By: Angela Gillaspie © June 2001

Growing up in the hills of North Georgia, I had the privilege of experiencing the fun of Lake Winnepesaukah (win-nuh-puh-soak-uh) amusement park. Whether the visit was with my relatives, friends, or my church's youth group, I remember squealing with delight as my stomach found its way into my throat and my cheeks hurt from grinning so much.

Last summer, Lake Winnie celebrated their 75^th anniversary of making folks laugh and scream. Nestled between Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga National Park, and Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Lake Winnie is accessible from Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, Knoxville, and many places in between.

Once among the nearly 3,000 amusement parks that dotted the American landscape during the 1920s and 1930s, Lake Winnie one of the oldest to survive.

The last time I entered Lake Winnie's kudzu-adorned gates, I was a teenager. Now I entered the gates as a middle-aged mom with her three kids, husband, and parents in tow. Pricing is still less than major parks; parking is free, admission is $3 and the price for unlimited rides is $16. Cheaper admission and food prices are available to groups, which flock to the park during summer months for church outings, reunions and business picnics.

Lake Winnie's main attraction is The Cannon Ball roller coaster - a wooden monster built in 1967 that's known around the world among roller coaster enthusiasts. The Cannon Ball whizzes over its three-quarters of a mile track in 90 seconds.

In the center of the park is Lake Winnepesaukah itself. Fed by several springs, the lake is home to panhandler ducks and carp that stalk Lake Winnie patrons from the edges in hopes of snatching up discarded pop corn or a piece of funnel cake.

There are over 30 rides spread out around (and over) the lake. My youngest two kids were barely tall enough to ride many of the rides, but fortunately there were oodles of kiddie rides. The boys got a kick out of riding the Frog Hopper which hopped them up and down and made them cluck with delight. My dad was interested in the miniature golf, and I enjoyed the quiet paddle boat ride across the lake.

On selected days, there are free (with park admission) concerts in Lake Winnie's "Jukebox Junction." Headlining this summer are Joe Diffie, Yankee Grey, Rascal Flatts, 4HIM, and the Confederate Railroad to mention a few.

Working our way through the park, we found ourselves in front of The Cannon Ball roller coaster. The kids gasped as they looked over the tall wooden structure.

Creeping up the first and tallest hill, I got goose bumps in anticipation of the descent and I hollered to my kids to hold their arms up. They looked back at me with wide eyes and shook their heads NO WAY! I held my arms up and I immediately became airborne when we started down the 70-foot drop. I quickly grabbed the lap rail and decided that my dear children had wisdom beyond their tender ages.

My husband took the kids for a ride on jeweled wooden horses perched around the large antique carousel, while the rest of us enjoyed a snack on the wonderful shaded picnic area that overlooked the lake. One of the largest in the country, this carousel features 68 wooden steeds, hand-carved and painted by European craftsmen in 1916.

Next, we played some games and my dad actually rang the strong man's bell and won a little pink pig. We won several prizes by catching the special fish at the Fish Pond, and my youngest was totally enchanted by looking in the fun house mirrors. My dad walked up and soon both "kids" were hooting and hollering at their distorted and hysterically funny short and squat bodies.

The next ride we encountered was the famous Boat Chute. This ride was built in 1927 and is the park's oldest and most copied ride. The three-benched canoe floats through a long dark tunnel that is haunted by the smell of dead fish. After several minutes, you hear clinking as the boat begins its ascent to the top of a hill; suddenly, your tummy jumps to your chest as you plummet down and splash into Lake Winnie.

Our trip to Lake Winnie was a real treat and we are planning another trip soon because my husband complained that we only spent three hours there. The next trip will be in the evening, and the kids will get to experience the fun and magic of riding the twinkling spinning rides at night.

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Stay tuned for more Southern Angel belly ticklers!