“The good thing about this business is after all the hard work, the bad weather and things that we put up with, and then you see the kids running around laughing and playing and having a good time, that’s what makes it worthwhile,” said Teddy Meeks, the park’s owner.
The original
The couple bought the original carousel in 2009 and moved it to
At its new location at
Meeks outlined several planned additions, including a splash pad, batting cages, food court and two roller coasters.
He said the first roller coaster, the Rip Tide, is projected to open by Memorial Day, while the reassembly of the Starliner from the original park will begin in September. The Starliner, originally built in 1964, is the oldest wooden roller coaster in
“I used to see how many times in a day I could ride that one,” park visitor Phil Edwards said of the Starliner, “That’s going to bring a lot of people back”
Edwards said he planned to ride the roller coaster again and to get his wife on the ride.
“It’s really exciting to see this come back,” he said.
Other rides from the original park include the Scrambler, formerly the Abominable Snowman; the Trabant, formerly Dante’s Inferno; and the SeaDragon.
“A good amusement park is never complete. You’re always adding, changing something,” Meeks said.
The park opens at noon daily. Individual tickets are $4, unlimited ride armbands are $28 and annual passes are $69. Passes are available for purchase at the park’s website, www.MS-PP.com.