Bali Culture – Abandoned theme park
Taman Festival – Abandoned theme park, Sanur
If you are bored with the temples and had enough of the beach, take a few hours (plus plenty of mosquito repellent) and explore the abandoned theme park, Taman Festival in Sanur.
The 8 hectare park opened in 1997 with the world’s first inverted roller coaster, Bali’s biggest swimming pool, 3-D theatres, volcanos and laser shows. But on Friday the 13th of March 1998 the five-million dollar laser equipment was struck by lightning. Due to the insurance not paying, the Asian economic crisis, and dwindling tourist numbers in Bali at the time, the place was an economic loss and closed its doors in 2000.
The place was literally abandoned including the crocodiles! Supposedly the locals fed them live chickens for a while, until eventually the crocs resorted to cannibalism. There’s an urban legend that the crocodiles ate humans, another reason why the Balinese won’t go near the place, the first reason is they think it is haunted, which after visiting the 3D theatre you can understand why, it’s kind of creepy!
The foliage has engulfed the buildings and there are so many buildings and structures, barely recognisable for their function but you can identify, the ticket office, the laser show area, the hotel, the 3d theatre, the engine room, the amphitheatre and the man made volcano.
It’s hard to imagine what this abandoned theme park would have been like when it was open as now the place is overgrown with roots and covered with some excellent graffiti. It seems that Balinese graffiti artists are not afraid of ghosts.
It’s like a 10 year old’s adventure, imagination gone wild, there are so many buildings to explore, basements and corridors. The trees have grown into the roof of the hotel so it creaks creepily and there are vines dropping through the roof. Wear running shoes as there is a lot of glass still around, plus the foliage has taken over some of the path ways.
As this is an abandoned theme park there should be no entrance fee but you will hit up for 10,000 IDR, about 80 cents US for 2-3 hours is a bargain in my book. Click here for directions