Little Amerricka

Amusement park in Marshall, Wisconsin, United States

Little Amerricka is an amusement park located in Marshall, Wisconsin, United States. It features the 16in gauge Whiskey River Railway, a 1/3 size rail road with over 3 mile (5 km) of track that begins at the amusement park and goes through trees, past the wildlife pond area, and across the Whiskey River. Passengers hear a whistle as they go through the tunnel, past the locomotive shops including roundhouse and turntable, over bridges and around a lake. Other attractions include 24 rides and an 18 hole miniature golf course. The park is also the home of Merrick Light Railway Equipment, where 1/3 size steam, diesel, and car equipment are still built.

The concept for the park started in 1987 as a minimum gauge railway that owner Lee Merrick constructed as a hobby. Guests often visited to ride it to his christmas tree farm. It proved popular enough for him to purchase the land the park currently stands on and build a concession stand. He was already beginning to collect and refurbish vintage children's rides, and was beginning to plan expanding to a park around 1989 when he met his business partner Darrell Klompmaker. They opened in 1991 with mini golf, the railway, bumper cars, a ferris wheel, a Tilt a Whirl, and a fire truck ride. In 1993, they added the Little Dipper, Mad Mouse, and Tobboggan, and became the only park in Wisconsin to have a permanent roller coaster at the time. In 2003, they purchased a wooden roller coaster, The Meteor. They had to replace about 75% of the wood, but it became the first wooden coaster that was moved to a new park more than one time. Lee Merrick passed in 2011.

RideManufacturerFirst seasonDescriptionNotesLittle DipperAllan Herschell1993An oval kiddie coaster that was purchased from a private party in Missouri. Mad MouseAllan Herschell Company1993A wild mouse coaster. The manufacturing date on this ride is 1960. Mad Mouse was relocated from Enchanted Forest in Chesterton, Indiana. Swiss TobogganChance Rides1993This is the prototype Chance Toboggan ride. This was the first of two Toboggan rides Chance built without a trailer (and currently the only remaining permanent installation operating), and built in 1969. Relocated from Dogpatch USA where it was known as Earthquake McGoon's Brain Rattler. MeteorPhiladelphia Toboggan Company2007A Schmeck junior wooden coaster that opened in 1953 at Kiddytown. Moved in 1966 to Hillcrest Park. Purchased in 2003 and reconstructed at Little Amerricka. Darrell Klompmaker supervised the move.