Small amusement parks

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I was reading the Knoxville News Sentinel online this morning and there was a story about Lake Winnepesaukah, a very small, family-owned amusement park near Chattanooga.

I had to go peruse the Lake Winnie site, because it was such a part of my growing up. For about five years, we went every year because my father’s company picnic was held there. After that, it became a treat to go - yeah, Six Flags was down in Atlanta, but we very rarely went there (perhaps twice between the ages of 5 and 16), and Silver Dollar City (I think that was the name) near Knoxville had closed, not yet replaced by DollyWood.

Lake Winnie was the right size for kids & young teens - there were enough rides that it seemed exciting, and enough space that it seemed huge.

It was a happy place - mosquitos, the giant fish in the lake, sunburns…all of that stuff. I wonder if I can organize a road trip for my classmates this summer - most of them don’t even realize it’s there, and we’re only 100 miles away. I know it won’t be what it was when I was little, but it’s a heck of a lot less expensive than Six Flags (and closer) and I bet that even once gas was figured in, it’d be less expensive than DollyWood.

2

I still recall fondly the “School Day” every year at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh.

3

Another one to check out is Holiday World in southern Indiana. Having gone to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom the year before, and walking away severely disappointed, Holiday World was a refreshing slap in the face. Clean, well run, short lines, and no annoying merchandising.

4

Six Flags bought out Wild Waves/Enchanted Village near Seattle a few years ago. They have come in, especially this past winter, and added lots of new rides and games, including a couple of coasters. The amazing part to me anyway, they haven’t significantly raised ticket prices. I haven’t been there is a few years, I might have to check it out this summer.

5

In my hometown of Erie, there’s an old-time park called Waldameer (no, I have no idea what the name means either), that I usually ended up at a couple times a year. They’ve got a decent old coaster called the Comet and a bunch of smaller rides. I went there for a couple hours last summer just for nostalgia’s sake. If you ever want to know what was scary for kids circa 1973, ride the Whacky Shack and then walk across the way to the Pirate’s Cove.

6

Ditto Kennywood.

Also, Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, PA is lotsa fun.

7

There’s one not far from Des Moines, Iowa, that’s nice. You can be there for half a day and feel like you saw most of eerything, and had a good time, too.

8

Cranky, if you’re talking about Adventureland, it’s a good park. A couple of good rollers too. A friend of mine worked there one summer so we got in for free a couple of times.

9

Ohhhhh!..I thought this was a thread about amusement parks that weren’t very amusing (small amusement)

my bad

sorry

carry on

10

Whoa, Conneaut Lake Park. Haven’t been to this place in years, but believe it or not, I actually worked there for a few months during the summer of 1987, in the infamous french fry stand down by the water (across from the American Pie and the pirate ship ride). In those days, you could drive through the park without paying admission (you’d buy ride tickets in lieu of an admission charge), so teenagers would cruise through the park at night on a regular basis.

Pretty low pay, but lots of girls to check out, most of whom were from other high schools and didn’t know me yet.

11

Oh, I’ve also got to put in a plug for Geauga Lake Park in Aurora, OH. It’s located just southeast of Cleveland and is adjacent to one of the Sea World parks. I’m not sure if this place is still in operation, but I went there as a kid.

One place I went to quite frequently as a kid was Opryland, in Nashville, TN. Despite the fact that this park was a cultural icon (IMHO), the owner decided to raze it back in 1997 and build a mall/entertainment district. Opryland had apparently declined in popularity as the whole amusement park biz began to wane (and Dollywood became Tennessee’s more popular amusement park destination).

12

Last summer my family went to Knoebels Amusement Park in Pennsylvania (coupla hours north of Harrisburg). We had a great time - there’s a good mix of rides, you can camp there, parking and admission are free, the food is good, and the ride plans and the food are pretty cheap.

Anybody know of any small amusement parks in New England (this year’s vacation destination)?

13

Wow, another Lake Winnepesaukah regular!

My grandparents lived in Dayton, TN; we used to visit them about three times a year, and on occasion we would head down to Lake W. I loved the place, but something didn’t seem quite right there. I remember they had a walk through haunted house, and I remember having to wake up the attendant at the entrance to take my ticket. As I remember, a lot of the attendants were older people; sometimes, because of instances such as the above example, it seemed to me that the place was run by the living dead. But I always had a good time there.

I remember, probably the last year I went there, they had a fun house. It looked really huge from the outside, until you realized the majority of the building was just a facade with nothing behind it; most of the funhouse was in the front, where you could see it from the outside. I remember going in, and one of the first things you entered was a pitch black room–you had to feel around for the exit on the other side. I think I was in there for 30 minutes before I found my way out!

I also remember they had a mirror maze, but it hadn’t been cleaned in forever, so it was easy to tell which way to go without bumping into a wall. My parents waited for me on the outside while I proceeded to walk through the maze, without touching any walls, in a span of about 30 seconds. My parents were impressed!

I haven’t been back there in a long time, but in the past few years I did run across their website. I had no idea they were still open; I’d definitely like to make it back there some day.

Anyway, one place I really miss, having grown up in southwest VA, is Lakeside, a small amusement park in the Roanoke area. They had a great rollercoaster there called the Shooting Star. The park was shut down after a flood in '85 did considerable damage to it. Anyone from the area remember that park?

I went to Kennywood a couple of years ago, but was disappointed that the Thunderbolt was shut down (my main reason for visiting). They had just finished the Phantom’s Revenge, which goes through the Thunderbolt, and hadn’t got the Thunderbolt completely back together yet. I’m sure I’ll be there again someday.

Anyway, later this summer I’m looking forward to going to another park I haven’t seen mentioned yet, Knoebel’s in PA. I hear they have a couple of really good wooden coasters, and a great haunted house ride.

14

Oh, I’d forgotten about Geauga Lake! My dad took me there a couple of times. Lots 'o fun. I haven’t been there in upwards of ten years, though, so I don’t know if it’s changed. Unless they got bought out, though, I doubt it.

15

Am I the only one who would remember Dog Patch, U.S.A.? Gone but not forgotten.

I’m glad that Magic Springs in Hot Springs, Ark. is still around and better than ever – now with real roller-coasters!

And for the kiddies, there’s Sandy Lake Park just north of Dallas, Texas.

16

There is one just outside of Calgary called Callaway Park. I remember when it opened, it was big news. I haven’t been there in years, but when I was last there as about a 12 y.old I thought it was pretty cool.

17

Geauga Lake is not Geauga Lake anymore. Six Flags bought it and the Cleveland Sea World to make one big park: Six Flags Worlds of Adventure.

Conneaut Lake Park is still there, with no admission fees. You just pay for the rides with either tickets or by buying a ride pass.

18

Homebrew, I grew up on Sandy Lake! I think every outing for every softball team I ever played on was there. Aw, fond memories.

And you are not alone about Dog Patch either. That was my first real vacation the family took when I was a kid. I loved having to take a cable car down into the park and I adored the cave there. However, mom soon discovered Silver Dollar City in Branson and from there on out, that was where we were headed each year. Sigh.

19

They got bought out? Damn…

20

Unbelievable- I saw the title and came in to post about Waldameer, and someone else has actually been there! Spent many happy hours of my childhood there. The Comet was my very first roller coaster - rode it so often I think I’d still recognize its turns. I loved the Wacky Shack, but was way too scared to go into the Pirate’s Cove. My friend Ryan almost lost her life on the Kangaroo, riding it when she was too small- very nearly got thrown out when it ‘bumped.’ Her clog might still be on the roof of the picnic shelter. I myself was once trapped in the Moon Walk when in deflated- possibly the coolest childhood amusement park experience of my life. Now I want to go back there and check it out…