Written by Dawn Andrews, our paranormal team member, on the history and own personal accounts of the location.
Lake Shawnee was a place that once was happy. Where people could come and enjoy a
day at the best little amusement park in the area of Rock, WV. But, before it was a amusement park it was land owned and lived on by the Clay family. They lived there in the late 1700’s.
The Clay family bought the 800 acre farm and had 14 children. Later down the road, the Tragedy of 1783 happen when Native Americans killed 2 of the Clay children and took the 3rd child and burned him at the stake. All three children are buried there. There are only two named on the grave site; Bartley and Tabitha Clay. But, Ezekiel the third child is also buried there as well.
The property wasn’t noticed until it was bought by a man named Snidow and that's when he started to bringing the rides. There were swings, water slides, a swimming pond, a dance hall and yes even a speakeasy. This was all done in the year 1920. By, 1966 things had went wrong and the amusement park abandoned. After all these years the rides began to fade the bright colors away. Everything began to rust and become restless. Then, after almost 20 years later of sitting abandoned a man named Gaylord White came in and bought the little amusement park. He wanted to build more rides and bring it back to life, but as they began to dig they unearthed bones, a lot of bones. The property was built on Native Americans burial grounds. So, the White family decided not to build there community lots and left everything the way it was.
So, know you know some of the History. Let me tell you about it from my point of view. I have been there at least four times. All the times I have been there it has been the most peaceful feeling. You can almost see what it was like back in the day when it was in full swing! You can hear the kids laugh as they enjoy their day at the amusement park. But, then at times you feel the sadness of the death of the two children there. Let to tell you about them and how they passed. Lets start with the little boy who died in the swimming pond. He is about 6, he went in and the pipes at the bottom were to powerful for him to get away, and it pulled him under and he drowned. They had to drain the pond and found him with his arm in the drain pipe. Then there's the little girl in white. She was on the swings and was having a great time, when a delivery truck backed to far in the swings area and she was going around and she hit the back of the truck and died.
The first time I was there I felt the little boys cold fingers touch my elbow and I cried for at least 10 minutes. I felt all of emotions that he had felt. When you are there you will sense a lot happiness, sad, excited and even at times confusion. With all of my experiences there has never been a dual moment at Lake Shawnee. But, the best feeling you will feel there is peacefulness and calming. You will want to go back! If your like me you will go back, over and over, you will be drawn to it. But, keep this in mind, when you are there these spirits come and go freely they aren’t bound there. I know the little boy has been here in my home and when I go back he is there. They go where they please!
The owner, Chris, brothers' bus is there as well and I will share his story as well some. But, not all because you have to do the tour! Chris is amazing at telling all about the history! But, if you take pictures of the bus look for a face with a beard and/or a clown face. But, remember this, if you want to go in the bus make sure you ask to come on to his bus first. If you just go in without asking he might get up set! I always ask him to bang if he doesn’t want me on the bus, and if nothing happens then that means I can go on. All the spirits know me by name there. So, if you hear the name Dawn, then you know that's me and they will call you by name when you visit often.
Please don’t go and try to poke them. They are all friendly and will talk to you. You just have to be patient with them! Many of them are the children I have told you about, the three siblings and the two who passed on the grounds. So, treat them as you would the living ones, they can get scared, upset and be playful. Take your time to work with them, and they will want to be your friend, just like with me!
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