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Zippin Pippin: May 21, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin


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It's Official: Zippin Pippin Belongs to Green Bay:

...Now, Green Bay will pay $35,000 to acquire the name, the design, and the history of the Zippin Pippin. And they’ll spend $3 million to re-create the classic ride at Bay Beach Amusement Park. Construction will begin this summer – and it’s scheduled to open in May of next year.

Schmitt says Elvis would be proud of the city's purchase. He's looking for private funding for the ride, including, "kids with lemonade stands." Schmitt indicates they're also working on a menu adjustment to add Elvis' favorite food, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, to their concessions.

http://www.wtaq.com/...ongs-green-bay/

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Mayoral Candidate Raising Concerns About Zippin' Pippin ('Boondoggle'):

... “I'm not the guy that was down in Memphis, I'm not the guy that lied to the finance committee and the city council,” said Evans. “I wasn't the guy that lied to the people of Green Bay, but I'll be the guy that fixes it.”

Regardless of whose projections are correct, the Zippin Pippin is still scheduled to be ready to ride when Bay Beach opens this spring.

Evans says he never went to the mayor with his concerns. Mayor Schmitt says Evans should have talked to him instead of holding a news conference to address his questions.

http://www.fox11onli...t-Zippin-Pippin

Includes video.

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Zippin Pippin Openin Delayed Til May 21:

...City officials blamed unseasonably cold and wet weather, which they said delayed ride testing, staff training and completion of site work.

All other rides at Bay Beach Amusement Park, where the roller coaster will be, will still open May 7 as planned.

http://www.fox11onli...-to-may-21-2011

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Just saw this thread and got very excited to share. Libertyland was my home park growing up in Memphis. Pippin was my first coaster. So glad it is being saved. A lot of times Elvis would rent the park out the night before and you could ask the ride op where he sat, and they'd point to his favorite seats. It was so cool as a kid to ride where Elvis sat just a few hours earlier. As I remember, he was quite the coaster junky. I think he prefered Zippin Pippin to the Revolution. Probably because they were at different ends of the park and a long walk, not the king's favorite activity. He would have loved last years DB ERT's when you could just stay in your seat and marathon a great coaster without having to rent the whole park! I worked with George Klien a few times and I vaguely remember him saying it would cost Elvis only a few thousand dollars to rent the whole park and pay staff for the whole night. George told us Elvis would sometimes get the ride ops to briefly stop the train at the top of the lift hill and he'd get out, (just seatbelts in the cars) The train would return to the station and everyone on the train would act like Elvis fell out sending everyone not in on the joke into a complete panic. After a few minutes he'd walk back down the lift hill to the station. Funny Guy! He also really liked the bumper cars. He insisted "guys only" though.

For going back down my memory lane..... Thanka.....Thanka Verrr much!

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Had the opportunity to ride the Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach a couple of times yesterday. From chatting with folks, it has definitely changed the park - bringing in more guests and exceeding estimates for riders.

As for the ride itself - I enjoyed it. Some good ejector air in the front and speedy pullovers in the back.

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