The Zippin Pippin

Like many Memphians, I grew up riding the Zippin Pippin during the Mid-South Fair, and later off and on at local theme park Libertyland. Many a school outing, party and date were spent at the small theme park. I rode the Pippin, perhaps for the last time - just last year. The same Pippin built in 1920, the 2nd largest wooden coaster in America. The same one that Elvis rode for hours on end just a week before his untimely death. I myself rode the Pippin 43 times in a row one summer, when friends and I happened to be at the park on a very slow day. We'd just wave out hand in a circle, indicating "again!" as we approached the operator. With no one waiting in line, there was no reason to stop. We rode and rode, until a slight rain started to fall. We didn't care but the operator did. The brakes on the Pippin didn't work well when wet and we roared through the station building at near full speed and climbed halfway up the first hill before he could stop the cars.

The staff had to climb up the track and release our seat locks so we could climb out (not easy on a hill) and carefully walk back down the slippery track, never to acheive our hoped for 50 nonstop loops.

Pippin in 1920

Last year, MLGW rented the park one evening for an employee appreciation picnic, and I was invited. As an older 45 year old, my Zippin Pippin ride was the first with my 6 year old daughter, who delighted in it's fearsome wooden roar. The ride elicited a laugh from me as it always did when it took my breath away screaming down the first downward plunge. It also startled me in that it seemed very, very fast - much more so than I remembered. And it was rough....I felt I had to hang on for the first time.

I attributed the differences in perception to fatherhood paranoia and we went on to enjoy the rest of the park. Looking back, I wonder if I was witnessing the Pippins last hurrah. It's been sold now, a landmark piece of Memphis heritage that it literally gave away - for $2400. Cars and all.

This whole site is focused on how Memphis has such little regard for it's past - how it just discards things that help define who it is. Big things, like the Mall of Memphis. Millions upon millions just bulldozed away. And now, the Pippin - for $2400. Many American cities and leaders know the value of the past and work hard to incorporate its legacy into the mainstream of today. Apparently lacking any vision at all, our city leaders continue to treat the treasures of yesterday as if they are worthless. In doing so, they define the legacy of themselves and their administrations.

Memphis isn't alone in it's sometimes inexplicable actions. Consider Bald Knob, AR.