The Memphis (or Tri-State, or Mid-South) Fairgrounds was established before the  Civil War and was home to many regional fairs, most notably, the Mid-South Fair which moved to Tunica, MS in 2008.  The fairgrounds, with it’s large and small exhibition buildings, livestock barns, the Liberty Bowl  Stadium, the Mid-South Coliseum, and the last vestiges of the Libertyland Theme park, are being dismantled.  I think the Liberty Bowl will be spared for a while, but everything else is being cleared, for a yet to be defined urban project.

Before Libertyland, there was  a permanent midway of sorts that included rides like the Old Mill (a tunnel of love ride) and the the Zippin Pippin.  I don’t remember the “Zippin” part of the name from my younger days, and I think it might have been added as part of the hype for the Libertyland Theme Park in the 1970s.  Every Memphian over 25 has some memories of the MidSouth Coliseum.  I expect to see the wrecking balls there any day now.

A fitting end for the Midsouth Coliseum, where the Beatles played, and Elvis did his last Memphis concert might be an energy beam powering it up to the Mothership

So much for Memphis traditions.  News reports and others have said that the Zippin Pippin is for sale and that Green Bay, WI is interested and negotiating.  I also heard it was being “dismantled” for warehousing. I think this video tells the real story.

Joe Spake is a Memphis, Tennessee based Consultant, Real Estate Broker, and Blogger. Call 901.214.5563 for a consultation or click to make a social connection.
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