Lake Winnepesaukah facts for kids
| Location | Rossville, Georgia, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°58′35″N 85°14′50″W / 34.97639°N 85.24722°W |
| Opened | June 1, 1925 |
| Owner | Dixon family |
| Slogan | "Come On, Get Happy!" |
| Operating season | May – December |
| Area | 85 acres (34 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 38 |
| Roller coasters | 3 |
| Water rides | 4 |
| Website | http://www.lakewinnie.com/ |
Lake Winnepesaukah, often called Lake Winnie, is a fun amusement park in Rossville, Georgia. It's just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Carl and Minette Dixon opened the park on June 1, 1925, welcoming over 5,000 guests!
They named it Winnepesaukah from a Native American word. It means "bountiful waters" or "beautiful lake of the highlands." When it first opened, the park had the biggest swimming pool in the southeastern United States. This huge pool opened in 1926 but was later removed.
One of Lake Winnie's most famous rides is the Boat Chute. Carl Dixon designed it, and it opened in 1927. It's the oldest water ride of its kind still working in the United States!
At first, Lake Winnie was mostly about its water attractions. Over time, it added more dry rides. Famous additions include a historic carousel and the well-known Cannon Ball roller coaster. Today, Lake Winnie covers over 80 acres. It has 38 rides and a 5-acre water park with seven attractions.
Contents
Park History
In 1924, Carl and Minette Dixon bought about 100 acres of land. This land surrounded a 9-acre lake in Rossville, Georgia. They opened their new park on May 30, 1925. More than 5,000 people came to enjoy boating, fishing, and picnics.
They named it Lake Winnepesaukah, meaning "bountiful waters" or "beautiful lake of the highlands." The next year, a huge 22,000-square-foot swimming pool opened. It was the biggest in the southeastern U.S. at that time.
Carl Dixon then designed a special water ride called a mill chute. Construction started in late 1926, and the ride, named Boat Chute, opened in 1927. The National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA) says it's the oldest mill chute ride still running in the U.S.
In the 1940s and 1950s, more flat rides were added. The first roller coasters arrived in the 1960s. The Mad Mouse opened in 1960. Then, the famous John C. Allen wooden roller coaster, the Cannon Ball, opened in 1967.
In the 2000s, the park added modern thrill rides. These include the OH-Zone! drop tower and the looping roller coaster called Fire Ball. The newest big addition is the park's SoakYa water park. This 5-acre water park opened in 2013.
Exciting Attractions
Lake Winnepesaukah is designed like a classic American fair. It has a midway area with food, games, and rides. The park also has "Jukebox Junction," an outdoor theater for concerts and a play area for kids.
In 2013, the park grew with the new SoakYa water park. It has many fun water attractions. Lake Winnie used to have a rare Eyerly Fly-O-Plane ride, but it closed in 2017.
Some popular family rides include the Wacky Factory, tilt-a-whirl, matterhorn, balloon race, paratrooper, orbiter, pirate ship, scrambler, a Ferris wheel, Genie, Fire Ball, bumper cars, paddle boats, and a tour train.
In 2005, for its 80th birthday, Lake Winnie brought in several rides from another park in Panama City Beach, Florida. After that park closed, some rides like The Bumble Bees, The Free Whale, Kiddie Boats, and The Ferris Wheel moved permanently to Lake Winnie.
Special Rides
Genie
The Genie is a Hrubetz Super Roundup ride that many guests love. It used to sit at the front of the park with a special rainbow design. In 2016-2017, a storm damaged the ride, and it was removed. A new ride called the Twister took its place. But the next season, the Genie returned! It had a fresh paint job and was placed where the Fly-O-Plane used to be.
Boat Chute
The Boat Chute was the very first ride at Lake Winnepesaukah, opening in 1927. It's still one of the most popular rides today! The National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA) says it's the oldest Mill Chute ride still running in the United States.
Carousel
The oldest ride at the park is the Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel number 39. It was made way back in 1916! This carousel is one of the oldest and biggest in the country. It has 68 beautiful hand-painted horses.
OH-ZONE!
The OH-ZONE! is a thrilling 140-foot tall Drop tower ride. That's like a 14-story building! Riders sit down and then experience a free-fall drop. It's a super exciting ride!
Zoom Flume
These two water slides used to be called the Pipeline Plunge. They got new tubes in 2016. Now, their entrance is inside the SoakYa Water Park, and they are part of the water park fun.
Roller Coasters
| Name | Year Opened | Type | Manufacturer/Model | Fun Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon Ball | 1967 | Wooden roller coaster | Philadelphia Toboggan Company | This classic wooden coaster was designed by John C. Allen. It's a park favorite, reaching speeds of 50 mph on 2,272 feet of track. |
| Wacky Worm | 1991 | Wacky Worm | Fajume | A fun, smaller coaster perfect for younger kids. |
| Wild Lightnin' | 2001 | Wild Mouse roller coaster | L&T Systems | This wild mouse coaster has exciting hairpin turns. It was called Wild Thing when it first opened. |
Thrill Rides
| Name | Year Opened | Type | Fun Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat Chute | 1927 | Shoot the Chute | This was the very first ride at Lake Winnepesaukah! The park's founder, Carol O. Dixon, designed it. It's the oldest mill chute ride still running in the U.S. |
| Bumper Cars | Bumper cars | Get ready to bump and crash into your friends! | |
| Conestoga | 2004 | HUSS Maschinenfabrik Rainbow | This ride used to be at Hersheypark from 1984 to 2002. It has a cool Wild West theme. |
| Fire Ball | 2012 | Larson International Fire Ball | This ride spins you around in a giant loop! |
| Genie | Frank Hrubetz Super Roundup | After being damaged by a storm, the Genie came back to the park in a new spot! | |
| OH-ZONE! | 2005 | ARM Rides Drop Tower | A 140-foot tall drop tower ride that gives you a feeling of free-fall. |
| Orbiter | Early 2000s | Tivoli Orbiter | This ride spins you around in circles, lifting you high into the air. |
| Pirate | Early 2000s | Pirate Ship | A giant swinging ship that makes you feel like you're on the high seas! |
| Twister | 2016 | Moser's Rides Top Spin (Asymmetrical Maverick) | This ride replaced the Genie for a short time and offers lots of twists and turns. |
