Historic Zippin Pippin sells for $2,500

Posted | Contributed by supermandl

The Zippin Pippin, the most prominent and historic ride at Libertyland, sold for $2,500 today at public auction. The historic roller coaster, reportedly Elvis Presley's favorite ride, had been in operation since 1923. It was among an estimated 100 items Mid-South Fair officials put up for auction Wednesday as they prepare to close the park and sell off the assets to recoup losses.

Read more from Memphis Business Journal.

Related parks

coasterqueenTRN's avatar
I find it amazing that one of the best little woodies on the face of the earth sold for only $2500 while that Arrow POS sold for over $50 grand.

Amazing. I am just glad to hear it was saved! I love the Pippin!

I just wonder who bought it and where it will go.

-Tina*** This post was edited by coasterqueenTRN 6/22/2006 9:54:14 AM ***

rollergator's avatar
Saved? We'll see....at least it's not gonna be bulldozed, but re-built and *operating*, that's yet to be determined...

Kamikazi? Which ride was that?

...Hey, where was Sirchubs on this one? lol. This auction would have been great for his field with a creek, very reasonable. Maybe if he offers the buyer almost double he paid for it (like, $4,500 lol) hed still get it cheap, hehe.
*** This post was edited by P18 6/22/2006 10:16:15 AM ***
It worries me that the guy only wanted a car. Makes me wonder if he'll take a car and leave the rest.
janfrederick's avatar
Give how much simple home improvements cost, I think it would be expensive to tear down let alone carefully disassemble and relocate it. $2500 probably wouldn't even cover replacing some of the older bolts.

Sounds like the owner is hoping a coaster enthusiast group or individual will step forward. Speaking of which, I need to check my lotto ticket...

Once it is gone from its present location, and if it does not show up anywhere, we may NEVER know if it was demolished or put in storage...

You'll have Zippin Pippin sightings everywhere... Vegas, the backyard at Graceland, any place you can imagine. And you can bet Elvis will be riding it every time.

Heres what scares me. The article says all they wanted was the car for their travling elvis museaum.

OK fine, The coaster could run with another car or one less is suppose. But I sure hope they contact the Presley family and see if they have any interest. For all thats know, they might not even have known about the aution.

Graceland is a foundation dedicated to preseving peices of Elvis' life. It was well known that even after he became so popular, Elvis still would rent out the park to have ERT with family and friends on it. he also did the same with the local theater.

Lisa marie is known to hava wild streak about her, I don't know if she'd be willing to purchase, erect and have operated maybe 5 days a week for museum hours but she's definately got the adrenaline junkie thing going and its one of the few things she got to experience with her dad before his demise.

If ACE or someone else takes it off their hands like Tom Rebbie, Yup, we'll here its here, there or anywhere.

I hope someone somewhere rebuilds it and I hope the guys who purchased it know if they can't remove it, Im sure The fair board will charge them for the demolition which will probably cost more than pouring the footers and moving it somewhere else.

Chuck

Arg, I should have gone down and bid. STUPID me STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID! I highly doubt it's going to ever run again now. I totally forgot this auction was going on.
Well if it does, You got a nose car huh?

It is track worthy isn't it?

Chuck, who has a train car but it's not a roller.

What's really bad is I believe Elvis never rode in that train. There was a derailment of the train in the 80's so I'm pretty sure it was replaced.
janfrederick's avatar
Too bad Lisa isn't still married to Jack-o. It would have been a nice addition to Bad Touch Land.
Tennessean article about this.


Reynolds said he's open to ideas about what to do with Zippin Pippin, though he'd like to see the coaster preserved in its entirety, perhaps reopening at Dollywood or another theme park.

----------
Too bad Lisa isn't still married to Jack-o. It would have been a nice addition to Bad Touch Land.
----------

I think enough unfortunate children already got an unwanted credit on Michael's Zipper Pippin...
*** This post was edited by P18 6/23/2006 10:45:46 PM ***

Michael! Kennywood;s open!

You must be logged in to post

POP Forums - ©2024, POP World Media, LLC
Loading...