A theme park on the banks of the Potomac River outside Washington, DC, was abandoned over 50 years ago. The grounds are quiet, the attractions are empty, and long vines cover portions of the art deco structures.
I’m talking about Glen Echo Park, in Glen Echo, Maryland.
I visited in 2022 and found remnants of the park that once was, as well as an artists’ hub that has developed since it closed.
The history of Glen Echo Park dates back to 1891, before the amusement park existed.
The land was originally developed for a National Chautauqua Assembly that taught arts, literature, language, and sciences, according to the park’s website.
The Glen Echo Company rented the land and transformed it into an amusement park in 1899. The park closed in 1968, but many structures remain.
The park housed several rides and attractions, including seven roller coasters, an arcade, and a pool, according to Atlas Obscura.
The park became decreasingly popular in the mid-1960s, and it closed after the 1968 season, according to the Library of Congress.
Over time, organizations have repurposed the park’s structures to house educational facilities, studios, galleries, and arts venues.
I visited on a Monday in February 2022. It felt mostly deserted with only a handful of people on the grounds.
The entrance to the park had a gigantic sign visible from the adjacent highway. I imagine this must have helped attract visitors back in the day.
The first thing I saw when I walked through the front gates was a bold candy stand.
This stand and many other structures in the park were renovated between 2003 and 2010, according to a Glen Echo Park catalog.
I spotted a carousel nearby, which has been standing since 1921 and still operates seasonally.
According to the park’s site, the carousel pieces were hand-carved by the Dentzel Carousel Company in the early 1900s.
Each animal was restored between 1983 and 2003, and the carousel is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Near the carousel, I saw an abandoned attraction called Cuddle Up, which was once a teacup ride.
While the teacups are gone, the space that covered them remains.
The ride is one of many remaining structures in the park that were built in an art deco style.
Today, the buildings house galleries and educational facilities. I spotted a music school and a glass art school.
The Crystal Pool attraction’s gateway is another art deco structure that remains on the property.
According to the National Park Service, the pool was constructed in 1931 and could accommodate up to 3,000 people, featuring diving boards, a water slide, and an artificial beach.
Today, parts of the area have been overrun by nature.
On the other side of the park is a completely different type of architecture: yurts.
According to the Glen Echo Park catalog, these yurts house art classes.
Next to the yurts, I saw an aquarium that’s open by appointment only.
Inside, there are animal exhibits and interactive displays, as well as a submarine, according to the aquarium’s website.
At the end of the park was a woodsy area with a peaceful creek and a bridge.
Strolling through the woods was the perfect way to end my trip to this abandoned wonderland surrounded by nature.
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