Special Features: A look back at Libertyland Amusement Park

Posted at 5:35 PM EST (2235 GMT)

Feb. 18th, 2006 -- In June of 2005, I got the chance to go Libertyland in Memphis, Tennessee. I got to the park around 5.30pm on June 4th and from the parking lot, it was a nice looking park, but it also looked small and it didn’t look like many people were in it. I guess this was a convenience for me as lines wouldn’t be that long. Once I got in the park, the first ride I went over to was the "Zippin Pippin" roller coaster. I got in line and waited maybe one train load then got on myself.  Since the park didn’t let you pick your seat on the ride, I ended up sitting in the first row of the last car.

The coaster starts out with a right turn from the station to the lift hill. After going up the lift hill it makes a second right turn and goes down the first drop. The drop is ok but not that great. Then it comes up and makes a third right turn and starts to head out along side of the park’s parking lot. Then after a few more hills with some really good airtime, it turns around and heads back to the station and after a few more hills the ride is over.  Overall I found the coaster to be really fun.  For being the second oldest coaster in the US it was in amazing shape, and although it’s not a top ten coaster or anything, it could possibly make the top 50.

After my ride on Zippin Pippin, I walked around a bit and went past a few of the park’s flat rides. I worked my way down to the parks steel looping coaster called "Revolution". The ride sits at the very back of the park in a field and like Zippin Pippin, the park did not let you pick your seat. In order to get the front seat, I let some people pass me and waited for the train to dispatch.  The ride is just a standard Arrow loop that has a vertical loop and two corkscrews, just like "Steamin' Demon" at The Great Escape.  It was short and fast with a little head banging and although it was re-ride able, I never ended up riding it again.

After riding Revolution, I walked around the park a bit and took a few photos. When walking around I found the parks last coaster, "The Dragon Wagon". They wouldn't let you on it unless you rode with a kid and since I didn’t have a kid with me, I couldn’t ride it.... Or could I?  After I bugged the ride op a bit saying how "I came from Boston" and that I was in "ACE", she still wouldn't let me on. So I did something very dirty, something I had only read about online but had never done myself. Even though I didn’t even know if it would work, it was worth a try. I told the girl I’d give here a dollar if she let me ride, but I was I was then told, "I aint want ya money".  Being the loser I am and showing my need to get the credit, I told her I’d give her twenty dollars, and it worked! So after I paid up, I tried to get into the train to find out I didn't fit in it so well. I ended up sitting sideways on my knees without the belt clip on and holding my backpack, but I was "in" the train and I got my ride on the Dragon Wagon!

After getting off the Dragon Wagon, I had been on the parks three coasters, so I went around going on a few of the flats. I went over to the Paratrooper ride next to the Dragon Wagon and got in line but the ride closed as I was in line, so I left and went over to the looping ship type ride, "Kamikaze!” I got on the ride and had a very fun time, even though the kid in back of me kept yelling at the two girls in back of him that were screaming. Later on the ride, the same guy was screaming when the ride stopped upside down for a bit, it was pretty funny.  After my ride on Kamikaze, I made my way back over to Zippin Pippin and this time I was able to get the front seat on it. I had a lot more fun riding in the front then in the back because the air seemed to be stronger and the front had a much better view.

After I took a third ride on Zippin Pippin, I walked over to "Rebellion", the parks 90 foot tall Fabbri drop tower. I took three rides on it and had a good time. It might have been a short tower but the drop on it was much better then most S&S towers. The ride goes up real slow and then drops and the airtime on it was great.  I wish I could have got a few more rides on it, but as I was in line for a fourth ride the park closed for the day and they just made everyone get out of the line. Most parks I have been to will let you ride if you’re in line when they close, but I guess Libertyland didn’t have that rule, they just said “Go home”.

When I went in June, I thought the park was nice but it could have used some work. Even back then I could tell that the park was on the poor side and didn’t seem to really have much money, but I was still shocked when I found out that the park had closed for good in late September 2005. I’m glad I got the chance to visit Libertyland.

To view pictures from the park, follow the link here.