Little Amerricka is an amusement park located in Marshall, Wisconsin. It opened in 1991 and features several attractions, including a twice-relocated wooden roller coaster called Meteor, a gauge miniature train called Whiskey River Railway, and an 18-hole miniature golf course.
History In 1987, a minimum-gauge railway was constructed by now-park owner Lee Merrick as a hobby. Guests utilized it as transportation to Merrick's Christmas tree farm. It was popular enough that Merrick purchased the land the park now sits on and built a concession stand. By this point, he had begun to collect and refurbish vintage children's rides. In 1989, he was planning on creating an amusement park when he met his now-business partner Darrell Klompmaker. The two opened the park in 1991 as Little A-Merrick-A, featuring miniature golf, the miniature train, bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, a Tilt-A-Whirl, and a fire truck ride. In 1993, the park added three roller coasters: Little Dipper, Mad Mouse, and Toboggan. It was the only amusement park in Wisconsin with permanent roller coasters until 1995, when Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park opened Cyclops. In 2003, the park purchased a wooden roller coaster, Meteor. Meteor became the first wooden coaster to be relocated more than once, having first operated at Kiddytown in Norridge, Illinois from 1953 to 1966, and at Hillcrest Park in Lemont, Illinois from 1967 to 2003. 75% of the wood had to be replaced during the ride's move from Hillcrest Park to Little A-Merrick-A. The ride did not open to the public until 2007. The park's name was shortened to Little Amerricka in 2007 as well. Park founder and owner Lee Merrick died in 2011. Attractions
Roller coasters
RideYear openedManufacturerDescriptionSourceLittle Dipper1993Allan Herschell CompanyA steel children's roller coaster that was purchased from a private party in Missouri. It arrived to Little Amerricka in poor condition and the park refurbished it.Mad Mouse1993Allan Herschell CompanyA steel wild mouse roller coaster. The ride was manufactured in 1960. Mad Mouse was relocated from Seven Peaks Water Park Duneland (known then as Enchanted Forest) in Chesterton, Indiana.Swiss Toboggan1993Chance RidesA steel Toboggan roller coaster. Swiss Toboggan was the first of two Toboggan coasters Chance Rides built without a trailer, having been manufactured in 1969. It originally operated at Dogpatch USA in Marble Falls, Arkansas from 1969 to 1988, where it was known as Earthquake McGoon's Brain Rattler. It was then moved to Seven Peaks Water Park Duneland, where it operated as Toboggan from an unknown date to 1990.MeteorAugust 8, 2007Philadelphia Toboggan CoastersA Herbert Schmeck-designed wooden roller coaster that originally opened in 1953 at Kiddytown in Illinois, where it was known as Little Dipper. It was moved in 1966 to Hillcrest Park, also in Illinois, where it operated until 2003. It was purchased in 2003 and reconstructed at Little Amerricka. Darrell Klompmaker supervised the move.
Rides
Name Year opened Manufacturer TypeFerris Wheel1991Eli Bridge CompanyFerris wheelHampton Combo Cars1991Hampton Amusement CompanySmall spinning children's car rideHaunted House1991Built in-houseWalkthrough haunted houseHelicopter Adventure 1991Allan Herschell CompanySmall spinning children's helicopter rideKiddie Boats1991Allan Herschell CompanySmall spinning children's boat rideKiddie Wheel1991Allan Herschell CompanyChildren's Ferris wheelMerry-Go-Round1991Chance RidesCarouselMoon Walk1991UnknownBounce houseRed Baron1991Allan Herschell CompanySmall spinning children's plane rideScrambler1991Eli Bridge CompanyScramblerTest Pilot1991Eyerly Aircraft CompanyRoll-O-PlaneTilt-A-Whirl1991Sellner ManufacturingTilt-A-WhirlWhiskey River Railway1991Crown Metal ProductsMiniature trainMonorail1994ZamperlaMonorailFire Truck Rescue1995ZamperlaSmall spinning children's fire truck rideBumper Boats1998Arrow DynamicsBumper boatsBumper Cars1998BertazzonBumper carsParachute Tower1999ZamperlaParachute towerGo Karts2003J&J AmusementsGo-kartsTiger SlideUnknownUnknownInflated slide
Other attractions Name Year opened Manufacturer Type18-Hole Miniature Golf1991Built in-houseMiniature golfPlayground1991UnknownPlayground
See also
References
External links