Goal: Save Libertyland

[coasterdude5]

Goal: Preserve Libertyland

Group forms to protect future of theme park, Pippin, jobs for teens

 

By David Williams

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November 23, 2005

 

A local grassroots organization is trying to save Libertyland, hailing the amusement park as a piece of Memphis history that remains a crucial provider of family entertainment and youth summer jobs.

 

"Teenagers, if they do not have summer jobs -- France happens," said stay-at-home mom Denise Parkinson, referring to that country's youth unrest and riots. "If they feel like they have no future and nobody cares about them, we see states of emergency. Don't think it can't happen here."

 

As for the 29-year-old amusement park itself, she called it quaint, convenient, affordable and "the only shady theme park I've ever been to."

 

Parkinson, whose group also includes independent filmmaker Mike McCarthy and musician Amy LaVere, was reacting to Mid-South Fair officials' recent decision to close the financially struggling park -- and to the city and county's ongoing fairgrounds reuse process.

 

No decision has been made on the fairgrounds, but a scenario endorsed by a public-private reuse committee did not include Libertyland or the fair.

 

"If somebody wants to hop in there with a bunch of money and some other stuff and try to get (Libertyland) open, we'd absolutely talk to them about leasing the equipment or purchasing the equipment," said Ron Hardin, fair and park general manager. "But we do not plan on reopening the park."

 

Fair officials estimated the park lost about $500,000 this year. They said it was closed because of years of financial losses -- not because of the city's reuse process.

 

"Everybody thinks Libertyland is part of city government," Hardin said.

 

Parkinson said she'd like to see another company reopen Libertyland. But her group also is focusing on the city because of the fairgrounds redevelopment process, which could include retail and residential elements.

 

"I'm tired of seeing stuff being torn down," said McCarthy, who is considering making a Libertyland documentary. "There's not going to be any cultural landmarks here eventually."

 

McCarthy is particularly interested in the future of Elvis Presley's favorite roller coaster -- the Zippin Pippin.

 

"Not everything there is worthwhile and maybe the idea needs to be updated," he said, "but there's certain things that do not need to go away -- or need to find good homes. One of those is the Zippin."

 

Hardin said the fair, a nonprofit organization, owns all the rides and other park equipment. He said the plan is sell many of the rides, but that the Zippin Pippin -- billed as the second-oldest operating wooden coaster in North America -- and some other rides likely aren't logistically feasible to relocate.

 

Hardin said it's his hope that the Grand Carousel -- built in 1909, and one of the country's oldest all-horse carousels -- will remain with the fair in a possible new location.

 

LaVere suggested the park could be financially viable with some paint and "modern touches."

 

She said it gives tourists with children another entertainment option: "With the exception of the Children's Museum and the zoo, which are excellent, it really is a 21-and-over town."

 

Many small amusement parks are thriving across the country, according to the Virginia-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Spokeswoman Beth Robertson said they "offer more of an intimate experience. People think of it as their neighborhood park, rather than 'the giant that I have to go on vacation to.' "

 

But she said Libertyland appeared to be "very small" even by small-park standards, and she didn't offer great hope that another amusement park might want to take it over.

 

"In the '80s, there was a tremendous surge of large corporate parks buying small parks. That has pretty much come to a halt," she said. "One of the issues that the industry looks at is the value of the property for real estate versus parks."

 

-- David Williams: 529-2310

 

It's really good to see that some people really do care about the park.

 

And I am invloved.

[MSLSM]

Hopefully this park can be saved. The Pippin is a classic coaster, and the park was a nice place for families to go. In my opinion, every major city should have a park near by, and Liberty Land was managed to do that.

[Carnage]

While I agree with the cause, I couldn't help but scratch my head at the reference to the Paris riots.

 

The problems in Paris are alot more complex then a lack of jobs for teenagers who then run amuck. It's apples to oranges.

[zburns999]

Wow, where have I been. I thought that LibertyLand had already been condemned and destroyed. However, if its still up, what can I say? Save the place! Its always sad to see a park's life end, so anyway to stop it (or at least try) is a good thing.

[woah_killa]

I've only been to liberty land once, but that one time was enough to convince me that they should save it!!!

 

zippin pippin was AWESOME and...yea...a little scary, and revolution was...um, yea. well, save zippin pippin!

[coasterdude5]

Wow, where have I been. I thought that LibertyLand had already been condemned and destroyed. However, if its still up, what can I say? Save the place! Its always sad to see a park's life end, so anyway to stop it (or at least try) is a good thing.

 

Yeah, the lady told me that the manager says they are keeping the rides operable in case someone comes along and wants to buy them.

[Jeezus Juice]

she called it quaint, convenient, affordable and "the only shady theme park I've ever been to."

 

LOL!

 

 

"Teenagers, if they do not have summer jobs -- France happens,"

 

Yes, that is exactly right. If only those frenchies would've had a small, shady amusment park...