An abandoned theme park in Marble Falls, Arkansas, US, is about to undergo a major renovation to become an eco-theme park.

The former Dogpatch USA theme park – which originally opened in 1968 drawing upwards of 8,000 visitors a day – is still intact, but has become heavily overgrown and the victim of graffiti and vandalism in more than two decades since the park closed in 1993.


In its heyday, the theme park was highly popular

Attractions for the hillbilly-themed attraction included Barney Barnsmell's Skunk-Works, Rotten Ralphie's Rick-O-Shay Rifle Range and a roller coaster called Earthquake McGoon's Brain Rattler.

New owner Charles Pelsor plans to transform the 400 acre (1.6sq km) abandoned theme park, which he recently purchased for US$2m (€1.5m, £1.2m), into an eco-friendly destination, preserving the former theme park’s waterfalls, bridges and tram, with plans to also convert one of the site’s old mills into a restaurant.


Pelsor is hoping to preserve as much of the original theme park as possible

While Pelsor is also planning to add orchards, vineyards and a trout farm, he wants to retain as much of the original theme park as possible.

"Everything is real solid, this is in real good shape,” said Pelsor speaking to local news station KOLR10. "The train is one of those things that made Dogpatch. We have the infrastructure here, and I would like to get the train back.


After years of neglect, much of the park is in dire need of renovation

“Our plan is a bit dynamic, and it’s going to change as it goes along,” he continued. “But we are going to do green development, ecotourism.”

No costs or timeline for the renovation works have yet been set, though parts of the facility are expected to be up and running by October 2014.