Please thumbs up this video right now if you see this!!! FOLLOW MY SOCIAL MEDIA facebook = facebook.com/exploringwithjosh Twitter = twitter.com/i_am_joshyo instagram = instagram.com/exploringwithjosh tiktok = www.tiktok.com/@exploringwithjoshy currently there is no official new website for Fantasy Island !! but they are reopening 2021! RISE ABOVE MERCH HERE www.riseabove.shop
So I made it through to the end and I have to say that seeing that it's official that the park had only shut down this year yet... that damage looks to be at least a decade's worth. It's absolutely disgusting and disgraceful that a bunch of kids went in there and thought that it was okay to go in there and do all of that.
This is Fantasy Island, located in Grand Island NY! My Father worked here for over 30 years. I literally grew up in this park. If you’ve seen the shoot outs in Western town, you’ve seen my dad fall off the roofs as the infamous “Black Bart”.
He has only taken ONE thing from his explorations, and that was a yearbook from his school that he explored. It was found out beforehand he asked if he could take one if he found one, and they told him yes. LOL
I watched until the end. I grew up going to this park, absolutely miss it. Completely disgusting that people vandalized it😞hopefully they can get it back up and running soon!
Hi there, Josh; I lived in the area of Fantasy Island for 36 years. I’ve been gone for 5 years and recently came back. There was also a 14 year old boy, that was thrown from the Ferris wheel and died. His Father survived. He was from Kansas. Then, of course, the diver that was instantly paralyzed in front of the audience after diving 60 down into a pool. It was always a very 2nd class amusement park. Mostly, tourists visiting Niagara Falls, would go there. I enjoyed the video immensely! The live shows in Western Town were great!
It was such a fun place! Even if it was a 2nd class amusement park. We had Darien Lake & we used to also go to Crystal Beach as well. I remember the little boy falling from the ferris wheel, that was so scary & sad.
Since 2014 Fantasy Island struggled. They actually had a lot of problems with closed down rides and stands since 2016 . So much so that season ticket holder’s started to complain and finally got a petition together wanting refunds in 2018. Even though their last season was 2019, they had hardly any business and rides and the park were in bad shape.
This park is reopening this summer as Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World. I can’t even imagine how much work they’ve done in just a year to be able to open it already.
I'm sure if Mark Poloncarz saw the damage he'd be fuming with rage. He was fuming when that idiot threw that basket with burning paper into City Hall through a broken window.
It’s because a lot of people in the area are scummy. They don’t care.. sadly I live in the same town and it’s pretty sad how many just don’t care. Too many punks live here.
It closed in 2019. I grew up 10 minutes from the place and still live in the area. I can't believe how Trashed it is. There are so many ways in and out of the property.
@@colleen7845 No, it did not close in 2019. We year round staff were still expecting to open this summer and had started the early prep work for the season ... until the February announcement happened. Managed to keep the vandals away until May when the company that held the escrow decided they didn't need security anymore. (- I was the overnight security while Apex owned it. -)
Worst part about abandoned amusement parks is that that they are never near me..... and people don't set up unwanted Halloween decorations to jump scare those who come to explore them.
Closest I had when I lived in Southern California would have been in San Bernardino County. They have Rock-A-Hula water park that’s abandoned (I went there in late high school when it still operated) and Santa’s Village (never been).
I grew up going to this park, it’s so sad to see it close and the vandalism. The water ride was canoes or paddle boats. I miss this place! Thank you for covering it!
Same! I live in Texas currently but I was born and raised in Angola NY, about 45 mins or so from this park. I didn’t move till I was 24, and I literally did not know Fantasy Island went under until this video popped up in my feed 🥺😢 the vandalism, so upsetting.
When they closed it at the end of the 2019 season no one knew it would be shut down and sold off piece by piece. So they obviously left what they planned on using in the 2020 season but it was announced February 19 2020 that it was permanently shut down and almost all the ride sold off.
I watched til the end. I used to work there as a rides mechanic when this place was booming. We built the waterparks log ride in 1985 and it has expanded since. It was great to stumble across your video but disappointing to see what has happened to the park. Fantasy Island has always been a family staple in western New York but I honestly don't see it coming back from this. Sad.
At my theme park teens died in a haunted house fire. It’s sad how everyone just forgot about those lives. When I visit I like to say a little prayer to spot where they died. It’s located in New Jersey. It’s called the Haunted Castle fire.
Hey Josh! I am from this area and grew up going to Fantasy Island. It is truly so sad seeing the condition it's in being such a short period of time. Although, I was able to see the place the way it used to be and it brought back amazing memories. It was so nice having you be the one to explore this place, you have brought memories back for so many and you did it with the greatest respect. ❤
MY GRANDPARENTS USED TO TAKE MY SIBLINGS AND I THERE WHEN WE WERE LITTLE. IT WAS SUCH A FUN PLACE THIS BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE IT SO DESTROYED😭 So glad it’s reopening, it was a really cool park back in the late 2000s/early 2010s when I last went
If you like stuff like this you should look up The Proper People. They do the same thing. They've been doing it for years. They have some amazing vidoes
I was born near there and we moved away when I was 3. We went back when I was 9 and I still have memories of being there. It was in 1984 right after it reopened that we went.
I am from the Syracuse area, my family went in 84 too, I was 4. I remembered the fairytale village the 3rd one was the crooked man in the crooked house. I legit thought those houses were further away from each other. The kiddie boat ride it the other thing I remember. I flipped a kid off on that ride that called me fat....and all the parents saw. I think my mother almost died of embarrassment. At least how she tells it.
It's pretty sad how destroyed it is already. I live in Pennsylvania and have heard of it before, though I haven't been myself. My family has gone before, while it was still open, and it's something a lot of people enjoyed. I hope they can fix it up for more people to have fun in.
JOSH! You are the best, man! I have to tell you it is just pure joy to see you in another amusement park. Your channel is the very first one I ever subscribed to when I got into RUclips and I've followed you through underground drainage tunnels with eerie voices, abandoned mansions that you had to climb into from the basement and even whole abandoned towns! You are the best at this. You let people see history and the effect of time's passing. You really draw people into the places you take us to and make us live it as if we were there. My two favorite quotes that I got a good laugh from are "These are the games you pay for to play to try to win stuffed animals, but nobody ever really wins." (so true). And of course, "Water slides are meant to have water in it." I am way too old now to be doing anything like this, but when I was in my twenties I would have been so right there with you. Keep up the amazing fun you have FOR us and WITH us. Don't stop doing what you do, because we will be right there, looking through your lens and following your footsteps. Keep rising above. And who wouldn't watch all the way to the end?! I did. Great stuff as always!
Josh I just gotta say you are one of my all time favorite explorers to watch. You've got a great personality and I can truly tell how much you love doing what you do! Thank you for your content man, you've allowed me to keep exploring while stuck at home quarantining :)
Absolutely agreed. Like think of it as these old wonderful places where everybody would go to be happy! And then things come crashing down because there are too many serious things that other people have to concern themselves with. And just imagine the amount that you could buy these parcels of land and fix it up?
Everything you've built will be wasted, nothing and no one really matter for real. All is just game called life and death, very boring repetitive game of all universes.
The abandoned stuffed animals broke my heart 🥺 I collect stuffed animals and these are vintage and rare 🥲 Plus look at their little faces left all alone 💔
Thanks so much for this, I was a small boy when my family and I went to Fantasy Island. As you stated, so many of us have fond memories of this place, especially with my 2 sisters. I truly hope that someone does turn this park around - fingers crossed.
This would be a great horror movie, a guy videoing him walking around finding out about the backstory going behind the scenes and then things start going wrong.
I went there when I was young, I was there 5 years ago. This place was a death trap, it finally was closed due to a huge law suit. A little girl was sexually assaulted on a ride because a worker forced her to sit alone with a man she didn’t know.
I was young . I was there 5 yers ago. This place was death trap, it finally was closed due to a huge lawsuit. A little girl was sexually assalted on the ride because worker forced her to sit alone with a man she didn't know.
Steve Ronin did a video of Fantasy Island and I'm glad Explpring With Josh did one too because we can now have two different perspectives, one from each creator.
Josh! You hit a nerve with me when you said "People came here for a day and had the time of their life". I suddenly remembered every amusement park I ever went to and the fun time I had every time. Thanks for the flash backs! I watched the whole video and gave a thumbs up!
Absolutely and it was well earned. I hope you smiled. Nice to get a kudos from a complete stranger that sees what you did and how important it was to someone else!😁
@@llewisdolphins You did much more than make me smile! You made my day, week and maybe month. I, like so many at this moment in time desperately need nice. It gives us Faith in Humanity. Thanks Again.
I grew up going to fantasy island, I miss this place alot, I hate how other people trashed this place :( we are hoping this place makes a comeback in the future!
The fact that I have so many clear memories hanging out with family and friends in that park makes seeing it abandoned 10x sadder. I live pretty close to the park, so my mom and I used to go all the time. So sad. Thank God someone decided to reopen it
I absolutely loved fantasy island as a kid! The Silver Comet was my first ever roller coaster and I loooved it! Western town was so awesome too, I loved the live shows where the actors would fall off the roofs!
I live in the area where fantasy Island is and I grew up going to the waterpark every day because we didn’t have a pool and going on school trips with my classes. It’s just really sad to see it go and drive by it every day seeing it just rot away in front of my eyes
This is so sad. I grew up going there and it was just a couple years ago that I had my nieces there. They loved the puppy roller coaster in kiddie land.
I love following you. I have been watching you now for two years and I'm so thankful that you are an adventurer and an explorer! You take me out of my home and I feel that I am there exploring alongside you. Thank you!
I remember going here when I was younger so many great memories here it sucks to see it in this shape before you said the place I swore it looked familiar also the silver comet was the first big roller coaster I ever went on and it was so fun and the old western shows I’ll never forget they used to do shoot outs and they’d shoot the guy off the roof that’s the high dive injury I assume it’s so weird seeing your videos for years of all these cool places and I actually have experienced this place I could go on and on about this place
I always wanted to explore abandon theme parks but I'm too.clumsy but I feel like I can write a book on them and create a story with them. But it's also sad that they abandoned it.
Ditto I blindly followed his instructions too, lol. Reading the comments, you are the first one that said it and I have been through at least 30 or so! 😊
I live right by this and grew up going to this place because it was the closest theme park, besides darien lake. so many memories came flooding back when you were walking around and showing all of this. it's really sad that it had to shut down.
I grew up in this area! It’s so sad to see a theme park that holds so many of my childhood memories destroyed! I’m in awe that one of the places that you visited, I have been to!
Former worker for 3 years until the park shut down 11:15 That was never a casino, just an ice cream shop with a show thoughout the day. 12:27 As I said in Seth's vid this was a kayak rental. Also yes the water always looked that scummy 14:55 a game where you knock down little stuffed cats or clowns with balls. 20:41 That was the crazy mouse, that coaster you see in EVERY fair. (one of the rides I worked) 21:53 the old cars which I also worked.
It genuinely makes me so sad to see the park like this. My family would come over from Canada just to visit, and it was a place my father went as a kid with his family. So sad to see it completely destroyed after so many years of beautiful memories. Really hope they can get it back up and running. Thank you for sharing this and bringing me back down memory lane!
Hi! So I’ve been to this place quite a few times, I live in this area along with my family and while it was active over the years we went here almost ever summer. I really loved this place and it was so fun- especially the water parks and rides- and stuff. Though it’s been awhile since we’ve been here- since around roughly...2018 ish.
I watch exploring with Josh cuz he gets so excited about this stuff! Got to appreciate someone that loves their work! Only time I get excited going anywhere anymore! Classic cars, or if there's anything left the music store being a musician so I know what that excitement is like doing what you love! I got to see if I could find any old places where they have a lot of abandoned classic cars! Next year's tax goals are to get me a car, and go find these places, abandoned music store stuff like that I think I would have really enjoyed trying to bring that content to people.
This place was literally my childhood! It went bankrupt when the original owner sold it to apex amusement parks and they ran it into the ground. For decades before that it was successful and thriving. It was sold because the family did not want to take it over which makes sense. But wow I never expected to see this, this is SO cool! If you want any information please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I loved this place growing up and have a ton of great memories here
I absolutely love your enthusiasm!!! I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one whose inner child is enthralled by an amusement park, whether it be alive or not (though sometimes I do wonder if there isn't some remaining "life" left at the abandoned ones lol). Great video - your vibe is awesome, keep it going! A video that can make you feel like you are right there is hard to find, but your channel definitely rocks! Looking forward to seeing more videos from you. Peace to all and be safe. 😁🎉💖
Covid-19 fucked a lot of amusement parks. In my city a 80 years amusement park and symbol of the city is almost going out of business, its called Parque Guanabara. The population created a petition to the city save the park and donations to save the park, at least to pay the workers.
This is MY Fantasy Island! Before COVID and its closure I was planning on visiting it in the summer, but we always ended up so busy....and this is the only vintage-style amusement park I can visit in the area. I prefer that style of amusement park to big chain trill parks like Six Flags at Darien Lake. But, GOOD NEWS EVERYONE. It has been bought by some local business owners and they plan on restoring and reopening it! Here's hoping they're able to follow through! Fantasy Island was and IS the best!
Please thumbs up this video right now if you see this!!!
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currently there is no official new website for Fantasy Island !! but they are reopening 2021!
RISE ABOVE MERCH HERE
www.riseabove.shop
Ty
8th viewer
That’s a massive roller coaster. Can’t believe a ride that big can be abandoned.
I watched the video till the end 😍💪🏼
Hey Josh, I watched the entire video! Great work man, I love all your videos! 😎
This just makes me angry to see how people just destroy places like these, it’s just frustrating...
people have been doing this throughout history
What makes me more angry is I grew up going to fantasy island and it was amazing. I don't know after I seen this, i got so upset.
:(
Blame the ppl that just abandon these places leaving it to rot 🤷🏾♂️
@@FirstLast-yh7gj It might be out of their control. The immature people vandalizing these places, however, are in control of their actions.
Pro Tip: Take waxed paper when visiting places w dry water slides. Sit on it when you go down. You'll fly.
I can't tell if you're joking
@@user-hm8yu3gm8k No, totally serious! It works!
That sounds dangerous as hell. Thanks for the suggestion :)
Hahahahahahaha that's awesome x
Thnx for the tip
So I made it through to the end and I have to say that seeing that it's official that the park had only shut down this year yet... that damage looks to be at least a decade's worth. It's absolutely disgusting and disgraceful that a bunch of kids went in there and thought that it was okay to go in there and do all of that.
Its been shut down for the past, 2 years. 1 year it was trying to be sold, it wasn't only till half way threw last year that it fully closed.
Ikr
@@annellasommer6803 Thanks I was wondering how it got so messy so quickly, that really clarified
God do kids need to do this
I hate how people just destroy stuff!!!! WHY!!!
Me too
WHAT THE FUCK THEY DO THAT
I know right
Yeah.. it's making me go mad..but if it's a school then i respect their choice xD
Let’s be real here is because of those tik tokers
This is Fantasy Island, located in Grand Island NY! My Father worked here for over 30 years. I literally grew up in this park. If you’ve seen the shoot outs in Western town, you’ve seen my dad fall off the roofs as the infamous “Black Bart”.
Did they ever reopen?
@@mminietto4175 they are open now under a different name. Haven’t been back yet, but I’ve heard it’s just not the same unfortunately.
@@mminietto4175 yes they’re open now, under a different name. Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World, in grand island New York
🖤🦇🖤
The amount of self control he has to not take any of those prizes...
We'll never know if they really did lol
@@l.a.picasa Josh and his crew have always said that they do not steal, vandalize, or destroy. I'd hope they hold up to that.
He has only taken ONE thing from his explorations, and that was a yearbook from his school that he explored. It was found out beforehand he asked if he could take one if he found one, and they told him yes. LOL
It's called being professional
Leave nothing but footprints take nothing but pictures 🙌
I watched until the end. I grew up going to this park, absolutely miss it. Completely disgusting that people vandalized it😞hopefully they can get it back up and running soon!
Only the 48th person in over 600 comments to say it!!!! You are epic!!
with covid going on it wont happen any time soon
@Vivian Kravet its sucha shame :(
ik!!!
Hi there, Josh; I lived in the area of Fantasy Island for 36 years. I’ve been gone for 5 years and recently came back. There was also a 14 year old boy, that was thrown from the Ferris wheel and died. His Father survived. He was from Kansas. Then, of course, the diver that was instantly paralyzed in front of the audience after diving 60 down into a pool. It was always a very 2nd class amusement park. Mostly, tourists visiting Niagara Falls, would go there. I enjoyed the video immensely! The live shows in Western Town were great!
Cool
It was such a fun place! Even if it was a 2nd class amusement park. We had Darien Lake & we used to also go to Crystal Beach as well. I remember the little boy falling from the ferris wheel, that was so scary & sad.
It looks like shi- and there fixing it up and actually opening up again! Lucky you got to it then!
Did this place really close in only 2020? It looks so much more aged than that....if I missed something I'm sorry
Since 2014 Fantasy Island struggled. They actually had a lot of problems with closed down rides and stands since 2016 . So much so that season ticket holder’s started to complain and finally got a petition together wanting refunds in 2018. Even though their last season was 2019, they had hardly any business and rides and the park were in bad shape.
This park is reopening this summer as Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World. I can’t even imagine how much work they’ve done in just a year to be able to open it already.
That’s awesome to hear! Glad someone bought and saved it! 😁
Why is Pinochio so angry? They broke the glass and stuffed a branch up his nose! I'd be peeved off that happened to me.
I thought so too. But in the movie when he's fibbing to the blue fairy, his nose grows so much that 🍃leaves come sprouting out. Even a birds nest lol.
Why is Pinocchio so angry? They broke the branch up his nose! Id be peeved off that happened to me
Breaks my heart when idiots vandalise destroy and have no compassion for other peoples property. Loved the vid.
Facts 😤
Omg I can't believe how fast it was destroyed. I loved this park growing up. The wave pool was a good time too.
I'm sure if Mark Poloncarz saw the damage he'd be fuming with rage. He was fuming when that idiot threw that basket with burning paper into City Hall through a broken window.
I was never able.. didnt know of it. What was this place called?
@@GeneralGorillaSonicOC who is mark poloncarz?
@@justindecker1685 Erie County Executive. We may have disagreements but he's an honorable man.
@@SofiaBerruxSubs Fantasy Island.
it's so sad how people have vandalized this especially being such a recent shutdown it looks like it's been abandoned for years :(
It’s because a lot of people in the area are scummy. They don’t care.. sadly I live in the same town and it’s pretty sad how many just don’t care. Too many punks live here.
It closed in 2019. I grew up 10 minutes from the place and still live in the area. I can't believe how Trashed it is. There are so many ways in and out of the property.
@@colleen7845 @Jessica Patterson that must suck having memories there and living near there and having it be this destroyed
:/
@@colleen7845 No, it did not close in 2019. We year round staff were still expecting to open this summer and had started the early prep work for the season ... until the February announcement happened.
Managed to keep the vandals away until May when the company that held the escrow decided they didn't need security anymore. (- I was the overnight security while Apex owned it. -)
Won't lie, I'd take the stuffed animals. To give them to kids of course
Sure the kids 🤨🤣
Me to
They are full of bacteria and mold.
@@tektyger1 then clean it first.
@@tektyger1 its called wash them lol in a wash machine ... seriously u can just wash plushies if dirty
Worst part about abandoned amusement parks is that that they are never near me..... and people don't set up unwanted Halloween decorations to jump scare those who come to explore them.
No one needs that in their life
Closest I had when I lived in Southern California would have been in San Bernardino County. They have Rock-A-Hula water park that’s abandoned (I went there in late high school when it still operated) and Santa’s Village (never been).
Imagine what Disneyland would look like if it was abandoned it scares me
Thats a nightmare!!!
I don't wanna imagine *le shudders*
That would never happen, some rich person would buy it.
It feels like its well on its way. :(
there are some Disney park abandoned
I grew up going to this park, it’s so sad to see it close and the vandalism. The water ride was canoes or paddle boats. I miss this place! Thank you for covering it!
The antique cars!!
Same! I live in Texas currently but I was born and raised in Angola NY, about 45 mins or so from this park. I didn’t move till I was 24, and I literally did not know Fantasy Island went under until this video popped up in my feed 🥺😢 the vandalism, so upsetting.
I’m so sad of how world has come to. They left a lot of trash and other stuff behind. It needs a clean up. :(
I like your pfp-
When they closed it at the end of the 2019 season no one knew it would be shut down and sold off piece by piece. So they obviously left what they planned on using in the 2020 season but it was announced February 19 2020 that it was permanently shut down and almost all the ride sold off.
I watched til the end. I used to work there as a rides mechanic when this place was booming. We built the waterparks log ride in 1985 and it has expanded since. It was great to stumble across your video but disappointing to see what has happened to the park. Fantasy Island has always been a family staple in western New York but I honestly don't see it coming back from this. Sad.
They already reopened in 2021. They plan to fully reopen in 2022
@@cupcakeeladiee8862 Thanks for the info! That's great news!
Opening in May 23
Someone please go there and reascue the stuffed animals! They need a home! They have been abandon please save them
Dude i dont want demons in my house
@@nasayuzaki4134 why not? Demons are the best!!!
@@Cassies_Critter_Circus yeah! Call me conny btw!
Alrighty hi Conny I'm Salem
@@Cassies_Critter_Circus im getting adopted
At my theme park teens died in a haunted house fire. It’s sad how everyone just forgot about those lives. When I visit I like to say a little prayer to spot where they died. It’s located in New Jersey. It’s called the Haunted Castle fire.
Great adventure Haunted Castle fire? I went through it once a few years before it happened..so sad
always love how you add in old footage. sad that people took advantage of such a cool place.
I hope the vandalism isn’t to expensive to repair when it reopens. I’d beyond pissed if I were the owner.
There's nothing there worth trying to salvage. Maybe a few of the structures, but not anything else.
Most owners with a wreck this bad they save the good, destroy the bad, rebuild the rest
I absolutely love how you edit your videos showing the park in it's lively state, and then show what remains of it now. Incredibly haunting.
This is actually my local amusement park. We had season passes just 2 years ago. We were all so sad when it closed
Where is it
Had season pass just 2 year ago. We were all so sad when it closed
Google earth shows this place so fresh . Just shows it doesn’t take long for people to destroy stuff. And of course I watched the entire video dah! 🙂
The image on google earth is only 2 years old. What a shame.
This is in my hometown and we all hope it reopens soon . Josh thx for coming there . It is messed up how it looks .
Where is this place? It looks lovely! Hope it does open back up! X
@@miasmith1563 Grand Island NY , they are trying very hard to get backers to fund reopening the park , the mayor there just talked about it last week
Love how he said sweets instead of candy he was british for a few mins
Or Australian
Sweets and candy mean the same thing in the US.
@@darrylmix1328 duh one is favored over the other in both places. Happening to be the opposite which is what he’s meaning🤦🏽♂️
@@Yo-dm9bu bro is u dumb🤦🏽♂️ I just said they mean the same thing in the US. Not who favors wich word , or who uses it more
@@samanthaspiker212 No one days "sweets" in Aus, they're "lollies" here haha
Also the eagles landing didn’t have a track or anything, you got to freely kayak around that middle island
Hey Josh! I am from this area and grew up going to Fantasy Island. It is truly so sad seeing the condition it's in being such a short period of time. Although, I was able to see the place the way it used to be and it brought back amazing memories. It was so nice having you be the one to explore this place, you have brought memories back for so many and you did it with the greatest respect. ❤
This is so cool!
Omg hello!
I’m gonna sub to all your channels!
bruh
Hiiii im a big fan
:0 hIiI
26:07 . . . How sad to see the message on that sign.
Imagine taking all those abandoned toys and donation it to a shelter . How happy those kids would be to have something from santa.
Yeah but they also might have mold on them...
@@millisagable1318 u can wash them duh
I wouldnt recommend that with the stuffed toys, and plastic will have broekn down by now x
I grew up going to this park. This makes me so sad to see it so destroyed. I remember the western shows, so many memories here.
MY GRANDPARENTS USED TO TAKE MY SIBLINGS AND I THERE WHEN WE WERE LITTLE. IT WAS SUCH A FUN PLACE THIS BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE IT SO DESTROYED😭 So glad it’s reopening, it was a really cool park back in the late 2000s/early 2010s when I last went
Cap
@@icyx9199 how are you gon tell someone theyre lying lmao i as well grew up near fantasy island
@@girlrowe I'm not gonna lie, i don't even remember commenting this or why I did but I guess I has some sort of reason for it😂
I love it how Josh brings back parts of history that we have forgotten about and brings it back to life for us to see 😀
He clearly enjoys what he does. You can hear it in his voice.
If you like stuff like this you should look up The Proper People. They do the same thing. They've been doing it for years. They have some amazing vidoes
I was born near there and we moved away when I was 3. We went back when I was 9 and I still have memories of being there. It was in 1984 right after it reopened that we went.
Me to I'm actually staying n Saratoga springs now
I am from the Syracuse area, my family went in 84 too, I was 4. I remembered the fairytale village the 3rd one was the crooked man in the crooked house. I legit thought those houses were further away from each other.
The kiddie boat ride it the other thing I remember. I flipped a kid off on that ride that called me fat....and all the parents saw. I think my mother almost died of embarrassment. At least how she tells it.
Why do some people feel they have to vandalise things, good explore josh.
That's young punk kids for ya
It's pretty sad how destroyed it is already. I live in Pennsylvania and have heard of it before, though I haven't been myself. My family has gone before, while it was still open, and it's something a lot of people enjoyed. I hope they can fix it up for more people to have fun in.
This was my absolute favorite place to go growing up! We cried the day they announced that they were closing 💔
JOSH! You are the best, man! I have to tell you it is just pure joy to see you in another amusement park. Your channel is the very first one I ever subscribed to when I got into RUclips and I've followed you through underground drainage tunnels with eerie voices, abandoned mansions that you had to climb into from the basement and even whole abandoned towns! You are the best at this. You let people see history and the effect of time's passing. You really draw people into the places you take us to and make us live it as if we were there. My two favorite quotes that I got a good laugh from are "These are the games you pay for to play to try to win stuffed animals, but nobody ever really wins." (so true). And of course, "Water slides are meant to have water in it." I am way too old now to be doing anything like this, but when I was in my twenties I would have been so right there with you. Keep up the amazing fun you have FOR us and WITH us. Don't stop doing what you do, because we will be right there, looking through your lens and following your footsteps. Keep rising above. And who wouldn't watch all the way to the end?! I did. Great stuff as always!
Josh I just gotta say you are one of my all time favorite explorers to watch. You've got a great personality and I can truly tell how much you love doing what you do! Thank you for your content man, you've allowed me to keep exploring while stuck at home quarantining :)
Abandoned places remind me alot of fallout, maybe because of the abandoned aspect of most of the places in fallout though
Yesssss! It reminded me of the last of us 2 in some parts of theme parks
So true 👍 we did an abandoned ghost town about a week ago 😊😊😁
Lol
Absolutely agreed. Like think of it as these old wonderful places where everybody would go to be happy! And then things come crashing down because there are too many serious things that other people have to concern themselves with. And just imagine the amount that you could buy these parcels of land and fix it up?
Everything you've built will be wasted, nothing and no one really matter for real. All is just game called life and death, very boring repetitive game of all universes.
The abandoned stuffed animals broke my heart 🥺 I collect stuffed animals and these are vintage and rare 🥲 Plus look at their little faces left all alone 💔
Thanks so much for this, I was a small boy when my family and I went to Fantasy Island. As you stated, so many of us have fond memories of this place, especially with my 2 sisters. I truly hope that someone does turn this park around - fingers crossed.
I always enjoy every single abandoned video that you upload.
I watched the entire video!💚,KELLY from Las Vegas, Nv.👍😘😉
"thank you all for a great season. Can't wait for 2020" that's just sad 😔
Apex tried to take the money spent on season passes and run knowing they closed the park.
This would be a great horror movie, a guy videoing him walking around finding out about the backstory going behind the scenes and then things start going wrong.
I went there when I was young, I was there 5 years ago. This place was a death trap, it finally was closed due to a huge law suit. A little girl was sexually assaulted on a ride because a worker forced her to sit alone with a man she didn’t know.
I was young . I was there 5 yers ago. This place was death trap, it finally was closed due to a huge lawsuit. A little girl was sexually assalted on the ride because worker forced her to sit alone with a man she didn't know.
@@tayloranderson7547 wtf
Wow , poor girl 😱😱😱😱😱
Steve Ronin did a video of Fantasy Island and I'm glad Explpring With Josh did one too because we can now have two different perspectives, one from each creator.
This was my childhood park.. I’m so heartbroken to see it like this and it just closed 😕
Same
I love hearing the excitement in your voice 😂
I used to read “where the wild things are” as a kid 😢 brings back so many memories
tore that sweet shop up like a bunch of kids in a candy store
You make some of my favorite content. Been following for 4ish years I think & I'm so happy for how far you've come. I appreciate these videos so much.
I grew up on Grand Island Josh and spent many summers at Fantasy Island. I could tell you many stories about this park.
Josh! You hit a nerve with me when you said "People came here for a day and had the time of their life". I suddenly remembered every amusement park I ever went to and the fun time I had every time. Thanks for the flash backs! I watched the whole video and gave a thumbs up!
94th out of over 700 to write what Josh asked! You are epically awesome!!!
@@llewisdolphins Thanks! What a nice gesture!
Absolutely and it was well earned. I hope you smiled. Nice to get a kudos from a complete stranger that sees what you did and how important it was to someone else!😁
@@llewisdolphins You did much more than make me smile! You made my day, week and maybe month. I, like so many at this moment in time desperately need nice. It gives us Faith in Humanity. Thanks Again.
My pleasure my friend!😁
I grew up going to fantasy island, I miss this place alot, I hate how other people trashed this place :( we are hoping this place makes a comeback in the future!
The fact that I have so many clear memories hanging out with family and friends in that park makes seeing it abandoned 10x sadder. I live pretty close to the park, so my mom and I used to go all the time. So sad. Thank God someone decided to reopen it
Wish folk had a little more respect for places like this, though I do want a blue slushie now haha, great video Josh, watched the whole thing!
I absolutely loved fantasy island as a kid! The Silver Comet was my first ever roller coaster and I loooved it! Western town was so awesome too, I loved the live shows where the actors would fall off the roofs!
I live in the area where fantasy Island is and I grew up going to the waterpark every day because we didn’t have a pool and going on school trips with my classes. It’s just really sad to see it go and drive by it every day seeing it just rot away in front of my eyes
I worked here as a life guard, fun fact. I miss this place everyday.
What year did you lifeguard? Cause I did too!!
This is so sad. I grew up going there and it was just a couple years ago that I had my nieces there. They loved the puppy roller coaster in kiddie land.
I love following you. I have been watching you now for two years and I'm so thankful that you are an adventurer and an explorer! You take me out of my home and I feel that I am there exploring alongside you. Thank you!
I remember going here when I was younger so many great memories here it sucks to see it in this shape before you said the place I swore it looked familiar also the silver comet was the first big roller coaster I ever went on and it was so fun and the old western shows I’ll never forget they used to do shoot outs and they’d shoot the guy off the roof that’s the high dive injury I assume it’s so weird seeing your videos for years of all these cool places and I actually have experienced this place I could go on and on about this place
There's an abandoned amusement park in the Adirondack mountains called Frontier town
Going since I'm a kid thete
Josh actually has a video there i believe
@@kellyfanello6716 would love to see if you get any pics or video footage. I used to go there when I was a kid
@@nicksieminski9994 can you link it?
Love how excited you get but love even more how respectful you are that you just check things out. Thanks for showing us your world.
I spent my childhood at this park. Thanks for bringing back the flood gate of memories to me even thought the park is Abandoned.
I always wanted to explore abandon theme parks but I'm too.clumsy but I feel like I can write a book on them and create a story with them. But it's also sad that they abandoned it.
I do too but they are all so far away from me i dont possibly have the time or anyone to go with
@@maylily820 that too but once I'm old enough im.going to get some friends and we can travel together
@@Darkrose23984 tale me with you 😂
@@maylily820 include me
"I watch the entire video" (courtesy of Josh telling me to lol).
Ditto I blindly followed his instructions too, lol. Reading the comments, you are the first one that said it and I have been through at least 30 or so! 😊
Me too! I figured there’s a reason for this so why not!
Its so weird how they just up and left. Like usually they clear stuff out before abandoning it
they prob thought they'd be back ! :/ given their last season was in 2019. 2020 was likely just the final nail in the coffin on this place.
I live right by this and grew up going to this place because it was the closest theme park, besides darien lake. so many memories came flooding back when you were walking around and showing all of this. it's really sad that it had to shut down.
19:35 my favorite has almost been coca cola, blue raspberry, & mtn dew😂
Same
I grew up in this park. I hope they bring it back. This makes me so sad
DUDE ITS A FERRIS WHEEL NOT A MERRY GO ROUND
"Pig wings" lol. If pigs could fly
Josh your so nice you literally don’t take anything I would have lmao
I grew up in this area! It’s so sad to see a theme park that holds so many of my childhood memories destroyed! I’m in awe that one of the places that you visited, I have been to!
Random but those clouds in the background were beautiful. You explored on a gorgeous day
Edit: entire vid
You are the 6th commenter not including myself that followed directions. You are awesome!
Josh: "they added a WUDDER park"
me: "Crankthatfrank? is that you? "
Watched the entire video🤣🤣
Love abandoned amusement parks!!!
You are only the second person to follow that directive in like over 100 comments! Maybe we are the elite club 🤔😊
Former worker for 3 years until the park shut down
11:15 That was never a casino, just an ice cream shop with a show thoughout the day.
12:27 As I said in Seth's vid this was a kayak rental. Also yes the water always looked that scummy
14:55 a game where you knock down little stuffed cats or clowns with balls.
20:41 That was the crazy mouse, that coaster you see in EVERY fair. (one of the rides I worked)
21:53 the old cars which I also worked.
It genuinely makes me so sad to see the park like this. My family would come over from Canada just to visit, and it was a place my father went as a kid with his family. So sad to see it completely destroyed after so many years of beautiful memories. Really hope they can get it back up and running. Thank you for sharing this and bringing me back down memory lane!
I clicked so fast like always!! Happy Saturday 🔥🔥🙌
Hi! So I’ve been to this place quite a few times, I live in this area along with my family and while it was active over the years we went here almost ever summer. I really loved this place and it was so fun- especially the water parks and rides- and stuff. Though it’s been awhile since we’ve been here- since around roughly...2018 ish.
"i always got the blueberry" *points to blue raspberry*
I watch exploring with Josh cuz he gets so excited about this stuff! Got to appreciate someone that loves their work! Only time I get excited going anywhere anymore! Classic cars, or if there's anything left the music store being a musician so I know what that excitement is like doing what you love! I got to see if I could find any old places where they have a lot of abandoned classic cars! Next year's tax goals are to get me a car, and go find these places, abandoned music store stuff like that I think I would have really enjoyed trying to bring that content to people.
Great video Josh, that place is awesome! So creepy too
That seems like it would have been a pretty cool place if it ever opens again you should go back when it’s in operation josh that would be cool
It was but it was competing with 6 flags Darien lake
I just looked it up and the park is reopening March 13th 2023! I hope you go back and film it in all it’s newfound glory!
as a six flags worker i can confirm that people can win arcade games they aren’t rigged. i was in the games department.
This place was literally my childhood! It went bankrupt when the original owner sold it to apex amusement parks and they ran it into the ground. For decades before that it was successful and thriving. It was sold because the family did not want to take it over which makes sense. But wow I never expected to see this, this is SO cool! If you want any information please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I loved this place growing up and have a ton of great memories here
I absolutely love your enthusiasm!!! I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one whose inner child is enthralled by an amusement park, whether it be alive or not (though sometimes I do wonder if there isn't some remaining "life" left at the abandoned ones lol). Great video - your vibe is awesome, keep it going! A video that can make you feel like you are right there is hard to find, but your channel definitely rocks! Looking forward to seeing more videos from you. Peace to all and be safe. 😁🎉💖
ive never started to cry while watching these videos, so much memories. i miss fantasy island so much :(
I live in Kansas and feel the same way about Joyland. Unfortunately it was demolished to build apartments after years of neglect and vandalism.
@@NEMOsleeps24 oh wow, sorry man. everything just has to be abandoned and destroyed and its just sad :(
Covid-19 fucked a lot of amusement parks. In my city a 80 years amusement park and symbol of the city is almost going out of business, its called Parque Guanabara. The population created a petition to the city save the park and donations to save the park, at least to pay the workers.
@@vkanthems6744 yeah man, corona sucks and everything has to close down, some even have to go permanently
I have Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm as childhood memories. Id cry if they closed.
I went here till it closed my whole life I'm literally crying rn😭😭😭😭
I used to work here when I was 16 as my first job, crazy to see what it’s like now
This is MY Fantasy Island! Before COVID and its closure I was planning on visiting it in the summer, but we always ended up so busy....and this is the only vintage-style amusement park I can visit in the area. I prefer that style of amusement park to big chain trill parks like Six Flags at Darien Lake. But, GOOD NEWS EVERYONE. It has been bought by some local business owners and they plan on restoring and reopening it! Here's hoping they're able to follow through! Fantasy Island was and IS the best!
It’s so so sad to think that this place had life and fun and memorable moments for families and it’s just all left behind. SO SAD