Spooky Engagement Photos at Lake Shawnee Amusement Park

If there’s one thing you should know about me as a photographer, it’s that I love helping couples capture their authentic selves in wedding and engagement photos. If your photos aren’t an authentic representation of you, then what’s the point? A lot of the couples I work with are looking for a way to incorporate their unique styles, preferences, and perspectives and want a photographer who knows how to deliver. If you’re a couple that loves all things spooky, haunted, and Halloween, let me introduce you to one of my new favorite engagement photo spots: Lake Shawnee Amusement Park. This abandoned park has been titled “One of the World’s Most Haunted Places” and is the perfect place for spooky, ethereal engagement photos unlike any you’ve ever seen. 

About Lake Shawnee Amusement Park

Lake Shawnee Amusement Park has a dark, tumultuous history stretching back long before it was even a failing family attraction. Back in the late 1700s, a gentleman named Mitchell Clay established an 800-acre farm on the surrounding property. He and his wife raised 14 children and created a home for themselves, but what they didn’t know was the land they had claimed was a Native American Burial Ground. 

In 1783, tragedy struck the Clay family when a Native American tribe killed two of the children while Mitchell was out hunting, and another was kidnapped and burned at the stake. In retaliation, Clay gathered some fellow settlers and executed an attack on the Native Americans, killing several. 

So, like I said, the land has had a dark history for literal centuries. But local entrepreneur Conley Snidow didn’t know anything about the Clay family or the hallowed grounds upon which they had settled their family when he decided to build a joyful amusement park in the 1920s. Snidow installed a variety of rides and attractions, like circular swings, a water slide, a speakeasy, and a dance hall. Eventually, they added a pond and a swimming hole , along with canoes. However, it wasn’t long before tragedy began to strike Lake Shawnee Amusement Park. 

A little girl died on the swings, and later, a boy drowned in the pond. Six visitors died in the park’s short history, and in 1966, the park became abandoned. Another 20 years later, a real estate developer purchased the land to build suburban neighborhoods, but when construction began, they unearthed Native American bones and artifacts, revealing the land’s history as an ancient burial ground. Construction plans quickly halted, and the remains of the amusement park sat to rot and rust. 

Services

If you have an affinity for all things spooky and haunted, you can schedule a private tour with a professional to explore the property. Or join paranormal investigators to see what haunted energies you can find. In the fall, a “Dark Carnival” pops up at the amusement park, with a spooky clown-infested corn maze. Gather around a fire pit to hear stories from people who have had their own haunted experiences at Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, whether on paranormal explorations or from visiting while the park was still open…

Why Your Engagement Session Here Would Be Incredible!

If you’re into spooky, haunted vibes, Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is an amazing place for engagement photos! Creaky and rusted slides, a towering ferris wheel overgrown with ivy and brush, and hanging swings lend an extra creepy aesthetic while still offering colorful outdoor backdrops. In the fall, the surrounding hills light up with bright autumn foliage. At sunset, the property truly glows with golden light, adding an ethereal romance to the space. Want an idea of how your engagement session could look? Check out my Instagram post from the last engagement photoshoot I did at Lake Shawnee Amusement Park here! 

Lake Shawnee Amusement Park

If spooky, romantic vibes are your thing, you have to consider having your engagement photos taken at Lake Shawnee Amusement Park. I’ll make sure your photos are elegant, romantic, and unique to you and your partner for an album full of truly unforgettable pictures. 

It would be my honor to help you capture this special day with photos I know you will love and treasure forever. I’m happy to introduce myself and share all of the ways that my experience as a wedding photographer can be beneficial for your wedding day!

• Your Love Story Begins at a Rockefeller Park Greenhouse Wedding
• A Treehouse Celebration of Love at the Mohican Wedding Venue!