Little Amerricka Amusement Park
Previously known as
  • Little A-Merrick-A (1991-2006)
Scrambler ride at Little Amerricka
LocationMarshall, Wisconsin, U.S.
Coordinates43°9′53″N 89°3′30″W / 43.16472°N 89.05833°W / 43.16472; -89.05833
StatusOperating
Opened1991
OwnerLee Merrick
General managerDarrell Klompmaker
SloganFun For All
Operating seasonMay through September
Area10 acres (4.0 ha)
Attractions
Total26
Roller coasters4
WebsiteLittleAmerricka.com

Little Amerricka is an amusement park located in Marshall, Wisconsin, United States. It features the 16 in (406 mm) gauge[1] Whiskey River Railway, a 1/3 size rail road with over 3 miles (4.8 km) of track that begins at the amusement park and goes through trees, past the wildlife pond area, and across the Whiskey River. Passengers hear a whistle as they go through the tunnel, past the locomotive shops including roundhouse and turntable, over bridges and around a lake. Other attractions include 24 rides and an 18-hole miniature golf course.

The park is also the home of Merrick Light Railway Equipment, where 1/3 size steam, diesel, and car equipment are still built.

History

The concept for the park started in 1987 as a minimum-gauge railway that owner Lee Merrick constructed as a hobby. Guests often visited to ride it to his christmas tree farm. It proved popular enough for him to purchase the land the park currently stands on and build a concession stand. He was already beginning to collect and refurbish vintage children's rides, and was beginning to plan expanding to a park around 1989 when he met his business partner Darrell Klompmaker. They opened in 1991 with mini golf, the railway, bumper cars, a ferris wheel, a Tilt-a-Whirl, and a fire truck ride. In 1993, they added the Little Dipper, Mad Mouse, and Tobboggan, and became the only park in Wisconsin to have a permanent roller coaster at the time. In 2003, they purchased a wooden roller coaster, The Meteor. They had to replace about 75% of the wood, but it became the first wooden coaster that was moved to a new park more than one time. [2] Lee Merrick passed in 2011.[3]

Attractions

Roller coasters

Ride Manufacturer First season Description Notes
Little Dipper Allan Herschell 1993 An oval kiddie coaster that was purchased from a private party in Missouri. [4]
Mad Mouse Allan Herschell Company 1993 A wild mouse coaster. The manufacturing date on this ride is 1960. Mad Mouse was relocated from Enchanted Forest in Chesterton, Indiana. [5]
Swiss Toboggan Chance Rides 1993 This is the prototype Chance Toboggan ride. This was the first of two Toboggan rides Chance built without a trailer (and currently the only remaining permanent installation operating), and built in 1969. Relocated from Dogpatch USA where it was known as Earthquake McGoon's Brain Rattler. [6]
Meteor Philadelphia Toboggan Company 2007 A Schmeck junior wooden coaster that opened in 1953 at Kiddytown. Moved in 1966 to Hillcrest Park. Purchased in 2003 and reconstructed at Little Amerricka. Darrell Klompmaker supervised the move. [7]

Other rides

NameYear OpenedManufacturerModel
Red Baron 1991 Allan Herschell Company Red Baron
Fire Truck Rescue 1995 Zamperla Fire Truck
Helicopter Adventure 1991 Allan Herschell Company Helicopter
Kiddie Wheel 1991 Allan Herschell Company Kiddie Ferris Wheel
Parachute Tower 1999 Zamperla Parachute Tower
Merry-Go-Round 1991 Chance Rides Carousel
Whiskey River Railway 1991 Crown Metal Products Train ride
Test Pilot 1991 Eyerly Roll-O-Plane
Ferris Wheel 1991 Eli Bridge Company Ferris Wheel
Scrambler 1991 Eli Bridge Company Scrambler
Tilt-A-Whirl 1991 Sellner Manufacturing Tilt-A-Whirl
Hampton Combo Cars 1991 Hampton Amusements Motorcycle Jump
Kiddie Boats 1991 Allan Herschell Company Kiddie Boats
Bumper Cars 1998 Bertazzon Bumper Cars
Monorail 1994 Zamperla Aerial Ride
Go Karts 2003 J&J Amusements Go Karts
Bumper Boats 1998 Arrow Dynamics Bumper Boats

See also

icon Trains portal

References

  1. ↑ "Whiskey River RR 4-6-2 No. 'Oakland Acorn', Marshall, WI, United States". Steam Locomotive Information. 2017-06-10.
  2. ↑ "Little Amerricka". Park World Online - Theme Park, Amusement Park and Attractions Industry News. 2009-06-28.
  3. ↑ "Unique amusement park owner Lee W. Merrick dies at 92". Wisconsin State Journal. Aug 9, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Little Dipper - Little Amerricka (Marshall, Wisconsin, United States)". Roller Coaster DataBase. 2001-06-16.
  5. ↑ "Mad Mouse - Little Amerricka (Marshall, Wisconsin, United States)". Roller Coaster DataBase. 2001-06-16.
  6. ↑ "Swiss Toboggan - Little Amerricka (Marshall, Wisconsin, United States)". Roller Coaster DataBase. 2001-06-16.
  7. ↑ "Meteor - Little Amerricka (Marshall, Wisconsin, United States)". Roller Coaster DataBase. 2007-08-08.
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