Lake Winnepesaukah: Georgia's Finest Family Amusement Park

I've been a roller coaster enthusiast for as long as I can remember. Vacations center around amusement parks, and my motto has always been "I came, I saw, I coastered." One of my favorite roller coaster memories is my first visit to Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park in Rossville, Georgia. Lake Winnie is a true traditional amusement park in every way, with a delightful old-fashioned ambiance that modern theme parks can't match no matter how many thrill rides they build.

Lake Winnie Amusement Park may not have the tallest, longest or fastest roller coaster. It might not be the largest amusement park or have the most thrill rides. But Lake Winnie more than makes up for that by offering Southern charm, classic rides, a wonderful historic wooden roller coaster, a shady picnic grove and a picturesque setting with stunning views of Lake Winnepesaukah. Even the name is enchanting, once you learn how to pronounce it. Winnepesaukah (win-uh-puh-SOAK-uh) comes from a Native American word meaning "bountiful waters" or "beautiful lake."

Lake Winnie Amusement Park opened in 1925 and currently has 36 rides. Some, like the classic Cannon Ball wooden roller coaster and the Wild Lightnin' steel roller coaster (a "Wild Mouse" type of ride), are perfect for thrill seekers like myself. But Lake Winnie has plenty of fun rides for kids and families, too. There's a beautiful historic 1916 Carrousel built by the renowned Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC), and classic rides like the Ferris Wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, Bumper Cars, Scrambler and Paddle Boats.

Guests who visit Lake Winnie today can still ride the park's very first attraction, the Boat Chute water ride. This ride was built in 1927 and according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association is the oldest Old Mill dark boat ride in the U.S. Newer thrill rides at Lake Winnie include the gravity-defying Conestoga, the swinging Pirate Ship and the wet-n-wild Pipeline Plunge, which is like a cross between a coaster and a water slide.

I love almost all amusement park rides, but it's the wooden roller coasters that really get my pulse racing, and Lake Winnie's does not disappoint. The Cannon Ball wooden roller coaster was designed for Lake Winnepesaukah by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and John C. Allen. Built in 1967, it's an out-and-back style roller coaster that's 2,272 feet long with a first drop of 70 feet and speeds up to 50 MPH during the minute-and-a-half ride.

It is a fun roller coaster ride, to be sure. But what made this particular coaster most memorable is not the actual ride, but my unique experience. I was visiting Lake Winnie for my first America Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) convention, which also happened to include a roller coaster wedding. My traveling companion was someone who had been a member of ACE for a long time. He was also good friends with the groom, and was to be the best man at the roller coaster wedding.

We arrived at Lake Winnie Amusement Park early, before it had even opened. My well-connected friend knew the man who operated the Cannon Ball roller coaster, an older gentleman who'd been working at the Cannon Ball from the beginning. My friend convinced the operator to let us ride the roller coaster to the top of the first lift hill, where he stopped it so we could get out and take pictures of each other. I'll never forget the thrill of standing on the tracks, looking around at the whole amusement park from this mind-blowing vantage point. Eventually we climbed back into the front seat of the roller coaster and finished the ride.

If you're planning a trip to Georgia and you love roller coasters and amusement parks, Lake Winnepesaukah should definitely be on your itinerary. Lake Winnie is located on the border of Georgia and Tennessee just a few miles from Chattanooga. If you go, please give the Cannon Ball my regards!

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