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My first and only trip to Joyland Amusement Park in Wichita, Kansas, took place on a frigid Thanksgiving morning in 2013. By then, the park had endured years of vandalism, arson, and neglect, leaving it a shadow of its former self.

In 1949, Joyland's signature ride, known simply as the "Roller Coaster," made its debut. With a drop of nearly 80 feet and a track length of over half a mile, it remained one of the park's most iconic attractions until its closure in 2006. The coaster stood until 2015, when an early morning thunderstorm swept through Wichita, ultimately destroying this once classic ride.

Today, it is truly a “Ghost Train,” and I'm grateful I had the chance to capture this iconic coaster before it was lost forever.

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