Inside abandoned £75m theme park left to rot for 20 years | World | News
Once-popular Wild West theme park has stood empty for almost 20 years (Image: SWNS)
Abandoned theme parks often attract the attention of urban explorers. One such attraction can be found in Japan, where the once popular Wild West theme park has been left vacant for almost 20 years.
Western Village is located in Nikko, about two hours from Tokyo. The attraction was once a major tourist destination, welcoming visitors from across Japan and beyond. However, the park is now in ruins after its gates were closed in 2007.
The site was surveyed by urban explorer Luke Bradburn during a visit in February 2024. (Image: SWNS)
Western Village first opened in 1973 under the name Kinugawa Family Ranch (Image: SWNS)
Visitors can wander through a recreation of a 19th-century frontier town (Image: SWNS)
This area was explored by urban explorer Luke Bradburn, 28, from Bury, Greater Manchester, during a visit in February 2024.
Western Village first opened in 1973 as the Kinugawa Family Farm.
It started as a small family attraction focusing on horseback riding, fishing and outdoor activities.
With increasing interest in American cowboy culture in Japan, the owners later rebranded it as Western Village in 1975.
Visitors were able to walk through a recreation of a 19th-century frontier town, complete with a sheriff’s office, bank, barber shop, hotel and general store.
The larger park is estimated to have cost more than £75 million to build and expand over the years (Image: SWNS)
Park owners spent nearly £20 million on a third-scale replica of Mount Rushmore (Image: SWNS)
In December 2006, Western Village announced it was temporarily closing for winter maintenance. (Image: SWNS)
The park also featured live cowboy shows, saloons, arcades, and dozens of life-size animatronic cowboys and musicians.
One of the most unusual attractions was a historic wooden church purchased in California, taken apart and shipped to Japan before being rebuilt on site.
But the biggest addition came in 1995. Park owners spent nearly £20 million on a one-third scale replica of Mount Rushmore, as well as the American Dome theater and other attractions.
The larger park is estimated to have cost more than £75 million to build and expand over the years.
But the massive investment failed to attract enough visitors, as the park also faced increasing competition from attractions such as Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan.
At the same time, its remote location made it difficult to attract visitors.
In December 2006, Western Village announced it was temporarily closing for winter maintenance.
Luke spent about three hours exploring the abandoned area (Image: SWNS)
While inside, he saw dusty arcade machines, animatronics, and even bottles still lying on the tables. (Image: SWNS)
It was planned to reopen in March 2007. However, the theme park never reopened and went into foreclosure in 2007.
Many parts of the theme park are still standing today.
Luke spent about three hours exploring the abandoned area. While inside, he saw dusty arcade machines, animatronics, and even bottles still lying on the tables.
Speaking about the experience, she said: “It felt very apocalyptic as I walked around. It was completely silent but everything was still overgrown.”
He added: “It’s crazy to see everything still intact. It’s so different in Japan. The crime rate is so low that abandoned buildings aren’t looted or demolished as quickly, leaving them standing abandoned for years.”
