I can’t believe Lake Winnie has been sitting over there my whole life and I never even knew it, much less visited.
Just south of Chattanooga, Lake Winnie (short for Lake Winnepesaukah) is a family-owned and operated amusement park. BamaDan and his family have been going for three years now, and he had mentioned it to me more than once as a trip we should take together. We finally made it today, as a dads-and-sons trip.
It was my boys’ first trip to a full-up amusement park, and we all had a really marvelous time. Here’s Aaron doing his new most very favorite thing in the entire world:
It’s not sprawlingly enormous, but it doesn’t need to be. There are dozens of rides and attractions, including some packing some serious thrills. The Cannon Ball is a fine old-school wooden roller coaster, about 80% of the size of the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia.
There are other classics, like a Matterhorn (lots of fun) and a Tilt-a-Whirl (no thanks; the multi-axial motion is the only sort of amusement ride force I can’t tolerate), as well as what is believed to be the only operational Eyerly Fly-O-Plane left in the United States.
The OH-Zone! is a 14-story free fall drop ride, and easily my favorite in the park. You get a beautiful view on the teasingly slow way up, followed by two of the most exciting seconds you’ll ever experience as you plummet. Wow, what a thrill! I was laughing uncontrollably when I got off. Even talked Nathan into riding it. Maybe next time he’ll open his eyes.
The facility is impressive. I consistently noticed how clean and well-maintained the place was, as well as the politeness of the staff. Also, getting in and riding all day is only $26/person, which is outstanding for the value delivered. You get all of the rides, the midway, the carnie food availability, the atmosphere…and it’s just right there, a quick drive to Chattanooga away.
We opened and closed the park today (12 to 8), and rarely waited for anything. Highly recommended!
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Great time, dude. We will do it again some day. Mine are still talking about it. Thanks.
Oh man, my boys too. Lea said they talked about it all the way to school. Great time indeed, and thank you, sir. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine having any more fun for twice the cost at Six Flags.