Lake Winnepesaukah is a small amusement park that is big on family fun. Located in northwest Georgia, only minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee, they’ve been named a Top Ten Family Amusement Park by Travel & Leisure. Featuring everything from kiddie rides to thrill rides, there’s an activity for every member of the family. Ready to plan your visit? Here’s our Lake Winnepesaukah Planning Guide with tips to help you enjoy your day at the park.
We attended Lake Winnie Media Day, but all opinions are our own.
Lake Winnepesaukah Planning Guide
The History Of Lake Winnepesaukah
In 1924 Carl O. Dixon and his wife, Minette, purchased 100 acres surrounding a 9-acre lake to build a family swimming and picnicking park. Because of the rich Native American history in the area, the park was christened “Lake Winnepesaukah” which means either “bountiful waters” or “beautiful springs of the highland.” The park opened on June 1st, 1925 to a crowd of 5000.
Lake Winnie is still operated by the Dixon family 93 years later. Although the park has changed and adapted over the years, the Dixon family remains firm in their commitment to providing a park for the entire family. This year, in 2019, they are beginning the “Moments That Last a Lifetime” Project. Guests can share their favorite pictures and memories of their visits to the Lake Winnepesaukah website. With the addition of ‘Critter’ into our family, this is our 4th generation of visiting Lake Winnie.
Lake Winnepesaukah Attractions:
Kiddie Rides- Even toddlers and preschoolers can have a blast at Lake Winnie on one of the eleven kiddie rides. Located near the picnic tables and the park entrance, these rides are designed for children ages one and older. Many of the rides, including the Free Whale, the Kiddie Swings, the Parachutes, the Silly Saucers, and the Frog Hopper, are pint-sized versions of the park’s thrill rides.
I have to give a shout-out to the ride attendants. They are patience and kind with the kids, helping them on and off rides, and allowing them extra turns whenever the line is short. When Critter thought the seat on the Jumbo Elephants was too hot, the attendant loaned us her jacket for Critter to sit on. It’s this kind of service that keeps us returning to Lake Winnie!
Family Rides- Lake Winnie boasts fifteen family rides designed for ages two and up. Start with a ride around the park on the Tour Train. This fifteen-minute ride showcases the entire park while providing highlights of the park’s history. Take a ride across the lake on the Alpine Way and enjoy the scenery or take a spin on the Ferris Wheel and observe the giant carp in the lake.
A favorite of all ages is the Carrousel, the oldest ride at the park. Built in 1916 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co., it was moved from Atlanta to Lake Winnie in 1967. It features 68 hand-painted horses, along with a pipe organ. I’m partial to two of my favorites from childhood; the scrambler, and the Matterhorn, both of which spin riders around at moderate rates of speed.
Thrill Rides- If you are a thrill seeker, Lake Winnie has 12 rides for you. Experience the Cannon Ball, an iconic wooden roller coaster opened in 1967. It covers 3/4 of a mile in 90 seconds, reaches speeds of 50 MPH, and has a 70-foot drop. to the Fire Ball, their newest ride that flips passengers over and over, you’ll find plenty to make you scream with delight. My favorite, even after all these years, is the Pirate Ship, which swings guests high into the air, only to drop suddenly. Of course, no one wants to miss the park’s oldest ride, the Boat Chute, which opened in 1927. It’s the oldest mill chute water ride in the United States according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association.
Stay And Play Hideaway- The perfect place for grownups to take a break while the little ones expend their energy, the Stay and Play Hideaway is a classic playground. You’ll find slides, climbing areas, and a splash pad to keep the kids entertained. It’s tucked away in a quiet area of the park near the mini golf course, food, and restrooms too.
Mini Golf- The mini golf course, located across from the Stay and Play hideaway, is included in the price of admission.
Lake SOAKya- One of the newest additions to Lake Winnie, this five-acre park opened in 2013 and is accessible for all ages. Included in the 8 attractions are the Soak N’ Slide, with 4 kid-sized water slides and a zero entry pool. Older kids will enjoy the Water Works with water slides, a fountain area, and a special bucket that soaks guests every few minutes or the Coke Float Cove, an activity course made of floating “coke” tops.
The adventurous will enjoy the water slides, including the Winnie 500. This ride allows participants to race friends down a fifty-foot slide. When it’s time for a break, take a ride along the crazy river. Cabanas are available for rent, but there is plenty of free seating.
Spookah- Don’t forget the spooky fun! On Friday and Saturday evenings during October, guests can enjoy a haunting good time with a Monster Parade, a Thriller Parade, a haunted train ride, hourly magic shows, and a choreographed light show over the lake.
Food and Drinks- Hungry? There’s plenty of food to be found at Lake Winnie. Stop by the Show Boat Ice Cream Stand for cold drinks or ice cream. This boat, modeled after a Mississippi Riverboat, was first introduced as an attraction in 1956 before being retired to become a floating restaurant. The Ferris Wheel Cafe serves classic fare like hamburgers, hotdogs, and pizza, along with a crispy funnel cake. You can also find classic dining options at The Carrousel Cafe, Scooter’s Pizza, and SOAKya Refreshments. Snacks can be found at Zero Gravity or the Dippin Dots stand.
Tips To Plan Your Visit:
* Visit the Lake Winnie Website for detailed information about rides, including age and height requirements.
*Have your hand stamped when you enter the park. This allows you to exit and reenter the park as often as you like from opening to closing time on the day of your visit.
*Be sure to pack your own towels for the water park as they are not provided.
*Guests are allowed to bring cold picnic lunches into the picnic area at no additional charge.
*You can purchase park admission or upgrade for a few dollars more to park and water park admission.
*Season passes are available.
Location:
Lake Winnepesaukah is located at 1730 Lakeview Drive, Rossville, GA. It’s centrally located 117 miles from Atlanta, 147 miles from Birmingham, 118 miles from Knoxville, 134 miles from Nashville, and a 7-mile drive from downtown Chattanooga.
Have you visited Lake Winnie? What is your favorite memory?
This place looks fun! I am sure that my kids would love to visit this place during hot months!
I’d love to visit Lake Winnie Amusement Park. I love that the attendants are patient with the kiddos!
This looks like a fun place to visit! My kids would have loved going there, I bet the water attractions are super popular in the summer.
What a beautiful place for a summer break! Seems to be a lot of fun for kids!
This is great post! I would love to go on a vacation and this looks perfect! Thanks for the tips!
This looks so good! I want to leave right now and plan a trip. It sounds like a perfect family getaway.
So this in Georgia, our neighboring state. Will keep this in mind. Looks like a fun place to explore.
We have actually been there but it has been about 30 years ago! It changed since I have visited!
What a cool and fun place! It would be so lovely to visit with all my nieces!
I’ve never heard of Lake Winnie before but it looks like a great place to visit with family! I need to plan a trip of my own!!
Lake Winnie looks like a great way to spend a day having fun with the family. I haven’t had much time to explore GA, but we are actually considering a move to the area once we retire. It’s nice to see that there are fun attractions to scope out when we get there!
What a dreamy place for kids and adults alike to savor summer! Would love to get down there some day.
This is my first time learning about Lake Winnepesaukah. It sounds like a pretty amazing place to visit. Would love to visit with my family.
This place looks absolutely amazing. I bet my kids would have a blast exploring this park. They love rides!!
This lake looks very entertaining for the family. That ski lift makes me nervous just looking at it!
That looks like a fun place to explore! I’ve never heard of it but if I ever get up to that area I am definitely going to check it out.
I love this! I live in SC and i am always looking for fun places to take the grandkids. Will be checking this out immediately and pinning.
What a great amusement park! I loved learning that the park has been been the same family for 93 years! That’s amazing. I’d love to visit one of these days.
omg this seems perfect place to take my kids this summer as we’ll be around the area in a few weeks- i love all the great attractions and it seems like they have something for everyone!