East Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Zippin Pippin
⎯⎯⎯
Libertyland

Zippin Pippin Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 5, 2013

1. Zippin Pippin Marker

Inscription.
Side 1
Zippin Pippin
The wooden roller coaster erected on the Fairgrounds in 1923 was the Mid-South’s premier outdoor amusement park ride for more than eight decades. It was built by coaster design pioneer John Miller and was affectionately christened the Pippin, 1920s slang for the cherished or admired. Strong winds damaged it in 1928, but it was quickly rebuilt. With a track length of 2865 feet and car speeds of up to 40 mph, its minute-and-a-half-long ride was rough, noisy and exhilarating. Its 70-foot initial drop made it notable for its air time among coaster enthusiasts far and wide. In 1976 with the advent of Libertyland it was renamed the Zippin Pippin. It was Elvis Presley’s favorite ride, enjoyed on his last public outing. It was sold to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 2010 for use in its Bay Beach Amusement Park.

Side 2
Libertyland
Honoring the nation's Bicentennial, Libertyland theme park opened near this spot on the Mid-South Fairgrounds on July 4, 1976. History buffs reveled in Colonial Land, Frontier Land and Turn of the Centry Land and children of all ages enjoyed live shows, games and the dozen

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plus mild to wild rides. The parks signature Dentzel Grand Carousel and Zippin Pippin roller coaster both dated from 1923 were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other popular features were the Revolution coaster and the Old Hickory flume ride, the childrens playground on Tom Sawyers Island, the dolphin show and the Memphis Liberty Bell. Libertyland was more than just a park, providing first time jobs for hundreds of teens and pleasant memories for millions of visitors. It closed in 2005.

Erected 2010 by Remember Libertyland and the Shelby County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location. 35° 7.176′ N, 89° 59.049′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in East Memphis. It is at the intersection of East Parkway South (Tennessee Route 277) and Young Avenue, on the right when traveling north on East Parkway South. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 946 E Parkway S, Memphis TN 38104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

Site of Libertyland image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Masler, July 31, 2017

2. Site of Libertyland

marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gold Star Families Memorial Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Johnny Cash (approx. 0.4 miles away); Johnny Cash's First Performance / Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Hiker (approx. 0.4 miles away); John B. Weatherall (approx. half a mile away); Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (approx. ¾ mile away); Deaderick Family Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mt. Pisgah C.M.E. Church (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Heiskell Farm (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Related marker.

Zippin Pippin / Libertyland Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Masler, July 31, 2017

3. Zippin Pippin / Libertyland Marker

Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Photos of Coaster - Remembering LibertyLand. (Submitted on February 14, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)
2. The sound and sights of the Zippin Pippin in Memphis. (Submitted on June 24, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 5, 2013

4. Zippin Pippin Marker

Pippin Entrance image. Click for full size.

Public Domain, 1917

5. Pippin Entrance

The Zippin Pippin Roller Coaster in Green Bay, Wisc. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, July 25, 2024

6. The Zippin Pippin Roller Coaster in Green Bay, Wisc.

The roller coaster is currently located in Green Bay's Bay Beach Amusement Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,726 times since then and 94 times this year. Last updated on July 31, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. Photos: 1. submitted on February 13, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. 2, 3. submitted on July 31, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. 4. submitted on February 13, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. 5. submitted on February 14, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. 6. submitted on March 25, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Zippin Pippin⎯⎯⎯Libertyland

Zippin Pippin
⎯⎯⎯
Libertyland