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DixieLand Fun Park getting better with age

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

It has been 15 years since DixieLand Fun Park in Fayetteville opened its doors for business and it has grown exponentially since then. What started as a simple miniature golf course, is now a full-fledged family-owned, family entertainment center with rides, games and plenty of attractions to keep people coming year-round.

DixieLand Fun Park was the idea of Johnie and Dianne Williams and the business has stayed within the family as David Glover, their son-in-law, manages the day to day operation of the park. As Glover tells it, the park grew because the community responded to what the park offered and was also quick to suggest what the park should offer next. After the original putt-putt course, which is still in use today, came the batting cages and then the bumper boats and go-karts. More rides came into play when the Williams’, who owned Trampoline World, started going into kiddie ride manufacturing. Though that business eventually became a metal fabrication business, the family still makes some rides for other parks and their own, including one of DixieLand’s more popular attractions, the Zip Line.

“It’s one of a kind,” said Glover, who states the Zip Line is possibly his favorite ride in the park. “The family built it and it’s the only one of its style in the nation.”

The biggest change that occurred at DixieLand was when they added the two resort style miniature golf courses that take golfers through caves, over bridges and under waterfalls.

“That was a big suggestion from our customers,” said Glover, who stated that area residents recommended a course like this in their community after they would play courses like these in Myrtle Beach or Panama City. More courses meant that more people could play with less of a wait and DixieLand can now hold thousands of people comfortably without a lot of people waiting in lines. Glover estimates that several thousand people enjoy the park each week during the summer but is quick to add that summer isn’t where all of their business is done.

“We’re predominantly a weekend business, which is better as summers just keep getting shorter and shorter in Georgia,” Glover stated. The school calendars can hurt the staffing of DixieLand a little bit but the employees are genuinely happy to be there and very happy to return each year. DixieLand currently employs 100 people and two managers at the park were hired as ride operators at 16 and are now 27 years old.

“This is a family business and we treat everybody like family,” said Glover.

The park is geared towards attractions that the whole family can enjoy and one of the park’s policies, which has caused friction in the past, was put in place to help families. Visitors that enter DixieLand are asked to pay $5. This is not a parking fee but rather a fee for a coupon for a game or attraction. This policy was put in place to prevent cruising in the park, which had occurred in the past. It also assures that everyone who enters the park is there to enjoy what it has to offer. Glover stated that some people balk at the idea at first until the reason is explained to them. Ultimately, if you are coming to Dixieland to ride the go-karts or play golf, you are just buying one of your tickets at the entrance, which is a small price to keep people who would abuse the park out.

It seems that through the years DixieLand has added one attraction or another. There are 16 new bumper boats in a newly constructed pond. The boats come with squirt guns attached so that the riders can take aim at their friends or family and there is also an interactive area where people can pay a quarter and shoot water at the riders themselves.

The go-karts next door to the pool are only a year old and the slick track has recently been modified to give participants more racing excitement. The karts on the slick track now have 9-horse motors instead of five, which has led to a 15 year old age requirement to race on the track.

“It just provides more speed and head to head racing action,” said Glover.

There is also a junior go-kart track and an antique car track for kids. Down by the lake pavilion is where the giant swing, which is a modified version of the old skycoaster, is located. There is also a Whirly-Bird, the Zip Line and batting cages among the attractions outside.

Inside are 100 video games, including skee-ball, pinball machines and air hockey as well as new and old fan favorites. Glover added that they are looking into adding motion simulating rides that can hold up to two people. The two story Lazer Tag arena, which has been a staple of the park for many years, is also located inside, letting people compete in a sci-fi setting. Fans of funhouses can also take a quick walk through the Black Hole, located next door to the Lazer Tag. Younger kids can enjoy the 10,000 square foot play maze or the miniature ferris wheel, located by the concession stand. This was the old location of the indoor miniature golf course. Also located inside are seven birthday party rooms, which Glover states, bring in a lot of their business throughout the year. He also added that DixieLand has been used for church or corporate outings as well.

DixieLand may also be adding some thrills in the future with a Scrambler, a Tilt-A-Whirl and a Giant Slide possibly being added within the next year. They are also looking into a family friendly roller coaster, a drop ride and possibly a log flume ride in the future. As for this summer, they are just looking to keep giving local families a good value, which includes fun games and rides in a safe atmosphere, close to home.

“Our attendance keeps going up year after year,” said Glover. “We have to be doing something right.”

For more information on DixieLand Fun Park, visit www.dixielandfunpark.com or phone 770-460-5862.