When my daughter
was in college, she spent a summer working at Cedar Point, an amusement park in
Sandusky, Ohio. Calling itself the
“Roller Coaster Capital of the World”, it has seventeen coasters in addition to
nineteen thrill rides. Given that
billing, I suppose the family and kid oriented rides in the park don’t garner
as much attention, but there is something for everyone. I saw this when we returned to collect her at
the end of that memorable summer.
I should add that
my daughter loves roller coasters so it was probably a dream job for her at the
time. She returned to the park recently
for a fun weekend with her husband, and I couldn’t help strolling down memory
lane, recalling my own amusement park experience. While I like to think her love for coasters
might be from me in some small way, it really isn’t. She also loves horror movies, and well, that
definitely is not from me, but coasters/horror films/being scared out of your
wits might go hand-in-hand. I do,
however, have fond memories of an amusement park that I grew up loving.
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| At Lake Winnepesaukah |
In 1924, Carl and
Minette Dixon purchased approximately 100 acres around a nine-acre lake in Rossville,
Georgia (just under ten miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee) with the intent of
creating a family swimming and picnic park.
On June 1, 1925, it opened to 5,000 guests. A year later, the Dixons added a concrete
swimming pool which was one of the largest in the south and the amusement park
was founded. Named “Lake Winnepesaukah”
(its Native American meaning being “bountiful waters” or “beautiful lake of the
highlands”), the park saw its first ride within the year. The Boat Chute, designed and built by the
park’s founder, is the oldest and last mill chute water ride in the U.S.
according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association. It remains one of the most popular rides in
the park today.
Staples of the
park followed: Mad Mouse Roller Coaster (1960), Cannonball Roller Coaster
(1967), Antique Carousel (1968), and The Castle (1969). While the swimming pool was eventually
removed, the rides took its place, and no one seemed to mind. In addition, the Ferris Wheel, Alpine Way (Sky
Lift), Antique Cars, and Bumper Cars can still be enjoyed today.
As a child, I
remember the Kiddie Boats, Swings, Motorcycles, Train, and picnics under the
shelter. The spectacle to see was always
the beautiful Carousel, or “Merry-Go-Round” as I remember calling it. It is one of the oldest and largest carousels
in the United States and features 68 hand-carved wooden horses, and was
originally featured in Atlanta in 1916. I loved it even when I grew taller and
brave enough for the “older” rides.
While the wooden
roller coaster was recognized for its vertical drops and speeds up to 50 mph, I
gravitated toward the rides that would spin and fling. The Scrambler, Tilt-a-Whirl and Bobsled (now
known as the Matterhorn) provided my fix for thrills at the amusement park
level, but my favorite ride was called “The Spider”. Spinning, flinging, up, down and all around,
simultaneously. Other than those who got
sick on it, who couldn’t love it? While
I can proudly say that I never lost my lunch, I was once the unfortunate recipient
of someone who wasn’t so lucky. Maybe
that’s why the beloved ride is no longer in operation.
As for those
roller coasters (and this is for my daughter): if I had to choose a favorite, I would head south
a couple of hours. The Mindbender at Six Flags Over Georgia in Atlanta was it
for me. Three loops. I suppose that’s all anyone needs to say
about it, but by today’s standards it is probably rather mild. And while the large mega-parks no longer
appeal to me because of huge crowds and long lines, I do have a special
fondness for Six Flags Over Georgia.
Hey, when you got to see Cheap Trick in concert there in the early 1980s
as part of your admission price, how can it not be special? But give me Lake Winnie any day.
Lake Winnepesaukah
holds many memories for me; it was my introduction to amusement parks, and provided
a lot of childhood fun. It was special
and something to look forward to during those carefree days of summer. Years later when I worked in television, I
was at Lake Winnie producing a television show and judging a weekly “Battle of
the Bands” competition. Fast forward a few years and I, too, introduced my
small children to the excitement of the amusement park rides. I watched while they rode and laughed on the
same rides of my youth. Full circle.
For over 90 years,
the park continues to be family-owned and operated with nearly 40 rides and
attractions. A five-acre waterpark was added just a few years ago. Lake Winnepesaukah was named by Travel
and Leisure Magazine as one of America’s
Top 10 Family Amusement Parks. For more information, visit the website at www.lakewinnie.com.
