NEWS: Libertyland Will Be Closed In 2006

[robbalvey]

Libertyland Closed for 2006 Season

Nov 3, 2005, 04:41 PM EST

 

MEMPHIS - It appears Libertyland, the amusement park where millions of Mid-South families have spent a hot summer day over the past 30 years, won't be open for the 2006 season.

 

The Mid-South Fair Commission met today and approved a motion not to re-open the amusement park. The Commission says the Mid-South Fair will continue, but did not discuss where the Fair will be held in 2006.

 

Libertyland is perhaps best known for its "Zippin' Pippin'" ride which is said to be the nation's oldest wooden roller coaster and one Elvis Presley loved. When the park opened in the mid-70's, throngs of families would head to the park and it was the first employer for many a teenager.

 

However, the park has struggled in recent years. It is expected to loose $500,000 this year. On top of that, theme parks nationally have struggled including those owned by big corporations.

 

Libertyland is jointly owned by the city and county and is non-profit. In the past several years, money made by the Mid-South Fair has subsidized the losses - both share property on the Mid-South fairgrounds.

[Canobie Fan]

So sad... I went to LL in June and had a real nice few hours at the park. ZP was a great ride and I felt it was really under rated. If more people got out to ride it I think it would be a top 20 woodie. Also the park had a kickass freefall tower.

[Scaparri]

Man, it seems like parks are shutting down left and right. Well, hopefully this one will get saved soon. That's really sad to see this place. I can only wonder what is going to happen to the Pippin.

[robbalvey]

I haven't seen an era like this since the mid to late 80s where we lost a TON of parks. Mostly family-owned parks that lost a lot of business due to the Six Flags and Disney's of the world.

 

But when we're at a point now when one of the larger Six Flags parks are closing, really makes me wonder.

 

How many parks have closed now since 2000? Seems like quite a few. Anyone care to add to the list?

 

Six Flags Astoworld

Ghost Town In The Sky

Miracle Strip Amusement Park

Wonderland Sydney

Libertyland

Whalom Park

Americana Park

 

--Robb "At least Joyland is getting saved." Alvey

[ebl]

Sadly, a day at an amusement park can be quite expensive for the average family. I know a bunch of families that just don't go very often anymore because of that. When you have little extra cash, you start cutting out things like this.

 

Eric

[ParkTrips]

IMHO this all comes back to the industry and economy taking a fall after 9/11. Its just finally catching up for some parks, even as both the economy and industry are gaining strength again

[Alexander Nagel]

Add Hillcrest in 2003

[FlyingScooter]

It has been a lot of parks.

 

Robb, I'd, at least temporarily, add SFNO to that list. I can't see them open next year, if ever again.

 

I can't imagine how much it cost to run a park. Insurance increases every, which has to hit parks big time. Electricity, water/sewer and gas have all increased significantly these last 5 years.

Here in NE Ohio, we're looking at a 40% increase in natural gas rates. (just in time for winter).

With all those increases, I'm amazed that parks don't charge 75.00 to get in.

[memphish]

I want to go on record and say F*ck the memphis mayor and all his scandals.

[memphish]

Here's a photo of the land in question.

Coliseum, fair left out of 'best scenario'

 

Panelists laud green spaces, suggest fest shift to Agricenter

 

By David Williams

Contact

November 4, 2005

 

The Mid-South Fair and Mid-South Coliseum are absent in the "highest and best use" scenario for a revitalized Mid-South Fairgrounds.

 

The public-private committee studying the complex ranked Scenario No. 5 -- with its vast green spaces, small-scale retail potential and 40-plus acres for sports and recreation -- first among six scenarios presented by consulting architects Looney Ricks Kiss in a Thursday morning meeting. However, the committee said the city and county should consider all six.

 

 

"I just hope there's a place for us (somewhere in the county)," said new fair board president Dr. R. Eugene Smith, minutes after the board voted, as expected, not to reopen financially struggling Libertyland in 2006.

 

Committee member Pete Aviotti, special assistant to Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton, said there's an ideal place for the fair: The Agricenter, which is on county-owned land at Shelby Farms.

 

"It's a high-exposure location," Aviotti said. "And I think they could build a bigger and better fair."

 

Attempts to reach Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton were unsuccessful.

 

Who would fund a potential multimillion-dollar relocation is unclear.

 

"We've got to have help. We can't do it on our own," Smith said of the nonprofit that operates the fair.

 

In the favored scenario, the coliseum -- once the city's main arena, now home to small-college basketball and small concerts -- likely would be demolished.

 

"I think the whole situation with the coliseum needs to be resolved fairly quickly, because of the fact that you have some serious ADA compliance issues," said city chief financial officer Robert Lipscomb, committee organizer. "The building itself is about 40 years old. ... You've got a lot of deferred maintenance, and delayed maintenance, with the coliseum."

 

He estimated it would cost $6 million for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and millions more for necessary improvements.

 

State Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, a committee member, spoke in favor of keeping the coliseum.

 

Mostly, though, the committee members embraced LRK's visions of a new fairgrounds.

 

"I think we have a road map that we can follow," said committee chairman Cato Johnson.

 

A centerpiece of the LRK scenarios is a park called a "festival green," connecting an East Parkway entrance to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

 

The "festival green" could be used for football tailgating, relocated local festivals and everyday use by neighbors and other citizens.

 

Scenario 5 also sets aside 50-plus acres for multi-purpose uses, which could include pavilions or other structures for a farmers' market, flea market or other events.

 

Mixed-use development -- retail and, possibly residential -- is imagined for the Central Avenue side of the property, a neighbor to the existing Children's Museum of Memphis and across the street from Christian Brothers University.

 

Fairview Junior High School, on Central, would be relocated closer to the Southern Avenue side of the property, adjacent to the sports and recreation area.

 

The key word, however, is "scenario." LRK and the committee both said that changes could be made -- and, ultimately, the city and county will decide what happens.

 

"We have to set the bar high, and aim for it," said LRK's Steve Auterman. "We may not get all the way there. But on the journey, we will be someplace better than we are today."

 

Today's fairgrounds is largely asphalt, chain-link fencing and deserted spaces, except on event days.

 

"It often looks like the only things that grow on the site are weeds and fences," Auterman said, "and they're both doing very well."

 

Lipscomb said the next step is to decide who will have ultimate responsibility for the fairgrounds -- possibly, a redevelopment commission.

 

He said private investment would be needed. One example could be a proposed community center. The local Salvation Army envisions 20 acres carved out for the center, funded by a $48 million grant from the estate of McDonald's heiress Joan Kroc.

 

"You have to entertain that offer," Lipscomb said.

 

-- David Williams: 529-2310

[momo1tx]

Don't forget William's Grove... we're losing all of these parks with classic woodies.

[coasterdude5]

I'm speechless. I agree with Memphish!

 

Is there anything we can do to save it?

[nannerdw]

How many parks have closed now since 2000? Seems like quite a few. Anyone care to add to the list?

 

Six Flags Astoworld

Ghost Town In The Sky

Miracle Strip Amusement Park

Wonderland Sydney

Libertyland

Whalom Park

Americana Park

 

Nashville Valley Amusement Park closed, but that was no big loss.

[Patriot12]

I thought Libertyland is already closed for good since 10/27.

[Jeezus Juice]

I'd like to add J's amusment park in CA to the list, which closed because the owners are more into meth now.

 

-Don

[jasonbour]

Well it seems the Ford's and Herrenton has managed to lose another Memphis Landmark. I loved LL, espicially when the fair was in progress. I have a lot of good memories from my childhood there.

 

Glad we left Memphis when we did so I did not have to watch Memphis die.

[woah_killa]

I went to Libertyland only once, and I thought it was a really good park, Zippin Pippin was awesome!

 

Also, I'm sad because it's like some of my childhood memories because my family used to go and set up a shop at the flee market that was right next door, and I used to always get excited to see Libertyland.