Libertyland: Memphis' Beloved Amusement Park

Memphis had its own magic kingdom. From 1976 to 2005, Libertyland Amusement Park gave generations of Tennessee families a place to spend their summers — and it had one distinction no other amusement park in America could claim: it was Elvis Presley's favorite.

The Park

Libertyland opened on July 4, 1976, as part of Memphis' bicentennial celebration — hence the patriotic name. It was built on the Mid-South Fairgrounds, a site with deep roots in Memphis entertainment history, and it quickly became the city's premier summer destination.

The park's crown jewel was the Grand Carousel, a beautifully restored 1909 Dentzel carousel that was one of the finest antique carousels in the country. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and became Libertyland's most beloved attraction — a piece of genuine American craftsmanship that gave the park a character no modern ride could replicate.

The Elvis Connection

Elvis Presley was a regular at Libertyland. He would rent the park out after hours for private parties, bringing friends and family to ride the attractions in peace. His favorite ride was the Zippin Pippin, a wooden roller coaster that had been operating on the fairgrounds since 1915. Elvis rode it so often that it became inseparable from his Memphis legend.

When Libertyland closed in 2005, the Zippin Pippin was eventually relocated to Green Bay, Wisconsin — a bittersweet ending for a ride so deeply associated with Memphis and its most famous son.

The Closure

Libertyland closed after the 2005 season, a victim of declining attendance and the cost of maintaining an aging park. The Grand Carousel was preserved and eventually found a new home. The fairgrounds site has been redeveloped. But for Memphians who grew up riding the Zippin Pippin and spinning on the Grand Carousel, Libertyland remains one of the city's most cherished memories.

The Libertyland Amusement Park Memphis Retro T-shirt, Sweatshirt, Baseball Tee, Trucker Cap, and Patch are for everyone who remembers. Find them in the Memphis collection.