Have you heard of Lake Winnepesaukah? If not, you’ve missed out on family fun. This amusement park, located in northwest Georgia, only minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been delighting guests for 92 years. Today the park not only includes rides that have thrilled families for decades, they feature the SOAKya Water Park for a splashing good time. Ready to plan your visit? Here’s our Lake Winnepesaukah Family Fun Guide with tips to help you make the most of your day at the park.
We attended the Lake Winnepesaukah Media Day. All opinions are our own.
Lake Winnepesaukah Family Fun Guide
The History of Lake Winnie
Built on property purchased in 1924 by Carl O. Dixon and his wife, Minette, to build a family swimming and picnicking park, the area already had a rich history. Native Americans built a dam around several springs and created the first lake on the grounds, and troops from both sides of the Civil War used the site as a campground during the battle of Missionary Ridge in 1863. The opening day of the park in 1925 brought more than 5000 guests and the Boat Chute, the park’s first water ride, was opened in 1927. Since that time Lake Winnie has been mentioned in Travel and Leisure magazine as one of America’s 10 Ten Family amusement parks and has been featured in several television specials. Fast forward to today, when Lake Winnie still provides activities for all ages with Kiddie Rides, Family Rides, Thrill Rides, Games, and the Water Park.
Rides and Activities at Lake Winnie
*Kiddie Rides– Think you have to be at least a preschooler to have fun? Not at Lake Winnie! They’ve got 11 rides designed especially for kids ages 1 and older. Many of them like the Silly Saucer, the Frog Hopper, the Free Whale, the Kiddie Swings and the Parachutes, are mini versions of adult rides, meaning they don’t have to miss out on the fun their older sibling is enjoying. Some rides, like the Jumbo Elephants, do have a height requirement but children can still ride as long as an adult rides with them. Our two-year-olds loved being able to ride Sports Cars, Motorcycles, and Kiddie Boats all by themselves.
Since the lines were short, the attendants allowed them to get off and then get right back on and ride as many times as they liked. It was great to be able to ride without a wait! Helpful hint: If you ride the Bumble Bees, be sure to pull the lever back with your hand to help your bee soar through the skies. Need a break? Take the kids to the Stay and Play Hideaway and let them play on the playground while you take a well-deserved rest.
*Family Rides- With 15 family rides, it’s easy to grab the entire family and enjoy some fun time. Start the day on the Tour Train, a 10-minute train ride around the park that tells the history of Lake Winnie, or enjoy a ride over the lake on the Alpine Way. Even the youngest kids can enjoy the thrill of a roller coaster when they ride the Wacky Worm, a caterpillar-shaped mini roller coaster that includes gentle dips. You can experience the traditional park favorites; the 1916 carousel, the Antique cars, or the Ferris Wheel, or ramp up the adventure with some of my personal favorites; the Scrambler, the Matterhorn, a “bobsled” that sends riders over hills and valleys, and the Wave Swinger. I discovered I still enjoy these just as much as I did when I was a kid! And, if you need a break, take a spin around the lake in one of the paddle boats. You can see the huge carp that live in the lake and maybe throw them some popcorn.
*Thrill Rides– Are you a thrill seeker? Lake Winnie has the ride for you. From the Cannon Ball, an iconic wooden roller coaster, that covers 3/4 of a mile in 90 seconds, 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 guest high into the air, only to drop suddenly, or the Sea Warrior, a ride that swirls and spins through the air, twisting riders as they go. Of course, they have all the favorite thrill ride classics, like the Genie, which spins riders as the bottom of the ride drops out below, or the Oh-Zone, that whisks riders 140 feet into the air only to drop at 50 miles per hour.
*SOAKya Water Park – One of the newest additions to Lake Winnie, opened in 2013, this five-acre park is accessible for all ages. The Soak N Slide area is perfect for the younger members of the family, with a zero entry pool and four kid sized water slides. The Water Works is another area perfect for kids, with water slides and a play area featuring a splash bucket. Take a break and float along the Crazy River or try to make your way across the Coke Float Cove, an obstacle course with giant floating “coke lids.” For the older kids (and adults), try the Splish-N-Splash, Twist-n-Shout, Zoom Flume, or Winnie 500 water slides. You’ll have a splashing good time. Cabanas are available for an additional fee, but plenty of chairs are provided and there are several tables located in the shade.
Special Offers and Discounts
*Sunday– McDonald’s Family Day– Pick up a coupon at a local McDonalds and receive $5 off of an unlimited ride pass. For each ticket redeemed during the 2018 season, Lake Winnie will donate $1 to the Ronald McDonald House. This offer is valid May through September.
*Monday Fundays-An adult (21+) will receive a free unlimited ride pass with the purchase of two children (16 and under) unlimited ride passes on one transaction. This offer is valid during June and July.
*Military Mondays Active and Retired Military (with military id) receive a free unlimited ride pass. This offer is valid June-July.
*McDonald’s Family Day Wednesdays-same as Sunday’s McDonald’s Family Day, except on Wednesday! This offer is valid June until August 1st.
*Food For Fun Thursdays– Bring a canned food item and receive $5 off an unlimited ride pass. All items are donated to the Chattanooga Food Bank. This offer is valid from May through the first of August.
*Dr. Pepper and Coca-Cola Fridays– Bring a Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper can and receive a buy one, get one 1/2 off unlimited ride pass. This offer is valid from the beginning of May until the beginning of August.
Tips To Make The Most of Your Day
*Be sure to get your hand stamped as you enter the park. This allows you to leave and reenter the park as often as you want from opening to closing time on the day of your visit. If you have young children, you can leave the park for naptime and then return when they’re refreshed.
*Picnic Grounds are available and cold homemade picnic lunches are welcome. I’ve often packed a basket and brought it into the park for the kids to enjoy when it’s lunch time. This is especially important if you have children with food allergies.
*Reusable drink cups are available for purchase at the park food stands. These cups can be used for $1 refills throughout the park season.
*Towels are not provided in the water park. Be sure to pack your own.
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 Winnepesaukah? What is your favorite ride?
Love that the place has a lot to offer not just the kids but the adults as well. It’s certainly a lovely place to visit for families especially this summer!
This is indeed such a great way to visit especially for family bondings. Children will definitely enjoy this place. I need to check this out if this is near my cousins place so I can recommend this to her.
I just want to go so I can say I am going to Lake Winnepesaukah! Looks like a family friendly place!
I’m sure after a day in that place would leave you with plenty of fun memories and will leave you very tired. Sounds like a great place to visit with the family, you guys look like you had tons of fun.
This looks like such a cute park. It’s nice that it has a lot of rides and attractions for younger kids. I always found that that was an issue for when we brought our younger kids to parks.
I love the history behind this place. Now, if this is just near us, I would take my kids there.
That’s so much fun in the summer especially for the kids! I think it’s awesome that you’re sharing this guide. It’s easier to plan activities with a guide like this!
I wish i lived close by it looks like a great place to take my nieces and nephews who are under five. I think my son and daughter would still like those coasters and the water.
I had no idea that this existed near Chattanooga! What a fun place for a family get away.
This sounds like an awesome place to take the kids! Amusements parks are always a hit.
This looks like a lot of fun. We enjoy going to places like this during the summer. We’ve never been here before!
Wow, you guys had a really great time! That looks like a very fun summer destination.
How wonderful to have a place like this to take your family. Where I live there is an amusement park and water park but nothing historic and natural like this.
Looks like a great place and fun for kids especially. Nice that they have picnic grounds to help keep some of the costs down on food.
Aw this looks like such a fun place!! My 4 year old would love a place like that to visit!
If you live in the area or are planning on visit in the area this looks like a great place to visit. The kids would love to spend the day and have fun.
My favorite kid ride is the kid cars/boats etc. I love that they feel like they are “grown ups” driving their own vehicle. This place looks great – I love that they have something for everyone!