 | Disappearing PlacesAn archive and collective map of places that no longer exist, at least not as they once did. |
War Memorial Amusement Park
Posted On Sunday April 15, 2007 By Matt
I’m not sure it was actually called War Memorial Amusement Park but it was between War Memorial Stadium and the Little Rock Zoo. It was a great place with all the typical rides and attractions an amusement park would have, bumper cars, a Tilt-A-Whirl, a carosel, a haunted mansion, and last but not least Old Loveable Sally. Sally was probably the creepiest thing that has ever existed. She is pictured here behind us. She was this giant freaky doll thing that would talk and laugh. Sally may have been old, but lovable??? I don’t think so.
Anyway, this was a place I spent many happy days while growing up. My favorite ride was this car race ride. I don’t remember the name. It was all on a track so you weren’t actually steering but you did have control of the gas. I loved racing around that track. I also remember my mom once got so dizzy from the Tilt-A-Whirl that she threw up on it. She loved the carosel there so much. As few as four of these track type carosels still exist today. When the park closed sometime in the early 90’s the carosel was put on the National Register of Historic Places and a group called Friends of the Carosel has been trying to raise funds to restore it and return it to operation ever since.
I’m not sure what ever happened to Old Loveable Sally. Maybe she was thrown away or maybe she continues to creep kids out to this day at some other amusement park.
Tags: amusement, birthday, childhood, park, parties, rides, sally
This Location: Zoo Drive Little Rock, AR
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Last year in August, my wife and I were registering at Greer’s Ferry campsite, and the couple behind us in line asked us where we were from. When we told him North Little Rock, the man said, “I used to live and work in Little Rock at the old amusement park at the zoo”. It seems his Father owned some of the rides there, and he worked for his Dad.
I asked him about “Laughing Sally”, and he said his Dad sold her to a collector in Chicago.
— Pcbrown Monday September 17, 2007 #
Thanks for the info on Sally. It’s good to know she didn’t end up in a landfill, creepy as she was.
— Matt Tuesday September 18, 2007 #
According to the owner of Loca Luna on the bottom of Cantrell hill – he has Sally in the foyer as you walk into the restaurant. It’s a popular polaroid scavenger hunt destination.
— BudChad Friday September 28, 2007 #
Interesting, next time I’m in town, probably next month, I’ll stop by Loca Luna and see if Sally is there.
— Matt Friday September 28, 2007 #
Nope. Loca Luna has an exact replica. It would be interesting to find out where this person in Chicago is and what happened to our old lovable Sally! She scared me to death to… but I’d love to see her again. BTW – thanks for the awesome pic of her.
— BeffyChelle33 Friday March 28, 2008 #
I remember many after school and weekend outings to War Memorial Amusement Park as a child. My best friend Shelle and I were absolutely terrified of “Old Loveable Sally” She was located next to the spook house if I remember correctly. I can honestly say she was more terrifying than anything the spook house had to offer.
— Betsy Barthol Farris Sunday April 6, 2008 #
Thanks for the memories!! My brothers used to drag me towards “Old Sally” despite my loud protests. One time, I skinned up my knees pretty badly when I broke away from them, ran the other direction, and fell. I also remember the cars on the tracks: Loved them! Remember the whales in the “little kids” section what actually floated on water? I remember loving to ride on that when I was little. My Dad used to try to get me to ride the “Squirrel Cages” (I don’t think that was what they were really called, but that’s what he called them.) It was the ferris wheel with the spinning cars? I never rode it with him, too scared. And, they had the BEST EVER corn dogs at the concession stand there. Oh, one more thing: In case you didn’t know yet, the over the jumps carousel is restored and in place at the Little Rock Zoo. It’s not the same, though…It’s “open” now. Anybody who saw it at the old fairground remembers it was enclosed in this dark room with all the wooden characters on the walls as you went around. But, hey…It’s still nice to have it again. ;-)
— Paula Saturday April 26, 2008 #
I remember “Old Loveable Sally”, she was very creepy and I had nightmares after a day at the fun park. Sure do miss the old gal and War Memorial Park.
— Jeff Friday September 12, 2008 #
though I moved away nearly 30 years ago, and have been living in NYC since then, I have a picture of her on the wall of my home office just to remind me of her.. Really cultish legend stuff. Thanks
— long gone Friday February 6, 2009 #
I live in Louisville, KY., now, but have many fond memories of the park and Sally. I especially remember her laugh as she shook in the window. Friends and I would walk to the park after church and spend most of the afternoon riding the rides and playing the carnival games. Great times. Wish I could revisit and my kids and granddaughter could experience the park.
— dwalton Friday May 8, 2009 #