Here is a bit of interesting news.  Rock-a-Hoola/Lake Dolores to reopen?  Check out this article and video:

Abandoned water park near Barstow could reopen
The Sun
https://www.sbsun.com/2019/12/05/abandoned-water-park-near-barstow-could-reopen/?fbclid=IwAR1EeDYSYsyt1A1VDu3Qv6vW4EzGpxI_DIESgFjkN64of0A6Z4tDf2ZvseY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN2Kd82hf5I&feature=emb_logo

Santa's Village Reopening? REALLY?

Sky Park at Santa's Village is the name and it's much different than when it originally opened!

After closing in 1998, the long-beloved site will hold its grand reopening during the 2016 holiday season.

The website says "Opening December 2, 2016"

Here is the direct link to their website:  http://skyparksantasvillage.com/

On Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/skyparksantasvillage/


Lake Arrowhead's long-closed Santa's Village is set for a holiday comeback

Six weeks before Disneyland opened in 1955, California got another mid-century kitsch-fest of an amusement park, Santa’s Village.

Read all about it here!
https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/blog/lake-arrowheads-long-closed-santas-village-is-set-for-a-holiday-comeback-101916



SANTA'S VILLAGE IN SKYFOREST TO REOPEN AFTER 20 YEARS
http://abc7.com/society/santas-village-in-skyforest-to-reopen-after-20-years/1570744/


http://abc7.com/society/santas-village-in-skyforest-to-reopen-after-20-years/1570744/#videoplayer


Here’s what’s in store for Santa’s Village if it’s able to open Thanksgiving weekend

http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20161024/heres-whats-in-store-for-santas-village-if-its-able-to-open-thanksgiving-weekend

Six Flags New Orleans Drone Video

This drone video of Six Flags New Orleans is amazing!

SIX FLAGS New Orleans 2016 Aerials

Full page:
http://www.ksla.com/story/32569204/drone-video-captures-former-six-flags-new-orleans

Six Flags New Orleans/Jazzland and Jurassic World

The original post for the Katrina damaged Six Flags New Orleans has been very popular on Modern Day Ruins.

The original page can be viewed by visiting this link: http://www.moderndayruins.com/2012/09/six-flags-new-orleans.html

The abandoned theme park and ruins has been home for a few movies that have been filmed there:

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Killer Joe (2011)

Stolen (2012)

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)

But with box office numbers, the biggest to date is now Jurassic World.  Filming of Jurassic World began in June of 2014, where Jurassic World's Main Street was constructed. 

Here is a great overlay of Main Street built in the abandoned parking lot (click the images to enlarge):

The fun part is that even though the set has been demolished, the painted parking lot still outlines Jurassic World's Main Street:

(2014)

In The News

Movies Filmed at the Abandoned Park

Jurassic Wold being filmed at Six Flags New Orleans/Jazzland

More Jurassic World from Wired

Crandon Park Zoo - Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade, Florida

Crandon Park Zoo

Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade, Florida

I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last post. I have 3 interesting places suggested by one of our readers Tatiana Reina. The first of which is the Crandon Park Zoo. Thank you Tatiana for sharing this abandon place with us, and for the great photos.

	Photo credit: Tatiana Reina

The Crandon Park Zoo occupied 48 acres at the Crandon Park on Key Biscayne. It was created in 1948 when three monkeys, one goat and two black bears were purchased for $270 from a small road show/circus stranded near Miami. 

 In 1965, Hurricane Betsy put three feet of water over most of the zoo and caused the deaths of 250 animals., and efforts was made to find a better location. In 1980 the Crandon Park Zoo was moved from the park to a location south of Miami, and became the Miami Metro Zoo.
 Sources:  http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=676; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crandon_Park



Opened: 1948
Closed and abandoned: 1980
Today: Cages and buildings can be found in the area known today as the Crandon Gardens.

Google Maps

2014

2002

2006

1999

1995

Photos

 Photo credit: Tatiana Reina          

 Photo credit: Tatiana Reina  

  Photo credit: Tatiana Reina  

  Photo credit: Tatiana Reina  

 Photo credit: Tatiana Reina  

Videos

Links

Articles

A Look Back at Crandon Park Zoo
By Levi Meyer
(year not given)

Of Gorillas and Ghosts
By Jim W. Harper
April 2013

More Photos

The old entrance 

Historic black and white photos

Photos on Facebook

More photos

Modern Day Ruins on Facebook

Check out the latest news and updates for abandoned places and modern day ruins by joining our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/moderndayruins.

El Pueblito Beach Resort, Cancun

El Pueblito

From the hotel description on travel websites:  

El Pueblito Beach Hotel is an all-inclusive resort located on the best beach in Cancun, is the perfect enclosure combining a traditional Mexican atmosphere with the vanguard and ecological development of a cosmopolitan environment. The colonial style architecture and traditional activities will make you live the experience of a Mexican atmosphere in the Caribbean.

The Hotel offers a selection of daytime activities as well as a variety of water sports availables at the premices. In the evening live music in "La Cantina" Lobby Bar an old mexican style bar that will make feel like drinking Tequila and singing "Mariachi". 

El Pueblito Beach Hotel has 29 small buildings with 3 or 4 floors surrounded by gardens, each building has 3 or 7 rooms per floor, with superior and penthouse rooms.

350 rooms. 

5 cascading pools. 

All rooms have balcony or terrace, individually controlled air-conditioning, private bathroom, color T.V., telephone.

Our beautiful rooms are distribuited in 29 colonial villas decorated with typical Mexican style elements, exactly what you need to relax.

View the original website on the Internet Archive.

El Pueblito Marketing Video

Hurricane Wilma

Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma was the twenty-second storm, thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, fourth Category 5 hurricane.

Total fatalities: 62

Lowest pressure: 882 mb

Highest winds: 183 mph (295 km/h)

Date: October 15, 2005 – October 26, 2005

Category: Category 5 Hurricane (SSHS)

Affected areas: Atlantic Canada, Yucatán, Cayman Islands, More

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Wilma

Like the rest of the hotels in Cancun, the El Pueblito was hit hard by Hurricane Wilma.  According to http://www.afterwilma.info/cancun-hotel-zone/, the hotel hoped to be fully operational by May 2006, but this didn’t happen.

Opened: Not sure the exact opening date, but based on a post here, the hotel was open in 1987.  It's at least that old. Another post, states it was as old as the 1970's.

September 6, 2007: "I worked there 20 years ago it was a dump when it was NEW there were always complaints from the guests about electricity plumbing AC. I doubt that anything has changed much."

Closed and Abandoned: Sometime in late 2006, after Hurricane Wilma.

Today: Still abandoned

Research on the closing of the resort:

Most of the information showing El Pueblito went through a period of opening and repairs after Wilma come from posts made by forum users.  The best source found however, was from an article Beaches bring benefits: Cancun struggles to restore shorelines wrecked by Wilma published on March 9, 2006.  This article had a photo of a crew working to repair El Pueblito (below).

LUIS J. JIMENEZ / Copley News Service (Early 2006)

At Cancun's El Pueblito hotel, workers rushed to finish repairs caused by October's Hurricane Wilma.

---

From a discussion board at: http://www.cancuncare.com/forum/cancun-hotels/100-el-pueblito-ai-2.html

February 4, 2006:  "Got a call from my travel agent today, and she stated that El Pueblito will be opening back up March 1, 2006, but with minor renovations taking play maybe until may, but at least in april... All entertainment will be relocated to the pool area also.."

---

February 17, 2006: "Ok, not great news here guys. Call your travel agents and get them on the horn, word is that El Pueblito will NOT open until May 1, 2006"

---

The following email from El Pueblito received on March 10, 2006:

"Let me inform you that the Hotel is open partialy, we just have open aprox 50 rooms. I hope in May all roms(349) are going to be ready.

-We have open 2 restaurants

-The lobby bar

-Five pools and slidewater

-The entertaiment team offers activities during day and night

If you have any further assistance do not hestiate to contact me

Best Regards

Adriana Castil

Encargada de reservaciones/Reservations Manger

Tel: 998 - 881 8800

Fax: 998 - 885 2066

www.pueblitohotels.com

msn: acastilu@hotmail.com

EL RINCON MÀS MEXICANO DEL CARIBE"

------------------

May 4, 2006:

"Ok guys - just got home last night from Cancun and wanted to let eveyone who has reservations at the El Pueblito know that all is good! The beach, the hotel, the staff - ALL IS GOOD!! Even though only about 40% of the rooms are available for use, the resort is up and running and we weren't a bit disappointed in chosing the El Pueblito. We were there from April 26 through May 3, 2006 and we're already making plans to be there again in 2007. Hopefully I'll have pictures to post within the next few days. Again - ALL IS GOOD at the El Pueblito!"

---

December 23, 2006:   STATUS - CLOSED

"Does anyone know what is going on with El Pueblito? I know its closed (supposedly for completion of renovations), but I can't seem to find anyone who can tell me when its due to re-open...if its going to re-open at all. My aunt has a condo there and has had it for the past 30 years. She is from NY and so she winters here...doesn't look like that's happening this year. I appreciate any information. Thanks!"

---

January 17, 2007 from this page.

"I have a family member who owns a condo at El Pueblito (small property next to Playa Delfines). She is an owner (not timeshare) since the 70's and needs some help with the current hotel situation. The "situation" is this: El Pueblito closed in the fall with no listed date of re-opening. The condo owners are being told that the owners of El Pueblito are waiting to see if a Spanish company will purchase the property and continue renovating (which they can't do without the signatures and approval of condo owners). In any case, its a HUGE mess. 

I would like to ask if any of you guys know of a local lawyer (who has some influence) who would work with the condo owners on this."

Google Earth

2005

2009

2010

 2011

2012

Photos

This photo was taken in February 2006, shortly after Hurricane Wilma.

Also 2006

This photo was taken in October 2013.

Comparison July 2005.  Notice the blue on building in background.  That is to the right in the photos above.

Same area, October 2013

Same area, October 2013

Kids Club/Area

Kids area, October 2013

Kids area (different place from above)

Pool Area

2005

2013

2013

2005

2013 (see yellow painting at bar in photo below, curved trunk on left matches.)

2006

2006

2013 (compare the "bench" on the left to the image below)

pre-Wilma

2005 (the hut roof is gone, blue walls are now white)

2005 (the hut roof is gone, blue walls are now white)

2006

2013

Detail, top center building, 2013

Details Right Side From Beach

2013

2006

2013

2013

2013

2013

2013

2013

The Wall

2013

How sad is it to see how much people enjoyed the resort?

Pre-2005

2005

Front Sign

2005

2013

Above From Crystal

Links

Beaches bring benefits: Cancun struggles to restore shorelines wrecked by Wilma

COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

March 9, 2006

This article has a photo of repairs going on at El Pueblito.

A Story of Staying at El Pueblito during Hurricane Wilma

"We stayed in 2005 when Hurricane Wilma hit. We were evacuated into a school in Cancun. The staff were amazing they looked after us stayed with us and cared for us beyond belief. It was a very threatening and scary time. The staff were amazing the hurricane proceedure was well planned and went smoothly. Our rooms my teenagers, husband and I were near to the sea wall the buildings were steady although trashed but weathered the storm. I am so glad we stayed here other people were in their hotels throghout the hurricane and suffered terribly. Wilma was no walk in the park.. We have a great fondness for the staff and owners of this hotel ...good people Don't diss this hotel.
From a Travel website review.

The Unknown Structure Next Door (Right from Beach)

Does anyone know anything about the structure next door?

2013

2013

Notice the guy digging! (2013)

2013

Some photos from 2010