Amusement parks are great fun for the whole family, but have you ever come across a park with an unusual theme? There are several unique and imaginative amusement parks that offer hours of quirky fun. From themes like cheese, sex education, and Santa Claus to unconventional locations like caves and abandoned nuclear plants, this is our pick for the weirdest and most unique theme parks in the world!
Dollywood, Tennessee, USA
American country music artist Dolly Parton opened her Dolly-themed amusement park in 1981, and it has been attracting country music fans ever since. Dollywood is located in Tennessee and is set on 160 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains. Fans can cruise through the Dolly Parton Experience, which is housed in several buildings across the park and follows Dolly from her roots in Locust Ridge on an interactive journey through her career and life. Dollywood also boasts fantastic live music and entertainment for country fans, along with more than 50 Dolly-themed rides.
Loveland, Jeju, South Korea
Welcome to the world of love and sex, where every detail in the amusement park is meant to inspire certain activities. This unusual theme park makes more sense when you understand that Jeju is one of South Korea’s top honeymoon destinations. Loveland features a space for sex and love to be expressed through art, with over 140 sculptures depicting the subject, along with interactive exhibits and films. Additionally, the park is open until midnight and offers a romantic ambiance for those looking for an evening stroll to get them in the mood!
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Colorado, USA
Home to the world’s only underground drop ride, this is one theme park you have to see to believe. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is a mountaintop amusement park set deep in the Rocky Mountains that features several rides and coasters, all set in caverns or flying out over mountain edges. Visitors can hop on a myriad of heart-pumping rides like the Giant Canyon Swing, the Defiance Roller Coaster, and the Alpine Coaster, or sign up for one of the cave tours. Other attractions include plenty of kiddie rides, a zipline, a 4D movie theater, and a gondola ride.
BonBon Land, Denmark
BonBon Land has made a name for itself for its humorous theme. Danish candy man and park creator, Michael Spangsberg, set out to create the world’s wackiest theme park, and he succeeded! Visitors will find plenty of laughter-inducing quirks in the 34-acre park, like bikini-wearing cows, peeing ants, and vomiting rats that welcome visitors. There are even farting dog rides, and rumor has it, the dog’s flatulence adds a little extra zip to the journey. With an abundance of childish humor and over 60 rides, it’s no surprise this park sees over half a million visitors each year.
Suoi Tien, Vietnam
Ever wanted to take a ride through hell? Don’t worry, it’s not your own personal hell, but one based on Buddhism! Suoi Tien is a Buddha-themed water park in Vietnam offering an unconventional way for tourists to learn more about the religion and Vietnamese culture. It’s the world’s first park dedicated to Buddha, but the theme also focuses on Vietnamese folklore and history. Visitors can cool off in several pools and water slides, take a boat ride through the horror-filled Palace of Unicorns, or feed live crocodiles in Crocodile Kingdom, a giant pond filled with over 150,000 meat-hungry crocs. Let’s just say this might be the strangest way you’ve learned about culture and religion!
EcoAlberto Park, Mexico
EcoAlberto Park doesn’t have a strange theme. In fact, on the surface, it seems like a normal eco-adventure park offering natural swimming pools, ziplining, kayaking, extreme rappelling, and more. However, when nighttime rolls around, an unusual activity is offered. The Night Walk and Torch Light Show is a simulated experience meant to replicate the tough journey made by illegal Mexican migrants trying to reach the American border. While it was originally intended to dissuade locals from hunting down the American Dream, it has become a popular experience for tourists. The “Night Walks” are made as authentic as possible, and participants will need to traverse rugged terrain and endure simulated sirens and barking dogs to complete the hike, but they will be well rewarded in the end with a light show.
Ai Pioppi Playground, Italy
Welcome to Ai Pioppi Playground, an amusement park where all the rides are homemade and served with a side of danger. This no-electricity amusement park was built by a restaurateur who took up welding in his spare time, and it’s completely free for patrons of the restaurant. Visitors will find several self-powered rides for all ages, like carousels, spinning cages, roller coasters, and something called the “Death Trap,” along with a playground. Riders may find themselves thinking, “Is this ride going to break?” but that just adds to the thrill and adrenaline!
Diggerland, United Kingdom
If you’ve got kids who love big machinery, then you need to take them on a trip to Diggerland! Diggerland has been entertaining families since the early 90s when entrepreneur and founder Hugh Edeleanu took a gamble on an untapped market for a construction-themed amusement park. Today, there are five different Diggerlands, with four in the UK and one in the US. The parks feature fun classic rides like the Dig-a-Round and go-karts, along with several big tractors, dump trucks, and cranes that everyone over the age of four can drive!
Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Fans of Ferrari shouldn’t skip out on this Ferrari-themed amusement park located in Abu Dhabi. In true Ferrari form, speed is the name of the game, so, of course, Ferrari World is home to the world’s fastest roller coaster! Visitors can enjoy the thrill of a lifetime on the Formula Rossa, which rockets riders from zero to 240 km/h (149.1 mph) in under five seconds. There are over 40 rides in the park, some record-breaking attractions, and others offering a more gentle thrill for little ones. Visitors can also stock up on their favorite customized Ferrari merchandise at exclusive on-site shops, book a Ferrari driving experience, or even catch a show.
Popeye Village, Malta
Located in Malta’s Anchor Bay, this Popeye-themed village and park looks straight out of a movie—because it is! The village was originally constructed as a film set for the 1980 musical “Popeye,” and it’s since been transformed into a playhouse paradise for both the young and young at heart. Visitors can explore the seaside village (including the original stilt huts from the musical), play mini golf, jump around on the water trampolines, run around at the Splash Pool, watch a documentary in the cinema, catch a live show, enjoy a tipple in the winery, and much more. With so many activities for every age, it’s no wonder Popeye Village is still popping with tourists!
Silver Dollar City, Missouri, USA
Grab your cowboy hat and get ready for a day of boot-scootin’ fun at Silver Dollar City in the Ozarks! This old-timey Western theme park is centered around the 1880s, combining the old with the new to offer record-breaking coasters, unforgettable live entertainment, Western characters, a water park, and epic festival nights. Visitors can enjoy thrill rides like the Fire Wagon Frenzy and the Giant Barn Swing, along with family-friendly attractions. The park also offers homestead experiences with interactive activities that showcase life in the 1800s Western frontier. To top it all off, the park is built on top of Missouri’s largest cave, Marvel Cave, which visitors can explore on a guided tour!
Parc Astérix, France
If you grew up in North America, chances are you haven’t heard of “The Adventures of Astérix” (“Astérix le Gaulois” in French). However, this comic book is beloved in France, so much so that an entire theme park has been created in its honor! Parc Astérix is home to over 50 rides and attractions, including eight roller coasters, promising a day of fun for the whole family. Visitors can even meet some of the comic book characters during character encounters, sign up for a unique Gallic banquet, or catch an adrenaline-filled show like the Dives of Olympus.
Harmonyland, Japan
Those who go crazy for kawaii pop culture will definitely need to add Harmonyland to their bucket lists. This charming theme park is centered around the world of Sanrio, a Japanese entertainment company that designed and owns several well-known characters like Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, and My Melody. In Harmonyland, you’ll find several of these characters ready to snap a photo with you, but many of the park’s attractions are Hello Kitty-themed. Fans can tour Kitty Castle, take a ride on the Hello Kitty Angel Coaster, or enjoy a cruise on the Sanrio Character Boat Ride.
Hersheypark, Pennsylvania, USA
Those with a sweet tooth and a love of rides need to visit Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This chocolate-themed park features both kiddie and thrill rides inspired by some of Hershey’s most iconic candy bars. Your group can hop on adrenaline-pumping rides like the Jolly Rancher Remix coaster and the Hershey Triple Tower, or whip down waterslides in the water park, like the Whitecap Racer. When you’re not riding the rides, satisfy your sweet tooth at Hershey’s Chocolate World, snap a picture with one of the park’s mascots, or catch a show at the Aquatheatre!
SantaPark, Finland
SantaPark offers a unique experience for Christmas lovers and an even stranger experience for adventure enthusiasts. Located outside of Rovaniemi, this Christmas-themed park is set in an underground network of caves and offers a plethora of interactive experiences. You can enjoy magic sleigh rides, cookie decorating at Mrs. Gingerbread’s Bakery, participate in an Elf Workshop, attend Elf School, or take a Magic Train ride. Interestingly, SantaPark is located on the border of the Arctic Circle and is the only place in the world where you can cross the Arctic Circle underground— you’ll even receive an Arctic Circle Undercrossing Certificate!
Paul Bunyan Land, Minnesota, USA
The lore of Paul Bunyan has been spread across the US since frontier times, and what better way to honor this American legend than with a theme park in his name? Before even reaching the park’s gates, visitors will see a 26-foot-tall talking Paul Bunyan statue that welcomes guests. Once inside, visitors can enjoy traditional park rides like Ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds, along with a petting barn. There is also a replica pioneer village that boasts a saloon, Iron Will Depot, church, Antique Arcade, logging camp, and much more to be explored!
Imsil Cheese Theme Park, South Korea
Calling all cheese lovers: In South Korea, there’s a cheese-themed park that will have you wandering down streets lined with cheese wheel-shaped buildings! Imsil Cheese Theme Park is a family-friendly amusement park offering cheese-making experiences, a cheese-themed play area, etiquette lessons, an animal farm, a 4D Theater, an art museum, a cheese museum, and much more. This isn’t your average quirky theme park, and the experiences are just as unique as the theme! Where else in the world can you learn how to make and package your own cheese using raw Imsil milk?
Window of the World, China
Miniature landmark replicas are a popular draw for many, just look at Mini-Europe in Brussels. However, when it comes to miniature models, Window of the World comes out on top. This unique theme park is dedicated to the world’s most popular and awe-inspiring buildings. The detail that goes into these miniatures will leave you amazed, and some of the buildings don’t even exist anymore, such as the pre-9/11 New York City skyline. The park is also home to a handful of rides, along with a 4D cinema.
Ba Na Hills Sun World, Vietnam
You definitely won’t feel like you’re in Vietnam if you visit Ba Na Hills Sun World, as this is a French village-themed amusement park. In the early 1900s, French settlers in Vietnam built a resort and station in Ba Na Hills that featured sports fields, restaurants, and over 200 villas. After decades of war and eventual abandonment, Ba Na Hills came back to life as a French-themed park. Today, the mountaintop park boasts a fully re-created French town with medieval walls, lush gardens, several rides, a three-story underground funfair, slides, and a fairytale-like Golden Bridge.
Salina Turda, Romania
When you enter a salt mine, you might expect to find giant equipment and miners in hard hats, but at Salina Turda, you’ll find an underground theme park! Visitors can head down to this subterranean park and find plenty of attractions, like an underground lake with boat rides, a kid’s play area, mini golf, a Ferris wheel, a bowling alley, toboggans, and even a wellness center offering salt treatments. There’s also a museum showcasing the mine’s history. Salina Turda truly looks like an underground civilization that survived a post-apocalyptic world!
There you have it, folks: the world’s weirdest and most unique theme parks. Writer Warren Ellis once said, “It’s a strange world. Let’s keep it that way,” and we couldn’t agree more. Strange makes for great entertainment, and a visit to any of these unusual theme parks will make for an unforgettable adventure!