Sandy Lake Amusement Park Closes After Almost 50 Years of Serving North Texans

[photo courtesy of Sandy Lake Amusement Park Facebook]
CARROLLTON  (WBAP/KLIF News) – After almost 50 years of operating, the Sandy Lake Amusement Park in Carrollton has closed its gates for good.

The owners of the park announced on Facebook that they’ve sold the property and the new owners will not open it for public use.

Frank Rush was one of the owners and said the decision wasn’t about money.

“It’s not the fact that we weren’t successful financially or otherwise. There’s just a lot of things for people enjoy in this country and times and things change,” he said.

Rush said amusement parks like Sandy Lake are dwindling nationwide.

“Not because its not successful but progress takes the place sometimes for home developments or industrial development or whatever. Families get older and change generations,” he said.

It’s a sentiment Rush said resonated with his family as well. They agreed it was time to move on.

Sandy Lake opened in 1971 and was once home to the country’s largest privately-owned school music competition.

In the Facebook post announcing the closure, the North Texas stapled thanked its millions of patrons and said in part:

“If the park’s legacy is leaving most people golden memories or pleasant thoughts, then the park has done its job.”

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