The late afternoon sun cast long, eerie shadows across the rusted entrance of Ladda Land, Chiang Mai’s forgotten amusement park. As a documentary photographer, I had heard whispers about this abandoned place – stories that sent chills down the spines of locals. What began as a simple photo project would become an encounter I would never forget.
Established in the vibrant 1980s, Ladda Land once echoed with children’s laughter and the joyful sounds of carnival music. Now, it stood as a haunting testament to forgotten memories, its once-gleaming rides now covered in layers of dust and decay. The park’s entrance, once welcoming and bright, now looked like a gaping mouth ready to swallow unsuspecting visitors.
Walking through the deteriorating pathways, I noticed something peculiar. Dusty footprints appeared in areas where no human could have recently walked. The silence was occasionally interrupted by faint sounds of children laughing – a sound that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. My camera, typically my most trusted companion, began to behave strangely, capturing images that defied explanation.
An old, faded polaroid caught my attention, lying near a broken carousel. The photograph showed a happy family, their smiles frozen in time, yet something about their eyes seemed… off. As I picked it up, the carousel beside me suddenly creaked to life. No electricity powered the park, yet its music played a haunting melody that seemed to call out to something unseen.
Following the mysterious music, I discovered the park’s centerpiece – a massive Ferris wheel standing impossibly still yet radiating an otherworldly energy. Shadows flickered in its carriages, glimpses of children playing, their translucent forms dancing between reality and the supernatural. My camera continued capturing images of spirits that weren’t physically present, each photograph revealing more of the park’s dark history.
Later research revealed a tragic story. Multiple accidents had occurred during Ladda Land’s operational years, with several children losing their lives in mysterious circumstances. Local Buddhist monks regularly performed ceremonies to calm the restless spirits trapped within the park’s grounds. The polaroid I found seemed to be a key, connecting past tragedies to the present supernatural manifestation.
As the sun began to set, casting an orange-red glow across the abandoned park, I realized I was no longer alone. The spirits of Ladda Land had chosen to reveal their stories, their presence both terrifying and mesmerizing. My photographs would become evidence of a realm between the living and the dead, a testament to the park’s haunting legacy.
For those brave enough to visit, Ladda Land remains a chilling reminder that some places never truly become abandoned – they simply wait, watching, remembering.
Horror Level:
4 / 5
Categories: Asian Horror, Ghost Stories, Ghost Stories, Haunted Places, Paranormal Photography, Urban Legends
Tags: abandoned amusement park, Chiang Mai haunted sites, ghost stories, Haunted Places, paranormal photography, supernatural, Thai Ghosts, Urban Exploration
Religion: Buddhism
Country of Origin: Thailand
Topic: Haunted Places
Ethnicity: Thai
