Amusement Park News

A new family roller coaster is planned for Lake Winnie Amusement Park in Rossville, Georgia.

The park recently announced the upcoming arrival of Lookout Safari, an attraction scheduled to open during the 2026 season.

While new to Lake Winnie, the coaster is a Tivoli model from Zierer and is coming to the park from the Indianapolis Zoo, where it operated under the name Kombo. At the zoo, the ride ran from 2021 to 2025 before being removed to make way for an expansion of the zoo itself. Along with removing Kombo, the zoo also took down its Skyline attraction, announcing that both rides "no longer align with the mission of the Zoo or the long-term plans for our campus." The zoo is instead focusing on expanding and constructing new animal enclosures.

But the zoo's loss is Lake Winnie's gain. The ride's safari theme, popular at the zoo, will continue at Lake Winnie, featuring ride vehicles designed to resemble jeeps, complete with seat backs styled as gas cans. The coaster has a compact 656-foot track and rises approximately 30 feet in height. It reaches a top speed of about 20 miles per hour, making it an ideal family ride and a solid stepping stone for young coaster enthusiasts. It fills the gap between Lake Winnie's kid-friendly Wacky Worm and its more thrilling classic wooden coaster, Cannon Ball.

The coaster offers enough speed to excite riders, along with plenty of twists and turns aboard the jeep-themed ride vehicles. Moderate thrills and a small first drop make it approachable for families. The ride features a long train that can accommodate 26 riders at a time and has a capacity of up to 1,400 riders per hour.

The new coaster will be the park's third and will be located along the lakefront, across from the iconic Cannon Ball.



Construction on the ride's move to Georgia has been underway throughout the year, with the goal of opening the new coaster as early as possible during the 2026 season. It will be the latest addition to the park's collection of more than 30 rides.

Beloved at its former location, the family coaster should fit right in at Lake Winnie. It is also part of roller coaster history, and preserving historic attractions has long been a key part of the Georgia park's identity. This year also marks the 110th anniversary of Lake Winnie's Antique Carousel, which was originally built in 1916 and moved to the park in 1968. It features 68 hand-carved wooden horses and remains one of the oldest and largest carousels in the United States.

According to Gene Staples, CEO of IB Parks & Entertainment, which took over operation of Lake Winnie this year, "Lake Winnie is a place that holds deep meaning for generations of families. Our role is to operate the park with respect for its history, its people, and its community while ensuring its continued success. Lookout Safari is a great example of bringing in a high-quality, family-oriented experience that fits the park's character."

He added that under IB's operation of the park, "Guests can expect the same familiar experiences, the same character, and the same commitment to family fun that has defined Lake Winnie for generations."

Based in Chicago, IB Parks & Entertainment manages a distinct portfolio of classic amusement and water parks, focusing on creating strong guest experiences, adding new attractions, and preserving the traditions that make each park unique.

As with its agreement at Niagara Amusement Park, IB is not purchasing Lake Winnie outright. The park will remain family-owned, with IB managing day-to-day operations. The partnership is intended to provide the resources needed to maintain stability while enhancing the park.

Until the late-2025 operational transfer to IB, Lake Winnie was both family-owned and family-operated. The change sparked some concerns among guests about whether the park's historic family-focused approach would remain intact. However, Staples has assured parkgoers that guests will see no changes to benefits, pricing, or perks and that the overall guest experience will remain unchanged.



IB's new role at Lake Winnie follows several other expansions by Staples' company. In 2020, the company rescued the classic Indiana Beach amusement park from permanent closure and then purchased the historic Clementon Park in New Jersey in 2021. IB also took on a long-term lease to operate Niagara Amusement Park in Grand Island, New York, and acquired New Jersey water park Big Kahuna's. Both additions occurred in 2024.

Lake Winnie has remained family-owned, with operations most recently overseen by Tennyson Dickinson, the park's director and great-granddaughter of founders Carl and Minette Dixon. Dickinson released a statement assuring guests that under the new operational arrangement with IB, "family memories will continue for years to come."

Season passes for Lake Winnie this year are priced at $99.99 and include admission to the amusement park, SoakYa Water Park, the annual Halloween Spooktacular event, and free parking. Daily tickets start at $21.99.

Opening Day for Lake Winnie Amusement Park was on May 1, while sister water park SoakYa opened May 23 for the 2026 season.