Some places that appear perfectly normal during the day can seem incredibly eerie at night.
Occasionally, this discomfort simply comes from seeing something you feel like you’re not supposed to see. For example, the “illegal Disney” account on TikTok can evoke strange feelings in those who view it, as they’re being given a strange look at a part of a famous place that is usually hidden from audiences.
Amusement parks and water parks are great spaces to capture this odd feeling, as TikTok user Carly (@cashmoneycarly) recently shared in a video with over 7.6 million views.
What’s The Deal With This Water Park?
In her video, Carly shows a Pennsylvania Great Wolf Lodge location in the Pocono Mountains at night. As there are no guests allowed in the park during the evening, the oft-lively park feels strangely barren. No water is running; no one is playing in the pools. All of the decorations, usually animated, are still.
“Great wolf lodge at night is lowkey the backrooms,” Carly writes in the text overlaying her video. In the caption, she notes that this is true for “any indoor water park tbh.”
For those who are unaware, “the backrooms” refers to a meme and creepypasta about rooms with unsettling auras. While the original creepypasta was based on an image of an empty room, the “backrooms” universe has since expanded into a range of stories and media.
As the meme has spread, more internet users are finding that parts of their lives give them the same feeling as viewing a backrooms meme, such as seeing a water park after hours.
Why Are Water Parks So Freaky At Night?
This isn’t the first time that a nighttime water park has caused TikTok to erupt in discussion. Searches for “Kalahari at Night” result in several videos of users exploring the indoor water park after dark, with many comments making similar references to the “backrooms.”
Not all water parks are like this at night. Some water parks have developed nighttime events. For example, water parks have been known to host nighttime movie screenings. Other parks have allowed for solely adult visitors after dark.
In general, however, water parks close at night for a few reasons. First, having a time without guests allows the park to perform maintenance. Second, darkness can cause safety concerns. Providing enough light to mitigate these safety concerns, especially at a time with fewer people in the park, is often too costly for a park to justify. Finally, water parks have staffing requirements for safe operations that may be difficult to fulfill for overnight guests.
Water Parks And The ‘Backrooms’
As for why images of these parks at night evince such a bizarre feeling, it’s an open question. Many scholars and writers have explored the topic of the backrooms, with some linking their simultaneous popularity and discomfort to our increasingly mediated existence.
Others connect the feeling with nostalgia, noting how much of the discussion around the backrooms overlaps with video game vernacular and 90s/early 2000s aesthetics.
No matter why these empty water parks make us feel the way they do, they’re certainly captivating. Given just how many videos there are on TikTok of water parks at night, it would seem that internet users agree.
What did Carly say?
In an email, Carly explained how she was able to capture this moment.
“I was able to film this through the windows they have right by their elevators,” she wrote. “The park closes at 8pm I believe, so no one is allowed in after that.”
“I’ve always been super interested in the concept of the back rooms and even used to watch those YouTube videos of people trying to sneak into waterparks/abandoned places all the time growing up,” she added. “I think just seeing it so empty after a busy day was jarring and that’s what reminded me of the back rooms.”
In summary, she said her experience with the experience was positive.
“Overall, my experience at Great Wolf Lodge was great, so I feel sorry so many people found the video as a space to debate about the park’s cleanliness!” she concluded.
@cashmoneycarly Any indoor water park tbh #greatwolflodge #waterpark ♬ Pipe swinging in basement audio – minalabrousi
Commenters Have Thoughts
In the comments section, users recalled their own experiences with water parks and the feelings they evoked.
“I walked around at like 430am,” said a user. “It was so odd but loved the fake cricket noises playing.”
“I used to be a night guard at golfland and it was so eerie and felt like the poolrooms,” offered another.
“Tbh I really kill for the backrooms vibe, great wolf is one of my fav places just for that!” exclaimed a third.
The Mary Sue reached out to Great Wolf Lodge and Carly via email.
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