There are Amusement Parks...attractions, rides, food stands, and shows...all sprawling over massive acreage ------ and then, there is the Route 66 Carousel Park.
I call it an "Amusement Lot". Your child could pass gas at one end of the lot ---- and you could still smell it on the other side. I speak from experience. True story.
It is as Backwoods as it gets.
It's not cheap...mainly to offset the fact that NOBODY frequents this park
except the die hard Route 66 Carousel Park fans. Mainly my children.
The cost of "unlimited ride" armbands easily pays their light bill for the month, I'm sure.
It sounds horrible.
It's rough...but we LOVE it.
I still haven't figured out why or how -
but it is a family tradition to make a trip to Joplin, MO, stop at Culvers for a
"Butter Burger", and spend the day (that's right...the entire DAY) at the Amusement Lot.
This past trip, we invited Karah's friend "Ansley" to come along.
Please pronounce it "Anzlee" --- and not "Ainzlee".
It drives me nuts that my boys can't get it right.
I got so frustrated with it, that I told them to start calling her "Marge" so I wouldn't have to endure the hard "A" - over and over and over again.
Call her Marge.
She is a riot. She is a good, sweet, and kind girl.
Unlike most 12 year old girls, she actually pays attention to Karah's little brothers. She listens to them, laughs with them, and doesn't roll her eyes at them...even thought they give her AMPLE opportunity to find them annoying.
She's precious...
aaaaaaand she laughs at my jokes.
Lastly, she has an awesome mom, who I happen to ADORE.
Karah knows how to pick em.
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It's no secret that I am easily amused and I delight in the fact that my children
have inherited this quirky personality trait.
It makes life easier, FUN, and there is never a shortage of laughter.
When we pulled in, Ansley started laughing and said, "THIS IS AWESOME!"
Apparently, she was born with "the gift", as well.
I knew it would be a fun day.
One great thing about this backwoods amusement park is that there are never any lines.
One of the first years we attended, this posed a problem.
Karah went on the bumper cars but there was nobody to bump into.
The boys were too short to drive.
it was "bumpless cars".
This time, the kids had a blast on the bumper cars.
The carnie workers let them ride over and over and over
because nobody else ever came to get in line.
The most challenging part was avoiding all of the parked, empty cars.
The slide was no different.
No line....
Just run WALK up the rickity stairs -
and slide back down...
over and OVER again-
until your mother pleads with you to try a new ride so she
can escape the conversation with the 17 year old carnie
about how he threw up all night and shouldn't be at work -
but his boss has him slotted for management and he can't look bad during his review process.
(Yet another true story)
The Ferris Wheel is a lonely ride at the Carousel Park.
In fact, NO SINGLE RIDERS are allowed.
When I asked my buddy, who also runs the giant slide, what the deal was-
He told me he thought it was because the wind might tip it over if you don't weigh enough
OR that the management is afraid of someone committing suicide if they are up at the top all alone.
The true stories keep on coming.
Safety is a top concern at The Carousel Park.
There are seat belts on the Carousel.
It's hard to see with his dark pants...but there's a black cord around his waist.
Guess they are worried about jumpers on this ride, too.
The highlight is the terrifying roller coaster.
He used to be orange but they recently painted him this frightening shade of purple.
The operator sticks an air compressor hose into that nozzle on the shoulder of the beast.
He pumps him full of air and he takes off.
The children spend the next 90 seconds praying that the parking lot bolts hold tight.
This is the ride where I first witnessed my 11 year old daughter and her friend being flirted with.
The teenage carnie thought it would be cute to toy with them while they were trapped in "The Bird".
Or is that a penguin? I don't know my animals.
All I know is it was hot and he locked them into this petri dish to fester
inside- in the heat.
He kept flirting with them - telling him he was gonna leave them in there.
Don't all girls find threat of heatstroke and death, charming?
I gave him a look that was not hard to translate.
He understood and unlocked them from the death-by-fowl chamber.
The boys were trapped, too.
They weren't being flirted with...
they were just forgotten.
Then I witnessed Bradley and Ansley riding this vomit inducer with the most perfect posture.
No smiles cracked.
Arms folded.
I think they were trying not to throw up and wishing it would just end.
Go Karts were awesome because some people showed up that wanted to race.
The jumping pillow is always a thrill.
The only danger at this Attraction is the risk of a hypodermic needle
being stepped on in the sand.
Again...they had it ALL to themselves.
Bumper Boats!
Bryce's first time driving it alone!
These kids are cut from the same cloth.
If there is one thing I despise, it's miniature golf.
Full size golf is difficult enough.
I refuse to play.
In the rare event I get talked into it,
I hit once- pick up my ball - and drop it in the hole.
Aint. Nobody. Got. Time. For. Dat.
The only thing WORSE than playing mini golf is WATCHING people who take mini golf seriously, play a round....score card and all.
Thankfully my kids were blessed with the A.D.D. mini golf gene.
A round of 18 holes takes 4 minutes, tops.
The course is kept in PRISTINE condition.
The kids played until they dropped.
One last embrace with the cone head gorilla-
and we were off.
Headed back home with another trip-full of memories under our backwoods belt.
Until next time....
