Pripyat Amusement Park - Usage Update
Just when you think you know the facts about something, new information becomes available that makes you take a deep breath, scratch your head and say “Hmmmm.”
When researching the Chernobyl disaster, people are typically surprised to discover that the city of Pripyat, former home to the Chernobyl plant workers, had a small amusement park. The park was a new facility, and according to most sources, was due to open on May 1, 1986. Since the city was evacuated on April 27, the park never opened, and therefore the rides were never used.
Flash foward to a discuss we had today on the Pripyat.com forums, I learned from my friend Sasha that this information may not be 100% accurate. First, there is no concrete information about the planned start date, but it may not have been May 1. Further, the amusement park actually did operate for one day - April 27, the day of the evacuation!
How do we know this? The primary source is “Unforgettable,” an amateur film shot by Michael Nazarenko in Pripyat on April 26 and 27, 1986. Besides many “live” scenes in Pripyat, the film shows three still photographs of the amusement park in operation. In the third photo of the Ferris Wheel, you can clearly see people riding in one of the cars - upper right corner (click on the photos for links to normal size photos on the Pripyat.com site).
One questionable theory is that the park was open on April 27 to keep the townspeople busy until the evacuation started. Keep in mind, this is only an assumption. Sasha does not remember the park ever working, and neither do any of his friends. However, the photos clearly show people using the rides.
“Unforgettable” has been available for viewing on Pripyat.com since June 2006. I know I have seen it before, and could just kick myself for not paying close enough attention to these photos and questioning what I previously heard about the park rides working.
In light of these new insights, I am quite comfortable saying that the amusement park was indeed used before the evacuation, even if only for a short time. I would also say that the official scheduled opening day was probably May 1, but could have been earlier.
“Unforgettable,” is available for viewing at the Russian-language Pripyat.com site (the film is Russian and runs approximately 11 minutes).
When researching the Chernobyl disaster, people are typically surprised to discover that the city of Pripyat, former home to the Chernobyl plant workers, had a small amusement park. The park was a new facility, and according to most sources, was due to open on May 1, 1986. Since the city was evacuated on April 27, the park never opened, and therefore the rides were never used.
Flash foward to a discuss we had today on the Pripyat.com forums, I learned from my friend Sasha that this information may not be 100% accurate. First, there is no concrete information about the planned start date, but it may not have been May 1. Further, the amusement park actually did operate for one day - April 27, the day of the evacuation!
How do we know this? The primary source is “Unforgettable,” an amateur film shot by Michael Nazarenko in Pripyat on April 26 and 27, 1986. Besides many “live” scenes in Pripyat, the film shows three still photographs of the amusement park in operation. In the third photo of the Ferris Wheel, you can clearly see people riding in one of the cars - upper right corner (click on the photos for links to normal size photos on the Pripyat.com site).
One questionable theory is that the park was open on April 27 to keep the townspeople busy until the evacuation started. Keep in mind, this is only an assumption. Sasha does not remember the park ever working, and neither do any of his friends. However, the photos clearly show people using the rides.
“Unforgettable” has been available for viewing on Pripyat.com since June 2006. I know I have seen it before, and could just kick myself for not paying close enough attention to these photos and questioning what I previously heard about the park rides working.
In light of these new insights, I am quite comfortable saying that the amusement park was indeed used before the evacuation, even if only for a short time. I would also say that the official scheduled opening day was probably May 1, but could have been earlier.
“Unforgettable,” is available for viewing at the Russian-language Pripyat.com site (the film is Russian and runs approximately 11 minutes).
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Great find, Mark.
Posted by: Lindsay | January 29, 2008 4:20 PM
Thanks Lindsay. The film "Unforgettable" surfaced at Pripyat.com about two weeks after my trip to the Zone. Therefore, I don't think Sasha could have told me in person, even if I had the ability to communicate in Russian.
Posted by: Mark
| January 29, 2008 7:11 PM
Hi Mark,
What a great story. I am currently working on a project about unusual amusement parks and would love to hear more about Pripyat. Could I contact you directly?
Best regards, Eefje
Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Posted by: eefje | July 30, 2008 4:14 AM