Kentucky is known for its Louisville Slugger baseball bats, The Kentucky Derby, Jim Beam bourbon, and some great theme parks. Beech Bend Park is a delightful family operated gem of a destination.
Beech Bend Park is located in Bowling Green, and is about an hour's drive North of Nashville, Tennessee. The park began operation as a picnic area in the 1880's. Charles Garvin bought the park in the early 1940's and began adding a variety of amusements. Carnival rides, including the Wild Mouse, were added in the sixties, and at the same time the park expanded its camping facilities. In 1984, Dallas and Alfreda Jones brought in drag racing that was sanctioned by the National Hod Rod Association (NHRA). Beech Bend hosts the annual NHRA Hot Rod Reunion.
Today, Beech Bend has more than 40 rides, 500 campground spaces, large picnic pavilions, and a waterpark. In 2006, the park burst into world prominence with the introduction of the Kentucky Rumbler wooden roller coaster.
Photo courtesy of Beech Bend Park
The park has four roller coasters as well as many other attractions, including a thrilling old fashioned haunted house, and a drop tower.
Get ready for a laugh and a spooky ride (Photo by Shredley)
The Shock Drop will leave you breathless (Photo by Shredley)
Dragon is a family sit down steel ride and is the oldest operating coaster at Beech Bend. It was designed by Wisdom Rides. It's an Orient Express model, and features a 450 foot long track, a double spiral and a double down. When we were on this ride, the operator teasingly added a few additional circuits, and refused to let us off! It's a sweet Dragon, and we enjoyed our capture.
Greetings from the smiley Dragon (Photo by Shredley)
Keiki anticipate the coming drop on Dragon (Photo courtesy of Beech Bend Park)
Looping Star was built in 1985. Before its arrival at Beech Bend, it traveled with Amusements of America. It was moved within the park for the 2006 season. It's a Pinfari model XL42 and has a 32 foot vertical loop in the center of the ride. Looping Star will have a new train and signage for the upcoming season.
Looping Star - guests enjoy the vertical loop (Photo by Shredley)
Looping Star and its waterfront setting (Photo by Shredley)
Wild ducks guard Looping Star (Photo by Shredley)
Today's Wild Mouse is a Zamperla Twister Coaster that has been operating since 2005. This steel sit down thriller features wild and wicked spinning cars. The ride begins innocently enough, but about midway through the course, the insanity begins. This is one rodent you'll never forget!
The new Wild Mouse is something to squeak about (Photo courtesy of Beech Bend Park)
Shredley's sister Joyce and nephew Scott take a spin on the Wild Mouse (Photo by Shredley)
In 2006, Kentucky Rumbler opened at Beech Bend Park. This wooden twister is another masterpiece of Great Coasters International, Inc. At speeds of almost 50 miles per hour, the ride features 30 track crossovers and delivers tremendous airtime. It is very smooth despite its constant lateral G's along its never ending twists and turns. Kentucky Rumbler was ranked in the Top Five New Rides in the World by Amusement Today magazine. We liked it so much, we rated it in our top ten favorite wooden roller coasters. See our September 2006 Oceanic column.
A rear view of the twisted track of Kentucky Rumbler (Photo by Shredley)
Joni at the Kentucky Rumbler entrance (Photo by Shredley)
Kentucky Rumbler - rumbling with the cows (Photo by Shredley)
We thoroughly enjoyed our two days at Beech Bend Park, and we highly recommend it as great place to visit.
A montage of Beech Bend highlights (Photo courtesy of Beech Bend Park)
Our next column will be about a mega park near Chicago called Six Flags Great America. It's a coaster lover's paradise.
Much Aloha!
-Joni and Shredley
Next Installment: Chapter XLIV: The Parks; Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, IL
Related Links:
www.beechbend.com
www.rcdb.com
www.aceonline.org
