Throughout the years, many attractions have come and gone in the Magnolia State. Some of these attractions are easily forgettable, while others are nearly impossible to forget. We thought it’d be fun to focus on the latter and reminisce about some of the amazing attractions that once called Mississippi home. Read on to see how many you remember.
- Marine Life
E.L. Malvaney/Mississippi Preservation A beloved Gulf Coast attraction, Marine Life opened in Gulfport in the 1950s. Throughout the decades, it remained a favorite of the young and old alike – and for good reason. Unlike most other aquariums at the time, Marine Life was much more hands on. In addition to watching trained divers feed and play with the resident animals, visitors got a chance to interact with the animals as well. Sadly, Marine Life was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
- Eight Flags Deer Ranch
Cardboard America/Flickr Another popular Gulf Coast attraction of yesteryear, Eight Flags Deer Ranch was open from 1962 – 1984. A deer petting zoo with an Old West theme, it was located right on the line between Gulfport and Biloxi. In addition to feeding, petting, and taking pictures with deer from around the world, ranch guests were entertained by costumed staff, who put on daily shows, including elaborate gun fights. The park even included an “authentic saloon.”
- Rapids on the Reservoir
Shawn Rossi/Flickr From 1984 – 2007, residents of Ridgeland and the surrounding areas beat the heat with a visit to Rapids on the Reservoir. The popular park, which featured water slides, a wave pool, and regular concerts, was visited by more than two million people during its time in operation. After closing in 2007, the 25-acre site was sold to a Ridgeland real estate development company and the slides were torn down.
- Royal Land
Casey Fox/Flickr This former Meridian favorite has been closed since the 1970s. Small in size but big on fun (and creating long-lasting memories), Royal Land included just a few rides ran by a generator, which would sometimes die, causing everything to come to a screeching stop. Even if just for the nostalgia, this is one establishment from the past whose return would be welcomed by many.
- Beverly Drive-In
Norman Plant/Wikimedia Located in Hattiesburg, the Beverly Drive-In opened in 1948 with a showing of “Swell Guy.” It was a popular spot for catching Hollywood hits, and by 1955, had an 800-car capacity. In 1979, a second screen was added to accommodate the growing number of movie-goers. Things took a turn for the worse in 1987, when the theater’s owner passed away, forcing the closure of the decades old drive-in. The theater re-opened in 2001 and operated for a few years but was eventually closed again. In 2010, the remnants of the Beverly Drive-In were destroyed by a fire.
- Graceland Too
Michael Turtle/Google Practically everyone has heard of Graceland in Memphis; however, many don’t know that there used to be another version of the famous attraction. Aptly named Graceland Too, the tribute to the King of Rock and Roll was located in the small town of Holly Springs. Though smaller than its Tennessee counterpart, Graceland Too was stocked with an impressive variety of memorabilia, which had been collected over a span of 45 years.
- Maywood Beach
Friends of Maywood/Facebook A popular water park, Maywood Beach opened in 1931 on a 400-acre tract of land in Olive Branch. The highlight of the park was a spring-fed lake, which had been lined with several hundred tons of white sand that was imported from Destin. Over the years, the park grew to include picnic tables, BBQ pits, a bowling alley, mini golf course, pool, and pavilion, which hosted a variety of musical guests, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. In 2003, Maywood Beach closed for good. According to the owner, increased insurance costs were the reason for the closing.
So, do you remember all of these now-defunct attractions? Did you visit any of them? Have one to add to this list? Tell us in the comments section.
E.L. Malvaney/Mississippi Preservation
A beloved Gulf Coast attraction, Marine Life opened in Gulfport in the 1950s. Throughout the decades, it remained a favorite of the young and old alike – and for good reason. Unlike most other aquariums at the time, Marine Life was much more hands on. In addition to watching trained divers feed and play with the resident animals, visitors got a chance to interact with the animals as well. Sadly, Marine Life was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Cardboard America/Flickr
Another popular Gulf Coast attraction of yesteryear, Eight Flags Deer Ranch was open from 1962 – 1984. A deer petting zoo with an Old West theme, it was located right on the line between Gulfport and Biloxi. In addition to feeding, petting, and taking pictures with deer from around the world, ranch guests were entertained by costumed staff, who put on daily shows, including elaborate gun fights. The park even included an “authentic saloon.”
Shawn Rossi/Flickr
From 1984 – 2007, residents of Ridgeland and the surrounding areas beat the heat with a visit to Rapids on the Reservoir. The popular park, which featured water slides, a wave pool, and regular concerts, was visited by more than two million people during its time in operation. After closing in 2007, the 25-acre site was sold to a Ridgeland real estate development company and the slides were torn down.
Casey Fox/Flickr
This former Meridian favorite has been closed since the 1970s. Small in size but big on fun (and creating long-lasting memories), Royal Land included just a few rides ran by a generator, which would sometimes die, causing everything to come to a screeching stop. Even if just for the nostalgia, this is one establishment from the past whose return would be welcomed by many.
Norman Plant/Wikimedia
Located in Hattiesburg, the Beverly Drive-In opened in 1948 with a showing of “Swell Guy.” It was a popular spot for catching Hollywood hits, and by 1955, had an 800-car capacity. In 1979, a second screen was added to accommodate the growing number of movie-goers. Things took a turn for the worse in 1987, when the theater’s owner passed away, forcing the closure of the decades old drive-in. The theater re-opened in 2001 and operated for a few years but was eventually closed again. In 2010, the remnants of the Beverly Drive-In were destroyed by a fire.
Michael Turtle/Google
Practically everyone has heard of Graceland in Memphis; however, many don’t know that there used to be another version of the famous attraction. Aptly named Graceland Too, the tribute to the King of Rock and Roll was located in the small town of Holly Springs. Though smaller than its Tennessee counterpart, Graceland Too was stocked with an impressive variety of memorabilia, which had been collected over a span of 45 years.
Friends of Maywood/Facebook
A popular water park, Maywood Beach opened in 1931 on a 400-acre tract of land in Olive Branch. The highlight of the park was a spring-fed lake, which had been lined with several hundred tons of white sand that was imported from Destin. Over the years, the park grew to include picnic tables, BBQ pits, a bowling alley, mini golf course, pool, and pavilion, which hosted a variety of musical guests, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. In 2003, Maywood Beach closed for good. According to the owner, increased insurance costs were the reason for the closing.
Craving more nostalgia? Click here to peruse some of the oldest pictures taken in Mississippi.
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