I grabbed the following shot from Bing Maps. Just type in the address “22 Dillen Ave, Bellwood, PA 16617″ and you’ll see the Revolution’s track all spread out:
The track is located about half a mile away from Delgrossos Amusement Park where it could be built someday.
Here are some new shots of the Zippin Pippin under construction in Green Bay, Wisconsin!
The turnaround is taking shape quickly.
I’ll keep you updated!
Jimmy Ogle, the mind behind the upcoming plaque unveiling at the former site of Libertyland has generously sent us photos of the double-sided marker.
He explained more details about the marker: “With the advent of Tiger Lane, we decided to locate the historic marker at the new (limited access) entry into the property on the east side of East Parkway and Young Avenue (northeast corner). At this location, the marker will be “distanced” from the Tiger Lane activities and have a stand alone presence right at the traffic light, bus stop and new entry. It will be due west of the actual location of the Zippin Pippin and right at the old Fairgrounds Amusement Park entrance.”
One side will commemorate the Zippin Pippin,
while the other side will honor Libertyland.
This will be a great reminder to all who visit the fairgrounds of the pieces of history which used to stand there.
The official unveiling will take place on Monday, November 1st, 2010, at 12:00 p.m.
A plaque will be installed near the site of the Zippin Pippin and will honor both the coaster and Libertyland.
From the Commercial Appeal:
The project to replicate the Zippin Pippin has been set on the fast track.
“That roller coaster is going to outlast all of us,” said Mayor Jim Schmitt of Green Bay, Wis.
That city recently held a celebration of the historic ride, which once anchored Libertyland in Memphis and soon will be the flagship attraction at Wisconsin’s Bay Beach Amusement Park.
On Tuesday, Jimmy Ogle, president of the Memphis organization Remember Libertyland, helped contractors rummage through old parts before the last of the ride was hauled north.
The nonprofit group, formerly known as Save Libertyland! Inc., sold Green Bay the name, design and history of the roller coaster, including the cars, for $35,000.
Memphis will unveil a historical marker at the roller coaster’s old site near the Mid-South Fairgrounds at noon Nov. 1. A two-sided plaque will commemorate Libertyland on one side and the Pippin, known as Elvis Presley’s favorite ride, on the other, Ogle said.
“We’ve done a lot of fighting, and this has finally been resolved,” Ogle said. “In name and in spirit, the Pippin found a home.”
During the community event Oct. 9 in Green Bay, a few thousand children were invited to sign the coaster’s top-most beam, the place where riders glance heavenward before plummeting nearly 70 feet down the wooden frame.
The children were also invited to empty their piggybanks to ensure the future of the ride at the fundraising event.
The project to rebuild the Zippin Pippin will cost Green Bay an estimated $3 million; the city borrowed $2.4 million and pledged $600,000 in private donations.
Nearly all of the building materials will be newly purchased, as most of the old structure in Memphis was deemed unsalvageable once it had been left to the elements after Libertyland closed.
The foundation already has been laid at Bay Beach park. Miron Construction Co. of Neenah, Wis., received $936,753 to build the wooden frame.
“This is our first coaster, so it’s definitely a learning experience,” said Kurt Wolfgram, project manager.
Wolfgram said the structure would stay true to the design, drawn by John A. Miller in 1923.
Wolfgram said the ride should be finished by March 24. The grand opening for the Zippin Pippin in Green Bay is set for May 7, 2011, and Schmitt has renewed his promise to let any visiting Memphians ride for free.
“The Pippin couldn’t come to a better home,” the mayor said.
“The great people of Memphis will be proud of what we’re doing.”
The Zippin Pippin is coming to life once again! The roller coaster is being “reincarnated” at Bay Beach in Wisconsin using all new materials, but keeping the original layout. Click here to see more construction pictures.
Originally posted at Coaster101.com
The Zippin Pippin Roller Coaster Construction blog is following the construction of the relocated ride very closely and has been making regular photo updates. For the last couple of weeks we’ve seen the foundation work for some of the straight sections going into place and now footings are going in for the first turn. The bulk of the treated lumber that will make up the structure of the coaster is now on site and anxiously waiting to be put in place. Can’t wait to see this classic resurrected! Visit the blog for more pictures.
With today’s University of Memphis home opener against MTSU (we won), I had the chance to check out Tiger Lane, which is adjacent to the “lot” where Libertyland once stood.
The Zippin Pippin once ran between these two buildings.
The only thing left from the park is now dirt and trees.
The Creative Arts buildings provides a nice point to try and determine where things used to be.
I’m not sure if you could call this a piece of Libertyland.
The rest of the land is used for tailgating.
This shot was nearly impossible to get when the Zippin Pippin was standing.
What a sad sight… the new Tiger Lane and Libertyland could have easily coexisted.
We are very happy to see that progress is being made on rebuilding this historic rollercoaster:
With an eye on beating the winter frost, construction crews will start work Aug. 16 on pouring the concrete foundation for the Zippin Pippin roller coaster.
SMA Construction Services LLC is being paid $513,000 by the city to build the roller coaster foundation by Dec. 3 at Bay Beach Amusement Park.
“We’re on a tight time frame, obviously,” said Bill Landvatter, the city’s parks director.
City officials soon will select another contractor to assemble the Zippin Pippin’s wooden frame, starting in September.
The city is spending $3 million to recreate an historic attraction that previously operated in Memphis, Tenn., and was renowned as Elvis Presley’s favorite amusement park ride.
The 70-foot-tall coaster is scheduled for a grand opening in May.
SMA Construction, which underbid 10 competitors for the foundation job, now is seeking city approval for materials to be used.
Mike Abhold, owner of the Abrams-based firm, said his crews will begin site preparation next week and start the foundation on Aug. 16.
No delays or other problems are anticipated, Abhold said.
“Everything’s in good shape,” he said. “Everything’s in order.”
City officials, however, are keeping a close watch on the weather in the hope that recent heavy rains will subside.
Jon Mueller, a city engineer, said continuing rainfall could saturate the ground and make it difficult for crews to maneuver around the site.
“You’ve got to be careful with that,” Mueller said. “It slows down construction everywhere.”
I recently came across this interesting photo from a Memphis Flyer article. It seems that some materials from Libertyland were reused to create wooden conversation bubbles in one of the waiting rooms at the new LeBonheur hospital.
“This is right outside that playroom, in the waiting room itself … I love these wooden conversation bubbles. What’s even better, they were constructed from recycled Libertyland material.”
There’s no telling where exactly within the park these materials came from. Perhaps the Zippin Pippin?
The Zippin Pippin has taken its last ride in Memphis, partially collapsing Thursday before being dismantled for sale to Green Bay, Wis.
“A section had fallen down, and they decided to lay down the rest of the Pippin,” said Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy, president of Save Libertyland! Inc., the nonprofit group negotiating the sale of the century-old roller coaster to Green Bay.
Mulroy said that while Green Bay is buying the rights to all the Zippin Pippin’s material, most of the wood, which has been exposed to the elements since the Libertyland amusement park closed in 2005, could not be used.
Green Bay is acquiring the name, design and configuration of the roller coaster, Mulroy said.
“They’ll be able to say the only Zippin Pippin in the world is in Green Bay,” he said. “Some of the wood is salvageable. Some of it isn’t. They’re still trying to figure that out. Frankly, Green Bay may only use a small portion of that wood.”
During an afternoon news conference at attorney Leslie Ballin’s office Thursday, Mulroy said the sale of the vintage ride is proceeding. The mayor of the Wisconsin city will take the proposed purchase to his parks committee next week, with full city council approval likely in March, Mulroy said.
“They want to get this deal finalized in 60 days,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ballin, who said he has been doing pro bono legal work for Save Libertyland for several months, admitted there was a “difference of opinion” with the city of Memphis over who owns the Zippin Pippin right now.
Save Libertyland claims it is the current owner, but the city — which supports the group’s efforts to sell the roller coaster to Green Bay — says it owns the Zippin Pippin until it is taken apart and stored.
Mulroy said a dispute over how he came to be in control of Save Libertyland was a meaningless side issue.
“The important thing is what is going to happen with the Pippin,” he said.
Denise Parkinson, who formed Save Libertyland in 2005 with Mulroy and other concerned citizens, claims Mulroy, whose high-profile work with the group helped him land his District 5 County Commission seat in 2006, dropped her from the group and put himself in control of the organization when filing paperwork with the state.
If the sale to Green Bay is completed, Save Libertyland would receive a “five figure” amount for the Zippin Pippin. Nonprofit groups like Save Libertyland can pay officers like Mulroy a salary, but the county commissioner said he won’t take any payments. He said he would like to use the funds to commemorate the historic nature of the Zippin Pippin and Libertyland.
Mulroy is up for re-election to his commission seat. The county primary is May 4 and the general election is Aug. 5.
“I hope it is clear that there is no ulterior political nor financial motive on the part of Commissioner Mulroy, as his past four years work have simply been for the good of Memphis,” Ballin said in a statement.