Lake Winnepesaukah

"Lake Winnie" redirects here. For the lake in New Hampshire, see Lake Winnipesaukee.

Lake Winnepesaukah
Park entrance
Interactive map of Lake Winnepesaukah
LocationRossville, Georgia
Coordinates34°58′35″N 85°14′50″W / 34.97639°N 85.24722°W / 34.97639; -85.24722
StatusOperating
OpenedJune 1, 1925 (1925-06-01)
OwnerDixon family
Operated byIB Parks & Entertainment
Slogan"Come on, get happy!"
Operating seasonMay to October
Area85 acres (34 ha)
Attractions
Total37
Roller coasters2
Water rides8
Websitewww.lakewinnie.com

Lake Winnepesaukah, often shortened to Lake Winnie, is an amusement park and water park located in Rossville, Georgia, United States. The park opened in 1925, and has been owned by the Dixon family since its inception. It is currently operated by IB Parks & Entertainment.

In the park's early years, its primary focus was on its water attractions. In the late 1960s, the park began expanding with the addition of dry amusement rides, such as a carousel and a roller coaster. Today, the park has 38 rides and eight water park attractions

History

In 1924, Carl and Minette Dixon purchased approximately 100 acres (40 ha) surrounding a 9-acre (3.6 ha) lake in Rossville, Georgia. The park which they constructed on the land opened to the public on June 1, 1925, entertaining over 5,000 visitors with amenities for boating, fishing, and picnicking. The Dixons chose the name "Winnepesaukah", which supposedly came from a Cherokee word meaning "beautiful lake of the highlands".[1][2]

The following year, they opened a 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m2) swimming pool, the largest in the southeastern United States at the time. Carl Dixon later designed a Mill Chute attraction, which opened under the name Boat Chute in 1927. The National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA) considers it the oldest operating mill chute in the United States.[3][4]

In the 1940s and 1950s, several flat rides were added to the park, and in the 1960s, the first roller coasters were installed, beginning with Mad Mouse in 1960 and Cannon Ball in 1967. In the 21st century, the park has seen the addition of modern thrill rides such as the drop tower ride OH-Zone! and an inverting ride called Fire Ball. In 2013, the park expanded to include the 5-acre (2.0 ha) SOAKYa water park.[3][5]

Attractions

Roller coasters

Name Year opened Type Manufacturer Notes
Cannon Ball 1967 Wooden roller coaster Philadelphia Toboggan Company Designed by John C. Allen[6]
Wacky Worm 1991 Steel children's roller coaster Fajume

Thrill rides

Name Year opened Type Manufacturer Notes
Boat Chute 1927 Old Mill Carol Dixon The first ride at Lake Winnepesaukah and the oldest Mill Chute in operation in the United States[7][8]
Bumper Cars Unknown Bumper cars Unknown
Conestoga 2004 Rainbow HUSS Park Attractions Originally operated at Hersheypark from 1984 to 2002
Fire Ball 2012 Fire Ball Larson International
Genie Unknown Super Round Up Frank Hrubetz & Company During the 2016-2017 off-season, a tree fell onto the ride during a storm, causing major damage. The ride did not operate in 2017 while it underwent repairs, and returned in the 2018 season in a new location.
OH-Zone! 2005 Drop tower ARM Rides 140 feet (43 m) tall[9][10]
Orbiter Early 2000s Orbiter Tivoli Enterprises
Pirate Early 2000s Swinging ship Mulligan
Twister 2016 Asymmetrical Maverick Moser's Rides
Catch 'N Air 2024 Catch 'N Air Majestic

Family rides

Name Year opened Type Manufacturer Notes
Alpine Way 1960 Sky Ride Hopkins Rides
Antique Cars Unknown Antique cars Unknown
Antique Carrousel 1968 Carousel Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters PTC carousel number 39, originally manufactured in 1916.[11] Among the oldest in the country, the ride includes 68 hand-painted horses.[6]
Balloon Ride 1997 Balloon Race Zamperla
Ferris Wheel Unknown Ferris wheel Eli Bridge Company
Matterhorn Unknown Matterhorn Chance Rides
Paddle Boats Unknown Paddle boats Unknown
Paratrooper 1966 Paratrooper Frank Hrubetz & Company
Scrambler 1980 Scrambler Eli Bridge Company
Tilt-a-Whirl 1960 Tilt-A-Whirl Sellner Manufacturing
Tour Train Unknown Rideable miniature railway Chance Rides
Wacky Factory 1969 Dark ride Unknown
Wave Swinger 1999 Swing ride Zierer

Kiddie rides

Name Year opened Type Manufacturer
Bumble Bees Unknown Spinning bee ride Unknown
Free Whale 2010 Miniature swinging ship Moser's Rides
Frog Hopper 2000 Miniature drop tower S&S Worldwide
Jumbo Elephants 2000s Spinning elephant ride Zamperla
Kiddie Boats 1940s[12] Spinning boat ride Allan Herschell Company
Kiddie Swings Unknown Miniature swing ride Unknown
Lady Bugs Unknown Spinning ladybug ride Kasper Klaus
Motorcycles Unknown Spinning vehicle ride Hampton Amusement Company
Parachutes Unknown Miniature drop tower Unknown
Silly Saucers Unknown Spinning ride Hampton Amusement Company
Sports Cars Unknown Spinning vehicle ride Unknown
Stay and Play Hideaway Unknown Interactive play structure Unknown

Water park attractions

Name Year opened Type Manufacturer Notes
Coke Float Cove Unknown Water obstacle course Unknown
Crazy River Unknown Lazy river Unknown
Soak-N-Slide Unknown Children's play area with four slides Unknown
Splish-N-Splash Unknown Two body slides Unknown
Twist-N-Shout Unknown Two raft slides Unknown
Water Works Unknown Water play area Unknown
Winnie 500 Unknown Multi-lane mat racer slide Unknown
Zoom Flume Unknown Raft slide Unknown Originally known as Pipeline Plunge and was part of the dry park. From the 2016 season onward, they have been included in the water park instead.

Former attractions

Roller coasters

Name Years operated Type Manufacturer Notes
Little Dipper 1959–unknown Steel children's roller coaster Allan Herschell Company
Mad Mouse 1960–unknown Steel wild mouse roller coaster Allan Herschell Company
Wild Lightnin' 2001–2021 Steel wild mouse roller coaster L&T Systems Known as Wild Thing for a single season in 2001. Moved to Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure where it reopened in 2022 as Cheddar Chase.

Incidents

  • On April 19, 2003, a crowd disturbance described as a "near-riot" involving 500 to 700 youths took place outside the park 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 crowded park, the decision was made to close the park early, which only 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 16 years of age to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Visitors were also required to buy some sort of admission.[13]
  • On July 16th, 2016, two children were ejected from the Fly-O-Plane ride and injured. The ride was removed following the incident.[14]

References

  1. ^ Dickinson, Tennyson (2025). Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781467162555.
  2. ^ Heald, Bruce (2001). Lake Winnipesaukee. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738523552.
  3. ^ a b "Lake Winnie Amusement Park". Lake Winnepesaukah Amusements, Inc. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  4. ^ Veal, Jenni Frankenberg (June 29, 2014). "Pondering history at Lake Winnepesaukah". Nooga.com. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  5. ^ Smith, Ellis (October 25, 2012). "Lake Winnepesaukah to invest millions in 5-acre attraction". Times Free Press. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "75: Lake Winnie gets ready for special anniversary". Calhoun Times and Gordon County News. News Publishing Company, Inc. 12 April 2000. p. 8C. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
  7. ^ "Lake Winnie Amusement Park". Lakewinnie.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  8. ^ Smith, Ellis (October 25, 2012). "Lake Winnepesaukah to invest millions in 5-acre attraction". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  9. ^ "Thrill Rides". Lake Winnepesaukah. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  10. ^ Talley Green. "Lake Winnepesaukah Newsletter: March 13, 2006". Archived from the original on April 10, 2006. Retrieved May 17, 2006.
  11. ^ "Family Rides". Lake Winnepesaukah. Archived from the original on October 11, 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Kiddie Rides". Lake Winnepesaukah. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  13. ^ Chris Zel (2003-04-23). "Disturbance prompts Lake Winnie to implement tougher policie (sic)". Northwest Georgia News. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  14. ^ "UPDATE: GA State Fire Marshal's office unable to determine fault for ride accident". 16 July 2016.
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