Taman Festival – Bali’s Abandoned and Haunted Theme Park

Not far from the main tourist area of Sanur, Bali, lies an old theme park, falling down and abandoned for several decades. What was once supposed to be the new center of tourism on the island, is now home to overgrown trees, derelict buildings, vine wrapped statues and walls covered with colorful Graffiti. Taman Festival is a place of mystery, history, and multiple evil spirits. Or is it…?

This article may contain affiliate links. If you click on those links and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you I will get a small commission. This will go a long way toward keeping this website running. As always, thank you for your support! Click HERE for more information.

What is Taman Festival?

Taman Festival is a theme park that was built back in the late 1990’s, and there were big plans surrounding how much tourism it was going to draw to the island. Costing $100 Million dollars to build, it was a very expensive project that never even saw the light of day. That’s right, the doors to the place never even opened.

So what happened? Some say they ran out of money before it was finished. Others claim there was a dispute over the land ownership, something that for such a big project SHOULD have been settled before they began sinking money into it. Of course, in Bali, land ownership can be a very ambiguous thing at the best of time. There are even some that talk of a major lightning strike that caused such irreparable damage that the park became simply unviable.

The park itself was supposed to be huge. Occupying a whopping piece of land along the beach at Sanur, it was home to a 3D theatre, an authentic erupting model of a volcano, a swimming pool planned to be the largest in Bali, roller coaster, and an actual crocodile pit!

In the end, though, the project sank. The doors remained closed and what was supposed to be such a grand attraction fell to wrack and ruin, destined to become the home of bats, reptiles, and the occasional curious tourist.

What it looks like now

Nowadays, Taman Festival is anything but what it was supposed to be once upon a time. Taking a wander through the ruins, it is hard to even imagine the grand plans that the government had for it. The place is so overgrown that it is even hard to find some of the buildings amongst the vines and undergrowth that has taken over. In other places, you can see the buildings, but hesitate about trying to actually reach them.

There are some buildings, however, that you CAN enter, such as the Turbo Theatre. You can wander around inside, and even get up to the old projector room. That is, IF you have strong nerves. Because there is one thing about Taman Festival that draws more tourists than anything else.

It is the most haunted place in Bali.

That’s right, haunted. The Balinese have a belief that lost spirits seek out abandoned places and occupy them. There are several of these places in Bali, such as Hotel Pondok Indah, abandoned on the hilltop at Bedugul. They are places that many find curious, and tourists like to visit. The Balinese, though, will never enter!

Indeed, at Taman Festival, the locals that sell tickets to tourists at the gate will not venture inside. You may even get strange looks from the warung owners across the road. The park is a place that they shy away from, and probably for good reason.

It is possible to get a tour of the park. I personally have not done it, but I have seen video and heard of the tours that people have done. They are akin to the sort of tours you might do in other countries of old Jails, and other such places that have seen much misery and death. These are places that cause the hair to stand up on the back of your neck, and your feet to feel like lead as you suddenly struggle to breathe. Places occupied by supernatural beings that reside, somehow, in the dark shadows.

This is Taman Festival. I stood at the entrance to Turbo Theatre and had that exact feeling. Do not enter. It was as if some unseen force was inside, holding an unseen door closed in front of me. I slowly backed away, eyes wide. I wasn’t messing with that.

A similar feeling came over me in another section of the park. My partner and I both looked at some dark and broken upstairs windows, and both of us had a strong feeling to stay away. We did.

Crocodiles and Ghosts

After we left the park that day, we headed home and straight away began searching YouTube. What we found amazed us, and if anything makes us want to return.

The park, even before it opened, was once home to a pit of crocodiles. When the park was abandoned they attempted to remove the crocodiles, but that ended in failure. The remaining crocs were fed for a time by local farmers, but as that food source slowly stopped, the reptiles began to turn on each other. These days, they say there are all gone, but there are strong rumours that at least one remains. This was fueled in recent years by a tourist who claims to have suffered a bite from the errant croc. Make of it what you will, but you won’t catch me going too close to the swampy, marshy area in the middle of the park.

What was even more disturbing, though, was the videos of the “ghost” tours. Several people toured the park, GoPro running, as they were taken around by a Psychic. He claimed to be able to see the Ghosts, and knew the history of most of them. Many would be skeptical of this, but the places he pointed out were the exact same places that I had felt repelled from. I think I actually broke out in cold sweats as I watched it.

Is it weird that I STILL want to return?

Where is Taman Festival?

Taman Festival is easy to find, and I highly recommend you go. It is worth just wandering around and seeing the old abandoned buildings, and it is actually pleasant walking amongst the bright Graffiti and overgrown ruins in the sun. Just make certain to take a lot of Mosquito spray, because they can become terrible at certain times of the year!

The park is located right on the beach just at the northern end of Sanur. For those that know the bypass through Sanur, you turn at the lights at Big Garden Corner and head toward the beach. Otherwise, just follow THIS link for an easy Google Maps location.

The easiest way to get to Taman Festival would be via car or scooter. There is plenty of parking out front, and nice warungs right across the road. If you want to hire your own scooter, then check out THIS article for my best tips for riding scooters in Bali, and how you can hire one hassle free. I also provide you with alternatives, just in case riding a scooter isn’t your thing.

Will Taman Festival Remain?

For the time being, yes, it appears so.

According to the local council, it will simply cost too much to tear down and reclaim the land. Even though it is situated on a prime piece of property by the seaside. For the locals, they are making money just selling tickets to tourists, even if only a couple of dozen a day.

Time will tell, though, and personally I can see some big developer turning up one day with enough money to make it worth the while of ANYONE to be motivated to sell. Who knows?

For now, it is a place I would really recommend you visit, especially if you are staying nearby.

Have you been to Taman Festival?

DON’T FORGET to leave a comment below. I promise to reply!