Lake Winnepesaukah
Encyclopedia
Lake Winnepesaukah is an amusement park
located on Lakeview Drive in Lakeview, Georgia
(mailing address Rossville, Georgia
) near Chattanooga, Tennessee
. Winnepesaukah means "beautiful water." Carl and Minette Dixon opened the park to guests in 1925. The park is currently run by their granddaughter, Adrienne Rhodes, and her family.
, constructed in 1926 and 1927. It is the oldest mill chute water ride in the United States, and today remains one of the most popular park rides.
is a wooden roller coaster
designed by famous roller coaster designer John Allen
and Philadelphia Toboggan Company
specifically for Lake Winnepesaukah. The roller coaster was built in 1967, is 2,272 feet long, and has a vertical drop of 70 feet. Top speed is 50 mph. Signifying the park's location adjacent to the Georgia
-Tennessee
state line, the American, Georgia, and Tennessee flags
are at the top of the lift hill.
number 39, manufactured in 1916.
" track layout is similar to the original with numerous hairpin 180 degree turns and short, steep drops.
Fly-O-Plane in the United States. Other attractions include a Ferris wheel
, paddle boats, a tour train, and numerous other children and family oriented rides. Recently the park added a new family oriented ride called the Wacky Factory in the building where the Castle, a more older haunted house
like ride was originally.
Fake Sources
, food vending, and food service accommodation for large groups is available on the campus. The park also features the "Jukebox Junction," an open air theater used as a free concert music venue, a playground for children with a crew to keep them safe, and a water section to cool off at during hot days.
, Georgia
after management decided to close the park 90 minutes early. Catoosa County Sheriff Phil Summers claimed the incident was caused by parents leaving their children unattended at the park with little or no money, thus unable to participate in the park's activities. When sporadic fighting began in the crowd, the decision was made to close the park early, which escalated the fighting. Law enforcement agencies from Georgia and Tennessee
were dispatched to the scene when the crowd began to disrupt traffic on roads surrounding the park. After the incident, the park instituted a new policy of requiring visitors under 21 years of age to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Visitors also will be required to purchase some sort of admission.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located on Lakeview Drive in Lakeview, Georgia
Lakeview, Georgia
Lakeview is a census-designated place in Catoosa and Walker counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 4,820 at the 2000 census...
(mailing address Rossville, Georgia
Rossville, Georgia
Rossville is a city in Walker County, Georgia, United States. The city of Rossville was named after Cherokee Indian Chief John Ross, who resided there until being forced to relocate with his people to Oklahoma in the Indian Removal. Chief John Ross' log cabin home is still located in the city and...
) near Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
. Winnepesaukah means "beautiful water." Carl and Minette Dixon opened the park to guests in 1925. The park is currently run by their granddaughter, Adrienne Rhodes, and her family.
Boat Chute
The first ride at Lake Winnespesaukah was the Boat ChuteShoot-the-Chutes
Shoot-the-Chutes is an amusement ride consisting of a flat-bottomed boat that slides down a ramp or inside a flume into a lagoon. Unlike a log flume, a Shoot-the-Chutes generally has larger boats and one single drop....
, constructed in 1926 and 1927. It is the oldest mill chute water ride in the United States, and today remains one of the most popular park rides.
Cannon Ball
The Cannon BallCannon Ball roller coaster
The Cannon Ball roller coaster is a wooden roller coaster at Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park, Lakeview, Georgia, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was designed by John C...
is a wooden roller coaster
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
designed by famous roller coaster designer John Allen
John C. Allen
John C. Allen was a roller coaster designer who was responsible for the revival of wooden roller coasters which began in the 1970s. He attended Temple University. He started working for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1934 as a coaster operator and rose to become president of the company by...
and Philadelphia Toboggan Company
Philadelphia Toboggan Company
The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B...
specifically for Lake Winnepesaukah. The roller coaster was built in 1967, is 2,272 feet long, and has a vertical drop of 70 feet. Top speed is 50 mph. Signifying the park's location adjacent to the Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
-Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
state line, the American, Georgia, and Tennessee flags
Flag of Tennessee
The flag of the state of Tennessee consists of an emblem on a field of red, with a strip of blue on the fly. The emblem of the middle consists of three stars on a blue circle. The flag was designed by Colonel LeRoy Reeves of the Tennessee National Guard. The Tennessee State Legislature officially...
are at the top of the lift hill.
Carousel
The oldest ride at the park is the Philadelphia Toboggan Company carouselCarousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
number 39, manufactured in 1916.
OH-ZONE!
The OH-ZONE! is a 140 feet (43 m), 14-story tall tower ride in which seated riders experience free-fall followed by a 4.6G deceleration upon return to ground level. The 2006 installation of the ride required the Fly-O-Plane to be relocated to another section of the park adjacent to the Cannon Ball roller coaster.Pipeline Plunge
Riders board a two-person raft and slide down curving water filled tubes in the Pipeline Plunge.Wacky Worm
Intended primarily for children, the Wacky Worm is a metal roller coaster with a ride vehicle resembling a smiling green worm. The ride has a maximum height of less than 20' and consists of several turns and short "bunny hop" hills.Wild Lightnin’
In 2001, Lake Winnespesaukah built their third roller coaster as a tribute to one that used to be in the exact spot. The original roller coaster was named Mad Mouse and the new steel rendition was originally named Wild Thing but in 2002 was renamed Wild Lightnin'. The "wild mouseWild Mouse roller coaster
A Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces...
" track layout is similar to the original with numerous hairpin 180 degree turns and short, steep drops.
Minor Rides
The park also features the only known working EyerlyLee Eyerly
Lee Ulrich Eyerly was an American civil aviation pioneer and amusement ride manufacturer.-Early life:Eyerly was born February 22 1892 in Cuba, Illinois, and raised in Canton. In 1909, his family moved to the Judith Basin area of Montana to take advantage of the Homestead Act. Because he was...
Fly-O-Plane in the United States. Other attractions include a Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
, paddle boats, a tour train, and numerous other children and family oriented rides. Recently the park added a new family oriented ride called the Wacky Factory in the building where the Castle, a more older haunted house
Haunted house
A haunted house is a house or other building often perceived as being inhabited by disembodied spirits of the deceased who may have been former residents or were familiar with the property...
like ride was originally.
Fake Sources
Attractions
Lake Winnepesaukah provides visitors many of the features of a classic American fair in addition to the permanently installed rides. A game midwayMidway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
, food vending, and food service accommodation for large groups is available on the campus. The park also features the "Jukebox Junction," an open air theater used as a free concert music venue, a playground for children with a crew to keep them safe, and a water section to cool off at during hot days.
Incidents
On April 19, 2003, a crowd disturbance described as a "near-riot" involving 500 to 700 youths took place outside the park in RinggoldRinggold, Georgia
Ringgold is a city in Catoosa County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,422 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Catoosa County...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
after management decided to close the park 90 minutes early. Catoosa County Sheriff Phil Summers claimed the incident was caused by parents leaving their children unattended at the park with little or no money, thus unable to participate in the park's activities. When sporadic fighting began in the crowd, the decision was made to close the park early, which escalated the fighting. Law enforcement agencies from Georgia and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
were dispatched to the scene when the crowd began to disrupt traffic on roads surrounding the park. After the incident, the park instituted a new policy of requiring visitors under 21 years of age to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Visitors also will be required to purchase some sort of admission.