4. The Closure

In 1980, after suffering from a horrific heatwave, Dogpatch, USA filed for bankruptcy. Union Planters Bank put it up for sale to make a dent in the $7 million owed in loans. Ozarks Entertainment, Inc. Bought it and ran until 1986, and a company named Telcor took over the park after that, but by that time the majority of children didn’t even know who the characters from Li’l Abner are. After efforts to save it like turning it into a less expensive arts and crafts park and charging per attraction instead of by admission failed, Dogpatch, USA closed for good in October of 1993.

The property went through a few more hands, and eventually became renamed the Village of Dogpatch. Even though a fire slowed things somewhat in February, it looks like the theme park might have a chance at continuing on and rebuilding its legacy. Look below at photos of Dogpatch prior to the fire.

First up is Dogpatch Caverns, a nearby cave that is the only operation from the original Dogpatch still around today. Photos by Clinton Steeds

Here are photos of the area as a whole, also from Clinton Steeds.

A couple photos in black and white that set an eery mood, courtesy of craigfinlay on Flickr.

This one’s from Chris Litherland via Wikimedia Commons

Spooky, huh? There weren’t a ton of photos we could use, but a simple Google search reveals a lot more for you to browse. Hope you enjoyed the legacy of a mostly-forgotten comic book character and the park that rose and fell from it!