Lake Winnie Amusement Park Offers Nostalgic Thrills and Fun

Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park, or Lake Winnie as it is affectionately called, is like a time machine to a simpler, small-town America amusement park…a cross between state fair and seaside boardwalk.

You’ll find a mix of old favorites and modern rides here, and this combo makes it one of the best family amusement parks in Georgia. We had a blast when we visited Lake Winnie Amusement Park, and we know you will too. Here’s everything you need to know!

LAKE WINNIE

Lake Winnie is located in Rossville, GA —  so close to the Tennessee line that they advertise their location as Lake Winnie Chattanooga, TN.

First opened in 1925, it is named after the Native American word Winnepesaukah, meaning “bountiful waters” or “beautiful lake of the highlands”…which perfectly captures the centerpiece of the park – Lake Winnie.

IS IT REALLY ONE OF THE BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS?

Without a doubt, Lake Winnie is one of the best amusement parks! This family amusement park for all ages has rollercoasters, a Ferris wheel, a frog hopper for the little ones, and more!

• First, there is the nostalgia aspect. Parents will be reminded of a simpler life, when they were kids, and RFIDs and Fast Passes were sci-fi notions.

• Second, there is no fee to park. And the parking lot is right next to the ticket booth. Purchase an unlimited ride pass for the kiddos and let them ride all day long. Coming with a group? There are group rates.

• Third, the price is affordable. The amusement park and water park are both included in your ticket. That ticket is less than $43 (cheaper when the water park is closed for the season) – and a season pass is about $130.

• Fourth, there are no lines for the rides! In fact, one of the staff members told us that someone rode The Cannonball roller coaster 34 times – in ONE day! On our visit during the summer, we did not wait in line for the roller coaster, the pirate ride, the swings, the water slides, or anything!

• Fifth, concessions are affordable. For lunch, we ordered two kid meals that came with fries and a drink, two additional waters, two pretzels, a salad, and nachos…and it was less than $30.
  
  Need something even more affordable? Bring lunch from home! Yup – you are allowed to bring in your own food and coolers!! There are large, covered pavilions near the main entrance. Any food brought from outside the park is relegated to that section of the park – but that is a GREAT WIN for families!

LAKE WINNIE RIDES

What’s your favorite ride from childhood? I bet you can find it here.

There are 38 rides and attractions including some of my childhood favorites: the Pirate, Matterhorn, and the Free Fall.

As you walk into the park, the kiddie rides are the first group to greet you. They include the Bumble Bees, Free Whale, Lady Bugs and more.

This is where you can pick up the train that takes you around the park, with a stop at the SOAKya Water Park. There are also other rides for “big kids” and adults, like the Boat Chute, Fire Ball, Genie, and Pirate.

Fun fact: The Boat Chute was designed by the owner, Carl Dixon, and opened in 1927. It’s the oldest mill chute water ride of its kind still in operation in the US. It was the first ride to open, and is still among the most popular here.

Make your way past the old-school games of skill, retail shops, concessions and a changing facility. You can also jump aboard the paddle boats and explore Lake Winnie from a closer perspective…or keep pressing forward to more rides.

Popular rides here include the antique carousel, built in 1916 and one of the largest and oldest in the country. You’ll also find antique cars kids can actually drive!

Keep going to the Thrill Rides section, with bumper cars, roller coasters, the Wave Swinger… and the Alpine Way gondola that crosses the lake.

My son’s favorite stop here was the wooden Cannon Ball roller coaster. It opened in 1967, and is one of the signature attractions here – the oldest of the park’s coasters. It was a rather smooth ride for a wooden coaster and had some good dips and turns – a great coaster for the 10-year-old (and Dad)!

SOAKYA WATER PARK

The SOAKya Water Park debuted in 2013 and is a fantastic addition. We had a blast here during our visit!

The water park has a changing facility with lockers, making it easy to move from the water park to the amusement park once you’re ready.

For little kids, there are two sections to play…Water Works (like you might find at an upscale sprayground) and Soak-N-Slide. These areas, plus the main exit for the lazy river, all include zero-entry pools.

I loved the Crazy River (their name for the lazy river) and admit to taking a relaxing round here a half-dozen times.

My boys could not get enough  of the water slides…The Winnie 500 flume body slides where their favorites – plus the Twist-N-Shout and Splish-N-Splash and a few other twisting, turning options..

You’ll find concessions here, too…and plenty of seating in the shade.

If you plan to spend the entire day here, then consider renting a Cabana. For $129 you get the private, shaded cabana perched right on the lazy river, with a ceiling fan. It comes with sunscreen, six bottles of water on ice, and game tokens.

The water park is exceptionally clean and beautiful, and I appreciated the great number of life guards dotted around the park. If you ask me, the water park alone is reason enough to invest in a season pass.

LAKE WINNIE FAQ

How much does it cost to go to Lake Winnie Amusement Park?

In 2024, the cost to visit Lake Winnie Amusement Park in the summer is $42.95/person. That price includes access to SoakYa Water Park. In the off-season months when the water park is closed, the ticket for the amusement park is $32.95.

How many rides are at Lake Winnie Amusement Park?

You’ll find 38 attractions at Lake Winnie Amusement Park, including two roller coasters and four water rides. You’ll find kiddie rides, family rides, and thrill rides here.

Can you bring a cooler to the park?

Coolers are allowed at Lake Winne Amusement Park, but they must stay at the designated Picnic Grounds. They do not allowed catered meals or commercially-prepared foods. (Just bring your own picnic lunch…don’t bring McDonald’s.)

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR GEORGIA ADVENTURE

• YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
• GA WATER PARKS: 25+ of the Best Water Parks in Georgia
• GA AMUSEMENT PARKS: The Lowdown on the Best Georgia Amusement Parks
• TENNESSEE WATER PARKS: Tennessee Water Parks Your Family Needs To Visit