An abandoned theme park on the Spanish island of Fuerteventura, once home to live sharks and a replica of Christopher Columbus' ship, has fallen into severe disrepair and is now occupied by homeless squatters, according to an urban explorer who recently visited the site.
Parque Europa Baku, located in Corralejo, was a popular family attraction when it opened in the early 2000s, featuring sharks, seals, birds, reptiles, and a recreation of Columbus' famous ship La Santa Maria. Other attractions included a haunted hotel, botanical gardens, live performance venues, bingo halls, and a bowling alley.
A Park Left to Rot
Despite its initial promise, the park quickly ran into financial difficulties, with many attractions closing before the entire site shut down in 2010. Urban explorer and photographer SeanUrbex visited the site and documented its current state, finding structures covered in graffiti and rooms in various states of disrepair.
SeanUrbex said he accessed the park easily by simply walking in from the main street. He noted that "the first thing we see is the striking shark statue still remaining, overlooking the once busy park." He initially thought the park was a zoo but was corrected by locals who told him it was a water park with attractions including a live shark in a water tank below the statue.
Squatters Take Over the Site
During his visit, SeanUrbex discovered that homeless people and squatters have taken over parts of the park. "Sadly, we only managed to see about a third of the site, as many homeless locals have made the place home, living in old pools and display water features, with no roofs but clothes hanging up drying and makeshift beds with blankets," he said.
He described homelessness as a real problem on Fuerteventura, adding: "The most shocking thing was the amount of homeless squatters who now called the old park home."
Financial Losses and Other Incidents
The site has faced other problems over the years, including theft and an arson attack in May 2019 that destroyed the replica La Santa Maria by fire. By the end of that year, the park's operators, Ociopark Corralejo, had accumulated losses of nearly €31.2 million (£27 million), according to accounts reported by Spanish newspaper Diario de Fuerteventura.
Despite the park's closure, the adjacent Acua Water Park remains open. It underwent renovation after Parque Europa closed and reopened in 2014, offering swimming pools, slides, and other facilities on a seasonal basis from March to early November.
