Going to a theme park can be both fun and nerve-inducing. And if the thrill rides have you feeling a bit unsettled, this new guide may help you feel a bit better about picking a theme park.
The Family Vacation Guide ranked the most dangerous theme parks across the country, based on reported accidents since 1980. Keep in mind this list only includes reported incidents, so more minor accidents may be common in these or other parks, though they fly under the radar. The good news: theme park accidents aren’t super common.
At the top of the list is Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, with 49 total incidents in the past four decades. The family fun park attracts around 4 million visitors a year, so the odds are visitors won’t suffer from any unexpected injuries. The park itself, however, is notorious for a 2009 incident when a cable on the park’s Xcelerator coaster snapped and injured a 12-year-old boy. The victim recovered and sued for damages. More recently, Knott’s Berry Farm has had fights within the park, causing early closures and a chaperone policy.
Second on the list of accidents is Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, with 43 reported accidents in the last 42 years. And third on the list is Disneyland, the happiest place on earth in Anaheim, California, with 33 reported accidents. Unfortunately, two recent deaths have occurred at the park’s garages and there’s a whole list of bad freak accidents that have occurred within the park.
