Clementon Park and Splash World closed permanently after 7 September 2026 and its property went to auction. The 119-year-old New Jersey amusement park announced the decision two days later, saying it would not reopen for 2027. Bidding on the site opened at $1.5 million on 19 October.
When Clementon Park Closed and Why
The park’s last operating day was 7 September 2026, the end of Labor Day weekend, and management announced the permanent closure on social media on 9 September. The statement said the owners had made “the difficult decision to close the park and plan to offer the park for sale”, and that they hoped to “find a buyer who shares our love for Clementon Park and will carry its history and legacy forward”.
No reason for the closure was given. The announcement cited neither attendance, costs nor debt, and the owners have not published one since, which leaves the commercial explanation unverified.
The site opened in 1907 as Clementon Lake Park, a trolley park built to fill weekend seats on a transit line running between South Jersey and Philadelphia. At the time it closed it was owned by IB Parks and Entertainment, a Chicago-based operator.
What Happened at the October Auction
Bidding closed on 21 October 2026 and no sale has been publicly reported. The property was offered through a virtual auction run by RI Marketplace that opened at noon on 19 October and ran for 48 hours, with bidding starting at $1.5 million.
Marketing materials pitched the site broadly. Reporting on the listing said an investor could keep running it as a park, use it as an event venue, or redevelop it as multifamily or senior housing, a hotel, or retail and dining space.
Published descriptions of the property do not agree. Philadelphia outlet coverage put it at 45 acres including a private lake, other reporting described a 52-acre campus, and the park’s encyclopedia entry lists 17 acres, so the exact size of what was for sale is unclear from public sources.
What is clear is that the sale had not completed a week later. On 28 October 2026, local television coverage still described the park as up for sale and maintained by its owners.
Has This Happened Before?
Yes, and the first time ended in a reopening. The park shut abruptly on 8 September 2019 under its previous owner, Premier Parks, after tickets had already been sold for the following season.
A court placed the business in receivership in January 2021 following a lender’s lawsuit, and the property was auctioned that March. It sold for about $2.37 million, although some outlets reported the price as $2.6 million, and the buyer was later identified as the developer behind IB Parks and Entertainment. The park reopened on 25 June 2021.
That sequence is why a second closure does not automatically mean demolition. It also means the 2026 auction is the second time in seven years that this park has been sold off the back of a permanent closure, a pattern that also played out when Six Flags America closed after 51 years and its site was sold.
What Happens to the Rides and the Hellcat
No public plan for the rides has been announced. The park’s best-known attraction is Hellcat, a hybrid wooden coaster built by S&S that opened in 2004 and was latterly listed as closed pending a refurbishment by Rocky Mountain Construction that it never received.
King Neptune’s Revenge, an Intamin log flume, was also listed as closed pending renovations. Industry coverage following the closure suggested most of the remaining rides could be sold and relocated to other parks, though no transfers have been confirmed.
Whether Hellcat survives depends entirely on who bought the land and what they intend, neither of which is public. Coasters are routinely scrapped when a park is redeveloped, as happened when Six Flags retired X2 for good.
Why People Are Being Warned Away From the Site
Clementon Police said on 28 October 2026 that they would increase patrols around the closed park after a social media post encouraged people to break in for a game of hide-and-seek on Halloween night. Officers said the property is neither vacant nor abandoned, remains owned and maintained, and is staffed by private security.
The warning was explicit that anyone entering would be trespassing and could be arrested and prosecuted. Police did not report any actual break-ins.
Clementon Park’s Status as of 30 October 2026
As of 30 October 2026, Clementon Park and Splash World is permanently closed, will not operate in 2027, and has no publicly confirmed buyer following the auction that ended on 21 October. The most recent verified development is the police warning issued on 28 October.
No demolition, redevelopment application or reopening has been announced. Anyone expecting a quick answer on the site’s future should note that the 2019 closure took about 21 months to resolve into a reopening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clementon Park Closed for Good?
It is permanently closed and will not operate in 2027. Its owners said in September 2026 that they would sell the property rather than run it.
Did Clementon Park Sell at the Auction?
No buyer has been publicly reported. Bidding ended on 21 October 2026, and a week later local coverage still described the site as for sale.
Why Did Clementon Park Close?
The owners never gave a reason. Their announcement described it only as a difficult decision and said the park would be offered for sale.
How Old Was Clementon Park?
It opened in 1907 as Clementon Lake Park, making it 119 years old when it shut, and it began life as a trolley park serving a line to Philadelphia.
Can You Visit the Closed Park?
No. The site is private property with security on duty, and police said in October 2026 that trespassers would be arrested.
