Memphis In Mourning (Pat)

Memphis is in a state of mourning.

The Zippin’ Pippen is being dismantled as we speak. It will probably be leaving for good. Destination: Green Bay, Wisconsin.

And what is the Zippin’ Pippen, you might ask.

It is (or was) part of nearly every Memphian’s young life at one time or another.
The Pippen is the second oldest wood roller coaster in the world. It, and a historic carousel, were the centerpieces of an amusement park, first called Joy Plaza, later renamed as Libertyland, since 1912.

It was one of Elvis Presley’s favorite places. He was a frequent rider of the Pippen and often rented the entire park for himself and a group of friends to ride the roller coaster.

I rode the Pippen many years ago when I visited my brother. I was still in college and had never been on a roller coaster. It made a convert out of me. I still love them. I suppose it's a confirmation that I will never entirely grow up. But then who doesn’t like the thrill of the slow climb up, then the sudden jerk at the top and finally the terrifying acceleration down?

But the nearly 100-year-run of the Pippen is over. Too expensive, the city said. Too much maintenance for an old wooden structure. Besides the city fathers wanted to do something grand (like a shopping center) with the space then occupied by the Pippen. Heresy.

It’s fellow attraction – a historical Carousel – was taken down four years ago and stored in an undisclosed location (apparently the city fathers feared theft). After four years of court cases and indecision, the Pippen started coming down two weeks ago. And now there’s this huge, ugly empty space once dominated by the children and laughter.

And now Green Bay, Wisconsin, wants to take it off our city’s hands.

Outrage has been simmering since Libertyland was closed four years ago despite many citizen protests. Hope remained that some far-sighted city official would realize that the Pippen WAS Memphis. It was on the registry of Historical Places (little good that did). Did I say it was often frequented by Elvis? Yes, yes, I know I did, but a Memphian can’t mention it too many times. Such is his legacy in this city. EVERYONE in Memphis knew Elvis, had at least met him, or been a recipient of his largess. Every building/attraction he ever visited is practically enshrined.

And now they are hauling off his favorite past-time and to Wisconsin of all places. This is nothing against Wisconsin, but the Pippen was a southern institution. It fed the sense of adventure and gave unparalleled thrills. It was a source of great pride to have the second oldest wooden roller coaster in the world.

Kinda of a scary thought now, come to think of it. (You can take your own trip on the Pippen by going to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz_cTZxTw20. Listen to all its creaks and groans.

Still, we will miss it. We'll mourn for future generations that won’t experience that thrill.

Unless they go to Green Bay.

Can you detect a note of bitterness among the residents of Memphis? It was OUR roller coaster, destroyed for “progress” that probably won’t happen. In four years, no one’s been interested in developing this property. It reminds me of all the homes in a northern city that were taken by the local government to make way for a proposed expansion of a existing corporation/factory. After the homes were toppled (for the greater good), the corporation decided to go elsewhere, leaving the city without the promised prosperity, an empty factory and an ugly slash of land where homes once stood.

It worries me that so many landmarks and historical treasures are destroyed, only to be displaced by cookie cutter shopping centers, hotels and fast food establishment. Or, worse, by vacant unused land.

But I wander afar from my original idea for this blog and that’s the thrill of a roller coaster. Are you a roller coast afficionado? Do you have a favorite roller coaster? Or a similar ride?