Oldest Theme Parks in the World
The oldest park is not necessarily the one with the oldest surviving ride. Parks rebuild, change owners and reinvent their attractions while keeping a continuous identity as a place people visit. This list uses each park's recorded opening year, not the date of its oldest coaster or its most recent expansion.
We look only at operating parks in ParkRank's curated global index, sorted oldest first. It is not a census of every amusement park on earth and should not be read as a claim about the oldest park worldwide. The narrower lens lets you ask a more useful travel question: which long-running parks are still compelling enough to feature in a modern global ranking?
Read the age beside the quality score. Longevity can mean deep traditions and a mature setting, but it does not guarantee a strong visit today. A historic garden park and a century-old thrill park have preserved very different reasons to return; the individual profiles show the current attractions behind each place.
The parks, in order
Cedar Point
An Ohio park on Lake Erie known as the roller coaster capital of the world. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Hersheypark
A Pennsylvania park built around chocolate, with a strong coaster collection. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Knott's Berry Farm
America's first theme park, in California, still full of roller coasters. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Liseberg
Sweden's much-loved garden park in Gothenburg, with excellent wooden coasters. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Efteling
A Dutch fairy-tale park with storybook rides and top roller coasters. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Disneyland Park
The first Disney park, in California — compact, walkable and packed with rides. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
A Florida park combining big roller coasters with a large zoo. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Silver Dollar City
A Missouri park styled as an 1880s craft village, with excellent coasters. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Nagashima Spa Land
A Japanese park with one of the world's longest coasters and hot-spring baths next door. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Phantasialand
A small German park with incredibly detailed themed worlds and three big coasters. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Fuji-Q Highland
A Japanese thrill park with record-breaking coasters and views of Mount Fuji. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Legoland Billund Resort
The original Legoland, in Denmark, built for families with young children. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Magic Kingdom
The world's most visited theme park, in Walt Disney World, Florida. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
A California thrill park with about 20 roller coasters. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.
Walibi Holland
A loud, thrill-focused Dutch park aimed at teens and coaster fans. Its position here reflects its opening date, not the age of its current rides.