NEWS: Guntown Mountain to become Funtown Mountain

[Hilltopper39]

I searched the forum but didn't find anything related to this project in Cave City, Ky on the site of the former Guntown Mountain site so I thought I would start a thread to follow the progress of the project. The old park has been bought and is currently been refurbished by Louisville based entrepreneur Will Russell. Here a few links to the park website and an article published in the Louisville Courier Journal. They posted quite a few pictures and updates to their facebook page and it looks like the project has been funded and is under way. A new coaster was mentioned in the newspaper article but no "new" rides have been planned for this year. Looks like an exciting project!

 

Funtown Mountain

 

Funtown Mountain Instagram

 

Funtown Mountain Facebook Page

 

Funtown mountain: Welcome to the Will Russell Experience

 

 

 

Will Russell has been YOLO-ing all over the region for almost a month now. YOLO is stereotypical frat-dude speak for “You Only Live Once.” It was coined by Canadian rapper Drake and was popular in 2011.

 

Whatever. Why not?

 

For Will Russell, it means something like carpe diem; it means going out and embracing life. Having adventures. Driving (far) too fast. Blasting your favorite music (way) too loud. Dropping bank at a random antique store on a bunch of random stuff.

 

It means never saying “no” to things you want or want to do. It means never saying “I can’t.”

 

It means walking into a cold, dusty arcade/putt-putt course/former barbecue joint just off the interstate in Cave City and saying, “I’m going to buy this!” and having your real estate agent take you seriously.

 

This is the Will Russell Experience, and I’m just along for the ride.

 

Arriving.

 

A video posted by Funtown Mountain (@funtown_mountain) on Jan 30, 2015 at 7:31am PST

 

I recently joined Russell on a road trip down to Guntown Mountain, the Old West-themed roadside attraction in Cave City that Russell is in the process of purchasing and repurposing. He has a signed letter of intent, and he’s put down a deposit that will soon become nonrefundable.

 

He’s planning to turn Guntown Mountain into Funtown Mountain, a story Insider Louisville broke on Jan. 5. Funtown Mountain will be a carnival and pop culture roadside attraction.

 

Upon arriving at Guntown, we met up with Karter Louis, owner of the multiple variations of Hillbilly Tea, who was scoping out the site for possible partnerships. We also were met by Guntown Mountain’s current owner, Lee Bartlett, who bought the business last May with the hope of resurrecting the tourist attraction; he soon realized it would take more work than anticipated and decided to sell.

 

 

Guntown Mountain

 

Back in the 1970s, Guntown Mountain saw as many as 40,000 visitors in the summer, Bartlett said, but attendance has plummeted over the years. If Russell could bring that number back to around 20,000, Bartlett believes he would make a handy little profit. As we stood in the parking lot admiring the view, Bartlett added, “It’s kind of a shame to sell it.”

 

Russell already has shared the proposal with the Cave City Tourist and Convention Commission and was met with enthusiastic response. He’s scheduled to go to Frankfort later this month to present his plans to the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. He hopes to score some funding in the form of state tax incentives, but he swears he’ll make the project happen no matter what.

 

 

Karter Louis and Will Russell

 

Guntown Mountain is seriously run down. Apparently the chair lift still works, though, and Bartlett offered us a ride. Before the complete sentence left his lips, Karter Louis and I turned down the offer.

 

Russell told us he proposed to his wife on the lift. They’ll be divorced soon.

 

Atop Guntown Mountain

 

As we sped up the mountain via an old service road, with real estate agent Ray Hishmeh — the most patient man in the world — behind the wheel, I feared for my life. It would not be the last terrifying moment of the trip.

 

Russell is working on buying additional land; a new road up the mountain needs to be the first investment. Guntown Mountain was built in 1970, and it’s a replica of an Old West town. Back in its heyday, there were country music shows and can-can girl shows in the Lady Luck Saloon. Live shootouts regularly occurred throughout the day with the actors brawling in the streets and falling off roofs. There was a petting zoo, an old time-y photo studio, and an outdoor amphitheater. For a buck, the town sheriff would put your loved ones in jail for five minutes. There was a magic show and cowboys who did gun tricks.

 

As recently as 2010, Guntown Mountain still was receiving positive reviews on the website Roadside America. To be fair, it also was receiving its share of negative reviews.

 

These days, what used to be a fake Old West town is a fake Old West ghost town lacking only the tumbleweeds. But as Russell said, “It’s the land of a million Instagrams.” (And he’s taken close to that many himself).

 

Inside and out, every building and view is eerie, gorgeous, retro, hilarious, magical. The mix of ruin and whimsy lends itself to artful juxtaposition. But Russell and his crew have their work cut out for them. Stuff is falling apart. But, YOLO, right?

 

Russell told me his secret to getting things done is making decisions quickly, not wavering, and then getting his people on it. Russell points out that Walt Disney’s older brother Roy was the practical business person who managed all the moving parts so Walt could be the dreamer. Art Embrey, who is essentially the project manager for Funtown Mountain, is the Roy to Russell’s Walt.

 

Embrey said via email: “Many visionaries don’t have the courage to let someone manage their dream and as a result get mired in the day-to-day issues that arise in developing the project. So perhaps the most important contribution I will be making is freeing Will up to focus on, and fine tune, his dream to inspire the creative and fun imaginations of the Mountaineers.”

 

So what does the visionary envision? It’s a wild ride…

 

Making Plans, Dreaming Big

 

During our time touring Guntown Mountain, Will Russell rattled off countless colorful details about his lofty plans for transformation.

 

The old opera house will become a movie theater with comfy chairs with cup holders. It will be a digital theater that includes a holographic projector (think Tupac), featuring holographic performances by popular musicians, comedians and other performers. The Lucky Lady Saloon will be renovated but will stay a performance space.

 

 

Mountaineers in the Lucky Lady Saloon: Karter Louis, Will Russell, Lorna-Mae Ward, Terry, Melissa Chipman (the author of this piece), and Ian

 

Russell is still trying to get his head around the pop culture museum, but it will definitely be imagination-themed. It will house a bunch of his many pop culture collectables. He also plans to buy vintage animatronic bands and have them play tunes from Kentucky artists like My Morning Jacket and Will Oldham. There already is an amphitheater, which will be gussied up.

 

Beyond that, a giant rainbow bridge will lead to the wooded Lolley Land, populated by characters from artist Kathleen Lolley‘s imagination, including a dragon you can climb into and from whose mouth you can watch the sunset. The Weber Group from Sellersberg, Ind., has been brought on to build Lolley’s creations. They’ve worked with places like Six Flags and King’s Island.

 

In the other direction from Lolley Land will be a treetop village inspired by the Ewok village in “Star Wars.” There was something about a giant owl with light-up eyes and possibly a Kraken waterslide. And maybe somewhere down the line, a roller coaster and zip lines.

 

Down the mountain, the gift store will be transformed into a WHY Louisville store for Cave Hill and Kentucky. The older gift store may or may not house a coffee shop — Russell says good coffee is at least a 30-minute drive from Cave City.

 

 

 

The Haunted Hotel is still in operation and will remain open but with a face lift provided in part by the people from the Alley Theatre. Charmin’ Charlie, the piano-playing ghoul, is still there and playing away. But Russell plans to update with cooler music.

 

The Haunted Hotel was built in 1972 and is the oldest operational walk-through dark house in the country. And it’s beloved. When the Funtown Mountain Facebook page posted something about it being RIP (totally not true), the post received 74 mostly angry comments accusing Russell of ruining their childhood memories. It’s not going away. It’s just going to get fixed up.

 

Its neglect makes it both more and less scary. The stuff that pops out at you is mangled enough to look fake, but walking through a pitch dark, rickety building is a terrifying thing. We all survived. There was a lot of screaming. Some by me.

 

Attached to the Haunted Hotel is a black light putt-putt course that Russell plans to keep, but he wants to make all the obstacles Kentucky-themed.

 

 

Phantasms Fantastic.

 

 

A video posted by Funtown Mountain (@funtown_mountain) on Jan 30, 2015 at 1:59pm PST

 

 

But can Embrey and crew really make all of these visions a reality? Remember, part of YOLO is never saying no. Do you really want to say no to Will Russell?

 

He says people who own roadside attractions are the heart of the American dream, the heart of entrepreneurship. He thinks the people who have the world’s biggest ball of string are heroes.

 

And, at least, as an entrepreneur, Russell has a pretty keen success record. He counts only one failure: Kentucky Rushmore, a proposed monument featuring the faces of icons from the Bluegrass. Russell says he might eventually build Kentucky Rushmore at Funtown Mountain.

 

He’s dreaming big. He wants to buy huge swaths of land to “protect” the attraction from Walmarts and “other crap.” He’s taking Gill Holland to Cave City soon to see what he thinks. Karter Louis seemed seriously down for bringing the Hillbilly concept to Cave City or the Mountain.

 

Collaboration, said Russell, is the way you get things done.

 

For every “no” thrown at Russell, he has a “yes.” For every “you can’t,” he comes back with a “why not?”

 

So, Funtown Mountain. Why not?

 

Edited April 17, 2015 by Hilltopper39

[Hilltopper39]

Here is another article about the project posted in the Louisville Business Journal. I belive this article is where the future "YoloCoaster" is mentioned.

 

Will rRussell's Plans For Funtown Mountain Go Well Beyond the Mountain

 

Will Russell doesn't just want to buy Guntown Mountain in Cave City, Ky., and reinvent the roadside attraction as Funtown Mountain.

 

Russell, a Louisville native, wants to eventually buy restaurants, convenience stores and other property around Guntown Mountain to insulate the city from development that he deems undesirable.

 

"It is a defense strategy. I don't want Walmart; I don't want strip malls," said Russell, who owns Why Louisville, a pair of stores in Louisville that sell Kentucky-related goods. He also founded the popular Lebowski Fest, an annual celebration of the film " The Big Lebowski."

 

 

Russell cited the fact that Walt Disney bought property not only to build Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., but also land surrounding it where he planned to build homes, offices and shops. Some of that dream came to fruition, namely in the form of the high-end residential town Celebration, Fla., but other property became resort and hotel space instead.

 

In short, Russell wants to reinvigorate the Cave City roadside attraction, which he plans to rename Funtown Mountain. To attract customers, he plans to advertise in cities as far south as Nashville and as far north as Indianapolis.

 

In addition to the haunted house, chair lift and miniature golf course that already are part of Guntown Mountain, the attraction will include an outdoor amphitheater, zip line, a museum, a treetop village and a saloon that will sell beer, liquor pizza and concessions and have a live performance space. (But more details on those later.)

 

 

Cave City is about an 90 minutes down Interstate 65 South from Louisville in Barren County. The city has a population of just under 2,300 and sits on the edge of Mammoth Cave National Park.

 

The park itself draws more than 2 million visitors each year, according to the park's website, and Cave City's Tourism Commission said that about half a million of those people travel through Cave City on their way to Mammoth Cave.

 

Just across the street from Guntown Mountain is Dinosaur World, an attraction with life-sized replicas of dinosaurs and a mock archeological dig site. Dinosaur World has an average of 70,000 visitors a year, mostly from March to October,said Chris Randall, park director at Dinosaur World.

 

"I am really excited about Funtown Mountain coming in," Randall said, adding that he hopes the attractions can feed off of each other. "I think they are going to inject some new energy in Cave City."

 

Buying the attraction and the land it sits on

 

 

Although Russell expects to close on Guntown Mountain on March 31, he is still in negotiations to buy the land under the attraction.

 

The business is owned by Lee Bartlett, who purchased it last year. Russell has put a deposit on Guntown Mountain, and the deal "looks good," said Bartlett, who declined to comment further until the deal is sealed. Bartlett leases the land the land from a trust of the estate of Arthur Doyle.

 

Bartlett "didn't want to sell it, but I wanted to buy it," said Russell. Other than to say the cost would be in the millions, he declined to disclose how much he expects to spend to buy the land and everything on it as well as how much it will cost to renovate and upgrade the property.

 

Judith Branstetter, a beneficiary of the Arthur Doyle estate, said her family has owned the land for generations. Her grandfather and father lived there, she said.

 

The family has leased the property to Guntown Mountain's operators, but Branstetter confirmed that they are talking about selling to Russell. It is unknown when a deal on the property could close.

 

Guntown Mountain and buildings on it are valued at $662,300, according to Barren County property records.

 

Branstetter is on board with Russell's idea for Funtown Mountain and wishes him luck.

 

"Anything for our area would be wonderful. It would employ local people," she said. "It would be a great tourist attraction."

 

To help pay for Funtown Mountain, Russell has lined up a private investor and was approved Feb. 24 for a $250,000 loan from the Kentucky Tourism Finance Authority.

 

Russell declined to identify his investor but said he is well-known in Louisville. On his list of people involved in the project, developer Gill Holland is named as an adviser.

 

Funtown Mountain is Russell's 'big vision'

 

 

Funtown Mountain's "potential is out of this world," Russell said. "It is going to be a money-maker, too, which is fine."

 

Russell said projections show that Funtown Mountain, née Guntown Mountain, will have paid off its debts and will be cash-flow positive in 2017. To start, Funtown Mountain will employ 20 to 30 people, but that will increase as more of the project is completed.

 

 

 

 

 

If there are no roadblocks, Funtown Mountain will have a limited opening in June. For $20, the chair lift will take people up and down the mountain. For $5 each, people will be able to tour the attraction's longstanding haunted house and play on the miniature golf course, which will be redecorated to include original artwork from Kentucky artists. Carnival rides will be set up in the parking lot of Funtown Mountain as well.

 

A souvenir shop and restaurant also will be open this summer, according to Russell.

 

For the restaurant, he plans to bring Louisville food down to Cave City in the form of a Hillbilly Tea Shack.

 

Karter Louis, who owns Hillbilly Tea downtown and Hillbilly Tea Shack in the Highlands, said that "Will's a friend of mine, and this is his big vision."

 

Louis said the Hillbilly Tea Shack concept "is built to expand" and that Cave City will serve as a tester site before Louis opens more locations in other cities. The only Hillbilly Tea Shack location currently is on Baxter Avenue in Louisville's Highlands neighborhood.

 

Russell said he is gunning to erect the Zippity Do Dah Zip Line in time for Funtown Mountain's summer open, but that might not come together until later.

 

It's a matter of "if we can raise the funds, which shouldn't be a problem," Russell said.

 

Because Guntown Mountain was known partly for its haunted house, in October, Russell wants to throw a giant Halloween party with entertainment at Funtown Mountain, Russell said.

 

 

Other features of Funtown Mountain will open in 2016 or later. They include The Lucky Lady Saloon, which will sell food and drinks and host musical and theatrical shows; an outdoor amphitheater; a multi-purpose theater that will seat 400 to 800 people; an Ewok-inspired tree top village; Lolley Land, a forested area filled with sculptures by Kentucky artist Kathleen Lolley; and Imagination Land Museum, which will be filled with pop culture memorabilia that Russell has collected all his life.

 

Buildings will be renovated or constructed to fulfill Russell's plans. And eventually, Funtown Mountain will have other rides, including a carousel, a water slide and a roller coaster called the YOLO coaster, Russell said.

 

 

Building a support system

 

 

To make Funtown Mountain a reality, Russell has hired a host of people to work on the project.

 

Art Embrey, of Embrey Creative, is Funtown Mountain's creative consultant. Mark Evans, of Holy Carp Productions, is talent manager. Louisville-based Mightily is working on branding for Funtown Mountain. Law firms Frost Brown Todd LLC and Stites & Harbison PLLC both are involved in the project, Russell said.

 

Weber Group Inc., a Louisville-based design and construction firm that has done work for Holiday World and Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, among others, is under contract to complete architectural design and construction management for Funtown Mountain. Their job is to keep the project on time and on budget, said Penny Peavler, Weber Group's director of brand development and marketing.

 

"It's gutsy what he is doing. We are excited to help him bring it to life," Peavler said. "He is a new kind of entrepreneur, and that's exciting."

 

And the list of companies and individuals could go on.

 

"I do nothing," Russell said. "I could jump off a bridge today, and Funtown Mountain would still happen."

 

 

Despite Russell's claim that he just has to sit back and relax, from the number of messages he received and the calls he took during the interview, he seems to be at the helm of the ship, steering toward his vision.

 

People have been mostly positive about Russell's plan, he said, but he has received backlash about Funtown Mountain's logo, which features a clown. Coulrophobes, or at least sympathizers of coulrophobes, have reacted negatively to the design on Facebook and said they don't want to visit Funtown Mountain for fear of clowns walking around.

 

Russell said he blocks those individuals as well as other people who post negative comments from Funtown's Facebook page.

 

 

"I have zero tolerance for negativity," he said. "Everybody can shut the (expletive) up about the clowns." But he later added that Funtown Mountain isn't about clowns. There will be some, but not an overwhelming amount walking around the attraction.

 

To draw young adults, Funtown Mountain will focus on hosting music and film festivals. Russell also said he would like to hold video gaming competitions.

 

For Russell, reviving the roadside attraction is about "shining a light on Cave City," a place he used to visit as a kid and still enjoys today.

 

"I love Cave City. It's my favorite."

[Hilltopper39]

Last week the folks at Funtown Mountain announced that on April 1st they will be making some announcements about the park including opening date and maybe an operating scheudle (yes I know that is April Fools day, but they assured everyone the announcement is not a joke). They've been very active on Facebook and Instagram posting tons of pictures and videos of "stuff" they're doing in preparation. They've been teasing something called the "Carnival of Fun" which sounds like some kind of traveling roadhshow that is related to the park. Not sure exactly what it is yet but they have announced a few acts that will be participating and performing, here is Facebook page for the Carnival of Fun Carnival of Fun.

 

The minds behind this weird project also released a teaser of their upcoming Kickstarter video related to project which can be seen here. [youtu_be]

[/youtu_be]

 

 

I still really have no idea what these guys are up to with this place but it's been a lot of fun to follow them on Social Media, they've been posting a lot of really cool content. Hope it turns into something exciting!

 

Should also note these guys have rounded up a full set of the original "Rock-Afire Explosion" animatronic band that used to perform at Showbiz Pizza across the country to be the official Band of Funtown Mountain. Just another little weird and wonderful detail that these guys are putting into this project.

 

Rock-Afire Explosion, the Funtown Mountain House Band

Edited March 29, 2015 by Hilltopper39

[SFOGdude25]

Living in Nashville, I pass Cave City on I-65 every time I drive up to Ohio (which is a lot). My family and I almost always stop at that exit for food. I've always seen Guntown Mountain, but never thought about visiting it. This might change that! I'm really interested to see how this plays out!

[Hilltopper39]

I've stopped at the various attractions in Cave City over the years when I was in school in Bowling Green. I don't think I ever went to the old Guntown Montain partly because I'm not sure it was ever open but I've done the Alpine Slide, Dinosaur World, and some of the questionable go-karts and mini golf in the area. It's a neat area, a bit rundown over the years but that's kind of part of the charm in a weird way so hopefully whatever these guys have in store breathes a little life back into the area,

 

Seriously follow these guys on Facbook and Instgram, they're always posting really cool stuff.

[thrillerman1]

I was only ever able to visit the gift shop at the bottom of the chairlift as the rest of the place was closed. The video is creepy but yet interesting. It's almost like a Pigeon Forge or Wisconsin Dells tourist area that just lives in an alternate universe. I can't wait to go check out the place once it opens.

[Hilltopper39]

Yeah, the video features several attractions in the area, I'm not sure what Funtown Mountain's conection with the other attractions is but I guess they area all involved somehow? Will be interesting to see how this place develops.

[DBru]

I ventured up to what looked like a deserted Guntown Mountain years ago and was surprised to find a few rides open at the top. There was a unique flat called "The Twister" that I remember really enjoying. It was kind of like a really intense tilt-a-whirl. Glad to see this project happening.

[Jew]

Should also note these guys have rounded up a full set of the original "Rock-Afire Explosion" animatronic band that used to perform at Showbiz Pizza across the country to be the official Band of Funtown Mountain. Just another little weird and wonderful detail that these guys are putting into this project.

 

I want to check this place out just based on this!

[djcoastermark]

^^ Aah, the old Twister rides were a lot of fun. Cedar Point and several other parks used to have them in the sixties and into the early seventies. I wonder if there are any operating ones left anywhere ?

[Hilltopper39]

Looks like Funtown Mountain held/is holding a press conference today to make some announcements about their project in Cave City, KY. The've announced a June 19th opening date with limited attractions as well as a few details about the full project which is shceudled to open in the Spring of 2016. Here is a lsit of attractions from the articel that will be opening in June as well as next Spring, including the YOLO Coaster! No real details on the coaster other than it is being called the YOLO coaster, which is enough detail for now!

 

opening Date

 

Funtown Mountain attractions

 

Funtown Mountain opens June 19 with the Haunted Hotel, Funtown Souvenir Shack, Hillbilly Tea Shack, Puttin 'N' Kentucky mini-golf, Zippity Doo Dah Zip Line, Skylift Ride, Mega Boom Boom Box and carnival rides.

 

By fall, the Lucky Lady Saloon, Imagination Land Museum, Crows Nest Lookout Deck, Haunted Annex, Laser Cave Lazer Tag are expected to open. By spring 2016, the addition of Lolley Land, Treetop Village, Sunset Dragon, Kraken Waterslide, Wondershow Theater, Kentucky Rushmore, Mountaintop Amphitheater, Funhouse Clown Palace and the Yolo Coaster will be available.

 

Admission will be free to explore the lower grounds. Other aspects, such as putt-putt golf, the haunted house and chair lift will range from $5-$10

 

 

Here is the link to the article in the Louisville Courier Journal.

Will Russell's Wild Ride is Headed to Funtown Mountain

 

No one was surprised three months ago when Will Russell began fervently pursuing Cave City's Guntown Mountain, a venerable roadside attraction that has been in decline for many years.

 

The avalanche of almost outlandish schemes and dreams he shared on social media may have sounded doubtful, even impossible, but he expects to close the deal on or before May 5.

 

At a Wednesday press conference, Russell will announce that the rechristened Funtown Mountain will debut June 19 with a handful of attractions. It won't be fully reborn until next year, after Louisville's Weber Group completes a multimillion dollar renovation of the declining property.

 

"Funtown Mountain is about celebrating the arts and culture of Kentucky, and elevating the reputation of Kentucky, and to bring business to Cave City, which is my favorite city in the world," said Russell, who also owns Lebowski Fest and two WHY Louisville retail stores.

 

"Cave City really grew up because of tourists, and so this is a tourist attraction, a roadside attraction," Russell added.

 

When it's finished, Funtown Mountain, 101 Huckleberry Knob Rd., will offer a plethora of options, including the country's oldest haunted hotel, Imagination Land Museum, Mountain Top Amphitheater, and the Lucky Lady Saloon. National recording artists will perform in the amphitheater, and smaller acts may do shows in the saloon.

 

The staged gunfights, however, will be history. "This is about fun, not guns," Russell said.

 

Funtown should be completed by spring 2016, with most attractions available by this fall. Financing is coming from a variety of sources, including $250,000 from Kentucky Tourism Development Loan Program and help from the Kentucky Collateral Support Program. The Weber Group's Penny Peavler called it the ideal project for the firm.

 

Cave City officials are hoping it will signal a return to the city's tourism heyday.

 

"It could help rejuvenate our tourism industry," said Cave City tourism director Sharon Tabor, who said that Guntown Mountain had once been a prime draw that "pulled people right off the interstate. Over the years it has gradually declined, for whatever reason, and people in town are very, very excited about that property being reinvented and bringing some interest back into the city.

 

"It's exciting. There are a lot of possibilities," she added.

 

"All Cave City needed was for someone to turn a camera on it and show it to the world," Russell said. "All it needed was for someone to shine a light."

 

Cave City is small town with a population of less than 3,000, and it has always been fueled by tourism. It's seven minutes from Mammoth Cave National Park and home to motels, hotels, antique stores and roadside attractions such as Dinosaur World and Big Mike's Mystery House. It's most famous motel is the Wigwam Village Motel No. 2, which has 15 concrete teepees as rooms.

 

Magaline Meredith is a lifelong Cave City resident and for 23 years has run Magaline's Antique Mall, where she's known for her collection of 400 hats. She's sold a few things to Russell over the years and is certain that Funtown Mountain will be a shot in Cave City's arm.

 

"Yes, oh, yes it'll bring more people ... and the tourists will really be looking forward to it," she said. "The tourists want something to do. Of course, we get a lot of people during the summer on account of Mammoth Cave National Park, but anything is a plus and helps."

 

Funtown Mountain is just the latest unlikely achievement for Russell, whose entire life has been something of a roadside attraction.

 

He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1995, long after it had made his early years chaotic. He was homeless at one point, frequently hospitalized, arrested several times and eventually put on disability for eight years.

 

When he finally found some balance and focus, he went on a tear. In 2001 he and Scott Shuffitt founded Lebowski Fest, a celebration of the movie "The Big Lebowski," and is now sole owner of an operation that maintains an international presence. In 2005 he started WHY Louisville, a pop-culture retail store that celebrates Kentucky culture, and now has two locations.

 

He said that starting and maintaining two successful businesses has taught him the value of collaboration and, more importantly, how to collect financing. Russell said that banks have been eager to work with him, and he is kicking off two fundraising efforts this month.

 

One will be via Kickstarter and the other is the Carnival of Fun roadshow, which will travel to 20 states in an Airstream trailer with circus performers and a band. It starts April 17 at Louisville's Fresh Start Growers' Supply, 1007 E. Jefferson St.

 

It's all a massive undertaking, and Russell still struggles with periods of depression and mania. Given his rocky past, Russell marvels that he was nominated this year for the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award. Living in a car tends to change how you approach challenges, he said, and transforming a crumbling roadside attraction into a destination is his idea of fun.

 

"You know what I'm afraid of now?" he asks. "Nothing."

 

Jeffrey Lee Puckett can be reached at (502) 582-4160, jpuckett@courier-journal.com and on Twitter, @JLeePuckett.

 

 

 

Funtown Mountain attractions

 

Funtown Mountain opens June 19 with the Haunted Hotel, Funtown Souvenir Shack, Hillbilly Tea Shack, Puttin 'N' Kentucky mini-golf, Zippity Doo Dah Zip Line, Skylift Ride, Mega Boom Boom Box and carnival rides.

 

By fall, the Lucky Lady Saloon, Imagination Land Museum, Crows Nest Lookout Deck, Haunted Annex, Laser Cave Lazer Tag are expected to open. By spring 2016, the addition of Lolley Land, Treetop Village, Sunset Dragon, Kraken Waterslide, Wondershow Theater, Kentucky Rushmore, Mountaintop Amphitheater, Funhouse Clown Palace and the Yolo Coaster will be available.

 

Admission will be free to explore the lower grounds. Other aspects, such as putt-putt golf, the haunted house and chair lift will range from $5-$10.

 

The did release some concept art on their Social media pages for the Kentucky theme Puttin 'N" Kentucky mini-golf and they were pretty awesome, KFC Buckets, Churchill Downs, bourbon barrels, all of the stereotypes you can shake a stick at in one putt putt course! And again, their social media pages are pretty awesome so follow them if you have any interest in this project.

[Hilltopper39]

The guys at Funtown Mountain released their Kickstarter video online this morning and will be premiering it later today at the Funder Explosion event in Louisville (free event with a DEVO cover band I might add). After the event today the team is taking the show on the road to various cities across the Midwest on their Carnival of Fun Tour featuring live bands and some other funky fun carnival acts. Both events are fundraisers for the park which is scheduled to open in June 19th of this year with limited attractions in operation, then the Grand Opening will be next summer with more additions to be made this off season including the YOLO Coaster. No details to date on the coaster other than that they are adding one, and it will be the Yolo Coaster, so Yolo I guess. Check out the video below and check out the Carnival of Fun if it rolls into a city near you.

 

Funder Explosion!

 

Carnival of Fun!

 

[youtu_be]https://youtu.be/Z8-ktqBLRXo[/youtu_be]

 

The video is weird and wonderful at the same time, and Colonel Dark Meat is my new favorite character.

[SFOG1991]

^^ Aah, the old Twister rides were a lot of fun. Cedar Point and several other parks used to have them in the sixties and into the early seventies. I wonder if there are any operating ones left anywhere ?

I know they have a classic Twister at Lakemont Park (along with all their other great rare vintage rides!)

 

I assume there are a few more around, but that is the only permanent instalation I can recall off-hand.

[larrygator]

^^ Aah, the old Twister rides were a lot of fun. Cedar Point and several other parks used to have them in the sixties and into the early seventies. I wonder if there are any operating ones left anywhere ?

I know they have a classic Twister at Lakemont Park (along with all their other great rare vintage rides!)

 

I assume there are a few more around, but that is the only permanent instalation I can recall off-hand.

 

I think that is the last permanent installation. At Williams Grove the Twister ran at an insane pace if you asked the ride op to amp it up.

[Jew]

Is it bad that I just assumed since it is in Kentucky and used to be called Guntown that guns were somehow involved?

 

I'm digging the promo stuff. Hope it all works out.

[Hilltopper39]

Is it bad that I just assumed since it is in Kentucky and used to be called Guntown that guns were somehow involved?

 

I'm digging the promo stuff. Hope it all works out.

 

Haha, fair point. Although I remember reading somewhere in the early news reports that Will Russell said something along the lines of "We're dropping the guns but keeping the fun" related to the name change from Guntown Mountain to Funtown Mountain, so apparently there will be no guns to keep it a bit more family friendly. I am interested to see how they keep everything "family friendly" once the project is open since a lot of their promo stuff thus far has been kinda on the border of PG and PG-13 if ya know what I mean. Not that it's a bad thing, and I certainly love what they're doing, but this is Kentucky and this project thus far is far from the Magic Kingdom. They've even mentioned hosting music fests and concerts and video game competitions and a huge Halloween event in the future so it certainly seems like they're targeting sightly "non-traditional" audience.

 

Also, I had to share this......

Kentucky Rushmore

 

They posted a picture of this amazing Kentucky Rushmore sculpture on their facebook page last week. Apparently this mini sculpture is for their float in the KY Derby Pegasus parade but they're mentioned they intend to build a lifesize version of it on top of Funtown mountain in Cave City which will awesome given it's location and proximity to the interstate.

 

And as a native Kentuckian they pretty much nailed it as far as to who is on KY Rushmore....

[Hilltopper39]

It looks like the offical Funtown Mountain Kickstarter page has been launched, check it out in the link below.

 

Funtown Mountain: The Future of Fun

 

Funtown Mountain Kickstarter Page

 

I've never participated in a Kickstarter project before but I kind of want one of those t-shirts so this might have to be my first. Also, if I had $10,000 laying around I would absolutley donate it in exchange for a statue of myself to be placed on top of the mountain......

[Hilltopper39]

They've added some pretty cool options to the Kickstarter page including name your own Hot Dog to be sold at the park for $75, a vintage mascot head for $125, a night in the Airstream Fun Bus chauffeured by Will Russell for $250, and my favorite a night in the Haunted Hotel walk through attraction with a behind the scenes tour and dinner for $225. A night in the hotel sounds pretty awesome, and a night on the Fun Bus with 10 friends could be pretty fun.

 

Also I just noticed the Kickstarter page is the first time that the coaster hasn't been mentioned on an official report about the project. Hopefully that is still in the works after they get the place up and running (and profitable).

[thrillerman1]

This looks fun: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1691320790/funtown-mountain/video_share?ref=video

 

Hope they reach the Kickstarter...almost there. Mmmm chicken.

[Hilltopper39]

Yeah, it looks like they reached their goal on the kickstarter campaign not long ago. Congrats to Funtown Mountain, now lets open this place and build a coaster.

 

Also, someone donated the $10,000 and will have a statue of them selves placed on top of the mountain. But not just a statue of themselves, Dan Prall will have a statue of himself as Walter Sobchak from the Big Lebowski at the park!

 

Mark it 8 Dude

OVER THE LINE!!!

 

 

Also, over the past couple of weeks the guys behind this project have been posting pictures from Holiday World, Universal Studios Hollywood, St. Louis City Museum, Gatlinburg (maybe), and some other fun places around the country so they have plenty of inspiration from some great destinations we all love.

[Hilltopper39]

The Funtown Mountain Grand Awesomeing (opening) is right around the corner this weekend and they've posted prices for the attractions. They have also annonced outdoor movies that will be playing on the weekends all summer long as well as several bands and food trucks etc. that will be in attendance. Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Oh Brother Where Art Thou and The Wizard of Oz are all on the schedule for this weekend.

 

Prices for the attractions

 

Movies that will be shown for free all summer

 

The Froggy Bottom Boys will be play your old timey music favorites

 

The Haunted Hotel

 

The Haunted Hotel is taking reservations starting next weekend!

 

I love the billboards they've posted along the interstate

 

Hope this thing is a success this weekend. Also keep in mind that this year is a bit of a "soft" grand openeing as it sounds like the plan is getthe place open for a limited run this summer then add some more attractions and rides for next year. Hopefully a new coaster is still part of their plans at somepoint.

[thrillerman1]

They were working on the Haunted Hotel when I stopped by on the way to Kentucky Kingdom last Thursday...

Is that a Sleestak?

[cfc]

^The green monster torso looks like a thoughtful fellow.

[Nrthwnd]

"The Grand Awesoming"?

 

 

Works for me!

 

 

 

And FREE Cotton Candy!

[Hilltopper39]

Looks like the chairlift and the mountain top portino of the park won't be ready for the grand awesoming ceremony this weekend, so I guess Funtown Mountain will temporairly be Funtown Hillside?

 

I hope people are patient with the project this year as it's a fairly large undertaking for a small group of people but it looks like there will still be plenty to do on opening day. They also mentioned that there will be some temporary rides and bounce houses and stuff in the marking lot for the openeing and hopefully the rest of the season.