of you would like to know... KY3 tv in Springfield Mo. has just released a story saying the old Dogpatch property has been bought and will be reopening.
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