It's provided more than 85 years of family fun.
Now Lake Winnepesaukah is positioning itself for decades more of family entertainment.
Third, fourth and fifth generation owners of the nation's longest running family-owned amusement park unveiled plans for a 5-acre waterpark expansion this morning.
By next summer visitors to Lake Winnepesaukah will enjoy two great experiences for one price.
The amusement park...and a new multi-million dollar waterpark.
The great, great, granddaughter of one of the original founders says the idea for the expansion came from Lake Winnie visitors.
Talley Green, Lake Winnepesaukah "We listen to what they say they wish we had and as you well know summer 2012 was one of the hottest on record and water is something our guests have been saying for a long time."
The waterpark will feature a lazy river, wave lagoon, flume body slides, enclosed tube slides and side-by-side racer slides, along with a splash park for toddlers.
There will also be a beach area.
Jim Dunn with Aquatic Dvelopment Group is designing, engineering and building the watepark. He says, "It brings a new level of entertainment here. In a way it is bringing you back to your heritage right? Everybody likes to get in the water have fun. That's a good family experience."
The folks at Lake Winnie tell us the expansion will create 100 temporary construction jobs and 50 to 60 seasonal park jobs.
Georgia State Senator Jeff Mullis points out the impact will reach even further.
Sen Jeff Mullis (R) Chickamauga, "It will help increase the tax base for Catoosa County and all of Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee. Our hotel space is limited and I'm sure that Chattanooga and the surrounding area will benefit from the expansion here in Lake Winnepesaukah."
Construction starts in January and the grand opening is planned for Memorial Day.
Green, "Definitely a first class water park and we hope that everybody in the tri state region and beyond will come and visit us summer of 2013 and try it out."
Lake Winnie attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
It is one of the largest employers in Catoosa County.
A big announcement about the future of Lake Winnie.
Third, fourth and fifth generation owners joined elected officials to unveil the plans this morning.
The nation's longest running family-owned amusement park is located in East Ridge.
It has provided over 85 years of family fun.
Now it's adding a 5 -acre water park near the world famous cannonball roller coaster.
It's expected to have major economic impact in our area.
Construction starts in January and the water addition should be finished by late summer...just in time for Memorial day weekend.
