"Two US Theme Parks Earn Notorious Titles for Danger, Featuring a Notable Deadly Incident in History"

THE United States dominates a new list of the theme parks with the most dangerous reputations in the world.

Two amusement parks from New Jersey claim first and second place out of 10, with a total of four US parks making the list.

Two US theme parks including the Six Flags Great Adventure Park in New Jersey top a new list for amusement parks with the world’s most dangerous reputations Credit: Alamy The now-closed Action Park in New Jersey tops the list after six died and punters were left bleeding with skin ripped off, broken bones, and concussions Credit: Action Park Vicente Gutierrez, 22, survived the 2003 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad crash at Disneyland California, which killed his friend and injured nine others, putting the park fifth place on the list Credit: Getty The rankings of the parks are not based on live safety warnings for visitors, but rather historical analysis of the most well-known incidents Credit: Getty

The rankings have been compiled by researchers at SEOBacklinks who have analyzed , and how much they have been discussed online.

The data experts stress that the list spans historic and current amusement parks and is solely based on reputation and should not be taken as a live safety warning for visitors.

A number of the listed parks have either undergone major changes, such as ownership and safety reforms, or have closed since their most infamous incidents.

Topping the list is , a notorious amusement and water park that opened in 1978 and saw at least six fatalities and scores of injuries, including broken and dislocated bones, chipped teeth, cold water shock, and concussions, until its closure in 1996.

Dubbed the world’s most dangerous amusement park, Action Park was also nicknamed Accident Park or Class Action Park.

Rides lacked modern safety restraints, were poorly designed, including the now-famous concrete alpine slides, and operated by underage and undertrained staff.

There were also reports of guests and staff being under the influence, which all contributed to its woeful safety record and a torrent of lawsuits that eventually led to its demise.

Gene Mulvihill, who founded the park, “didn’t want to do the same old s***, where you just get strapped into something or it twirls around,” his son Andy told Sports Illustrated .

“He wanted to take the idea of skiing, which is exhilarating because you control the action, and transfer it to an amusement park. There’s inherent risk in that, but that’s what makes it fun.”

Johnny Knoxville, who produced and featured in the movie Action Point about the park, told the outlet how he strapped himself into a cart on the iconic Alpine Slide and went town at full tilt with an ambulance waiting.

“They put me right in it. I flew off the track, about 20 feet in the air, maybe six feet above the ground, and landed face-first. Severe concussion.

“Right to the hospital. When I got home, suddenly, my left eye popped out – what they call a blowout fracture.”

Despite its reputation, at its peak, the park brought in around 12,000 visitors on the busiest weekends and over a million a year, which park officials said put the injury and death rate into context.

Number two on the list is Six Flags Great Adventure, also in New Jersey, where one of the deadliest amusement park incidents in US history took place.

In 1984, eight teenagers died in a fire in the Haunted Castle attraction after becoming trapped in the burning structure.

The blaze was sparked when a 14-year-old used a cigarette lighter to see in the dark maze, which then made contact with a piece of foam on the wall, igniting it immediately.

The structure was found to be lined with highly flammable materials, and prosecutors argued in court that official warnings to install sprinklers and other fire safety precautions had been ignored.

The jury found defendants not guilty of criminal charges, but Six Flags paid out millions in damages to the families of victims, and the case also triggered fire safety reforms for amusement parks.

“Action Park stands apart because its reputation was not built on one disaster alone,” the analysts explained.

“Its notoriety came from repeated injury reports, high-risk attractions, and a long-running public image as a park where danger was part of the draw.

“Six Flags Great Adventure and Battersea Park Fun Fair rank high because of the scale of single disasters.

“The Haunted Castle fire remains one of the deadliest amusement park incidents in US history.”

The other two US amusement parks on the list are Disneyland Resort, California, and Kings Island, Ohio, which has been owned by Six Flags since 2024.

Disney ranks number five after multiple fatalities over its history, including the that killed a 22-year-old passenger and injured 10 others after a mechanical failure.

Pallbearers carry casket down front steps of Nativity Catholic Church in Torrance after funeral for Marcelo Torres, 22, who was killed on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride Credit: Getty Six Flags Great Adventure land ranks number two on the list after the Haunted Castle fire in 1984 that killed eight teenagers Credit: MYK STREJA / WIKIPEDIA The Kings Island, Ohio, Son of Beast roller coaster, which has since been removed, was linked to rider injuries and earned it 10th place in the list Credit: Getty Action Park quickly became dubbed ‘Class Action Park’ or ‘Accident Park’ due to the scores of injuries suffered by thrill seekersCredit: Not known clear with picture desk

Kings Island comes in at number 10 due to injuries from the now-removed Son of Beast rollercoaster.

Daniel Weston, a spokesperson for SEOBacklinks highlighted how theme park incidents are rare, especially in comparison with the number of visitors who go every year.

However, when they do happen, “public memory can keep one incident attached to a destination for decades,” he said, as the list reflects.

Just this weekend, one adult and 15 children were due to a malfunction, but no injuries were reported.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Six Flags and Disneyland Resorts for comment.