Libertyland facts for kids
Libertyland was a fun amusement park located in Memphis, Tennessee. It opened on July 4, 1976, and was a non-profit park. Sadly, it closed in 2005 because of money problems.
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History of Libertyland: A Fun Park's Story
Libertyland first opened its gates on July 4, 1976. It was built on the Mid-South Fairgrounds. Before Libertyland, this spot was home to the annual Mid-South Fair. Some rides, like the famous Zippin Pippin roller coaster and the Grand Carousel, were already there. The city of Memphis wanted a permanent theme park for everyone to enjoy.
The Zippin Pippin was super popular! It was even Elvis Presley's favorite wooden roller coaster. On August 8, 1977, Elvis rented the whole park for his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. From 1 AM until morning, Elvis, Lisa Marie, and their friends rode all fourteen rides. The Grand Carousel was also a classic ride that many people loved.
Over the years, Libertyland added new attractions. This included a steel roller coaster called the Revolution. Later, in the late 1990s, they added a Top Spin ride called "Tidal Wave." This ride was later removed. In 2002, a new drop tower ride, Rebellion, was added. It had a 90-foot (27 m) drop and brought in more visitors.
Exciting Rides at Libertyland
Libertyland had about 24 different rides and attractions for all ages. Here are some of the popular ones:
- Bumper Boats
- Car-Go-Round
- Casey's Cannonball Train Ride
- Dragon Wagon
- Fun Run
- Grand Carousel
- Kamikaze
- Little Bumper Boats
- Old Hickory Log Flume
- Paratrooper
- Park's Peak
- Pirate Ship
- Rebellion
- Red Baron
- Revolution
- Screamer
- Sea Dragon
- Surf City Water Slide
- Tennessee Tilt
- Thriller
- Turnpike Antique Cars
- Twain's Twister
- Umbrella Ride
- Wipeout
- Zippin Pippin
Why Libertyland Faced Money Problems
For many years, Libertyland struggled to make enough money. It was hard for the park to earn a profit. Because of this, fewer new rides were added, and fewer people came to visit. In 2005, the park tried to improve its image. They designed a new logo and repainted buildings. However, these efforts were not enough to keep the park running.
The Park's Final Closure
Libertyland had its last day of operation on October 29, 2005. Soon after, the Mid-South Fair board decided to close the park for good. They announced their decision to the public. The main reasons were not making enough money and fewer visitors. They also wanted more space for the annual Mid-South Fair. Libertyland's closure followed other Memphis water parks like Adventure River and Bud Boogie Beach.
Efforts to Save Libertyland
After the closure was announced, a group called "Save Libertyland!" quickly formed. They fought hard to keep the park open. They pointed out that the park created hundreds of jobs for teenagers in Memphis. It was also one of the few places where families could have fun together. Several events were held to gather support for saving the park.
Some companies even offered to buy Libertyland. One of them was Joyland, Inc., known for helping struggling amusement parks. However, there was a debate about who owned the rides. The city actually owned some of them. Despite the efforts, the Mid-South Fair decided to sell off the park's rides and equipment.
Auction and What Happened Next
The auction for Libertyland's rides took place on June 21, 2006. Most of the rides were sold. The famous Zippin Pippin roller coaster sold for only $2,500. It was bought by a traveling rock museum that only wanted one of its train cars. Later, the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin, bought the Zippin Pippin. They rebuilt it at their Bay Beach Amusement Park, where it still operates today. People with a Tennessee State ID can ride it for free!
The Revolution roller coaster was bought by DelGrosso's Amusement Park. The Rebellion drop tower was sold to Ghost Town in the Sky and reopened in 2007.
In December 2006, Joyland Inc. tried again to reopen the park. They wanted to create a new amusement park on the same site. But after seeing the park in person, they changed their minds. There was too much damage to the buildings, wiring, and plumbing.
Libertyland's Legacy Today
The Grand Carousel was bought by The Children's Museum Of Memphis. It has been operating there for many years. The Revolution roller coaster was sold to an amusement park in the Philippines. It is now known as The Zimerman Corkscrew Coaster.
Today, the area where Libertyland once stood is a large parking lot and green space. It's called Tiger Lane. A disc golf course named Libertyland has also been added to a big part of the south end.
Libertyland at the Roller Coaster DataBase
